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it's exactly 5 p.m. good evening to everyone just a couple announcements before we begin worship this evening do we we do intend to do the the Christmas hymn sing over at the sharp well Lynwood just down on that street there corbelled we've done it there before I think a lot maybe the last 5 years something like that so we do intend to do that again next Lord's Day December 17th after the evening service what we've done before which we intend to do again is after the evening service we'll go up into the fellowship hall I'll send an email out this week if anybody can bring some you know little finger sandwiches and perhaps an easy to make soup or an easy to open and heat up soup for people who plan to go there after well we'll eat upstairs and then we'll head over at about 657 to leave here from to go to the Lynwood and then we'll sing we sing usually like 10 hymns with them read a few scriptures with the old folks there and and have a nice old evening so I'll send an email that's next Lord's Day after the evening evening service well let's turn in our Bibles then if you'll turn with me to Psalm 25 our call to worship will be a reading of Psalm 25 verse 1 to verse 11 Psalm 25 beginning in verse 1 this is the Word of God a psalm of David to you O Lord I lift up my soul o my god I trust in you let me not be ashamed let not my enemies triumph over me indeed let no one who waits on you be ashamed let those be ashamed to deal treacherously without cause show me your ways o Lord teach me your paths lead me in your truth and teach me for you are the God of my salvation on you I wait all the day remember O Lord your tender mercies and your loving-kindnesses for they are from of old do not remember the sins of my youth nor my transgressions according to your mercy remember me for your goodness sake o Lord good and upright is the Lord therefore he teaches sinners in the way the humble he guides in justice and the humble he teaches his way all the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth - such as keep his covenant and his testimonies for your name's sake o Lord pardon my iniquity for it is great amen well let's stand and sing our first hymn this evening will be 421 in the larger Trinity hymnal 421 let's stand and sing as a church [Music] [Music] well let's pray God we thank you we can gather a second time on this year Lord's Day we rejoice again in this opportunity this freedom this high privilege to gather in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ the Lord before the worship of the one and only living in true God Father Son and Holy Spirit we do pray once again that you would help us by your spirit to worship you were right we long as your people to worship you in spirit and in truth to worship you genuinely in earnest and with great joy and we do pray for that help from on high to do so we do pray that your name would be hallowed that you would receive honor and praise and we would ask again Lord God that Christ would be exalted in this place we do pray that we would reflect with great joy and with reverential awe upon so great a God and so glorious a Christ and so great a salvation in Jesus Christ our Savior we do pray that you would wash us afresh in the blood of the Savior the Lord Jesus Christ you would forgive us of our transgressions we know and we rejoice in the fact that in Christ Jesus we do have the remission of sins we know that in him we have so great a salvation and we rejoice in that we do not plead our merit but we plead alone the merits of Jesus Christ the Savior our precious Lord for our salvation we know that in him we have a righteousness not our own that avails with you and we know that in him we have that a payment made that atonement made that substitutionary sacrifice rendered for the sins of his people and we claim that we claim that power and that efficacy and we rejoice in so great a salvation the do be with us help us tonight to return to you the honors the the praises the worship that is do your most high name for so great a work of salvation for your people we do pray God that you would be with those unable to join us you would watch those who travel you would watch those who are hindered by sickness or by whatever reason for a - unable to join us to strengthen them help them we do pray that you'd watch over the sick and the the ill the diseased all who struggle with injury and malady we would ask that you would strengthen them in the outer man strengthen them and embody heal them we do pray though in the inner man as they do struggle with illness and with disease that you lift them up in spirit that you'd caused them in the midst of suffering to rejoice in you our God that they would rejoice in Jesus Christ the Lord and that they would find a solace and peace in the midst of suffering knowing that the God of heaven and earth does right for his own glory and for the good of his people we do pray Lord that you would be with those who are pregnant we thank you for the gifts that you give to the sons of men the gifts of children we do pray that you'd watch over mothers and babies and wounds we just pray that you'd protect that you'd nourish and strengthen and uphold these young ones and strengthen the mothers and we do pray Lord God that in due time there would be much rejoicing as these young ones are brought forth and we do just pray for all of the young ones in this church Lord all of the children we rejoice in the the amount that we have here at free Grace Baptist Church we do pray that by your grace and for your glory at a young age you would bring them forth from the darkness of sin to light in Christ we do pray for for all outside of Christ Lord that you would do that mighty act of salvation even every time that we gather as a church you would cause those outside of Christ to be found in him by an amazing grace through the proclamation of the word and through the power of the Holy Spirit with much assurance we would ask Lord God that you would watch over Jim as he continues on his sabbatical watch over both Jim and Rebecca as they return home from travel we do pray that you'd continue to be with Jim as he rests as he refreshes as he reads and as he engages in this sabbatical we do just pray for much strength for much restoration and just for much equipping Lord as he looks to return at the beginning of January we did pray just be with our brother and give him much help we do pray that you'd continue to be with us as a church we think you that we have this church we thank you Lord God that you've given us much here we pray that you would prosper us in unity we would rally around the gospel of Jesus Christ the Lord that we would be as one man in one spirit striving for the faith of the gospel and we do thank you so much and pray that you would give us again the grace to return to you the honor do your name for so great a work in the midst of your people we pray for those who govern over us we would ask again