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1 John 4:13-21 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Well, good morning, Providence Baptist Church.
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Excited to be with you again this morning.
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Go ahead and take your copy of God's Word and open to the book of 1 John.
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We're going to be finishing out chapter 4 this morning. Chapter 5, verse 13. Before we do that, I want to open with a question. How? How do I
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know I am a Christian.
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That is a question that every person in here has probably asked at least a few times, if not many times, throughout their life.
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It's a very common question and a common fear that true Christians do experience.
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How can I be certain that I will inherit eternal life on the day of judgment?
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And that I won't be one of the ones who hears, depart from me, I never knew you.
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And I will submit to you that one way to answer this question, in one word, is love.
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And love is bound up with a number of assurances for the believer to have here and now.
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1 John 4, 13-21, continues from where we left off last week.
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And it's debatable whether or not it begins a new section or not.
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But regardless, you'll see one way or another, however you want to break the text down, it is deeply connected to the prior week's text.
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And in that text from last week, we saw that love is from God.
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God is love, the necessity for us to love one another in the way of Christ, and the results or benefits of abiding in God and in love.
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And so it's here that our text picks up.
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And with these things in mind, please read with me.
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1 John 4, 13-21.
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John writes,
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In these things, or excuse me, by these things we know that we abide in him, for he has sent his spirit, or given us his spirit.
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And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent his Son, the Savior of the world.
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Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God.
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And we have come to know and we believe the love which God has for us.
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God is love.
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And the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
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Love is perfected in this way with us.
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So that we may have confidence on the day of judgment.
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For just as that one is, so also we are in this world.
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There is no fear in love.
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But perfect love casts out fear.
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For love has to do with punishment.
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But the one who fears has not been perfected in love.
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We love for he first loved us.
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If someone says, I love God, but hates his brother, he is a liar.
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For the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, is not able to love God whom he has not seen.
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And this command we have from him.
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The one who loves God must love his brother.
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As we consider our text today, the first assurance that John offers his readers is the gift of the spirit.
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If you're taking notes, this is our first heading.
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Assurance from the gift of his spirit.
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In verse 13.
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Read that with me once more.
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By this we know that we abide in him and he in us.
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That he has given of his spirit to us.
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This is the first assurance.
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The simple fact that God has given of his spirit.
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The wording is unusual in our text today.
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I normally think of being given the Holy Spirit or something like that.
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But it says he has given of his spirit.
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And it's debatable why this unique wording in the New Testament.
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But regardless, John seems to be connecting the giving of the spirit to love.
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And this wouldn't be unique to him.
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Paul does this explicitly in Romans 5.5.
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He says God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
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So as we receive the spirit, we receive love.
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There's a deep connection between the receiving of the spirit and love.
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And so verse 13 of 1 John 4 calls back to last week's text.
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1 John 4, 7 through 8.
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Where we saw that love is from God and God is love.
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Love.
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So thus to have of God's spirit is to have of love.
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The spirit provides a certain subjective assurance to the believer.
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While producing the objective assurance of a life marked by love.
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You'll recall I said love is not merely a mark of the true Christian.
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But it is ultimately the mark of the true Christian.
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It is the irrefutable evidence.
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And so when we love properly and in Christian community.
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This is a sign of the spirit at work in us.
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Which means God must therefore necessarily abide in us.
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And so that is assurance number one.
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The spirit is our seal and sanctifies us.
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Resulting in love.
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In verse 14 we see assurance number two.
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Which is the apostolic witness.
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Assurance from the apostolic witness.
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Heading number two.
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Read with me again.
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John writes verse 14.
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And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent the Son.
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The Savior of the world.
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John is one of the apostles who walked with Christ during his three year ministry.
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He saw the many miracles of Christ.
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He saw Christ crucified.
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He saw Jesus' tomb empty.
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He saw Jesus resurrected and walking around.
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Speaking with people.
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Holes in his hands.
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All these things.
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He saw him ascended into heaven.
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And he was not alone when he saw these things.
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The other apostles and some other disciples were with him in each of these instances.
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This is why John opens his epistle with these famous words.
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First John 1.
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One through two.
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That which was from the beginning.
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Referring to Jesus.
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That which was from the beginning.
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Which we have heard.
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Which we have seen with our eyes.
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Which we looked upon and have touched with our hands.
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Concerning the word of life.
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The life was made manifest.
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And we have seen it.
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And testified to it.
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And proclaimed to you the eternal life.
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Which was with the Father.
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And was made manifest.
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To us.
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That is a long, repetitive, very clear way of saying over and over again.
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I saw what I saw.
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I know it.
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And there were people there with me.
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To back it up.
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I'm not crazy.
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He saw this.
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It's real.
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And so in our text today.
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John reminds his readers.
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What a power play.
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Right?
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We have seen.
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And we testify.
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I'm a witness.
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We're all witnesses.
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That the Father sent the Son.
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The Savior.
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Of the world.
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And so brothers and sisters.
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You can have confidence.
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That the Gospels portray accurately.
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And truthfully.
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The reality.
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Of the person and work.
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Of the God-man.
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Jesus Christ.
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Our Savior.
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These are not.
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Just merely religious texts.
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It's history.
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And true history.
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Not the stuff you find on.
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The history channel.
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Or YouTube.
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They wrote these stories down.
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They taught the earliest churches.
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Which they planted.
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And they practiced the way of love.
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Incarnate.
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Handing down this great deposit.
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From generation.
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To generation.
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All the way.
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To us.
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Today.
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And so we have.
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An incredible lineup.
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Of witnesses.
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Testimony.
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That should bolster.
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Our assurance.
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John offers this.
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He was there.
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Assurance number three.
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Those who confess.
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Jesus.
