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Walking in the Light · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

• 0:00
  Well, we can turn back together to our reading in 1 John chapter 1.
• 0:06
  ! The main focus this evening is on verse 5 down to the end of that chapter, verse 5 to verse 10.
• 0:14
  And the heading of this section in the ASV Bible is Walking in the Light, which is the theme that we see coming across through these verses that we read.
• 0:23
  Verse 5.
• 0:53
  To these verses this evening, we see that there's a sense of walking put across here.
• 1:00
  There's various themes that come across through that.
• 1:04
  We see the darkness and the light.
• 1:06
  We see the good and the bad.
• 1:08
  We see a lot of different contrasts in these verses.
• 1:12
  But they all kind of lead us and guide us towards this walking with God.
• 1:17
  And how or are we walking with God?
• 1:21
  When you think of walking with God, what does that bring to your mind?
• 1:26
  What does it look like to you?
• 1:29
  What do you think of?
• 1:30
  Or maybe who do you think of?
• 1:33
  It maybe leads your mind to think of particular people.
• 1:36
  Maybe someone you've known and you've thought that person has been walking closely with God.
• 1:42
  You can just tell that they're walking closely with God.
• 1:46
  But perhaps it brings you back to Scripture as well.
• 1:49
  And you think of parts of Scripture that speaks about walking with God.
• 1:55
  Immediately, my mind goes to Genesis when I think of walking with God.
• 2:00
  You go back to Genesis chapter 3.
• 2:02
  And there you find when sin came into the world.
• 2:07
  When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden.
• 2:10
  You read in chapter 3 that in the cool of the day they heard God walking in the garden.
• 2:16
  And it comes across in there as if this was something that was normal.
• 2:20
  Something that was usual.
• 2:22
  Something that had happened on a number of occasions.
• 2:25
  That God would come into the garden and walk.
• 2:28
  But that they would be with him.
• 2:31
  There's that sense of that they would have been there.
• 2:32
  Because walking with God has a sense of closeness.
• 2:36
  Fellowship, intimacy with him.
• 2:39
  But when you look at Genesis 3.
• 2:41
  And they heard God walking in the garden.
• 2:43
  It says they hid themselves.
• 2:46
  Because they knew that they had sinned.
• 2:49
  And yet from there you find that Scripture is pointing us towards that walk with God.
• 2:54
  Being reunited in a sense.
• 2:57
  Brought back so that we are walking with God.
• 3:00
  And one person you maybe think of again in Genesis very early on.
• 3:04
  Genesis chapter 5 verse 24.
• 3:07
  Enoch.
• 3:09
  And it says of him in that verse.
• 3:11
  Enoch walked with God and he was not.
• 3:14
  For God took him.
• 3:17
  So this idea of walking with God as you see it.
• 3:20
  Broken in the garden.
• 3:22
  And yet with Enoch.
• 3:23
  That sense of nearness.
• 3:25
  That sense of intimacy.
• 3:27
  Having God with us as a people is so important.
• 3:33
  It just gives us that image of closeness.
• 3:36
  Of nearness.
• 3:38
  Walking with God.
• 3:40
  And as we come into 1 John here.
• 3:42
  There's that similar kind of vein of walking with God.
• 3:46
  And it's put across here as walking in the light.
• 3:50
  If we walk in the light as he is in the light.
• 3:53
  We have fellowship with one another.
• 3:55
  It says in verse 7.
• 3:57
  So again it's about this closeness.
• 4:00
  A closeness with God.
• 4:02
  That leads to a closeness with one another.
• 4:05
  A fellowship with one another.
• 4:07
  Fellowship is another word that keeps coming through.
• 4:10
  In this chapter as well.
• 4:15
  In verse 3.
• 4:17
  That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you.
• 4:21
  So that you may have fellowship with us.
• 4:24
  And indeed our fellowship is with the Father.
• 4:26
  And with his Son.
• 4:27
  Jesus Christ.
• 4:28
  So John is writing this.
• 4:30
  That their fellowship.
• 4:32
  Their closeness.
• 4:34
  Might be enhanced.
• 4:35
  Might be increased.
• 4:37
  But he's writing this letter into the midst of a challenging time.
• 4:43
  When you look at John 1 here.
• 4:45
  He is writing probably to the churches that have been scattered around Ephesus.
• 4:51
  That's the kind of area he would have been in.
• 4:54
  The same kind of churches that you read of in the book of Revelation.
• 4:57
  That John is also the author of the seven churches that he wrote to there.
• 5:02
  Perhaps it's the same churches he's writing this to as well.
• 5:05
  And maybe further afield as well.
• 5:07
  But he's writing to these churches.
• 5:10
  He's writing to churches that have been established.
• 5:14
  But have come into error.
• 5:16
  Have come into fault.
• 5:18
  The letter is written in a time when churches have started to change their outlook on things.
• 5:25
  To bring false teaching in.
• 5:29
  And so he's writing to challenge them.
• 5:31
  He's writing to encourage them.
• 5:33
  And what we find is as he's writing to them.
• 5:37
  He's writing to churches that have been influenced by others who have brought a false gospel.
• 5:43
  A false teaching.
• 5:46
  And as you read through 1 John.
• 5:48
  You find these people described in different ways.
• 5:51
  Deceivers.
• 5:52
  False prophets.
• 5:54
  Even antichrist is the word used in 1 John here.