that you would be with those who do rule in this nation in the United States and around the world there there would be such leaders installed in Nations that rule and reign according to justice equity and truth and we would pray Lord God that you would cause those to stumble who would seek to propagate wickedness and vice in the land that we long to see rulers ruling and righteousness and we do pray unto that end and unto that end we would pray for the proclamation of the gospel throughout the world you would send forth your missionaries you would send forth your ministers the gospel of Jesus Christ would be preached and that by the power of the Holy Spirit and many who are presently opposed in enemies of the risen Christ would be brought forth to own him as Savior and to rejoice in you our God we do pray Lord that you'd be with the Surrey Bible study we thank you for this and for the eventual church plants as we look forward to January that continue to strengthen those involved we pray that you'd be with pastor Curt Patrick continue to strengthen him as he grows in the ministry and as he studies as he reads your word and as he prepares for the Bible studies and for preaching give him much help Lord and we do pray this evening as he does bring the word as he mounts this pulpit and opens his Bible to preach to us we pray that you'd give him much help strengthen him Lord to proclaim the riches the excellencies of Christ to open up your word to expound it with precision and with great joy we do pray that you'd be with us and you'd help us to receive the word preached you would help us to take it in we would be well fed and well equipped and we do pray once again God that by this preaching and by your spirit the sinners tonight would be saved that your Saints would be edified and that you are trying you and God would be glory din and praised we pray that you would be with us now in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord amen let's stand and sing again then if you'll stand with me this time in the same hymnal we'll sing six hundred let's stand together and sing that six hundred [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] ptoo Hosea 11 which is our New Testament our excuse me our Old Testament of course Old Testament scripture reading this evening Hosea 11 shorter chapter 12 verses will read all of it of course in fact we'll stop at verse 11 verse 12 introduces into chapter 12 so Hosea 11 beginning in verse 1 once again the Word of God when Israel was a child I loved him and out of Egypt I called my son as they called them so they went from them they sacrificed to the bales and burned incense to carved images I taught he framed to walk taking them by their arms they did not know that I healed them I drew them with gentle cords with bands of love and I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck i stooped and fed them he shall not return to the land of Egypt but the Assyrians shall be his king because they refused to repent and the sword shall slash in his cities devour his districts and consume them because of their own counsels my people are bent on backsliding from me though they call to the Most High none at all exalt him how can I give you up Ephraim how can I hand you over Israel how can I make you like admah how can I set you like Zabaleen my heart churns within me my sympathy is stirred I will not execute the fierceness of my anger I will not again destroy a friend for I am God and not man the Holy One in your midst and I will not come with terror they shall walk after the Lord he will roar like a lion when he roars then his son shall come trembling from the best they shall come trembling like a bird from Egypt like a dove from the land of Assyria and I will let them dwell in their houses says the Lord we see here something an interesting twofold thing that's wrapped up together in the same couple handfuls of verses and that is the wholesome severity the right justice of God but also in the midst of that at mercy and condescension we we are thankful for these words of Hosea the prophet and truly God himself through Hosea the prophet when he says I am God and not man the Holy One in your midst and I will not come with terror we're thankful that we have a God who is not like us who is not arbitrary who is not fierce with a human terror and with the human severity but is a God perfect in His Holiness a god perfect in his justice a God perfect in his love a God perfect in his long-suffering a God perfect and this god x exercises righteous judgment against these he esteemed them and yet in return they they did not esteem their God but rather went after the bails and broke covenant violated the law and sought the gods of the Gentiles and yet he condescends and it it is introduced by a passage of holy scripture that the New Testament interprets and applies ultimately and finally and consummate of ly to Jesus Christ the Lord the verse 1 when Israel was a child I loved him and out of Egypt I called my son this is applied to the Lord Jesus in the New Testament the true Israel the true loved one the true son who comes and gives himself for the sins of Israel even for the sins of the entire world let us pray Heavenly Father we thank you for your word we rejoice in its truth we thank you for our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ we thank you for the precious truth that you are God and not man and that you are perfect in your holiness and your justice and in all of your blessed perfections and we do pray that we would rejoice in you that we would truly worship you tonight do help us to do so in earnest genuinely with great joy that you might be the recipient of high praise and that our Savior Jesus Christ would be exalted upon the praises of this gathered church we do pray in Christ's precious name Amen our final hymn then before the preaching if you'll once again stand with me if you're able 484 that's 484 let's stand and sing [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] good evening you can turn with me in your Bibles once again to first John we haven't been there in a while but first John chapter 2 first John chapter 2 we're going to look at verses 12 to 14 this evening that's first John chapter 2 but I will begin reading at verse 3 to set the context a little bit for us first John chapter 2 begin reading at verse 12 oh sorry verse 3 now by this we know that we know him if we keep his Commandments he who says I know him and does not keep his Commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him but whoever keeps his word truly the love of God is perfected in him by this we know that we are in him he who says he abides in him ought himself also to walk just as he walked brethren I write no new commandment to you but an old commandment which you've had from the beginning the old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning again a new commandment I write to you which thing is true in him and in you because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining