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The Character of God and The Life of Discipleship · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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The first letter of John and chapter 1 and we can read at verse number 5.
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! 1 John 1 at verse number 5.
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! This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you that God is light and in him is no darkness at all.
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And so on down to the end of this chapter.
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When we read our Bibles and we learn our Bibles, we understand that the Bible is about God's mission for his world.
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And all of the books of the Bible give expression to that mission in different ways.
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And when we read different books of the Bible, they give expression to the mission of God based upon the needs of those who are going to hear these letters read as they were or who are to read these letters in later generations.
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Letters are designed for particular people in particular situations so that they will understand the mission of God and so that they will come to understand the grace of salvation.
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This letter is exactly like that.
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It is of course in line with the mission of God.
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And it is in line with the mission of God because John wants people to know that they are the children of God.
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And when we read through the letter, we understand that the reasons that he is writing the way that he is, is because there was a lot of misunderstanding.
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There was a lot of misunderstanding.
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There was a lot of misunderstanding with regard to who Jesus was.
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There was a lot of misunderstanding with regard to how they should live their lives as the children of God.
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There was the misunderstanding as to how they should live their lives in relation to each other.
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And all of these three elements, they are not exclusive to those who are going to hear the letter from John.
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They are elements that we face and are challenged with in the whole life and the experience of Christ's church in the world.
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And John, in addressing the needs of the people, we could say that he has a double focus in this letter.
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And the first of these is, in the verse that we read, God is light.
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And then we have, in chapter 4, the whole idea that God is love.
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And these two great proclamations of these, God will hang everything that he is going to say that should affect their thinking,
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should affect their living, and should affect their relationship with the Lord Jesus.
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And when we look even further behind the issues that the hearers are facing in their lives,
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we understand the way in which John, in particular, in these verses and these strands are through,
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that in particular, he wants to remind them what faith means,
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and what it means for those who have a faith,
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that there is a particular lifestyle and living that is essential,
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and is also confirmation of the very life of the children of God in their hearts.
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And we read through the letter, and it's full of John's love for the people,
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his pastoral care, he's speaking to his family,
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because he cares for them.
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And today, from these words, we want to think of the character of God and the life of discipleship.
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And the first thing we want to notice is the perspective,
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how we view objects in relation to one another.
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And the perspective is the character of God,
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that in verse 5, God is light.
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He is absolute illumination.
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The psalmist tells us in Psalm 104 that he is clothed about with light as with a robe.
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Wherever we are going to find God,
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he is the God who is light.
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Paul speaks in writing to Timothy in 1 Timothy chapter 6,
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that God dwells in an approachable light.
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It's the brightness and the glaring of light that the human eye cannot behold.
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And as we read our Bibles,
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we see that the light that is God,
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that it shines and makes itself known in two particular ways.
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It makes itself known, first of all, in the work of creation.
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There was darkness, there was chaos, there was confusion.
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And God said, let there be light, and there was light.
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The Spirit of God hovering over the water brought about order,
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brought about light,
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and continued to bring about the beauty of God's creation.
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When I hear that God is light,
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I think of the name of God made known to me in the work of creation.
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He separated light from the darkness.
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He is the God who is light.
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But when I read my Bible also,
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I'm reminded that I see the light of God
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in his salvation.
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And we saw that in the Psalms that we sang.
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Psalm 27,
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The Lord is my light and my salvation.
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The same psalmist in Psalm 43 prays,
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Send your light forth and your truth.
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God is light.
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God is light in his salvation.
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He shines into the world
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because of his desire to save.
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And the third way in which we recognize
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the Bible speaking about God as light,
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it is with regard to his relationships
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with the people that he has created.
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The light speaks of his holiness,
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of the brightness of the shining of his character.
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And I read about Isaiah in chapter 6,
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and he saw the brightness of the shining of God
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and as soon as he was aware of the brightness
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and the holiness of God,
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he cried out,
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I am lost because of a man of unclean lips.
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He was a sinner.
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He was confronted with the light of the glory of God.
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Whatever God shines in his light,
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as he did also on Mount Sinai
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with regard to the children of Israel,
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he was going to come down
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and he was going to shine brightly.
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And he told Moses,
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tell the people not to come near this mountain
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because I am coming down
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in case they perish.
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The God who is light,
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who shines brightly in creation,
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who shines brightly in salvation,
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and who shines brightly in his relationship
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with all of his created creatures.
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That's the perspective.
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And God wants us today to recognize that
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so that wherever I go in life,
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I'm going to view every object before me.