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As the Son of God.
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Have God.
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Abiding.
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In them.
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Assurance.
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From confessing.
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Jesus.
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Verse 15.
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John says.
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Whoever.
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Confesses.
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That Jesus.
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Is the Son of God.
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God abides in him.
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And he.
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And God.
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Whoever.
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Doesn't matter.
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Your sin.
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Your nationality.
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Your gender.
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Your background.
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What you're known for.
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Whatever.
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Whatever.
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Whoever.
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Confesses.
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That Jesus.
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Is the Son of God.
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God abides.
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In that.
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Person.
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And so we have.
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This.
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Assurance.
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From the Spirit.
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A clear mark.
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Of the Christian.
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Is one who.
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Verbally.
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And publicly.
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Professes.
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That Jesus.
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Is the Son.
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Of God.
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You could.
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Rightly.
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Label this.
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As a theological.
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Or a.
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Doctrinal test.
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To know.
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If you're a Christian.
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However.
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I do fear.
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Those words.
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Don't sound.
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Personal.
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Enough.
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To some.
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Ears.
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But understand.
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John is making.
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A very.
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Personal.
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Point.
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If you know.
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Jesus.
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The real.
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True.
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Jesus.
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Then you know.
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He is.
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The Son.
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Of God.
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And if you don't.
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Know him.
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You don't.
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Know.
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That he's.
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The Son.
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Of God.
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Imagine.
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If I said.
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I really love.
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Nathan Rainer.
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We enjoy.
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Watching football.
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Together.
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With autumn.
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Treats.
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Well.
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Clearly.
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My claim.
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To know him.
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Loses.
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All credibility.
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Because he's.
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A loud mouth.
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About how much.
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He hates football.
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And everything.
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Good and right.
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About fall.
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Treats.
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Right.
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I'm already.
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Gearing up.
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For the anti-sugar talk.
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Here we go.
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I don't know where he is.
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But I do love him.
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I would lose all credibility.
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If I said that.
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It's so obvious.
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I do not know Nathan Rainer.
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If I say that.
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And you can't.
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Chalk that up.
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To simple.
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Misunderstanding.
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He talks about it.
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All the time.
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You should know this.
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Likewise.
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Likewise.
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Anyone who claims.
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To follow Christ.
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And know him.
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But does not recognize him.
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As the son of God.
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Is just.
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Painfully.
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Sadly.
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Clearly.
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Mistaken.
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They have not.
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Encountered.
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The Jesus of the Bible.
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That's when you and I.
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Confess with our mouths.
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That Jesus.
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Is the son of God.
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We can be assured.
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That that confession.
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Is of the spirit.
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And therefore.
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We are born.
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Again.
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Likewise.
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Paul speaks.
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In first Corinthians.
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Twelve.
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Verse three.
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He says.
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Therefore.
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I want you to understand.
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That no one.
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Speaking.
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In the spirit of God.
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Ever says.
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Jesus.
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Is accursed.
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First.
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And he goes on.
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And no one.
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Can say.
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Jesus.
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Is Lord.
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Except.
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In the Holy.
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Spirit.
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And so.
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It is of utmost importance.
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Therefore.
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That we publicly.
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Profess.
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As a church.
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Together.
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With one another.
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And to the world.
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That.
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Jesus.
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Is the son of God.
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For evangelism's sake.
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Yes.
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But also.
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And I think we so often.
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Forget this.
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Also.
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For the sake of building.
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One another's faith.
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In love.
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And growing.
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In personal.
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Assurance.
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Confessing Jesus.
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To one another.
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In the world.
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Strengthens our faith.
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In our assurance.
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And yet.
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We have.
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Even greater assurance.
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Still.
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In knowing.
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And believing.
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In God's.
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Love.
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That is.
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Where John goes.
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After reflecting on.
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All these things.
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And that is assurance.
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Number.
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Four.
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From our text.
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Assurance.
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From knowing.
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And believing.
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In God's.
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Love.
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Love.
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This is the first half.
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Of verse 16.
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John writes.
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And we have come.
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To know.
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And to believe.
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The love.
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Which God.
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Has.
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For.
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Us.
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Incredible.
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John's wording here.
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Rightly.
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We.
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So often.
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Think about.
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Knowing.
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And believing.
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In God.
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Or Jesus.
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Or the gospel.
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But John.
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Calls attention.
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Specifically.
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To God's.
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Love.
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To believe.
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In the love.
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Of God.
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And so.
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Every Christian.
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Here.
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Must ask.
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Themselves.
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Do I believe.
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God.
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Loves me.
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Because.
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John.
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Certainly.
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Does.
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As do.
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His.
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Associates.
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And.
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He is not.
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Describing.
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Some.
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Passing.
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Momentary.
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Warm.
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Hallmark.
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Card.
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Feeling.
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While writing.
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This letter.
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He's describing.
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A.
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A resolved.
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Knowledge.
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A.
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A settled.
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Belief.
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Or trust.
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That doesn't go.
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Up or down.
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With.
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The good.
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And the bad.
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Of life.
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It is a fixed.
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Singular.
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Hope.
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Trust.
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We have.
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Come to know.
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And believe.
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We did this.
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In the past.
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With continuing.
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Present.
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And ongoing.
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Results.
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We have.
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Come to know.
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And to believe.
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The love.
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Which God.
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Has for us.
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What is this love?
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Well John.
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Defined this for us.
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Last week.
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He showed us.
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In first.
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John.
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Four.
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Nine.
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That God.
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Showed his love.
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For us.
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In the sending.
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Of his only.
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Begotten.
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Son.
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Verse 10.
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God showed his love.
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For us.
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By loving us.
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Before we loved him.
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And God showed his love.
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For us.
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Verse 10.