he who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in darkness until now but he who loves his brother in the light he who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him but he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes I write to you little children because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake I write to you father's because you have known him who is from the beginning I write to you young men because you have overcome the wicked one and I have written to you little children because you have known the father I have written to you fathers because you have known him who is from the beginning I've written to you young because you are strong and the Word of God abides in you and you have overcome the wicked one amen well let us go to our God in prayer Oh Lord God Almighty we know their many difficult things we face in this life as we live in this age still Oh God we thank you for Christ who came live died and rose again that those who are saved have the Holy Spirit we live in with foretaste and the down payment of the life to come we thank you for the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places we thank you God for the true spiritual state of your people how we truly now have forgiveness how we truly know the Father how we truly know the one who is from the beginning and how we have overcome the evil one father God these are truths these are realities for God's people and may these things give us comfort and hope and assurance of the truth assurance of eternal life you know God sometimes we are quick to forget these things there are many trials that come into our life many difficulties that we face O God and yet we summed we forget these things but help us O God to ramiro minded of these things this evening that they might give us comfort they might give us hope they might give us courage O God for these things are true whether we feel like it or not these things are assured because of Christ who has come father God made this give us assurance and hope but you comfort us and strengthen us in the difficult times that we face o God we thank you for the hope that we have in the Lord Christ we pray that you would dwell with us now by your Holy Spirit that we might learn be be reminded of these things o God that we might be encouraged by these things and then while um we might rest assured of the things found in your word and follow God we pray that you give us eyes to see and ears to hear these things that are true of us now even though it is difficult for us to see these things we thank you that they are revealed in your word and you're pleased to loom in our hearts and minds by the Holy Spirit and father God we pray for those that no do not know Christ they would realize that their sins are not forgiven that they do not who hid know him who is from the beginning and that they have not overcome the evil one show them their sin show them their need for the Lord that they might come to saving knowledge and believe on the Lord Christ and have these benefit it's have these privileges and we thank you that's all based on Christ who is our advocate who is the propitiation for our sins who is that great high priest we learned about today Oh God that we can boldly approach the throne of grace for Christ who is of the order of Melchizedek that perpetual priesthood we thank you for these things O God we thank you for your Lord for him O God we pray that you'd help us now by your spirit to understand these things we pray ultimately that you would be glorified in the name of Christ amen well John in first John again is writing to assure his hearers that they have eternal life he's writing to them that they might know that they have eternal life those who believed on the Son of God and then John flashes this out in two ways and two points of a sermon if you will in in in first John 1:5 to 229 and then first John 3:1 to 513 with an intro and a conclusion at the end at the beginning and end of his book so in a lot of ways it's structured like a sermon if you remember last time it was some time back we looked at how do we know that we know him in verses 3 through 6 we saw what is required of God's people that is a way to live that pleases God in response to his salvation and in verses 7 through 12 through 11 we saw the commandment of love this old commandment yet a new commandment because it's patterned after our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then we come to verses 12 through 14 I think it's a fitting three verses for us to return to because we haven't been in first John in a very long time and first John 2:12 to 14 is a recap of things that are said before and even further assures God's the people john's harris that they are children of god it assures them of their spiritual state before the lord god almighty and if you remember the overarching problem is that there were some men who claimed to be children of god and then here he's further highlighting what it actually means to be a children of god what benefits one has to be a child of god these men deny that they are sinful therefore they deny that they have did they they say they have fellowship but they don't these men claim to know God but they deny the gospel and thus they are not children of God and thus they don't have these benefits they don't have the true spiritual state of God's people and so perhaps we can ask ourself this question as we go what is the true spiritual state of God's children and that's the thing we're gonna seek to answer as we go through perhaps you can ask yourself what is the reality if you're a believer if you know the Lord what is true of you are the various things that John highlights here for his readers regardless of how we feel concerning those things those things remain true whether we feel like it or not in the difficulties in the tough times we see here what it is is actually fixed and firm because of Christ our Lord so what is this true spiritual state of God's children well those are three points the forgiveness of sins is the first point the knowledge of the gospel is the second point and then lastly we have the strength over the evil one so forgiveness knowledge and strength let us first look at the forgiveness of sins and as I said many times throughout first John first John is a difficult book to structure but I think as we look at the structure of the two verses there are two triads two sets of three and we see the same same formula in all three John says I write to you then he has an address of who he's speaking to little children fathers or young men and then he gives the reason for why he is writing highlighting for them their spiritual state and the verbs here are all in the same form which is significant which I'll draw out in just a moment but it is the same I write to you I write to you I write to you and I think I could go with the ESV with respect to the proper chant translation it should then again again say again