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I'm going to view everything that I do.
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I'm going to view the places that I go to
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all under the perspective that God is light.
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Under the perspective of the shining of his beauty
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in creation,
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under the perspective of his promised salvation,
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and under the perspective that
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everything that I do
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has to do with my relationship with God.
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And the great display of the light,
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of the character of God,
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we have, of course,
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in the passion of the Lord Jesus.
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We may think of the distribution of light.
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We may think of connectivity.
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But there is distribution and connectivity
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when God sends his Son into the world,
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into the darkness of the world.
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The light shone in the darkness,
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and the darkness did not comprehend it.
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Jesus says,
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I am the light of the world.
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He knew who he was.
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And John tells us in John chapter 1,
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that no one has ever seen God,
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that the only Son has made him known.
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In him was life,
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and his life was the light of men.
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The perspective of the God who is light,
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now brought into close proximity with us
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in the oppression of his Son.
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And that's why Jesus says,
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in that chapter that we read,
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in John chapter 12,
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and also in John chapter 3,
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he speaks of the way in which,
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if they will follow me,
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they will not walk in darkness,
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but will have the light of life.
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Light illuminates.
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The other thing that light does,
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it unveils our true identity.
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Because under the perspective that God is light today,
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God wants us,
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and Jesus wants us to understand,
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that our response to God being light,
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is to become disciples of the Lord Jesus,
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and as soon as we do so,
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that we walk in his light.
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And if we are not doing so,
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and if we don't do so,
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then we continue to walk in darkness.
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The light of God revealed to us
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in the passion of the Lord Jesus,
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embodied in his passion and in his work,
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that reveals and unveils your identity.
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And as we move on,
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that today is critical.
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If we are to understand the mission of God
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in building his church,
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in forming his own family,
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in having children in the world
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that are going to be in his eternal family home,
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it is critical
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that as surely as John's hearers
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we're going to understand
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that this light shows them
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the kind of people that they are,
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we need to understand
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that as we worship God,
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we need to ensure
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that we are not confused in our thinking,
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but that we let the light of God
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through Jesus and through his word
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penetrate our lives
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and show to us
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whether a relationship with God today
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is the right one
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in the sense of being at peace with God
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or whether it is the wrong one,
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alienated from God
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and described by Paul
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in Romans chapter 5,
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enemies of God.
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The perspective.
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Let's not think
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it's for 60 minutes
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on the morning of the Lord's Day
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that we think of
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God as light
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as our perspective.
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It's a perspective
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for the whole of life
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and it shines into our lives
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to prove who we are
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and to enable us
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to see the things
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that are around us.
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The perspective.
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That leads me secondly
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to participation.
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If light is in Jesus
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and God's kingdom is in light
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and disciples are to understand
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who Jesus is,
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then how do we participate?
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How do we become part of God's family?
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John uses a word
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which speaks to us
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of coming together.
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In verse number 7,
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he speaks about
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having fellowship.
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It's having
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something in common.
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Something that we have
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a shared interest in.
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Something that is
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really precious to ourselves
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and precious to other people.
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And in a wider world
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in which we live,
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people will use
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the idea of fellowship
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for so many different things
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beyond the Bible.
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There's a fellowship
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because we gather
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around a particular constitution
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or a particular organization
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and we share
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the same interest
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and we gather together
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to discuss these interests.
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That is a fellowship
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that speaks of relationships
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out in the world.
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But here,
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there is a fellowship
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which is
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with the Father
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and with the Son,
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Jesus Christ.
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This is the true use
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of the word fellowship.
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fellowship
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that we have
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a shared interest
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in God
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as the Father
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who sent His Son
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and God
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as the Son
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who came into the world
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and in God
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as the Holy Spirit
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who shows
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Jesus
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to us.
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It's a fellowship
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of sharing
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that unites
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the people of God
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in order to
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give expression
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to the faith
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that they have
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and the love
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that they have
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for God.
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And perhaps
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at a general way
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of gathering
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to worship God
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on the Lord's Day
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is that sense
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of fellowship.
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We have a shared interest,
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we have a common interest,
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a common desire
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to gather together
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before God.
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We are here
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because of that
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shared sense
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of our need
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to come
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to worship God.
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and that in itself
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of course
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is to be encouraged
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and is commendable.
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But we understand here
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that those to whom
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John was writing
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that they were
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confused.
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They were confused
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about what it meant
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to live as the children
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of God.
