FHBC Sermon Notes

Scripture: 1 John 2:3-11
If you love me, you will obey me. This is a concept we learn first as children.

1. Keeping Christ's command is the evidence of a genuine, abiding relationship with God.
Those that John is addressing that claim to know God. They claim a relationship, they claim intimacy. This is true, we must claim him, but it must be accompanied with obedience.

Christians that live outside the church.

Examples:Oprah retired this week. she claims a relationship with God. She has claimed Jesus. Ended the show this week with this statement, "to God be the glory". But she also claims that there are many ways to God, she claims new age philosophies. Jim says he is not trying to pick on Oprah, but says we should examine ourselves carefully.

Christians inside the church

Examples:Those of us that run the motions, that walked the aisle, but we have no real love for God's word, for his people, for his praise. Do we delight in God. Is joy in him the center of our existence. We obey, because we love, we love because we have been transformed by his Spirit. Obedience is the evidence.

Thought from Sunday school today where we looked at Song of Solomon 5:2-8. We talked about the struggles of maintaining a solid marriage. It brought to mind one of my favorite pieces of marital advice. "No expectations". The only expectations we can live in in the promises of God. This is kind of like living under grace, in relationship, in love. To know God, to claim relationship, there will be obedience. I would add that the reverse is true as well, that obedience, adherence to law, without relationship, without claiming Christ in name and deed, we are empty, lacking. Mere moralism will not let us know God. Mere duty does not make me a good husband. Remember the young ruler. Luke 18


2. Keeping Christ's commands is the best measure of our discipleship (2:5b-6)
So addressing the legalist, the duty first person. I believe that Jim's statement here is true, because true obedience could never be by law alone, by duty alone. going back to the young ruler, we see that he was in fact disobeying the first commandment to Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, soul, and mind. His possessions, his ability, his law are first in his heart.


3. Keeping Christ's command is exemplified most clearly when we love our fellow Christians. (2:7-11)
Matthew 22:34-40 I love it Jim, when you bring in the verse that just hit my mind. This addresses those who seem to think that Christianity is a cultural thing, a moral way of living. Without love for the church, for his bride, for one another, we are liars, we are not followers of Christ.

Application : Love is an action. The first place to begin is with your spouse, then with your children, your family. Take initiative to love tho you do not know, to those you do not feel are lovely.