I have written to you I have written to you I have written to you two sets of three to tryouts the repeated phrase I write to you and then I have written to you and what's kind of interesting here is some have speculated why does John change the tense the reality is he does that because he's a man he does it for stylistic reasons sometimes it gets boring to write I write you six times so he changes it up a little bit but he uses even though it's ones present ones past it's still highlighting the same thing for the past is still being used like a present in this instance so he's doing that because he's a man you see when the man recorded scripture it wasn't like they were robots it wasn't as though that they just all of a sudden had this moment and then they wrote kind of whatever God worked by the spirit certainly every word we see in Scripture is inspired but is because the Holy Spirit works but also he works through men who have different backgrounds different training and different styles and so we see that here as well we'll draw this out in a moment with little children but he says I write to you because he is a man he is not a robot we shouldn't make more than make up it make a big deal out of it more than we should and so that's what's going on that's part of the structure and it's structured around these I write to use and this phrase I write to you is found often in John we've seen it already in one for and these things we write to you that your joy might be full and then in two one my little children these things I write to you so that you might not sin and then first John to eight he says again a new commandment I write to you which is true in him and in you because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining and then even in 513 I write these things to you those who know Christ those who believe on the Lord that they might know that they have everlasting life so we see he further highlights why he's writing to his hearers I noticed the first addressee in verse 12 I write to you little children notice he says little children in 12 and then also in 13 I write to you little children that is even though they're actually different words but they're highlighting the same thing again he doesn't want to be repetitive for 70 uses several phrases to highlight who his people are to highlight the spiritual community using a term of endearment for his people he highlights beloved he says little children he says little children in several different ways because he loves his hearers he loves his people and is writing to them that they might in this instance know their true spiritual state and again there's some debate on how we need to structure children fathers and young men I take the view that little children refers to the whole community because he uses that in other parts of his epistle for the whole community and then he goes on with fathers and young men to deal with different people or different spiritual States if you will so little children with the subset of fathers and young men so he addresses these children using a term of spiritual endearment focusing on that spiritual connection but in all these all these sayings we see the reasons for him writing I write to you little children because you see as we've gone through in 1st John a lot of ways there a lot of hypotheticals aren't they if we say this if we don't say that if we say we have sinned then we make him out to be a liar but if we always say we don't have sinned we make him out to be a liar but if we say that we have sinned he is faithful and just a lot of hypotheticals what's he doing here in verses 12 through 14 he's driving the point home children you're I write to you because your sins are forgiven and he's going to draw that out as we go through as well with young with fathers and young men little children the reason I'm writing these things to you is to assure you this is your actual spiritual state again all these were hypotheticals all these were potentials all these were maybes even though we drew out the application but here in his epistle he's further driving home the point and there's a lot of connections notice he says because your sins are for givin doesn't this hearken back to first John 1 verses 5 through 10 and even specifically in 1:9 in that whole section he's talking about sin those who denied sin those who did away with sin thought that they never sinned and then in verse 9 he says if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness why verse 12 because your sins are forgiven what does that even mean to have our sins forgiven brothers and sisters I like how one commentator wrote it to release from legal or moral obligation that is we owe God something we owe God a debt a great debt an eternal debt something that is required for eternity yet God in His mercy with respect to forgiveness releases us from that reality God has forgiven us God has forgiven us of our sins if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us because our sins are forgiven and so the reality is we must acknowledge that there's the present reality of sin and sin and I this takes away our need and makes the gospel nothing why do we need the gospel if we don't have sin we need forgiveness of sins from Christ our Lord and notice he says because your sins are forgiven you see all these words all these verbs in all in all the trial and all the all the verbs used here with the connection with the because highlight the reality and focus highlight the reality and focus on state this is the state that we are in this is the true reality now that we actually have forgiveness of sins that's hard so times two wrap our heads around isn't it because we still sin we still have remaining corruption but that doesn't change the reality that right now if we know the Lord Christ our sins are forgiven so when we go to Christ confessing our sins it's more for us than for our standing before God because we are right before God because Christ has died for his people and taken away or bore the sins upon him that we might be released from that punishment that blessed language of surety comes back again here that we talked about this morning that's creditor-debtor language Christ not only pays the debt but takes on the punishment that's what surety refers to that's what surety means and so the forgiveness of sins is the reality now and all the verbs in this section highlight that and we and that's good too sometimes when you're reading sometimes you don't need to make a big deal out of verbs but in this case it's okay to do that because they're not used often especially with this form here so he's highlighting that it's an on-going state for God's people and I think this harkens back to the Old Testament several passages that describe the New Covenant realities Jeremiah 31:31 through 34 Jeremiah 31:31 through 34 especially verse 34 he says no more shall every man teach his brother sorry notice verse 33 but this is the covenant that i will make with