• 5:59
  It's those who are leading the people away from God.
• 6:02
  They're deceiving.
• 6:04
  They're giving a false message.
• 6:06
  They're leading them astray.
• 6:08
  And you find that he is writing to them because there are serious errors that have come into the church.
• 6:16
  In chapter 2 verse 22 of 1 John.
• 6:19
  They have denied Jesus was the Christ.
• 6:23
  Serious error.
• 6:24
  In chapter 4 verse 2.
• 6:26
  They are denying that he came in the flesh.
• 6:29
  And then as we look at this chapter in verse 5 to 10.
• 6:33
  We see that they are in denial of sin.
• 6:37
  And all these things.
• 6:38
  They are major errors.
• 6:41
  They are things that are going to lead people away.
• 6:45
  And lead them down the wrong path.
• 6:48
  And so John is writing.
• 6:50
  Writing not just to condemn these things.
• 6:53
  But to encourage.
• 6:54
  You see he addresses these issues.
• 6:59
  And he does it sternly.
• 7:02
  He does it in a strong rebuke.
• 7:06
  But he also does it in a way where he is teaching.
• 7:10
  Where he is instructing.
• 7:11
  You think of the time period that's gone.
• 7:15
  From say the days of the crucifixion of Jesus.
• 7:19
  Up until John is writing this letter.
• 7:22
  You're probably talking about maybe 40, 50 years.
• 7:26
  This is towards the end of the first century.
• 7:28
  The beginning of the second century.
• 7:30
  That John is writing this letter.
• 7:32
  So a number of years have passed.
• 7:34
  And errors have crept into the church.
• 7:37
  And when you look at our own nation.
• 7:39
  And look back say the same period.
• 7:41
  40, 50 years.
• 7:43
  The church in Scotland.
• 7:44
  And how it's changed.
• 7:47
  It's changed in ways we never thought we might see.
• 7:51
  Errors have crept in.
• 7:53
  Things are done now that are wrong.
• 7:57
  But the question is how do we respond?
• 8:00
  Do we just condemn?
• 8:02
  Do we condemn other churches?
• 8:04
  Or other Christians?
• 8:05
  Or do we look at ourselves?
• 8:09
  And ask ourselves questions too.
• 8:12
  Are we walking right with God?
• 8:14
  Are we listening to God the way that we should?
• 8:17
  Are we walking in light of his word to us?
• 8:24
  And what John is doing here is both.
• 8:29
  He will condemn what is wrong.
• 8:31
  The truths that they are teaching.
• 8:35
  The false teaching that they have.
• 8:36
  He will condemn that.
• 8:38
  But he will also challenge those who are Christians.
• 8:41
  Are you walking with God?
• 8:42
  Are you walking right with God?
• 8:46
  So that is what he is doing here.
• 8:48
  And as he is doing it.
• 8:50
  He is doing it by testing them through the word of God.
• 8:53
  Testing them with the word of God.
• 8:56
  It is over 500 years now since the reformation in Europe.
• 9:02
  Which Martin Luther and others brought.
• 9:05
  Brought the people back to the word of God.
• 9:08
  The church was sliding away from the word of God.
• 9:11
  But the reformation brought that word back centrally into the church.
• 9:16
  That we have to look on the word of God.
• 9:18
  And it is something we do not just move on from and forget.
• 9:21
  But we always have to come back to the word of God.
• 9:25
  Because reformation has at its heart a sense of going back.
• 9:31
  Going back to the word of God.
• 9:33
  But also going forward.
• 9:36
  And going forward under the word of God.
• 9:40
  And that is exactly what John is doing here.
• 9:43
  Taking them back to the word of God.
• 9:45
  So they might go forward by the word of God.
• 9:50
  And if we want to grow as believers.
• 9:52
  We want to grow as a church.
• 9:54
  We have to look and ask.
• 9:56
  Are we walking in light of the word of God?
• 10:01
  We look to his truth.
• 10:03
  And we look to the truth of his word.
• 10:07
  And so John is testing that truth here.
• 10:10
  And he is showing how he is testing it for our good.
• 10:12
  And for the good of the church.
• 10:15
  And to see are we walking in the light of the word of God.
• 10:21
  And so we want to see the kinds of things that he is challenging here.
• 10:25
  And we begin first of all with a right claim.
• 10:29
  A right truth.
• 10:32
  And we see that in verse 5.
• 10:35
  This is a message we have heard from him.
• 10:37
  And proclaim to you that God is light.
• 10:41
  And in him is no darkness at all.
• 10:45
  God is light.
• 10:47
  And in him is no darkness at all.
• 10:50
  He begins with a sound.
• 10:52
  A solid truth.
• 10:54
  God is light.
• 10:57
  What is the substance of the truth that you have?
• 11:02
  What is the substance of your faith?
• 11:06
  Where is it based upon?
• 11:07
  Is it on your own wisdom?
• 11:10
  Or is it on the word of God?
• 11:14
  John begins with God.
• 11:16
  God is light.
• 11:18
  In him is no darkness at all.
• 11:23
  But we live in a world where we can have our own truth.
• 11:27
  That's the way so many see it.
• 11:31
  There's a statement that's attributed to a former MP.
• 11:34
  A Welsh MP by the name of Anjurin Bevan.
• 11:38
  I think is how you pronounce it.
• 11:40
  He was an MP in the very late 1920s into the early 1960s.