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As well.
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By sending his son.
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As a propitiation.
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For our.
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Sins.
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It is this.
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Defined.
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And articulated.
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Expression.
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This love of God.
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Embodied.
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In the person.
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And work.
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Of Jesus Christ.
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To which.
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John.
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Has a resolved.
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Knowledge.
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And a.
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Sure.
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Trust.
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Trust.
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And therefore.
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Friends.
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If we want to be sure.
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Of God's love.
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For us.
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Then we need to be.
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Very.
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Familiar.
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With the person.
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And work.
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Of Jesus.
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As shown.
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In the fourfold.
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Gospel accounts.
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As prefigured.
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And anticipated.
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In the Old Testament.
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And further.
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Explained.
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And extrapolated.
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In the epistles.
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And awaited.
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In Revelation.
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Show me a Christian.
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Who can't remember.
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Simple details.
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From the gospel accounts.
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And I'll show you.
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A Christian.
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Who lacks.
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Assurance.
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A Christian.
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Who questions.
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God's love.
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For them.
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Because they've not.
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Spent.
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The needed.
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And constant.
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Time.
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Reflecting.
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On God's love.
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Christ incarnate.
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His life.
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His works.
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God's love.
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Is made.
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Clear.
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In Jesus.
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And John's.
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Confidence.
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Comes from walking.
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With him.
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From knowing him.
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From meditating.
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On his word.
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From writing.
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Some of his word.
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Right.
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John.
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Knows these.
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Things.
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Immerse yourself.
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In his life.
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His works.
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His teaching.
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Do not.
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Let these things.
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Become distant.
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Memories.
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Due to lack.
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Of study.
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Meditation.
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And discipline.
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Fixate.
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Your eye.
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On Christ.
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John continues.
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As we store up truths.
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And understanding.
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Of the person.
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And work.
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Of Christ.
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We.
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Grow.
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In assurance.
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Of God's love.
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For us.
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But this love.
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Then.
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Branches out.
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And this.
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Leads to John's.
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Fifth.
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Assurance.
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Offered.
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Assurance.
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From God's.
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Abiding.
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And perfected.
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Love.
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Second half.
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Of verse 16.
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John says.
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God.
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Is.
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Love.
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The one.
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Who abides.
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In love.
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Abides.
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In God.
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And God.
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Abides.
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In him.
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In this.
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Love.
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Is perfected.
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With us.
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So that.
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We may have.
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Confidence.
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On the day.
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Of judgment.
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For just.
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As that.
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One.
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Is.
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So also.
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We are.
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In this.
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World.
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There is.
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No.
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Fear.
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In love.
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But perfect.
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Love.
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Casts out.
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Fear.
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For fear.
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Has to do.
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With punishment.
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But the one.
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Who fears.
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Has not.
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Been perfected.
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In love.
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So John.
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Repeats.
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Himself.
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From last.
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Week's.
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Text.
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He says.
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God.
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Is.
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Love.
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He then.
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Uses.
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The word.
19:33
Abide.
19:34
Three times.
19:35
In verse 16.
19:35
Alone.
19:37
To describe.
19:38
The.
19:38
The tightness.
19:39
Of the presence.
19:41
Between a person.
19:42
Who loves.
19:43
And love.
19:45
And God.
19:45
Because God.
19:46
Is.
19:47
Love.
19:48
John.
19:48
Is being.
19:49
Overly.
19:49
Emphatic.
19:50
But now.
19:53
He adds.
19:53
This line.
19:54
Of thinking.
19:55
In a similar fashion.
19:56
From last week.
19:57
In verse.
19:58
17.
19:58
He says.
19:59
By this.
20:00
Love.
20:00
Is.
20:01
Perfected.
20:01
Or you could say.
20:02
Made complete.
20:03
Or made whole.
20:05
With us.
20:07
So.
20:08
God's abiding.
20:09
In us.
20:09
And our abiding.
20:11
In him.
20:12
Progressively.
20:13
Completes.
20:13
His love.
20:14
In the church.
20:15
The.
20:15
The with us.
20:16
Of verse 17.
20:17
Again.
20:19
That is not.
20:19
To say.
20:21
That God's.
20:22
Love.
20:22
Is somehow.
20:23
Deficient.
20:25
As if God.
20:25
Is growing.
20:26
Or changing.
20:27
No.
20:27
Absolutely not.
20:28
That would be.
20:28
Heresy.
20:30
Rather.
20:31
As I said.
20:32
Last week.
20:33
This word.
20:34
Perfect.
20:35
Or make.
20:35
Complete.
20:36
Or whole.
20:36
In this.
20:37
Context.
20:38
I said.
20:39
God's expression.
20:40
Of love.
20:41
For.
20:41
Thank you.
20:42
God's expression.
20:43
Of love.
20:44
For us.
20:45
Is not.
20:46
Complete.
20:46
Or whole.
20:47
Apart.
20:48
From the church.
20:49
Being faithful.
20:51
To love.
20:51
One another.
20:53
God's love.
20:53
Does not.
20:54
Return.
20:55
To him.
20:55
Void.
20:55
It accomplishes.
20:57
Something.
20:58
And so.
20:58
In that sense.
20:58
It's made.
20:59
Complete.
21:00
As it accomplishes.
21:01
His will.
21:02
Making us.
21:03
As loving.
21:04
As he.
21:05
Loves.
21:06
As he.
21:06
Is.
21:07
Love.
21:10
Now.
21:11
We saw.
21:11
How God's love.
21:12
Results.
21:13
In.
21:13
Communal.
21:14
Love.
21:14
Among.
21:15
The saints.
21:16
Peace.
21:16
But now.
21:17
John.
21:17
Makes clear.
21:18
It also.