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In verse number 6,
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if we say,
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this was their claim,
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if we say
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we have fellowship
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with him
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while we walk
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in darkness,
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we lie
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and do not
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practice the truth.
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They were making
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a claim.
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They were basically
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making a claim
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that they were
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the children of God.
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And in making
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that claim,
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their lives
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were lived
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in a particular way.
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They were walking
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in darkness.
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The whole idea
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of walking
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in the Bible
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in very simple terms
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is to walk
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about on my patio.
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In other words,
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it's walking
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about in my space
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in the world.
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And wherever I go,
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I have my space
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and I do certain
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things in my space.
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My patio
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is the way
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that I live my life.
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The way that I walk
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around in the world.
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And my patio
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should be
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the kind of
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area to live
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in my life
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and that is
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there as sanctioned
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by God
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and by the Word
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of God
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so that I walk
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around in that space
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where God's light
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shines on my life
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and where I'm
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walking in that light.
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But they are
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claiming that they
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have fellowship
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and yet
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they are walking
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in darkness.
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The space
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that they occupy
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in this world
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is a life
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lived
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in the service
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of darkness
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with no light
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of salvation
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with no light
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of God
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with no light
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of Jesus
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walking about
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doing the things
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of this world.
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And John speaks
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throughout this
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lecture
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of the way
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in which
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the love
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of the world
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and the things
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of this world
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they are not
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the things
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that are of God.
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They are the things
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that belong
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to the devil
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himself
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the God
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of this world.
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And immediately
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we have
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not only confusion
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but a complete
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contradiction
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that they are
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claiming one thing
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and living their lives
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in another way.
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And John tells them
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that
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they are lying
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and they do not
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practice
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the truth.
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Not simply
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that
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they are not
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agreeing
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with what
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the Bible says
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but living
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their lives
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in complete
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opposition
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to what
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the Bible
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says.
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And God
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wants
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you and I
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today
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to be
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on our guard
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with regard
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to this
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very thing
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that we may
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make a claim
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that we are
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the children
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of God.
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We may make
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a profession
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that we are
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the children
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of God.
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but we need
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to be
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on our guard
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that our lives
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are not lived
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in a way
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that contradicts
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that.
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That the space
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that I occupy
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in life
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is no different
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to the space
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occupied by those
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who have no faith
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and who have no God
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and have no desire
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for God.
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And if I
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say today
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that I am a child
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of God
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and I am so
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immersed
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and blended in
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with a lost world
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in its darkness
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that there is
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no distinction
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then I am
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getting confused
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and I am
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risking
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the whole
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of my salvation
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because of my
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confusion.
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It is not
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something that
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was alien
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or specific
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to those
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who were
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hearing this
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letter from John.
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It is something
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that appears
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time after time
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in the history
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of the church
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that you
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and I
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can be
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so confused
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in our thinking
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that we think
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we can become
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Christians
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and be Christians
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and our lives
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don't change
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at all.
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The confusion.
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There must be
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conformity
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in order
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to prove
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participation
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in salvation
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and to confirm
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that we are
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the children
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of God
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in verse
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number 7.
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But
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if we walk
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in the light
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as he is
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in the light
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we have fellowship
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with one another
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and the blood
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of Jesus
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son cleanses
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from all sin.