• 11:44
  And he said this.
• 11:46
  This is my truth.
• 11:48
  Tell me yours.
• 11:49
  It was him that said that.
• 11:54
  If you're into your music.
• 11:55
  A Welsh band.
• 11:57
  The Manic Street Preachers had an album with that very name as well.
• 12:01
  This is my truth.
• 12:02
  Tell me yours.
• 12:04
  And that's the kind of world in which we live.
• 12:08
  We're saying there's no absolute truth.
• 12:11
  We can all have our own truth.
• 12:12
  This is my truth.
• 12:13
  Now tell me yours.
• 12:17
  But that's not the kind of world that God wants us to live in.
• 12:21
  That's not the kind of ideas that God wants us to have.
• 12:24
  We need a strong foundation in life.
• 12:26
  And that is to be his truth.
• 12:29
  This is my truth.
• 12:31
  Full stop, God is saying.
• 12:33
  Now tell me yours.
• 12:35
  This is truth.
• 12:37
  And this is the truth that John is giving to us.
• 12:39
  This is that God is light.
• 12:42
  And in him is no darkness at all.
• 12:46
  And so we need this truth.
• 12:50
  We need that as the foundation of our lives.
• 12:53
  Of our church.
• 12:53
  Of our ministry.
• 12:54
  Of everything that we are doing.
• 12:57
  Every way that we seek to live.
• 13:00
  This is a truth we are to be standing on.
• 13:03
  Because there is nowhere else to begin.
• 13:06
  When it comes to truth.
• 13:07
  Jesus himself.
• 13:10
  In the gospel of John.
• 13:12
  Chapter 8 says this to us.
• 13:14
  As he's saying there to the Jews who have believed.
• 13:17
  He said to the Jews who had believed in him.
• 13:21
  If you abide in my word.
• 13:23
  You are truly my disciples.
• 13:25
  And you will know the truth.
• 13:28
  And the truth will set you free.
• 13:31
  There is a foundation of faith.
• 13:34
  You will know the truth.
• 13:35
  And the truth will set you free.
• 13:40
  If we begin with ourselves.
• 13:43
  We will have a false confidence.
• 13:46
  Or if we look at ourselves.
• 13:49
  We can feel that sense of hopelessness.
• 13:51
  As we looked at recently.
• 13:53
  If we listen to world leaders.
• 13:55
  Those or those in the world who proclaim.
• 13:58
  To have found wisdom.
• 13:59
  If it is apart from God.
• 14:01
  And his truth it is nothing.
• 14:04
  John here begins with God.
• 14:08
  And God being light.
• 14:10
  In him is no darkness at all.
• 14:15
  That's the very foundation of creation.
• 14:17
  When you look back to Genesis chapter 1.
• 14:22
  In the beginning God.
• 14:25
  That is the beginning.
• 14:26
  Of all things that we see around us.
• 14:29
  And in the beginning God made light.
• 14:31
  To shine into the darkness.
• 14:33
  That is how we came into being.
• 14:37
  And then when you look at the Lord Jesus Christ.
• 14:39
  You go to the beginning of the gospel of John.
• 14:42
  What does it say there?
• 14:43
  In the beginning again.
• 14:45
  In the beginning was the word.
• 14:48
  And the word was with God.
• 14:49
  And the word was God.
• 14:51
  So this is what was there at the beginning.
• 14:53
  Christ was there.
• 14:55
  In the beginning he was the word.
• 14:56
  And the word was with God.
• 14:58
  And then it says.
• 14:59
  And the word became flesh.
• 15:01
  And dwelt among us.
• 15:04
  That is the wonder of the truth.
• 15:06
  That we have before us.
• 15:09
  And what did Jesus say as he dwelt among us?
• 15:12
  Again in the gospel of John.
• 15:14
  And he said.
• 15:14
  I am the light of the world.
• 15:16
  Whoever follows me.
• 15:18
  Will not walk in darkness.
• 15:20
  But will have the light of life.
• 15:24
  The light of life.
• 15:27
  God is light.
• 15:29
  In him is no darkness at all.
• 15:32
  He is the source of life.
• 15:35
  And so we ask ourselves then.
• 15:36
  Who is our God?
• 15:38
  Who is your God tonight?
• 15:40
  How do you view God?
• 15:44
  Is he this infinite God?
• 15:47
  Infinite, eternal and unchangeable God.
• 15:50
  That we see in the scriptures.
• 15:53
  Or is he that God of your own making?
• 15:56
  Your own design?
• 15:58
  A God who you want to keep.
• 16:00
  In the confines of your own box.
• 16:02
  Of the way you want things.
• 16:03
  There is another quote.
• 16:07
  It is attributed possibly to Voltaire.
• 16:10
  The French writer.
• 16:11
  But that is debated.
• 16:13
  But it says this.
• 16:14
  If God made man in his own image.
• 16:17
  Then man has returned the compliment.
• 16:22
  What does it mean?
• 16:24
  Well God made us in his own image.
• 16:26
  That is what we see from the very beginning.
• 16:29
  From the outset of Genesis.
• 16:30
  Genesis.
• 16:31
  But what you almost see from Genesis onwards.
• 16:33
  Is man making God in his image.
• 16:37
  In other words.
• 16:38
  Making God the way he wants.
• 16:41
  And we are all guilty of that at times.
• 16:43
  Making God into what we want.
• 16:46
  Not allowing God to make us into what he wants.
