Introduction:
If culture were to put you on trial for being a Christian, would you be found guilty or not guilty? As Christians, followers of Jesus Christ, we are known for what we believe, and we are marked by our behaviors. The question we must continually ask ourselves is do our beliefs and our behaviors match up.
“ …The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.” —Acts 11:26b
God places His seal upon our lives to show ownership and authority. We are marked as followers of Jesus Christ, and we should reflect this through our behavior in culture. Believers can have confidence because we are marked by Him and for Him.
“You were marked with him with a seal” —Ephesians 1:13 (NIV)
“13I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14This is the confidence we have before him: …” —1 John 5:13-14a
In this seven-week collection of talks, we will uncover the marks of a true believer as seen in the book of 1 John and learn how to live with confidence.
Text: 1 John 2:18-28 (CSB, New Testament)
Today’s Takeaway: In the absence of God’s truth, there are only lies
MARKED WEEK #3: MARKED BY TRUTH
I. WE MUST
FALSE TEACHERS (2:18-23)
John reveals two characteristics of false teachers:
A. They depart from the
“I write these things to you, hoping to come to you soon. 15 But if I should be delayed, I have written so that you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” —1 Timothy 3:14-15
“I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: 2 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and teaching. 3 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. 4 They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.” —2 Timothy 4:1-4
B. They deny the
“I and my Father are one.” —John 10:30 (KJV)
“Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves so that you don’t lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward. 9 Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching but goes beyond it does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home, and do not greet him; 11 for the one who greets him shares in his evil works” —2 John 7-11
“Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ. 9 For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ,” —Colossians 2:8-9
II. WE MUST
OUR SOURCES OF STRENGTH (2:24-27)
John describes two sources for truth:
A. God’s
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” —John 17:17 (KJV)
“and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” —2 Timothy 3:15-17
B. God’s
“Now it is God who strengthens us together with you in Christ, and who has anointed us. 22 He has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.” —2 Corinthians 1:21-22
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. 17 He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.” —John 14:16-17
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come.” —John 16:13
III. WE MUST
CLOSE TO GOD (2:28)
John uses three words that encourage us to remain close to God:
A. We must
“You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.” —John 15:3-7
B. We will
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” —2 Corinthians 5:10
C. Some will be
“Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.” —2 Timothy 2:15
CONCLUSION: Are you marked by TRUTH?
“Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” —John 8:31-32
DEEP DIVE QUESTIONS
Read Colossians 2:8-9. True faith in Jesus produces good works. How have you seen this principle at work in your life and in the lives of others?
How can you share your two sources of truth (God’s Word and God’s Spirit) with others this week?
John wrote that we must “abide” in Christ to remain close to Him. What are 3 ways you can abide in Christ this week?
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