the house of israel after those days says the lord i will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts and i will be their god and they shall be my people no more no more shall every man teach his neighbor and every man his brother know it as saying know the lord for they shall know me from the least of them to the greatest says the lord for what i will forgive their iniquity and their sin i will remember no more that's true now of you if you know the lord christ went out well what about Ezekiel 36 you know if there are some good Old Testament passages to remember Ezekiel 36 in Jeremiah 31 31 through 34 are great texts to do that because they highlight the reality of the New Covenant and if you want to cheat a little bit Jeremiah 31 to 34 is repeated in the New Testament so you get bigger bang for your buck when you remember verses in the Bible so that's a good way of doing that as well so but notice Ezekiel 36 verse 27 I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and you will keep my judgment and do them then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your father's you shall be my people and I will be your God again talking about old or new covenant realities and I think it also is found in Psalm 25 verse 11 which is what pastor cam read for us at the outset of worship describing deliverance and forgiveness describing the deliverance from our sins describing our the Commerce's of our God especially verse 6 remember O Lord your tender mercies and your loving-kindness for they are from old do not remember the sins of my youth nor my transgressions according to your mercy remember me for your goodness sake o Lord then even notice in 11 for your name's sake o Lord pardon my iniquity for it is great and brethren our iniquity is pardoned in the Lord Christ and so the comfort is notice further your sins are forgiven for his name's sake this no doubt refers to the Lord Christ and this is evident in 324 and 5:13 3 sorry 3:23 and this is his commandment in first John 3:23 and this is gives commandment that we should believe on what the name of his son Jesus Christ and then 513 these things I've written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God notice even the connection between belief I assure insan' eternal life that you may know that you have eternal life so we have this forgiveness to Christ's name the basis for our forgiveness is Christ's work which is what has already been talked about in first John again he's recapping all the things we've talked about first John 2 verses 1 & 2 my little children these things I write to you so that you might not sin but if anyone sins we have an advocate with the father Jesus Christ the righteous and notice how we can have forgiveness of sins and he himself is the propitiation for our sins not for ours only but also for the whole world that is he takes away our sin with his sacrificial work we talked about that High Priest this morning we learned further about the high priest of Christ who makes sacrifice for sins taking away our sins and thus set sits down at the mat right hand of the Majesty on high and lives to make intercession as an advocate for his people in difficult times when we are struggling when we are mourning when we are when we are to having facing difficulties in this life when we have physical ailments God is with his people and Christ prays for us as our advocate you see they are heavenly realities that we participate in now and it's the basis is on Christ and Christ alone forgiveness is found on him and him alone it is not based on anything you and I would do it's and our assurance is not based on our works but our assurance is based on Christ's work notice John listen to John Calvin without this assurance religion would not be otherwise than fading and shadowy nay they who passed by the free remission of sins and dwell on other things build without a foundation we do have a firm foundation these Saints of the Lord and that is our Christ Almighty so he says I write these things to you little children in verse 12 because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake but notice in verse 13 at the end I write to you or I have written to you little children because you have known the father I think sometimes again we treat we're very much visual beings aren't we pastor Kim highlighted out that out this morning with the Hebrews they wanted to go back what - what is tangible what is seen the sacrifices that that could bring to the altar it's true of us today as well we prefer motion pictures over books in a lot of ways we prefer that go quickly past our faces rather than actually sitting down and reading a book and so the reality is we must rather were very much visual beings we want that you look at a lot of history you look at Pentecostalism how it arose it's because it's a response to in the Enlightenment seeing thinking feeling all tangible things so when Pentecostalism arises what's it a response to they want something they see they want something they touched they want something that's visible to the mind and quick to understand but that's not necessarily our greatest comfort our greatest comforts are in the heavenly realities found in the Word of God but that's difficult for us isn't it that doesn't mean that doesn't change the fact that it is true but brothers and sisters when you read the Apostle Paul he's speaking that way you know it's like predestination when you're learning about predestination you're reading it you see it everywhere that's what I this stuff about understanding the heavenly realities that we participate in part now I see it everywhere and everywhere I'm seeing it everywhere in Scripture brothers and sisters it's everywhere it really is I know I've talked about a lot it's a broken record sometimes but it is there and it is true Ephesians the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places and this is John's way of highlighting the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places forgiveness of sins and knowing the father access to the Father you know Calvin is right he says we were like orphans until we attain the grace of adoption by the gospel this is what John's highlighting we are adopted as sons as daughters that we might have acts to the God of heaven and earth through Jesus Christ that would I boldly approach that throne of grace and this ties back to what is said in first John 1:5 this is the message which we have heard from him and declare to you that God is light and in him is no darkness at all what's going on in 1st John 1:5 how can we twelve with this God who is inaccessible light we need forgiveness of sins so there's a connection between forgiveness of sins and knowing the father that's why I put these two together that is how do we know the father it's because our sins have been forgiven that's what he's highlighting that's what he's focusing on and he's highlighting for us this present reality that our sins are forgiven now remember what Gill said I