21:19
Results.
21:19
In confidence.
21:20
On the day.
21:21
Of.
21:22
Judgment.
21:25
Sadly.
21:26
The world's.
21:26
Character.
21:26
Of an angry.
21:27
God.
21:28
Who's just.
21:29
He's just.
21:29
Got to thump.
21:30
Somebody.
21:30
He's so mad.
21:32
Has infected.
21:33
The church.
21:33
To the point.
21:34
That.
21:35
We fear him.
21:36
In a.
21:36
Faithless.
21:37
Way.
21:38
I'm not.
21:40
Talking about.
21:41
Proverbs.
21:42
And that kind of.
21:43
Fear.
21:43
Right.
21:43
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
21:45
Note.
21:45
That is a good fear.
21:46
We should have that fear.
21:47
Is a.
21:48
A fear of respect and understanding of creator versus creature.
21:52
Of sinner versus holy God.
21:54
That is a good fear.
21:57
What I'm talking about is a skeptical or unbelieving fear.
22:03
From a professing Christian.
22:06
In which you question.
22:07
Is God.
22:08
Going to surprise me somehow.
22:09
Is this all just some game.
22:10
Am I going to get bamboozled in the end.
22:12
Right.
22:13
Am I just finished no matter what.
22:14
Is he actually.
22:16
Merciful.
22:18
Or will I be condemned.
22:20
On the day of judgment.
22:23
That is the kind of fear that John.
22:25
Is addressing this.
22:27
This doubting of God's.
22:29
Character and promises.
22:31
As revealed.
22:32
In scriptures.
22:33
God really.
22:34
Who he says.
22:36
He is.
22:38
That kind of fear.
22:40
But when we understand the love.
22:44
Of God.
22:46
When we understand the love he has.
22:48
For us.
22:49
As shown in his son.
22:50
And then abide in that love.
22:51
And God abides.
22:52
In us.
22:53
And we in him.
22:55
Then love is made complete.
22:57
To the point of demolishing.
22:59
Such fear.
23:01
The doubts.
23:02
The questions.
23:04
The.
23:04
The.
23:06
Introspective.
23:08
Loop of misery.
23:09
It goes away.
23:14
And so this kind of love.
23:16
As John makes.
23:18
Excuse me.
23:19
This kind of fear.
23:20
As John makes clear.
23:21
In verse 18.
23:23
Has nothing.
23:24
To do.
23:26
With perfect.
23:27
Love.
23:27
Love.
23:29
And so.
23:30
The.
23:31
Assessment.
23:32
Self-assessment.
23:33
That you have to give yourself.
23:35
In light of this text.
23:36
Is this.
23:38
Am I more afraid.
23:40
Of condemnation.
23:42
On the day of judgment.
23:43
Or am I more confident.
23:45
Of God's love for me.
23:48
Right.
23:48
Which side.
23:49
Do you fall on.
23:50
Because.
23:51
It's the latter.
23:53
Mark.
23:53
That sets out.
23:56
A mature.
23:57
Christian.
23:59
This confidence.
24:00
That is maturity.
24:01
That is.
24:02
A strong.
24:03
Faith.
24:07
Now.
24:08
A quick word.
24:08
Of clarification.
24:09
On that.
24:10
Right.
24:11
Do not.
24:11
Be discouraged.
24:12
About your salvation.
24:14
Or faith.
24:16
If you still.
24:17
Experience.
24:17
This kind of fear.
24:19
From time.
24:20
To time.
24:20
It's common.
24:23
And if that is you.
24:24
I would encourage you.
24:25
To share that.
24:26
With a brother.
24:27
Or sister.
24:28
In the church.
24:29
Who can walk through that.
24:31
With you.
24:33
But again.
24:33
I'll just tell you.
24:34
From experience.
24:35
Not.
24:36
Uncommon.
24:37
It's one of the most.
24:37
Common questions.
24:39
Pastors get.
24:40
I've heard that.
24:40
From so many.
24:41
Of my.
24:42
Pastor friends.
24:43
Or just even the.
24:44
The big name guys.
24:45
You can YouTube.
24:45
And whatever.
24:46
This is such.
24:47
A common.
24:48
Thing.
24:49
For Christians.
24:52
Nothing strange.
24:53
Is overcoming you.
24:56
Myself.
24:56
I have dealt with this.
24:57
Many times.
24:58
For several years.
24:59
Especially.
24:59
As an early.
25:01
Christian.
25:02
Struggled with such.
25:03
Fears.
25:04
And doubts.
25:07
But in light of our text.
25:09
The more you fixate.
25:10
Your mind.
25:11
On Jesus Christ.
25:13
All that he is.
25:14
All that he's done.
25:15
All that he is doing.
25:16
Truly.
25:18
The more silly.
25:19
You will feel.
25:20
For doubting him.
25:22
And I don't say silly.
25:23
To disparage you.
25:25
I say that from my own.
25:26
Personal experience.
25:27
The more I really.
25:28
Began to see this.
25:30
To understand it.
25:31
To trust it.
25:32
I just felt.
25:33
Ridiculous.
25:34
Why?
25:35
Why?
25:35
Did I doubt?
25:36
God.
25:37
His son.
25:38
Died for you.
25:41
And so friends.
25:42
Look.
25:43
To Christ.
25:44
He is your.
25:44
Ultimate assurance.
25:46
Of God's love.
25:48
For you.
25:49
That is an assurance.
25:50
By the way.
25:52
That your own spouse.
25:54
Your own children.
25:55
Your own parents.
25:56
Your own friends.
25:57
Whoever you think.
25:58
Loves you.
25:59
However much.
25:59
They may truly love you.
26:01
They have never.
26:03
And could never.
26:03
Offer you.