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If the space
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that I occupy
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is light
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and when I
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think of that
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space that I
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occupy
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which is
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light
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I think
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of three
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particular
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sources
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that give
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light
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into my
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space
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that govern
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my thinking
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and govern
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the way
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that I
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live
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and I
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think of
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the God
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who is
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light
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who speaks
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through creation
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who speaks
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through his
20:05
relationships
20:06
with me
20:07
I think
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of the God
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who is
20:08
light
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I also
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think of
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the sun
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who is
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the light
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of the world
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and all
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that he is
20:15
in his
20:15
passion
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and all
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that he has
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done
20:17
in his
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work
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that is
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the light
20:19
that shines
20:20
into my
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space
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and thirdly
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I have
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the light
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of the
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word of
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God
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so that
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there are
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three
20:27
closely
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linked
20:29
sources of
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light
20:31
radiation
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of light
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into my
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life
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that
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enable me
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to walk
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in a way
20:39
that is
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in harmony
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with God
20:41
consistent
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with the
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word of
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God
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and the
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means of
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establishing
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that
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fellowship
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that
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communion
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that
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walking
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with
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God
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that
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not only
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confirms
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that I'm
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the child
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of God
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but where
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I find
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the blessing
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Abraham
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was a
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friend
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of God
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God
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told Abraham
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in Genesis
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17
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walk before
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me and
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be perfect
21:07
occupy
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the
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sun
21:11
in this
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world
21:13
defined
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by me
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walk in
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that
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place
21:16
be
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perfect
21:18
go on
21:19
in your
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relationship
21:20
with me
21:20
the Bible
21:22
also tells
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us
21:23
with regard
21:24
to Enoch
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in Genesis
21:25
chapter 5
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that Enoch
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walked with
21:28
God
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and he
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was not
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because
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ultimately
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God
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took him
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to be
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with himself
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it is
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that sense
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of friendship
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with God
21:39
that sense
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of communion
21:42
with God
21:43
it is
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that sense
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of having
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our lives
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permeated
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by the
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word of
21:51
God
21:52
walking
21:54
in the
21:55
light
21:55
we have
21:56
fellowship
21:56
with one
21:57
another
21:58
and notice
21:59
he does
21:59
not say
22:00
that we
22:01
have
22:01
fellowship
22:01
with the
22:02
father
22:02
and with
22:02
the son
22:02
we have
22:03
fellowship
22:04
with each
22:04
other
22:05
and here
22:07
is the
22:08
formation
22:09
of God's
22:09
family
22:10
who are
22:12
the others
22:12
who is
22:13
going to
22:14
have
22:14
fellowship
22:14
it is
22:15
John
22:16
and the
22:16
other
22:16
apostles
22:17
with all
22:18
of the
22:18
people
22:19
in the
22:19
churches
22:19
that they
22:19
are
22:20
speaking
22:20
to
22:20
it's
22:21
the
22:22
gathering
22:22
of people
22:23
around
22:24
the Lord
22:24
Jesus
22:25
and around
22:25
the word
22:26
of God
22:26
we have
22:28
fellowship
22:28
with
22:29
each
22:31
other
22:31
and that's
22:33
what
22:33
defines
22:34
ourselves
22:34
today
22:34
as the
22:35
people
22:35
of God
22:36
that because
22:37
of the
22:38
way in
22:38
which the
22:39
light shines
22:39
into our
22:40
lives
22:40
because we
22:42
are persuaded
22:42
to be
22:43
disciples of
22:44
the Lord
22:44
Jesus
22:45
that because
22:46
of that
22:47
we have
22:48
fellowship
22:49
with each
22:50
other
22:50
we worship
22:52
God together
22:53
we talk to
22:54
each other
22:55
about God
22:55
we talk to
22:57
each other
22:57
about our
22:58
experiences