quoted Gill when I looked at first John 5 through 1 5 to 10 remember Gill said go to God seeking forgiveness as a poor sensible sinner not as though there is no forgiveness whether we feel there is forgiveness or not that that does not change the reality there is we have forgiveness now in the heavenly places if you know Christ the Lord but the reality is if you do not know Christ the Lord the converse is true of you you do not have forgiveness of sins and you must pay that debt in full which is an eternal debt that is owed to God so this is one of the so that's the reality the spiritual state of God's people we have forgiveness and so then let's move to the second benefit or with a second how do we know our spiritual state the second thing draws out namely the knowledge of the gospel notice what he says in verse 13 the addressee changes I write to you father's now this again refers to not so much age but spiritual maturity now certainly age is involved certainly we need to you know you know you know proceed with respect of our older brothers and sisters but here he's speaking with respect to maturity and perhaps the reason he is highlighting this here is because notice because he's giving us another reason you have known him who is from the beginning and again perhaps the reason is because there are false teachers that we're teaching that they had secret knowledge what's John saying I don't need secret knowledge I you know who him who is from the beginning you know the gospel you have union with the Lord Jesus Christ you know him as he's found in his word you have forgiveness but you also have union with the Christ you know him who is from the beginning miss Lang of the so this benefit very much highlights that you know this one all ready now I should say because we live in the age that we do fathers and young man refers to both genders it refers to both men and women and even we can take what we say about fathers and young men and apply them to all Christians but he's highlighting certain men or certain categories if you will in the Christian life for certain reasons I write to you fathers because you have known him who is from the beginning so he's writing to remind them of the true knowledge but perhaps he's also reminding as well that perhaps sometimes we measure wisdom in years which can cause pride and that's probably what he's highlighting you don't need wisdom based on years you need wisdom based on the Lord Jesus Christ so he says you have known him and this language again is the language it's repeated throughout John's epistle combating those false men who taught false things who taught that they had special knowledge but he's saying you have known him who is from the beginning I think in this instance it's referring to a person him who is from the beginning namely the Lord Jesus Christ he's then bringing us into the christological focus focusing on who our Lord is the one who is found in the gospel that one that they had heard from the beginning according to first John once one through four the one they heard the one they saw the one that they touched who actually came in the flesh they have known him who is from the beginning they know Christ who is from the beginning why seek knowledge elsewhere why go anyplace else to find knowledge to find the secrets of the universe to find a way of salvation it's found in Christ and Christ alone Christ is from the beginning according to John 1:1 Christ is the first born of creation according to Colossians chapter 1 Christ is the image of God according to Hebrews chapter 1 and he is the one in whom these ones have known from the beginning and so perhaps even when we think about this idea of wisdom as we think about its place you see wisdom is based on truth not age as Calvin says it will be of no avail however long it may have existed if it derives its origin from error there are many people in this life who don't profess to be Christ who claim to be wise perhaps many different religious leaders or moral men claim to have wisdom unless you know the Lord Christ you don't have any wisdom you don't have true wisdom the wisdom found in Christ and even combating these false men who taught this secret knowledge they were teaching wisdom came through special knowledge instead of revenge in store secret knowledge instead of revealed knowledge and so the reality is as Calvin says if antiquity delights you he have Christ who is superior to all end took tickity therefore his disciples ought not to be ashamed of him who includes all ages in himself you think you have wisdom look to the Lord Christ you think age is the way of wisdom look to the Savior of heaven and earth the one from ever lasting to everlasting I should say when I say these things I'm not saying children that you shouldn't respect your elders you most certainly should do that but the point is we usually measure wisdom in years but we should measure it by Christ what is proverbs 1 say what is what does it talk about with respect to wisdom the fear as the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom not the age of years but the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and so he's saying you know Christ you know the one from everlasting this is the one you've known from the beginning why seek any knowledge some where else and that is true of those who know Christ as well you have known that state that same use of that word you have known him who is from the beginning the same is true of you if you know Christ the Lord you know that good you know this one who came live dying rose again you have communion you have union with God and he's drawn this out several times in for in first John first John two by this we know that we are in him first John 2 eight again a new commandment I write to you which thing is true in him and in you we are united to this Lord we're knighted to this Christ we are united to this King and this is where our wisdom comes from we know the way of salvation and that is only found in Christ the Lord Christ the King and again applies to people of all stages this is where our wisdom is derived from it is from Christ the king and the converse is true again of those who don't know Christ if you don't if you gift if it's true that believers know Christ the Congress is unbelievers do not know the Christ they do not know him who is from the beginning they do not went nowhere true wisdom actually lies found in Christ the Lord and if you wish to have forgiveness of sins you have to know him who is from the beginning but the reality is this is a present reality for us now Christ is seated at the right hand of God the Father Christ is locally at the right hand of God the Father and we know him now and we he's revealed himself to us in his word and he sent us his spirit as a down payment for those heaven reality heavenly realities he is that firstfruits that we might no more concerning this one who is the agent of new creation so this is the reality of knowing the gospel we know