26:05
Such an assurance.
26:06
Of their love.
26:08
Friends.
26:08
This is a.
26:09
Sure.
26:11
Love.
26:11
Love.
26:11
And this is why.
26:16
John repeats.
26:16
His words.
26:17
From last week's text.
26:19
In verse.
26:20
Nineteen.
26:23
He says.
26:23
We love.
26:24
Because he first.
26:25
Loved.
26:26
Us.
26:27
He is both.
26:28
Encouraging.
26:29
The reader.
26:29
That they can be.
26:30
Confident.
26:30
Of God's love.
26:31
For them.
26:31
Because it originates.
26:32
With God.
26:33
Despite us.
26:36
While also.
26:37
Transitioning.
26:38
To a.
26:39
Familiar.
26:40
Hypothetical.
26:43
And this is our final.
26:45
Heading.
26:45
A familiar.
26:47
Hypothetical.
26:48
Verse 19.
26:49
Read with me.
26:51
We love.
26:52
Because he first.
26:53
Loved.
26:54
Us.
26:56
If anyone.
26:57
Says.
26:58
I love God.
26:59
But he hates his brother.
27:01
He is a liar.
27:03
For the one who does not love his brother.
27:05
Whom he has seen.
27:06
Is not.
27:07
Able.
27:08
To love God.
27:08
Whom he has not seen.
27:10
In this commandment.
27:12
We have.
27:13
From him.
27:14
Whoever loves God.
27:16
Must.
27:17
Love.
27:18
His brother.
27:25
Because love.
27:26
Is from God.
27:27
God.
27:28
Is love.
27:29
And God.
27:29
First.
27:30
Loved us.
27:31
Anyone who claims.
27:32
To love God.
27:33
But hates his brother.
27:34
Is a.
27:35
Liar.
27:36
John makes this point.
27:37
Clear.
27:38
Over.
27:38
Over.
27:38
And over.
27:40
Again.
27:42
And this time.
27:43
He wraps a.
27:44
A nice bow.
27:44
Around it.
27:45
With the.
27:46
Idea.
27:47
Of.
27:47
Seeing God.
27:48
As we discussed.
27:50
Last week.
27:51
You'll.
27:52
Recall.
27:52
That I said.
27:53
Of first.
27:53
John.
27:54
Four.
27:54
Verse.
27:54
Twelve.
27:55
That.
27:56
There is a.
27:57
Sense.
27:58
In which we.
27:59
See God.
28:00
Even now.
28:01
In this community.
28:02
As we love.
28:02
One another.
28:03
As he.
28:03
As Christ.
28:04
Has loved.
28:04
Us.
28:05
We get.
28:06
A glimpse.
28:07
Of God.
28:08
So to speak.
28:09
Insofar.
28:10
As we are.
28:10
Faithful.
28:11
To love.
28:12
Because God.
28:12
Is.
28:14
Love.
28:14
Well.
28:15
This time.
28:15
John spells out.
28:16
Further.
28:17
The logic.
28:17
Of that idea.
28:19
He says.
28:20
In verse 20.
28:20
That.
28:22
Anyone who does not.
28:23
Love his brother.
28:24
Is not able.
28:25
To love God.
28:26
Why?
28:26
Because.
28:27
You can see.
28:27
Your brother.
28:28
I'm looking at.
28:29
All of you right now.
28:29
I can see you.
28:30
You can see me.
28:32
But none of us.
28:35
Can see God.
28:36
And so this is a lesser.
28:38
To greater.
28:39
Argument.
28:39
Why?
28:40
Do you think you're.
28:40
Self-capable.
28:43
A loving God.
28:44
Whom you can't see.
28:46
When the brother.
28:47
Right in front of you.
28:48
Who you're looking at.
28:50
You hate.
28:52
That is what John.
28:54
Is showing us.
28:57
And by the way.
28:58
Connecting this to last week.
29:00
Part of this problem.
29:01
For the unloving one.
29:03
Is that by not loving.
29:05
His brother.
29:05
He is.
29:06
Blinded to even that.
29:08
Glimpse of God.
29:09
So to speak.
29:10
And so he is just.
29:11
Blind.
29:12
Blind.
29:13
Blind.
29:13
He's missing it.
29:14
He does not.
29:16
Love.
29:19
Verse 21.
29:20
John reminds his readers.
29:21
Of the old.
29:22
Yet new.
29:23
Command.
29:25
To love one another.
29:26
As Christ.
29:27
Has loved us.
29:28
We discussed this.
29:29
Old yet new.
29:29
Command.
29:30
Two weeks ago.
29:31
In first.
29:31
John 2.
29:32
Seven.
29:33
And following.
29:35
But recall.
29:36
The newness.
29:37
Of this new.
29:38
Covenant.
29:38
Command.
29:38
It is.
29:39
The degree.
29:40
Of love.
29:41
To which we are now.
29:42
Called.
29:44
In the old.
29:45
Testament.
29:46
God's people.
29:47
Were called.
29:47
To love their neighbors.
29:48
As themselves.
29:49
Because no.
29:50
But you don't love.
29:51
Anything.
29:51
Or anyone.
29:52
More than yourself.
29:53
So that was.
29:54
The standard.
29:55
Leviticus.
29:56
Nineteen.
29:56
Eighteen.
29:57
One.
29:57
But in the new covenant.
30:00
Jesus makes.
30:01
Plain.
30:01
That we now.
30:02
Are commanded.
30:03
To love one another.
30:05
As Christ has loved us.
30:06
John 13.
30:08
34.
30:08
35.
30:09
That is a massive.
30:11
Change.
30:12
Is so heightening.
30:14
And elevating.
30:15
The degree.
30:16
To which we are now.