• 16:51
  And therefore what we see is.
• 16:53
  John is challenging this.
• 16:56
  He is saying you are not God.
• 16:58
  You cannot confine God.
• 17:01
  You cannot restrict God.
• 17:03
  Because God is light.
• 17:05
  And in him is no darkness at all.
• 17:09
  And this is the one we should desire that fellowship with.
• 17:14
  John is not here sharing speculation.
• 17:17
  This is my truth.
• 17:19
  Now tell me yours.
• 17:21
  He is pronouncing truth.
• 17:24
  It is with authority.
• 17:27
  The authority that has been given to him.
• 17:31
  In verse 3 here.
• 17:32
  That which we have seen and heard.
• 17:34
  We proclaim also to you.
• 17:37
  He is passing on this message.
• 17:40
  This message of authority.
• 17:43
  This message of truth.
• 17:47
  But the people were not listening.
• 17:50
  The people were not listening.
• 17:52
  That was the problem.
• 17:53
  They didn't accept this authority.
• 17:56
  They wouldn't accept Christ as an authority over them.
• 18:01
  The question for us is are we listening?
• 18:04
  Are we listening?
• 18:05
  Are we receiving this truth?
• 18:08
  Are we seeing the authority that it has?
• 18:10
  That from the very beginning.
• 18:12
  God was word.
• 18:15
  God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ.
• 18:19
  Christ.
• 18:20
  An American preacher once put it across like this.
• 18:23
  When speaking of the Lord Jesus from the very beginning.
• 18:29
  He said Jesus was the only man who had a heavenly father.
• 18:33
  But no heavenly mother.
• 18:35
  Who had an earthly mother.
• 18:37
  But no earthly father.
• 18:39
  Who was older than his mother.
• 18:41
  And who was as old as his father.
• 18:44
  He is there describing the very nature of God in the person of Jesus.
• 18:51
  How he was there from the beginning.
• 18:53
  How he is the one who has authority.
• 18:55
  How he is the one who is truth.
• 18:59
  God is light.
• 19:01
  In him there is no darkness at all.
• 19:05
  Without this light we fall into lies.
• 19:08
  And that is what then John goes on to warn of.
• 19:14
  The lies.
• 19:15
  The false claims.
• 19:17
  That we can so easily fall into.
• 19:19
  And we see that there are three here.
• 19:22
  The first in verse 6.
• 19:25
  If we say we have fellowship with him.
• 19:27
  While we walk in darkness.
• 19:29
  We lie.
• 19:30
  And do not practice the truth.
• 19:34
  What is he saying here?
• 19:36
  It is this idea that people have.
• 19:39
  In John's day.
• 19:40
  Have the neuron day as well.
• 19:42
  I can walk in both the light.
• 19:44
  And the darkness at the same time.
• 19:48
  That is a dangerous place to be.
• 19:51
  If he says.
• 19:53
  We have fellowship with him.
• 19:55
  While we walk in darkness.
• 19:56
  We lie.
• 19:58
  It is a serious thing.
• 20:01
  Can we have fellowship with God.
• 20:03
  And yet at the same time.
• 20:06
  Be known as walking.
• 20:07
  In the darkness.
• 20:08
  Walking.
• 20:09
  In untruth.
• 20:12
  It doesn't go.
• 20:14
  It is like.
• 20:15
  Having a dimmer switch.
• 20:16
  On our faith.
• 20:18
  A dimmer switch.
• 20:19
  If you go into our room.
• 20:20
  And the dimmer switch.
• 20:21
  Is turned right up.
• 20:22
  The light is bright.
• 20:24
  The dimmer switch.
• 20:25
  Then if you turn it.
• 20:26
  Just makes the light.
• 20:27
  Go dimmer and dimmer.
• 20:28
  Until it is almost dark.
• 20:31
  It can be very handy.
• 20:32
  It can be very effective.
• 20:34
  If someone is coming to visit.
• 20:35
  You will say.
• 20:35
  Turn the dimmer switch down.
• 20:37
  So they don't see the dust.
• 20:38
  We will hide things.
• 20:39
  In the darkness.
• 20:41
  And that is a bit like.
• 20:42
  What this is suggesting.
• 20:43
  About our faith.
• 20:46
  That we are saying.
• 20:47
  That we have fellowship with God.
• 20:49
  But yet we are still trying to walk.
• 20:51
  In the darkness.
• 20:52
  It is like we are trying to hide things.
• 20:54
  In our life.
• 20:55
  The dimmer switch.
• 20:56
  Is being turned.
• 20:57
  Down.
• 20:59
  But there is a consequence.
• 21:01
  It says.
• 21:03
  You are a liar.
• 21:05
  If we say.
• 21:06
  We walk in darkness.
• 21:08
  We have fellowship with him.
• 21:09
  While we walk in darkness.
• 21:11
  We lie.
• 21:12
  And we do not practice.
• 21:13
  The truth.
• 21:14
  The truth.
• 21:15
  Is not in us.
• 21:18
  And the question that John is asking here is.
• 21:20
  What is our fellowship with God like?
• 21:23
  What is our walk with God like?
• 21:26
  Is it a fake fellowship?
• 21:29
  Is it one when we are just seeing.
• 21:31
  We are trying to walk with him.
• 21:34
  And yet at the same time.
• 21:36
  Walk in darkness.
• 21:37
  It cannot be done.