22:59
as the
22:59
children of
23:00
God
23:00
we have
23:01
fellowship
23:02
with
23:03
each other
23:04
and there
23:07
is a
23:07
vital
23:08
ingredient
23:09
at the
23:10
very
23:11
center
23:11
of that
23:12
participation
23:12
which
23:14
ensures
23:15
that our
23:16
participation
23:17
in the
23:17
fellowship
23:18
and in the
23:18
communion
23:19
goes on
23:20
forever
23:21
dare I
23:22
say
23:22
wherever
23:25
there is
23:25
fellowship
23:26
wherever
23:28
there is
23:28
commonality
23:29
or community
23:31
there will
23:32
be
23:33
issues
23:34
and problems
23:35
and John
23:37
wants them
23:37
to understand
23:38
here that
23:38
that will
23:39
surely be
23:40
the case
23:40
in the
23:42
relationship
23:42
with God
23:43
because of
23:44
the kind
23:44
of people
23:44
they are
23:45
but he
23:47
says
23:47
the blood
23:51
of Jesus
23:51
son
23:52
cleanses
23:53
us
23:53
from all
23:55
sin
23:55
my walk
23:58
with my
23:59
God
23:59
and with
23:59
my
24:00
savior
24:00
in the
24:02
zone
24:02
defined
24:03
by him
24:03
and my
24:05
relationship
24:06
with my
24:06
God
24:07
is
24:07
maintained
24:08
by God
24:09
through the
24:10
passion of
24:11
Jesus
24:11
and through
24:12
the cross
24:13
of Jesus
24:13
that my
24:15
heart is
24:16
washed
24:16
continually
24:17
by the
24:18
blood of
24:18
Jesus
24:18
so that
24:19
the sin
24:20
that would
24:20
separate me
24:21
from God
24:22
and does
24:23
separate me
24:23
from God
24:23
is removed
24:25
and wiped
24:25
away
24:26
so that
24:28
there is
24:29
continuity
24:30
not only in
24:32
my relationship
24:33
but in my
24:35
friendship
24:35
with God
24:36
and in my
24:36
walk with
24:37
God
24:37
participation
24:40
how much
24:43
does
24:44
the space
24:45
that you
24:46
occupy
24:47
how much
24:49
is it
24:49
filled with
24:50
God
24:51
and with
24:51
Jesus
24:52
and with
24:52
his word
24:53
and how
24:55
much is
24:55
the space
24:56
that you
24:57
occupy
24:57
filled with
24:58
a sense
24:59
of growing
25:00
appreciation
25:01
of the
25:02
preciousness
25:03
of the
25:03
cross of
25:04
Jesus
25:04
that wipes
25:05
away your
25:06
sin every
25:06
day
25:07
and how
25:08
much is
25:09
your space
25:09
filled
25:10
with a
25:11
sense of
25:11
marvelling
25:12
that
25:13
the God
25:15
who is
25:15
light
25:15
that he
25:16
is also
25:16
the God
25:17
who is
25:17
love
25:18
and that
25:19
he
25:19
pours that
25:20
out into
25:20
your life
25:21
every day
25:23
there is no
25:24
participation
25:25
if we're
25:26
walking in
25:27
darkness
25:28
walking in
25:29
the light
25:29
confirms
25:30
our part
25:32
in the
25:32
family of
25:33
God
25:33
and gives
25:35
to us
25:35
every day
25:36
a sense
25:36
of belonging
25:37
a sense
25:38
of care
25:39
and a
25:39
sense
25:40
of God's
25:40
love
25:41
for us
25:42
perspective
25:45
participation
25:46
and finally
25:49
prescription
25:51
they were
25:54
confused
25:55
about the
25:56
kind of
25:56
life that
25:57
they should
25:57
live
25:57
they were
25:58
also
25:59
confused
26:00
about
26:01
their
26:02
sinnership
26:02
and in
26:04
verse 8
26:04
and in
26:05
verse 10
26:05
we see
26:06
two aspects
26:07
of that
26:07
confusion
26:08
and in
26:10
verse 8
26:11
we read
26:11
if we
26:12
say we
26:13
have no
26:13
sin
26:13
they
26:15
didn't
26:16
understand
26:17
that they
26:17
were sinners
26:18
by nature
26:19
as David
26:19
learned
26:20
they didn't
26:21
understand
26:21
that they
26:22
had a
26:22
sinful
26:23
condition
26:23
at all
26:24
living
26:25
life
26:26
oblivious
26:27
to the
26:27
fact
26:28
that by
26:30
nature
26:30
they were
26:31
sinners
26:31
in the
26:32
sight of
26:32
God
26:33
and in
26:34
verse 10
26:34
they are
26:35
saying
26:35
if we
26:38
say we
26:38
have not
26:39
sinned
26:39
the two
26:41
things
26:41
they
26:42
didn't
26:43
have a
26:43
sinful
26:44
condition
26:44
and they
26:45
didn't
26:45
practice
26:45
sin
26:46
every day
26:46
total
26:48
confusion
26:49
about the
26:50
thing that's
26:51
at the
26:51
center of
26:52
the
26:52
breakdown
26:53
of their
26:53
relationship
26:54
with God
26:55
and that's
26:57
where we
26:57
can be
26:57
today
26:58
they were
26:58
here
26:59
as part
27:00
of the
27:00
Christian
27:01
community
27:01
that John
27:02
was writing
27:02
to
27:03
and despite
27:04
being part
27:05
of the
27:05
Christian
27:06
community
27:06
have an
27:07
understanding
27:08
of the
27:09
word of
27:09
God
27:09
despite all
27:11
of that
27:11
they were
27:12
confused
27:12
about their
27:13
status
27:13
and they
27:14
were confused
27:15
about their
27:15
practice
27:16
as sinners
27:16
and it
27:19
is a
27:20
fearful
27:21
thing
27:21
that you
27:23
can be
27:23
here today
27:24
and be
27:25
equally
27:25
confused
27:26
unmoved
27:28
by the
27:28
very mention
27:29
that you
27:29
are a
27:30
sinner
27:30
unmoved
27:31
by the
27:32
very mention
27:32
that you
27:32
sin
27:33
in thought
27:34
word
27:34
and in
27:34
deed
27:34
confused
27:37
into
27:38
the sense
27:39
of
27:39
dismissing
27:40
and going
27:42
to
27:42
as far
27:44
as