30:17
Called.
30:18
To love.
30:19
Love.
30:21
And so let me say.
30:22
In addition.
30:23
To your own.
30:24
Personal interest.
30:25
In removing fear.
30:26
And gaining assurance.
30:28
That if you want.
30:29
To love fully.
30:30
And rightly.
30:31
If.
30:32
If I can say it this way.
30:33
If you want to have.
30:34
True love for others.
30:35
Right.
30:35
I don't mean that.
30:36
In any kind of Disney way.
30:37
You know how I feel about Disney.
30:38
But.
30:38
If you want to have.
30:39
True love for others.
30:41
Right.
30:42
Look to Christ.
30:45
If you are to keep.
30:46
This commandment.
30:47
There is no.
30:49
Other way.
30:50
To do it.
30:51
He himself.
30:53
Is.
30:53
The plumb line.
30:56
And so this is not merely.
30:57
A comment on.
30:59
Hermeneutics.
31:00
Or what the Bible is all about.
31:01
Right.
31:01
It is also a common.
31:03
A much more important comment.
31:05
Describing a way.
31:06
Of life.
31:09
And that way.
31:10
Is love.
31:11
It is the way.
31:13
Of Christ.
31:15
So friends.
31:15
Let's do this together.
31:16
As we have been.
31:18
And I pray.
31:19
Continue to do more.
31:21
Of.
31:22
Let us know.
31:23
The joy.
31:23
Of this life.
31:25
Forever.
31:26
By loving one another.
31:28
As Christ.
31:29
Has loved us.
31:30
And he will be.
31:31
All the more magnified.
31:33
And glorified.
31:36
And we will be.
31:36
All the more.
31:37
Blessed.
31:39
Praise God.
31:40
God.
31:42
So in closing.
31:43
I just want to offer.
31:44
Some additional.
31:46
Application.
31:47
And reflection.
31:49
And light.
31:50
Of our text.
31:51
This morning.
31:52
Additional.
31:53
Application.
31:55
Number one.
31:59
Think of.
32:00
Core groups.
32:01
Or your.
32:02
Discipleship.
32:02
Relationship.
32:03
Whatever that is.
32:04
Whatever you call it.
32:04
You know.
32:05
DNA group.
32:05
Or.
32:06
You know.
32:07
Whatever the new name is.
32:07
I don't know.
32:09
Think of.
32:10
Core groups.
32:12
Less.
32:12
As accountability.
32:14
Groups.
32:15
In more.
32:16
As.
32:17
Encouragement.
32:18
Or.
32:18
Assurance.
32:19
Groups.
32:22
Last week.
32:22
I encouraged you all.
32:24
To practice.
32:25
Affirmation.
32:26
In the life.
32:27
Of the body.
32:27
And you can think of.
32:29
Today's.
32:30
Application.
32:30
This one.
32:31
As.
32:32
An expansion.
32:32
On that.
32:33
A very specific.
32:33
Way.
32:34
Of doing this.
32:35
That I think would be good.
32:36
And right.
32:37
I first heard this from.
32:40
Michael Lawrence.
32:41
He's a pastor out in.
32:43
Oregon.
32:45
And he said this at a most.
32:46
At the most recent.
32:47
Feed my sheep.
32:49
Conference.
32:50
And as I've reflected on this.
32:51
In light of scripture.
32:52
Since February.
32:54
I just think it is so.
32:56
True.
32:58
So.
32:59
It's true that yes.
33:00
We need to confess sins.
33:01
To one another.
33:02
That's James 5.
33:03
16.
33:04
We need to share one another's burdens.
33:06
Galatians.
33:06
Galatians.
33:07
6.
33:07
2.
33:08
And we need to.
33:09
Do this kind of hard work.
33:10
Of accountability.
33:12
Yes.
33:12
I'm not saying.
33:13
Don't do that.
33:13
I'm just saying.
33:14
Maybe.
33:14
Perhaps.
33:15
Less of that.
33:17
In more of this encouragement.
33:19
Because.
33:20
It.
33:21
It.
33:21
Seems.
33:22
That.
33:22
The.
33:22
The trap.
33:24
So often.
33:24
The temptation.
33:26
In a core group type environment.
33:30
Is to treat it as a problem solving time.
33:33
Right.
33:33
Hey.
33:33
I've got an issue with X.
33:35
Will you meet up with me about it?
33:36
That's often why we form four groups.
33:39
I'm trying to get over some sin habit.
33:41
Or.
33:42
Whatever.
33:44
And again.
33:44
Please don't mishear me.
33:45
That is a good and wonderful thing.
33:47
Don't stop that.
33:48
Right.
33:48
If anything.
33:49
Do more.
33:50
Of that.
33:51
But my concern.
33:52
However.
33:52
And I think Michael Lawrence's.
33:56
Is that we do this so much.
33:57
That it becomes the singular focus.
34:00
And we lose sight of the constant.
34:04
New Testament thrust.
34:05
Of encouragement.
34:07
Assurance.
34:08
Affirmation.
34:09
That is just littered in Paul's letters.
34:12
Alone.
34:13
That we see between brothers and sisters.
34:17
In Christ.
34:18
It's so.
34:19
Easy to come to core groups.
34:21
In discipleship environments.
34:22
Whatever those look like.
34:23
However.
34:24
One on one.
34:25
Or.
34:25
Fifteen people.
34:26
Whatever it is.
34:27
It's so easy to come to that.
34:30
Assuming.
34:30
Everybody is steeped in the gospel.
34:32
Knows it well.
34:33
It's treasured by them.
34:34
In that moment.
34:36
And that things are just kind of going well.
34:37
In that regard.
34:40
And so.
34:41
What we need to do.
34:42
Is just.