• 21:40
  It is no such thing as a Sunday Christian.
• 21:44
  You cannot live.
• 21:45
  Like a commandment.
• 21:47
  And say.
• 21:47
  Six days will I do what I want.
• 21:49
  And the seventh.
• 21:51
  I will keep holy.
• 21:53
  That is not how it works.
• 21:56
  A Christian is walking with God.
• 21:58
  Seven days.
• 21:59
  Constantly.
• 22:01
  You cannot have fellowship with God.
• 22:04
  And continue.
• 22:05
  In an unrepented sin.
• 22:08
  It cannot happen.
• 22:11
  There has to be.
• 22:12
  A contrast.
• 22:14
  You are either walking in the light.
• 22:17
  Or you are walking in darkness.
• 22:19
  There is beautiful weather outside today.
• 22:22
  And the forecast is great.
• 22:24
  For the week ahead.
• 22:25
  And we look forward to that.
• 22:29
  Next week I am sure there will be many people coming into the church.
• 22:32
  And your colour will have changed.
• 22:34
  You have been out in the sun.
• 22:36
  You have turned red.
• 22:37
  You have turned brown.
• 22:38
  Because you have been in the sun.
• 22:39
  You have been in the light.
• 22:40
  But if you claim as it was here.
• 22:45
  That you have been to the beach.
• 22:46
  That you have been in the sun all week.
• 22:48
  And there is no change.
• 22:50
  You are pale.
• 22:50
  People would ask.
• 22:51
  Well.
• 22:52
  How?
• 22:53
  The sun has not touched you.
• 22:55
  There is no change.
• 22:57
  It is the kind of thing that John is saying here.
• 22:59
  If you are walking in the light.
• 23:02
  There is a contrast.
• 23:03
  There is a difference.
• 23:05
  It leaves its mark.
• 23:07
  If you are not walking in the light.
• 23:09
  It leaves its mark as well.
• 23:10
  That will be seen.
• 23:12
  It will be seen in how you are living.
• 23:16
  And so are we walking in the light?
• 23:20
  Or are we trying to say we can have both?
• 23:22
  You can't.
• 23:24
  It is a false claim.
• 23:26
  You are a liar.
• 23:27
  He says.
• 23:27
  And the truth is not in you.
• 23:32
  And you see the second false claim here in verse 8.
• 23:37
  If we say we have no sin.
• 23:39
  We deceive ourselves.
• 23:41
  And the truth is not in us.
• 23:45
  Again this is a claim that the false teachers were making to the people.
• 23:50
  Deceiving themselves and deceiving others.
• 23:53
  If we say that we have no sin.
• 24:00
  I cannot say that.
• 24:02
  No one can say that.
• 24:04
  Sin is a dangerous thing.
• 24:06
  Sin is a deadly thing.
• 24:08
  And if we say we have no sin.
• 24:10
  As it says here.
• 24:12
  We deceive ourselves.
• 24:15
  And the truth is not in us.
• 24:18
  We deceive ourselves.
• 24:20
  We are telling ourselves a lie.
• 24:24
  Not just lying to others.
• 24:25
  As in the first part here.
• 24:28
  But we are lying to ourselves.
• 24:29
  We deceive ourselves.
• 24:32
  We are living a very dangerous life.
• 24:34
  There was a lady in England.
• 24:38
  Who had an ornament on her mantelpiece.
• 24:41
  And was there for 30 years.
• 24:43
  And she kept it polished.
• 24:45
  She kept it nice.
• 24:47
  From time to time.
• 24:48
  When she had grandchildren visiting.
• 24:50
  She would take the ornament down off the mantelpiece.
• 24:52
  And let them play with it.
• 24:54
  Sometimes they would go out into the garden.
• 24:56
  And throw this thing to one another.
• 24:58
  They didn't know what it was.
• 25:01
  But it was just like a toy.
• 25:04
  Then after 30 years.
• 25:05
  She learned something about it.
• 25:08
  Something that startled her.
• 25:09
  Something that frightened her.
• 25:10
  It was a bomb.
• 25:12
  And for all these years.
• 25:14
  It had been sitting there on the mantelpiece.
• 25:15
  And the children and the grandchildren.
• 25:17
  Playing with it.
• 25:20
  Unaware of the danger.
• 25:21
  And that's the kind of thing.
• 25:24
  That we see here.
• 25:25
  If we say we have no sin.
• 25:27
  We deceive ourselves.
• 25:29
  We're playing with a bomb.
• 25:30
  That could go off at any time.
• 25:34
  And so John is saying.
• 25:35
  This is not to be you.
• 25:37
  The truth.
• 25:38
  The word.
• 25:39
  The truth is not in us.
• 25:41
  Then he says in verse 9.
• 25:42
  If we confess our sins.
• 25:45
  He is faithful.
• 25:46
  And just to forgive us our sins.
• 25:48
  And to cleanse us.
• 25:49
  From all.
• 25:50
  All unrighteousness.
• 25:53
  So he says.
• 25:54
  Don't be deceived.
• 25:56
  Don't deceive yourselves.
• 25:58
  It's not a case of saying no sin.
• 26:00
  It's a case of saying.
• 26:01
  Confess your sin.
• 26:03
  This is the only way.
• 26:04
  You're going to be right with God.
• 26:06
  This is the only way.
• 26:07
  You're going to walk in his light.