27:44
making
27:45
God
27:45
a liar
27:47
it's not
27:49
a means
27:50
of
27:50
sitting
27:51
on the
27:52
fence
27:52
or being
27:52
neutral
27:53
when I
27:54
don't
27:55
recognize
27:55
my
27:55
sinnership
27:56
when I
27:57
don't
27:57
recognize
27:57
that I
27:58
sin
27:59
I
28:01
am
28:01
saying
28:01
that
28:02
God
28:03
is
28:03
a
28:03
liar
28:03
and
28:05
that's
28:05
a
28:05
serious
28:06
matter
28:06
that I
28:07
can
28:08
live
28:08
my
28:08
life
28:08
that
28:09
everything
28:10
that I
28:11
do
28:11
and
28:12
practice
28:12
every
28:12
day
28:13
of my
28:13
life
28:13
that it
28:14
speaks
28:15
out
28:15
against
28:16
God
28:16
that it
28:17
says
28:17
that God
28:17
is a
28:18
liar
28:18
because
28:18
I
28:20
fail
28:20
to
28:20
conform
28:21
what
28:23
is the
28:24
prescription
28:24
in
28:27
verse
28:27
number
28:27
nine
28:27
if we
28:29
confess
28:31
our
28:32
sins
28:33
he is
28:34
faithful
28:35
and just
28:36
to forgive
28:37
us our
28:37
sins
28:37
and to
28:38
cleanse
28:38
us
28:39
from all
28:39
unrighteousness
28:40
if we
28:43
confess
28:43
our
28:44
sins
28:45
to put
28:48
it simply
28:48
it is
28:50
saying
28:50
the same
28:51
thing
28:51
about
28:52
something
28:53
as someone
28:54
else
28:54
it comes
28:56
with that
28:57
sense
28:57
of agreement
28:58
and so
29:00
in the
29:01
context
29:01
here
29:02
it is
29:03
saying
29:04
something
29:04
about
29:05
my
29:05
sin
29:05
that
29:07
someone
29:07
else
29:08
God
29:08
says
29:08
about
29:08
my
29:09
sin
29:09
and it
29:10
is
29:11
with
29:11
regard
29:11
to
29:12
my
29:12
sin
29:12
there
29:13
is
29:13
an
29:13
agreement
29:14
between
29:14
what
29:15
God
29:15
says
29:16
and
29:16
what
29:16
I
29:16
say
29:17
with
29:17
regard
29:17
to
29:17
my
29:18
sin
29:18
and
29:19
using
29:20
that
29:20
triangle
29:21
and
29:21
these
29:21
points
29:22
on that
29:22
triangle
29:22
that's
29:23
where
29:23
my
29:24
confession
29:24
comes
29:25
I
29:26
see
29:26
my
29:27
sin
29:27
and
29:29
I
29:29
begin
29:29
to
29:29
see
29:30
it
29:30
the
29:30
way
29:30
God
29:30
sees
29:31
it
29:31
I'm
29:31
seeing
29:31
it
29:31
through
29:32
the
29:32
eyes
29:32
of
29:32
God
29:33
because
29:33
of
29:33
the
29:33
word
29:34
of
29:34
God
29:34
and
29:34
because
29:35
of
29:35
the
29:35
spirit
29:35
of
29:35
God
29:36
and
29:36
what
29:37
God
29:37
says
29:38
with
29:38
regard
29:38
to
29:38
my
29:38
sin
29:39
that
29:39
it
29:39
is
29:39
worthy
29:40
of
29:40
eternal
29:41
punishment
29:42
then
29:42
I
29:42
agree
29:43
with
29:43
that
29:43
I
29:43
say
29:44
the
29:44
same
29:44
thing
29:44
as
29:45
God
29:45
and
29:48
in
29:48
the
29:48
whole
29:48
idea
29:49
of
29:49
confession
29:49
it
29:50
is
29:51
not
29:51
enough
29:52
to
29:52
think
29:52
the
29:53
same
29:53
thing
29:53
as
29:53
God
29:54
because
29:56
the
29:56
very
29:56
heart
29:57
of
29:57
confession
29:58
and
29:58
of
29:58
turning
29:59
away
29:59
from
29:59
my
29:59
sin
29:59
is
30:00
to
30:00
verbalize
30:01
what
30:02
I
30:02
think
30:02
of
30:03
my
30:03
sin
30:03
and
30:04
to
30:05
take
30:05
what
30:05
I
30:05
think
30:06
of
30:06
it
30:06
in
30:06
the
30:06
light
30:06
of
30:07
what
30:07
God
30:07
has
30:07
said
30:07
and
30:08
to
30:08
say
30:08
the
30:09
words
30:09
over
30:10
to
30:10
my
30:11
God
30:11
because
30:12
God
30:13
wants
30:13
to
30:13
hear
30:14
me
30:14
verbalizing
30:15
my
30:16
changed
30:17
attitude
30:17
to
30:18
my
30:18
sin
30:18
and
30:21
when
30:21
I
30:21
do
30:22
that
30:22
God
30:25
is
30:25
pleased
30:26
God
30:29
promises
30:30
to
30:31
forgive
30:32
my
30:33
sin
30:33
to
30:35
carry
30:35
away
30:36
the
30:36
guilt
30:36
to
30:37
remove
30:37
the
30:38
burden
30:38
that
30:40
David
30:41
had
30:41
in
30:41
Psalm
30:41
32
30:42
which
30:42
we're
30:42
going to
30:42
sing
30:43
shortly
30:43
the
30:44
burden
30:44
that he
30:44
had
30:45
because
30:45
the
30:45
hand
30:46
of
30:46
God
30:46
was
30:46
heavy
30:47
upon
30:48
him
30:48
and
30:50
he
30:50
went
30:50
on
30:50
to
30:51
lay
30:52
bare
30:52
his
30:52
sins
30:53
before
30:53
God
30:54
he
30:55
went
30:55
on
30:55
to
30:56
speak
30:56
of
30:56
the
30:57
guilt
30:57
that
30:58
lay
30:58
within
30:58
him
30:59
being
31:00
carried
31:00
away
31:01
and
31:04
that's
31:04
the
31:06
center
31:07
the
31:07
heartbeat
31:09
of my
31:10
relationship
31:11
with
31:11
God
31:11
that it's
31:13
concerning
31:14
my
31:14
sin
31:15
that I
31:16
confess
31:17
my
31:17
sin
31:18
to
31:18
God
31:18
say
31:18
the
31:19
same
31:19
thing
31:19
about
31:20
my
31:20
sin
31:20
as
31:21
God
31:21
does
31:22
see
31:24
what
31:24
God
31:25
says
31:25
about
31:25
my
31:25
sin
31:26
with
31:27
regard
31:27
to
31:27
its
31:27
condemnation
31:28
and
31:29
see
31:29
what
31:29
God
31:30
says
31:30
about
31:30
my
31:31
sin
31:31
with
31:32
regard
31:32
to
31:32
the
31:33
cross
31:33
of
31:33
Jesus
31:34
and
31:36
when
31:36
I
31:36
see
31:37
both
31:38
these
31:38
things
31:38
and
31:39
say
31:39
these
31:40
things
31:40
then
31:42
God
31:42
in
31:43
his
31:44
grace
31:44
and
31:45
consistent
31:47