34:42
Offer them solutions.
34:43
To whatever present problem.
34:45
They're facing.
34:46
And we think of that.
34:47
As if it's divorced.
34:49
Or separate.
34:51
From these gospel truths.
34:53
When they are just not.
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Notice John.
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Though writing to people.
34:59
He clearly identifies.
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As Christians.
35:03
He never stops.
35:04
Talking.
35:06
About.
35:07
Basic facts.
35:08
If you will.
35:10
Of Jesus.
35:11
And how those.
35:12
Basic facts.
35:13
Give shape.
35:14
And meaning.
35:15
And encouragement.
35:17
To Christians.
35:19
With the ultimate aim.
35:19
To glorify God.
35:20
And assure.
35:22
His beloved.
35:23
I can tell you.
35:26
From personal experience.
35:27
I have been.
35:28
In a core group.
35:29
Type.
35:30
Set up.
35:31
With Alex Kohler.
35:33
For.
35:34
Ten years.
35:34
Or so.
35:35
And.
35:36
For me.
35:37
Personally.
35:37
I haven't.
35:38
Talked with him.
35:38
About this.
35:39
Be interesting.
35:39
To know.
35:40
I.
35:41
I can just say.
35:43
That.
35:43
The most memorable.
35:45
Conversations.
35:46
We've had.
35:47
Are you nervous?
35:48
The most memorable.
35:52
Ones.
35:54
By far.
35:56
Have been.
35:56
The ones.
35:57
In which.
35:57
We're.
35:58
Reminding each other.
35:59
Of these.
35:59
Basic truths.
36:00
Of Christ.
36:00
And what they mean.
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For him.
36:02
And I.
36:02
In this.
36:03
Very moment.
36:04
We don't do it.
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Every week.
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We don't even do it.
36:06
Majority of the time.
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Sorry.
36:08
If I'm exposing you.
36:09
But every time.
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We have.
36:11
It's been.
36:11
So great.
36:14
I can recall.
36:15
Even as I say.
36:15
This now.
36:16
From last.
36:17
Fall.
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I was in Atlanta.
36:19
At the time.
36:20
So we're having to do.
36:21
Our core group time.
36:22
Over zoom.
36:23
We never really.
36:24
Stopped meeting.
36:25
But I can recall.
36:27
Being in tears.
36:28
And you guys know me.
36:29
Not a crier.
36:29
Unless I'm preaching.
36:30
Apparently.
36:30
But.
36:31
Normally not a crier.
36:33
And I'm in tears.
36:34
Talking with him.
36:35
About.
36:35
Just the reality.
36:36
That our names.
36:37
Are written.
36:38
In heaven.
36:40
That our sins.
36:41
Were nailed.
36:43
To a cross.
36:46
And I'll just.
36:47
I'll never.
36:48
Forget that.
36:49
Never.
36:52
And it's precisely.
36:53
Because.
36:54
Of such.
36:56
Conversations.
36:57
And brotherhood.
36:57
The encouragement.
36:58
Happening.
36:59
The basic facts.
37:00
Being shared.
37:00
And I don't mean that.
37:01
To belittle it.
37:02
I just know.
37:03
We so often do.
37:03
We think we've outgrown it.
37:04
But.
37:05
We haven't.
37:08
I'll just.
37:08
I'll never forget that.
37:09
I'm so.
37:10
Thankful.
37:11
So friends.
37:12
Don't miss out.
37:14
Right.
37:14
Don't squander.
37:16
The opportunities.
37:17
You have.
37:19
In your.
37:20
Discipleship.
37:21
Times.
37:22
To simply.
37:23
Consider.
37:23
Christ.
37:24
Together.
37:24
To revel.
37:26
At his person.
37:27
His work.
37:29
And ironically.
37:30
That is actually.
37:32
The very.
37:33
Root.
37:34
From which.
37:34
You will begin.
37:35
To truly solve.
37:36
Whatever problems.
37:36
You're trying to solve.
37:38
So these things.
37:39
Are not divorced.
37:40
They're together.
37:42
It is.
37:43
From the gospel.
37:44
That we are saved.
37:45
That is the.
37:46
The.
37:47
The.
37:47
The good news.
37:49
The message.
37:49
Of salvation.
37:50
But it's also the gospel.
37:52
That sanctifies.
37:53
Don't.
37:54
Forget.
37:55
The gospel.
37:56
Second application.
38:01
And relatedly.
38:03
Lead.
38:04
The gospels.
38:06
Lead.
38:07
The gospels.
38:08
In other words.
38:10
Know.
38:10
The gospel accounts.
38:12
Really.
38:12
Well.
38:13
Matthew.
38:13
Mark.
38:14
Luke.
38:14
And John.
38:16
Right.
38:17
I don't mean.
38:17
To imply.
38:18
In saying this.
38:19
That the old testament.
38:20
Or the epistles.
38:21
Are.
38:22
Unimportant.
38:23
Or less important.
38:24
Or.
38:24
Or anything.
38:24
Like that.
38:26
All of God's word.
38:27
Is profitable.
38:28
Yes.
38:28
And amen.
38:31
Yet.
38:32
The gospels.
38:34
As.
38:34
Dr.
38:35
Jonathan.
38:35
Pennington.
38:36
I think.
38:36
Has helpfully.
38:37
Said.
38:38
They.
38:39
They really.
38:39
Do.
38:39
Do.
38:40
Just.
38:40
Function.
38:41
In the.
38:41
Canon.
38:41
Of.
38:41
Scripture.
38:43
As a.
38:43
Sort.
38:43
Of.
38:44
Archway.
38:46
Okay.
38:46
Everything.
38:46
Flows.
38:47
To them.
38:48
And.
38:48
Out of.