• 26:10
  Confess your sins.
• 26:12
  Why hide your sin from God.
• 26:14
  When he knows it anyway.
• 26:16
  And the beauty of it is.
• 26:17
  He is able to forgive.
• 26:19
  He is faithful to forgive.
• 26:21
  When we confess.
• 26:24
  He doesn't say.
• 26:26
  I might.
• 26:28
  He says.
• 26:29
  If you confess.
• 26:30
  He is faithful to forgive.
• 26:32
  Otherwise.
• 26:33
  He would be unfaithful.
• 26:35
  He would be unjust.
• 26:37
  But he is faithful.
• 26:39
  To forgive.
• 26:40
  And so you see.
• 26:41
  We cannot say.
• 26:44
  We have no sin.
• 26:46
  Because that is lying.
• 26:47
  To ourselves.
• 26:49
  So the first one is lying to others.
• 26:50
  Second one is lying to ourselves.
• 26:52
  And then we have the third claim.
• 26:54
  In verse 10.
• 26:55
  If we say.
• 26:57
  We have not sinned.
• 26:58
  We make him a liar.
• 27:01
  And his word.
• 27:02
  Is not in us.
• 27:04
  You see.
• 27:04
  They're getting more and more serious.
• 27:07
  If we say.
• 27:08
  We have not sinned.
• 27:11
  Not just that we have no sin.
• 27:13
  Now.
• 27:14
  It's not like.
• 27:14
  Things have changed.
• 27:16
  But we have not sinned.
• 27:18
  We've never sinned.
• 27:19
  This is another false truth.
• 27:20
  That the people were being led astray by.
• 27:23
  We have not sinned.
• 27:26
  Well if we say this.
• 27:28
  It's not.
• 27:28
  We lie to others.
• 27:30
  It's not.
• 27:31
  We lie to ourselves.
• 27:32
  What does it say?
• 27:33
  We make him a liar.
• 27:36
  We make him a liar.
• 27:39
  And the word.
• 27:41
  Is not in us.
• 27:42
  So you see.
• 27:43
  The three are linked by lies.
• 27:46
  You lie.
• 27:47
  To others.
• 27:49
  You lie to yourself.
• 27:50
  Or you make him a liar.
• 27:51
  But you see also.
• 27:53
  The three are linked.
• 27:54
  To the word.
• 27:56
  In verse six.
• 27:57
  If we have.
• 28:00
  Fellowship with him.
• 28:01
  While we walk in darkness.
• 28:02
  We lie.
• 28:03
  And do not practice the truth.
• 28:05
  The word is not in us.
• 28:07
  You see the same.
• 28:09
  In verse eight.
• 28:10
  If we say.
• 28:10
  We have no sin.
• 28:11
  We deceive ourselves.
• 28:13
  We lie to ourselves.
• 28:14
  And the truth is not in us.
• 28:16
  The word is not in us.
• 28:18
  Verse ten.
• 28:18
  If we have not sinned.
• 28:20
  We make him a liar.
• 28:21
  And his word is not in us.
• 28:23
  The word is mentioned.
• 28:24
  In all three.
• 28:25
  The word.
• 28:26
  Is not in us.
• 28:29
  We are dismissing.
• 28:30
  The truth.
• 28:31
  We are dismissing.
• 28:32
  The word of God.
• 28:33
  That very thing.
• 28:34
  That we started with.
• 28:36
  That we need truth.
• 28:38
  We need the truth of God.
• 28:39
  We need the truth.
• 28:40
  Of his word.
• 28:43
  We are claiming.
• 28:45
  Wisdom.
• 28:45
  To ourselves.
• 28:47
  Otherwise.
• 28:47
  Otherwise.
• 28:50
  But we are sinners.
• 28:53
  We make God.
• 28:54
  A liar.
• 28:55
  Otherwise.
• 28:58
  And if we make God.
• 28:59
  A liar.
• 29:00
  Everything that he has done.
• 29:01
  For us.
• 29:02
  Is pointless.
• 29:04
  As Paul says.
• 29:05
  In Galatians.
• 29:06
  The seriousness.
• 29:07
  Of making God.
• 29:09
  A liar.
• 29:09
  Is seen there.
• 29:10
  Galatians two.
• 29:11
  Verse twenty.
• 29:12
  The life.
• 29:13
  I now live.
• 29:13
  In the flesh.
• 29:15
  I live by faith.
• 29:16
  In the son of God.
• 29:17
  Who loved me.
• 29:18
  And gave himself.
• 29:18
  For me.
• 29:19
  I do not nullify.
• 29:21
  The grace of God.
• 29:22
  For if righteousness.
• 29:23
  Were through the law.
• 29:24
  Then Christ died.
• 29:25
  For no purpose.
• 29:27
  If we go any other way.
• 29:29
  We make God.
• 29:30
  A liar.
• 29:30
  We nullify.
• 29:31
  The grace of God.
• 29:33
  And we say.
• 29:33
  Christ died.
• 29:34
  For no reason.
• 29:37
  Do we want.
• 29:38
  To be like that.
• 29:40
  Do we want.
• 29:41
  To nullify.
• 29:42
  Everything.
• 29:42
  That Christ.
• 29:43
  Has done.
• 29:44
  For us.
• 29:44
  Or do we see.
• 29:46
  That we are indeed sinners.
• 29:49
  We are indeed sinners.
• 29:51
  We had God.