with
31:47
his
31:48
character
31:48
he
31:50
takes
31:50
my
31:51
sin
31:51
away
31:52
and
31:54
today
31:54
as
31:55
we
31:55
close
31:55
and
31:57
we
31:57
leave
31:57
this
31:58
building
31:58
let's
32:00
think
32:00
of
32:01
this
32:01
prescription
32:02
and
32:03
let's
32:04
think
32:04
of
32:04
not
32:05
just
32:05
leaving
32:06
a
32:06
building
32:06
but
32:08
let's
32:09
think
32:09
of
32:09
leaving
32:10
our
32:10
sin
32:11
behind
32:11
because
32:13
God
32:13
has
32:13
taken
32:14
it
32:14
away
32:14
and
32:16
let's
32:16
verbalize
32:17
our
32:17
sense
32:18
of
32:19
sinnership
32:20
in a
32:20
heartfelt
32:20
way
32:21
so
32:23
that we
32:23
may
32:23
come
32:23
to
32:24
wonder
32:24
and
32:26
to
32:26
find
32:26
peace
32:26
and
32:27
joy
32:27
in
32:28
having
32:29
our
32:29
sins
32:29
forgiven
32:30
there
32:31
is
32:31
no
32:31
greater
32:32
joy
32:32
than
32:33
to
32:33
have
32:33
that
32:34
burden
32:34
of
32:34
guilt
32:35
taken
32:35
away
32:36
and
32:37
to
32:37
have
32:37
peace
32:38
with
32:39
God
32:39
and
32:41
may
32:41
God
32:41
help
32:41
us
32:41
today
32:42
to
32:42
go
32:43
forward
32:43
with
32:44
the
32:44
perspective
32:45
of
32:45
the
32:45
fact
32:45
that
32:46
he
32:46
is
32:46
light
32:46
on
32:47
regard
32:48
against
32:48
being
32:49
confused
32:50
about
32:50
what
32:50
living
32:51
as
32:51
a
32:51
Christian
32:51
might
32:51
mean
32:52
and
32:54
being
32:54
on
32:54
regard
32:54
against
32:55
the
32:55
confusion
32:56
about
32:57
our
32:57
sin
32:57
and
32:59
ensuring
32:59
that
33:00
we
33:00
are
33:00
on
33:00
the
33:00
same
33:01
page
33:01
as
33:01
God
33:02
with
33:03
regard
33:03
to
33:03
our
33:03
sin
33:04
and
33:04
on
33:04
the
33:04
same
33:05
page
33:05
as
33:05
God
33:06
with
33:06
regard
33:06
to
33:07
the
33:07
cross
33:08
of
33:08
Jesus
33:08
and
33:09
then
33:09
we
33:10
have
33:10
peace
33:11
then
33:11
we
33:11
are
33:11
children
33:12
then
33:13
we
33:13
know
33:13
who
33:14
we
33:14
are
33:14
and
33:15
we
33:15
know
33:15
where
33:16
we
33:16
are
33:17
going
33:17
may
33:17
God bless
33:18
his
33:18
word
33:18
let us
33:18
pray
33:19
most
33:20
grace
33:21
God
33:21
we
33:21
rejoice
33:22
in
33:22
every
33:23
way
33:24
in
33:24
which
33:24
you
33:24
speak
33:25
into
33:25
our
33:25
lives
33:26
we
33:26
give
33:27
thanks
33:27
to
33:27
you
33:27
for
33:27
your
33:27
light
33:28
we
33:28
give
33:29
thanks
33:29
to
33:29
you
33:29
for
33:29
your
33:29
light
33:30
and
33:30
the
33:30
person
33:30
of
33:30
your
33:31
son
33:31
give
33:32
thanks
33:32
to
33:32
you
33:33
for
33:33
the light that shines from the darkness of Calvary's cross
33:37
and help us today, O Lord God, to have the light of your truth
33:41
upon our hearts, the light of your spirit upon
33:45
the person of your Son as Savior and bring us to that place
33:49
where we embrace him and receive him and accept him
33:53
as our own personal Savior for today and for life and for
33:57
eternity. So hear our prayer and accept us for Jesus' sake. Amen.
34:03
So our closing psalm is
34:06
Psalm 32 and we're singing it in Sing Psalms.
34:11
It's on page 38
34:13
and the tune is Arlington. Psalm 32
34:19
at verse 1.
34:22
How blessed the one who has received
34:24
forgiveness for his sin, whose sins are covered from God's
34:29
face, whose debt is cancelled in God's grace, there's no
34:33
deceit in him. We stand to sing from verse 1 to verse
34:36
Mark 6 to God's praise.
34:37
How blessed the one who has received forgiveness for his sin, whose sins are covered from God's
35:06
from God's grace, whose death is cancelled in God's grace, there's no deceit in him.
35:11
When I kept silent all my bones, whose death is cancelled in God's grace, there's no deceit in him.
35:28
When I kept silent all my bones, with gold in God's grace, there's no doubt beneath your heart.
35:30
When I kept silent all my bones, with gold in God's grace, there's no doubt beneath your heart.
35:32
When I kept silent all my bones, with gold in God's grace, there's no doubt beneath your heart.
35:37
When I kept silent all my bones, with gold in God's grace, there's no doubt beneath your heart.
35:44
When I kept silent all my bones, with gold in God's grace, there's no doubt beneath your heart.
35:51
When I kept silent all my bones, with gold in God's grace, there's no doubt beneath your heart.
35:52
I felt in trouble, O day and night my strength was up,
36:08
As in the summertime, Then I lit bare my sin to you,
36:27
The guilt that lived within.
36:35
I said, O Lord, I have transgressed,
36:45
And you forgive when I confess,
36:55
You pardon all my sin.
37:04
So let the calling bring to you,
37:15
While you are to be found.
37:23
Surely when waves are sweeping past,
37:34
On mighty waters rising past,
37:44
You'll keep them safe as come.
37:53
So please allow me to go to the main door after the benediction.
37:57
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
37:59
The love of God, the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
38:03
Be with you all now and forevermore.
38:05
Amen.