38:49
Them.
38:49
Because.
38:50
Everything.
38:51
In.
38:51
Scripture.
38:51
Points.
38:52
Forward.
38:53
To Christ.
38:54
Or.
38:54
Backward.
38:54
To Christ.
38:55
And the gospels.
38:56
Are.
38:56
Of course.
38:57
Four biographies.
38:59
Of.
39:00
Christ.
39:02
And so.
39:02
Therefore.
39:03
Everything.
39:04
You read.
39:04
In the Bible.
39:05
From Genesis.
39:06
To Revelation.
39:07
Is.
39:08
Either.
39:09
Anticipatory.
39:10
Explanatory.
39:11
Or.
39:11
Some kind.
39:11
Of.
39:12
Extrapolation.
39:13
From.
39:14
The content.
39:15
Of.
39:15
The fourfold.
39:16
Gospels.
39:17
Christ.
39:17
Has.
39:18
Come.
39:18
The veil.
39:19
Has.
39:19
Been.
39:19
Removed.
39:20
We see.
39:20
Ever.
39:20
More.
39:21
Clearly.
39:22
And that.
39:22
Forever.
39:23
Changes.
39:23
How.
39:23
We read.
39:24
The old.
39:27
And so.
39:28
If these things are true.
39:28
How.
39:29
Difficult.
39:30
Will it be.
39:31
As a new covenant believer.
39:34
To grasp the meaning of.
39:35
Of any part of scripture.
39:37
Apart from a firm.
39:39
Understanding.
39:40
Of the archway.
39:42
To which all has come.
39:44
Or gone.
39:45
One.
39:47
So again.
39:48
Do not make the mistake.
39:50
Of thinking you've outgrown.
39:52
The gospels.
39:54
And the gospel.
39:57
Just to think of core group alone.
39:59
Let a.
40:00
Of course we could talk about all kinds of relationships.
40:02
Your marriage.
40:03
Your relationship with your kids.
40:04
And so forth.
40:05
Just core group alone.
40:06
What good.
40:08
Is iron sharpening iron.
40:10
When one piece is rusted.
40:11
Due to neglect.
40:14
And lack of discipline.
40:15
To study.
40:16
And meditate.
40:17
Upon the stories of Christ.
40:19
Right.
40:19
The good piece of iron.
40:21
While being sharp.
40:21
In these good truths.
40:23
And storing them up.
40:24
Will actually break.
40:26
The rusted piece.
40:28
And meanwhile.
40:29
The rusted piece.
40:30
Will offer nothing.
40:31
In return.
40:33
To the good piece.
40:34
How good it is.
40:37
When neither piece is rusted.
40:40
The fruit.
40:41
That is born.
40:42
Of such.
40:43
Relationships.
40:46
And it's precisely.
40:47
Because.
40:48
Of John's.
40:49
Depth.
40:49
In the gospels.
40:50
He has the advantage.
40:51
Of having been there.
40:52
And written one.
40:53
Yes.
40:54
Granted.
40:55
But nonetheless.
40:57
Because of John's.
40:58
Depth.
40:58
In the gospels.
41:00
That he is so.
41:02
Skillfully.
41:02
Able to apply.
41:04
The stories.
41:04
And the teachings.
41:05
Of Jesus.
41:07
Into a very.
41:08
Complicated church.
41:09
Situation.
41:09
Where false teachers.
41:10
Have gone out.
41:11
And divided the body.
41:12
And caused people.
41:12
Not to believe.
41:13
Whether or not.
41:14
They're Christians.
41:15
It's because.
41:15
John knows.
41:16
These truths.
41:17
Well.
41:18
These basic truths.
41:19
If I might add.
41:20
That he is able.
41:21
To skillfully.
41:22
Encourage.
41:23
An entire community.
41:24
Of hurting.
41:26
Doubting.
41:27
Saints.
41:30
So if you want.
41:31
To be.
41:31
A better.
41:32
Encourager.
41:34
A gift.
41:34
That seems.
41:35
To be.
41:35
So lacking.
41:36
In our.
41:37
Digital.
41:38
Social media.
41:39
Cultural age.
41:41
Then know.
41:41
We're better.
41:43
And remind.
41:44
Yourself.
41:44
Regularly.
41:46
Of the Jesus.
41:47
Of scripture.
41:48
And obey him.
41:50
Is this not.
41:51
What it means.
41:52
To abide in him.
41:53
Is this not.
41:54
Part of us.
41:56
And so.
41:56
I offer.
41:57
This principle.
41:57
The proportion to which you know and meditate upon the person and work of Christ.
42:07
Is proportionate to the potential you have to encourage your brothers and sisters.
42:13
the proportion to which you know and meditate upon the person and work of christ
42:17
is proportionate to the potential you have to encourage your brothers and sisters
42:26
application number three
42:30
and it is a simple and remember found thing know and remember
42:40
that god is love i do not take that for granted
42:48
god is love it's so easy to forget this especially if you're like me and you grew up in church hearing
42:56
this your whole life but god is love not all religions claim that about their gods this is
43:06
amazing god is love in preparation for this sermon this week i read from the bnh academic
43:15
exegetical guide to the greek new testament
43:17
which is not typically a very applicational or doxological resource it's exegetical as the title
43:27
suggests and believe it or not it's even more nerdy than it sounds but even more in that book
43:35
dr rob plumber and dr roderick ellidge the the authors they wisely stated these words without
43:43
comment reflecting on this phrase god is love they just stopped and this i just it stands out because
43:50
i'm telling you i know this series well they never do this they said pause ponder and praise
43:59
so i invite you to do that at some point today on your own with your family with your friends
44:07
pause ponder that God is love and praise Him
44:14
let's do that now in prayer together