• 29:52
  Has declared it.
• 29:53
  We are all sinners.
• 29:54
  We need his grace.
• 29:55
  Psalm 14.
• 29:56
  Verse two and three.
• 29:58
  The Lord looks down.
• 29:59
  From heaven.
• 29:59
  Upon the children of men.
• 30:01
  To see.
• 30:02
  If there are any.
• 30:03
  Who understand.
• 30:04
  Who seek God.
• 30:06
  They have all turned aside.
• 30:08
  They have together.
• 30:09
  Become corrupt.
• 30:10
  There is none.
• 30:11
  Who does good.
• 30:12
  No.
• 30:12
  Not one.
• 30:14
  All have sinned.
• 30:15
  And fall short.
• 30:16
  Of the glory of God.
• 30:17
  So who is right.
• 30:19
  Who is right.
• 30:23
  Are we right.
• 30:24
  To say.
• 30:25
  We have never sinned.
• 30:26
  We have no sin.
• 30:29
  Or is God right.
• 30:31
  Who says.
• 30:32
  We all sin.
• 30:33
  And fall short.
• 30:34
  Who is the liar.
• 30:36
  We lie to ourselves.
• 30:38
  If we think.
• 30:39
  We have not sinned.
• 30:40
  That sin.
• 30:42
  That sin.
• 30:42
  That sin.
• 30:42
  That sin.
• 30:44
  Doesn't need.
• 30:45
  Dealing with.
• 30:47
  But God.
• 30:48
  Has come.
• 30:48
  That.
• 30:49
  He might deal.
• 30:50
  With these things.
• 30:52
  What we need to do.
• 30:53
  Is realize this.
• 30:54
  The seriousness.
• 30:55
  Of sin.
• 30:56
  But also.
• 30:57
  The grace of God.
• 30:58
  Who is faithful.
• 30:59
  And just.
• 31:00
  To forgive.
• 31:02
  John Calvin.
• 31:03
  Once put it like this.
• 31:04
  Let us each.
• 31:04
  Consider.
• 31:05
  And examine.
• 31:06
  Ourselves.
• 31:07
  So as to acknowledge.
• 31:08
  That we are ruined.
• 31:11
  Until we are redeemed.
• 31:13
  By Christ.
• 31:14
  We are ruined.
• 31:15
  Until we are redeemed.
• 31:17
  By Christ.
• 31:20
  Can anyone say.
• 31:21
  Here tonight.
• 31:23
  We can walk in darkness.
• 31:26
  But also.
• 31:27
  Have fellowship with him.
• 31:29
  No.
• 31:31
  Can anyone say.
• 31:32
  Here tonight.
• 31:32
  If we say.
• 31:33
  We have no sin.
• 31:34
  Can anyone say.
• 31:35
  We have no sin.
• 31:36
  No.
• 31:37
  Can anyone say.
• 31:38
  We have never sinned.
• 31:40
  No.
• 31:42
  What we need.
• 31:42
  Is the truth.
• 31:44
  The truth is.
• 31:45
  That we are sinners.
• 31:46
  Who fall short.
• 31:48
  Of his glory.
• 31:50
  And what John.
• 31:50
  Is doing here.
• 31:51
  Is bringing.
• 31:52
  The people back.
• 31:53
  Teaching them.
• 31:54
  That we are to walk.
• 31:56
  In the light.
• 31:57
  Of the scriptures.
• 31:59
  We are to walk.
• 32:00
  In the light.
• 32:01
  Of God.
• 32:02
  Verse 7.
• 32:03
  But if we walk.
• 32:04
  In the light.
• 32:05
  As he is in the light.
• 32:07
  We have fellowship.
• 32:08
  With one another.
• 32:09
  And the blood of Jesus.
• 32:10
  His son.
• 32:11
  Cleanses us.
• 32:13
  From all sin.
• 32:15
  This is the desire.
• 32:16
  Of John.
• 32:17
  For the people then.
• 32:18
  The same as it is.
• 32:19
  For all of us.
• 32:20
  Here.
• 32:21
  Tonight.
• 32:22
  To have this fellowship.
• 32:23
  With one another.
• 32:25
  And the blood of Jesus.
• 32:26
  Cleansing us.
• 32:27
  From all.
• 32:28
  Our sin.
• 32:30
  Why?
• 32:31
  I'll go back.
• 32:32
  To verse 4.
• 32:33
  As well.
• 32:33
  We are writing.
• 32:35
  These things.
• 32:36
  So that.
• 32:37
  Our joy.
• 32:39
  May be complete.
• 32:40
  That we might have joy.
• 32:42
  In the Lord.
• 32:43
  Through fellowship.
• 32:44
  With one another.
• 32:45
  And with.
• 32:46
  The father.
• 32:47
  And his son.
• 32:49
  Jesus Christ.
• 32:52
  He came.
• 32:53
  To save us.
• 32:54
  From our sins.
• 32:55
  He is faithful.
• 32:55
  And just.
• 32:56
  When we confess.
• 32:57
  To forgive us.
• 32:58
  Our sins.
• 32:59
  But for that.
• 33:00
  We need to.
• 33:01
  Confess.
• 33:01
  We need to acknowledge.
• 33:02
  That we are sinners.
• 33:05
  And to do that.
• 33:06
  We are to walk.
• 33:07
  In the light of God.
• 33:09
  Not in the darkness.