the Christ we know the God of heaven and earth we know him who is from everlasting to everlasting so we have forgiveness of sins we know the gospel we know Christ and then lastly and third and finally the strength over the evil one this is my third point notice the addressees here young men if fathers refer to those who are spiritually mature this refers to those who are bit younger with respect to their spiritual maturity he says it in verse in verse 13 and 14 he says I write to you young men because you have overcome the wicked one notice that's one of the benefits for us brethren think about that for the moment for a moment we have overcome the evil one and that most assuredly refers to the devil you see he repeats it I write to you that you have overcome the evil one he says it again in verse 14 I've written to young men and you at the end and you have over come the evil one this most assuredly refers to the devil notice in 1st John chapter 3 verse 8 he who sins is of the devil for the devil has sinned from the beginning for this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil whoever's being born of God does not sin for his seed remains in him and he cannot sin because he has been excuse me born of God but notice especially verse 8 for this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil what Old Testament text does John have in mind in 1st John 3:8 genesis 3:15 where the seed of the woman would come and crush the head of the seed of the serpent and the same thing is here Christ was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil you see brothers and sisters we had hold to substitutionary atonement Christ died vicariously that is on behalf of his people its objective towards God but that doesn't change the fact that when Christ came live died and rose again he is a mighty warrior going on a conquest for his people destroying the devil destroying those things which is what genesis 3:15 and first john 3:8 highlight for us notice the reason you and i can overcome the world is because christ has overcome the world he's John highlights this for us in the Gospel of John from the words of our Lord Christ John 12:31 he talks about the ruler of this world and he says in 1231 now is the judgment of this world now the ruler of the world will be cast out 14 and then also in John 14:30 I will no longer talk much with you for the ruler of this world is coming and he has nothing in me whether the world may know that I love the father and as the father gave me commandment so I do arise let us go from here you see Christ is that one who crushed the head of the seed of the serpent so the reason you and I have overcome the devil or come the evil one because Christ has overcome the evil one and thus as John goes to further I guess amplify in verse 14 notice he says I write to you young men and he adds things to this instance I didn't highlight how with respect to the father's with respect to the father's knowing him who was from the beginning he didn't really amplify a whole much a lot there it's the same but here in verse 14 he says I write to you young men because you are strong sometimes I feel very weak sometimes I feel very down sometimes our difficult things in life and I don't know sometimes if we can pick ourselves up Christ is the one who makes us strong but we are spiritually strong even when we are weak and we are weak because he is strong and that's what he's highlighting for us again I write to you young men because you are strong even though sometimes it doesn't always feel that way we are strong spiritually because we have Christ our Lord and that's the language this word of strength and strong here is found in mark 1:8 at Christ Baptist is preaching considering the coming and coming Christ whose sandals I am NOT able to suit or sorry the one who comes is mightier than I that language of mighty is the same word that's found here and it's highlighting how Christ is the divine warrior I really love that motif I don't know why it's just very cool Christ comes crushes the head of the serpent Christ comes and crushes his enemies Christ is the one who is mighty and the language of overcoming in verse 14 and verse 13 with respect to us overcoming the wicked one also carries that idea of conquering that conquest idea because Christ has conquered Christ has come on his conquest destroying that we might be considered strong Christ is mighty I cannot stand it not saying I watch these things but I cannot stand it when you hear about images of Christ or movies about Christ and they paint it out to be this feminine looking character with flowing locks that is just false for it's a violation of the first and the second commandment but even further Christ is a mighty warrior after the judges who are types of Christ after David who crushed his enemies and the same is true with our Lord Christ and notice what he goes on to say because you are strong and the Word of God abides in you what has he said concerning these false teachers when they lie when they say they have no sin the word is not in them what is true of believers the word is in US and it remains in us the word here can either refer to Christ or the gospel I think it's both again it refers to our union with Christ the reason that we are strong is because Christ is strong but not only that we see the true power of the gospel in the reality that we have overcome the evil one that's what he's highlighting for us here their intimate intimately connected this is the reality for God's people we are forgiven now we know Christ now and we have overcome the evil one now that's what he's highlighting for us right now again it's difficult for us to understand in the language that the Apostle Paul he speaks of this in Ephesians chapter one we live in the tension of this age and the age to come this present evil age refers to the reality present reality of sin we had as believers we participate in part of the age to come as it's come in Christ as it's come with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and even further with the down payment of the Holy Spirit which is the language Paul uses down payment firstfruits in other language as well is talking about that very reality now but that's hard again hard for us to wrap our heads around now we have these things and so even as we think of our daily battles our daily struggles we still have sin and so the reality is that we have because we have overcome the devil that should spur us on to fight in Ephesians 6:10 when he speaks of the armor of God what how does he start before he goes into the discussion of the armor of God verse 10 finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might put on the whole armour of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities against powers against rulers of the darkness of this age against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places therefore take up the whole armour of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand stand therefore having girded yourself with what the your waist with truth having put on the breastplate of righteousness having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace having all take above all taking the shield of faith which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints and for me that utterance may be given to me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel he goes on to further highlight how he is an ambassador but notice it's spurring us on to fight you see as one writer says this position of victory over the devil must be maintained daily with a firm faith in Christ and resolute striving against the devil and his temptations do you see the logic brothers and sisters it's not as James says resist the devil in order that you might overcome you have overcome the devil therefore resist the devil and he will flee from you this is a present reality a true reality that's what this right writer is highlighting and that's what John is highlighting for his people as well then he goes on to say do not love the world or the things in the world remain in God he speaks of those things and in other places Jesus talks about overcoming the world I think in first John he'll draw back to this idea as well it's the present reality that we have overcome this evil one now in Christ our Lord and when we think of perhaps as we think through all these benefits forgiveness knowing Christ and this reality of overcoming the devil they are based and found in Christ our Lord on aren't they forgiveness no in Christ and this overcoming we have an advocate we have this God in flesh 1 according to verses 1 through 4 we have the destroyer of the devil we have Christ our law our might our power our strength now only have difficulties and they're gonna be difficulties we have tough moments and temptations and trials and and struggles that we go through we have Christ our might and Christ our Lord you notice in Ephesians 6 he says put on those things with prayer I think as Luther said perhaps we are very much a busy culture aren't we we always say we're very busy as Luther said the busy busier we get the more we should pray that is the truth brothers and sisters we must pray in the battle room before we engage in the battle that's what he's highlighting here for us that's what Paul is highlighting in Ephesians 6 that's the point because of our Lord Jesus Christ as one writer says the true believers who belong to John's congregation have thus been recalled in verses 12 to 14 to the assured character of their spiritual inheritance the knowledge of God and His forgiveness an abiding relationship with Christ and spiritual strength to conquer the evil one in day-to-day living it's all based and found in the Lord God Almighty who comforts strengthens and helps us in the battles so in conclusion what is the spiritual state of God's children the things we've just talked about all three of those things that John is highlighting in this very beautiful text the way he structures it the way it's written and the way he addresses it driving the point home for his people that they might be assured of these present realities in the midst of trials in the midst of false teachers going out of them teaching false things they have forgiveness they have knowledge they have strength now unbelievers who are outside of Christ the converse on all three of these things is true your sins are not forgiven you do not know the Lord Christ and you do not have strength or you have not overcome the evil one you must believe on this Christ you must believe on what John says the one who came lived died and rose again that you may have everlasting life the reason he writes his gospel is so that people might read concerning Christ and that they might be spurred on to faith the gospel is about spurring people on to faith first John is about assuring his hearers that they have faith that they are believers so you must look to the Lord and believe on him and you shall have these 7li realities these spiritual realities and you shall partake in these things when you believe on Christ these things shall be yours look to the Lord Christ and live believe on him and you shall be saved and believers may this be a comfort to us of our current spiritual States amidst the difficulties that we face well let us go to our God in prayer Oh Lord God Almighty you really are gracious to us you sustain us you protect us you help us in the difficult times and in the moments when we are weak and God we are weak often but thank you Lord that we are strong in Christ we thank you O Lord that these realities are ours maybe we think and think about heavenly things eternal things spiritual things often when we set our mind on the things that are above where Christ is at the right hand of God when you give us wisdom and discernment and how to operate in this world as we live in the tension of these two ages we thank you O God that Christ has come we thank you for the four tastes that we see Oh God we thank you for that you're pleased to be with your people that you dwell with your people you help you are with us corporately but you are with us individually as well Oh God you help in strengthen us in difficult times help us to know that we have the forgiveness of sins help us to know that we have known the father help us to know God that we know Christ who is at the right hand help us to know oh God that we have overcome the world that we are strong and that the Word of God remains in us may this assure us made us give us hope but you comfort us by your spirit of God through this blessed truth found in your word and father God we pray for those that do not know the Lord we pray that you would save them we pray that you would call them we pray that you would show them their delusion show them that they are in sin that they have this great debt that they must pay Oh God for you are an eternal God you are a God who is holy and just and may you work in them by your spirit and please to bring them to saving knowledge in this one who is from the beginning this one whom the Apostles saw who they touched who they held and that went to a pub had the gospel that we proclaim to others as well that the Apostles proclaimed that we proclaim the same Christ and him crucified that they might have everlasting life father God again we pray that all these would be to your glory that we would sing your praises we would sing your praises to you O God for your great work and salvation and we pray that you'd be glorified now in the name of Christ amen well we will finish by saying the doxology that we will stand and sing the doxology if you need the words are on Roman numeral XVI that's Roman numeral XVI we'll stand and sing the doxology together [Music] [Music] from stumbling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy to God our Savior who alone is wise be glory and Majesty Dominion and power both now and forever amen well we will close with a brief time of meditation then you are dismissed you