• 33:12
  Because a godly character.
• 33:13
  Does not.
• 33:14
  Cannot.
• 33:15
  Will not.
• 33:16
  Develop.
• 33:17
  In darkness.
• 33:18
  We are to come.
• 33:20
  And walk.
• 33:21
  In the light.
• 33:22
  Of his truth.
• 33:24
  The light.
• 33:24
  Of his gospel.
• 33:26
  The light.
• 33:27
  Of his good news.
• 33:29
  To have fellowship.
• 33:30
  With one another.
• 33:31
  Father.
• 33:32
  And to have that.
• 33:33
  Closeness.
• 33:34
  That fellowship.
• 33:36
  With him.
• 33:37
  The father.
• 33:38
  And the son.
• 33:40
  The Lord Jesus.
• 33:42
  So we take sin.
• 33:44
  Seriously.
• 33:46
  And we come.
• 33:47
  To the truth.
• 33:49
  That we might.
• 33:50
  Confess our sin.
• 33:51
  And that he is faithful.
• 33:53
  And just.
• 33:54
  To forgive.
• 33:55
  Let us pray.
• 33:56
  Lord.
• 33:59
  Our gracious God.
• 34:00
  We do.
• 34:01
  Thank you.
• 34:01
  For your word.
• 34:02
  We thank you.
• 34:03
  For all.
• 34:04
  The instruction.
• 34:04
  It gives to us.
• 34:06
  We thank you.
• 34:06
  For the wisdom.
• 34:08
  That we have.
• 34:09
  From you.
• 34:09
  As our God.
• 34:11
  And when we have.
• 34:12
  Our own wisdom.
• 34:13
  In this world.
• 34:14
  That we so often.
• 34:14
  Lean upon.
• 34:16
  We thank you.
• 34:16
  That your truth.
• 34:17
  Brings us back.
• 34:19
  Brings us.
• 34:19
  Into the right paths.
• 34:21
  Brings us.
• 34:22
  Under its teaching.
• 34:23
  And under its rebuke.
• 34:24
  And its challenge.
• 34:26
  It does all things.
• 34:27
  For us.
• 34:28
  And we thank you.
• 34:29
  That it leads us.
• 34:30
  To your son.
• 34:31
  The Lord Jesus Christ.
• 34:33
  Even in these words.
• 34:34
  That we have.
• 34:35
  Been looking at.
• 34:36
  This evening.
• 34:37
  We see the contrast.
• 34:38
  Of light.
• 34:39
  And darkness.
• 34:41
  That in Jesus Christ.
• 34:42
  We have one.
• 34:43
  Who is the light.
• 34:44
  Of the world.
• 34:45
  That if we walk in him.
• 34:46
  We would not walk.
• 34:47
  In darkness at all.
• 34:49
  And so Lord.
• 34:50
  Lead us.
• 34:50
  We pray.
• 34:51
  Forgive us.
• 34:52
  Our sins.
• 34:53
  And cleanse us anew.
• 34:54
  That's all we ask.
• 34:55
  We ask in his precious name.
• 34:57
  Amen.
• 35:02
  We're going to conclude.
• 35:04
  By singing.
• 35:05
  To God's praise.
• 35:05
  In Psalm 43.
• 35:08
  The Scottish Psalter.
• 35:10
  Version.
• 35:10
  Psalm 43.
• 35:13
  At verse 3.
• 35:14
  To the end of the psalm.
• 35:15
  The tune is invocation.
• 35:18
  Psalm 43.
• 35:19
  On page 264.
• 35:21
  Oh send thy light forth.
• 35:22
  And thy truth.
• 35:23
  Let them be guides to me.
• 35:25
  And bring me to thine holy hill.
• 35:27
  Even where thy dwellings be.
• 35:29
  We'll sing from verse 3.
• 35:30
  To the end of the psalm.
• 35:32
  To God's praise.
• 35:33
  Oh send thy light forth.
• 35:41
  And thy truth.
• 35:43
  Let them be guides to me.
• 35:48
  And bring me to thy holy hill.
• 35:56
  Even where thy dwellings be.
• 36:01
  Then will I turn God's altar row.
• 36:09
  To God my chief and joy.
• 36:14
  Yet God my God.
• 36:19
  I name to praise.
• 36:23
  My harp.
• 36:25
  My harp.
• 36:26
  My harp.
• 36:28
  My harp.
• 36:30
  I will employ.
• 36:33
  I will employ.
• 36:37
  Why art thou then cast out my soul.
• 36:44
  What should discourage thee?
• 36:50
  And why with fixing thoughts are thou?
• 36:58
  This quieted in me.
• 37:03
  Still trust in God for him to praise.
• 37:11
  Good for thy head shall love.
• 37:17
  Give up my governance.
• 37:22
  Is thou help.
• 37:26
  My God.
• 37:29
  My God.
• 37:32
  My God.
• 37:34
  That doth me save.
• 37:37
  That doth me save.
• 37:40
  After the benediction I'll go to the main door.
• 37:45
  We'll close the benediction.
• 37:48
  Now may grace, mercy and peace from God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore.
• 37:57
  Amen.
• 37:57
  Amen.
• 37:58
  Amen.
• 37:59
  Amen.
• 38:01
  Amen.
• 38:03
  Amen.
• 38:05
  Amen.
• 38:05
  Amen.
• 38:06
  Amen.
• 38:10
  Thank you.