1 John Study

Lesson # 4

Three Misconceptions Of Man # 2

Introduction

            Last lesson we began a discussion of three misconceptions that man has about his status with God. The first misconception John mentions is, that man could walk in sin & still have fellowship with God. To this thought John responds with a definite no. God is light & in Him is no darkness at all. He does not fellowship with darkness or with those who walk in darkness. In this lesson we will consider the other two misconceptions John speaks about.

 

1 John 1:8,9

 

1. Saying - I have no sin

            a. Heb.2:3 – some choose to ignore the salvation offered by God through Jesus

            b. Feel they are OK because they are good enough without Jesus

                        1) Feel sin has no power over them

                        2) Conduct doesn’t matter (once saved always saved)

            c. Note – sin is singular not plural

                        1) Means sin as a root or a part of their nature

                        2) No need for Jesus because no sin nature (can stop sin on own)

                                    Discipline is all that they need – in self the power to overcame

                        3) Forget that sin means – imperfections; falling short & missing the mark

 

2. John says these people only deceive themselves

            a. Rom.7:14-23 – honest people admit this struggle

            b. Flesh with its desires so easily gives in – always pulling at us

            c. Man so easily makes excuses for whatever sin in life

                        1) Cause is external not internal – up bringing; parents; society;

environment; education or the lack of it; associates etc.

                        2) Therefore man not responsible or accountable for his sin – disease etc.

                        3) Someone or something else made him do what he did

            d. Scripture says everyone falls short

                        Mt.7:21-23; Rom.3:23; 5:12; Gen.6:5; Prov.20:5; Isa.64:6

 

3. If we confess our sin

            a. Confess = admit our guilt & personal responsibility for wrongdoing

                        1) Not try to excuse or flower up (make not look as bad)

                        2) Some try make sin look more attractive (Gay; an affair; a disease etc)

3) Some want to make excuses so not appear as bad

            b. Note promises

1) Forgive all unrighteousness – both those we confess & those we don’t -

            a) Some sin we recognize & confess while others we don’t even

recognize much less confess

                                    b) Not perfect even in our repentance or our confession of sin

                        2) God is faithful & just – He keeps His word – does exactly what He says

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            c. Other scriptures

                        Eph.1:7; Prov.28:13; Isa.43:25; 53:6,7; 55:7

 

1 John 1:10-2:2

 

1. Third misconception – I have not sinned

            a. Righteous enough on own to enter the presence of God

            b. May accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but not as their savior

                        1) Follow His teachings but not His deity – good man

                        2) Died only as a martyr, not as a sacrifice for sin

                        3) Can achieve sinless ness on own

            c. To them sin is only a gross violation of law – something all society condemns

                        1) Rape; murder; fraud; abuse

                        2) Refuse to see sin as any imperfection or shortcoming

            d. Questions

                        1) Who fails to use their mind properly all the time?

                        2) Who fails to live up to their full potential all the time?

                        3) Who fails to act lovingly at all times?

                        4) Who fails to have pure thoughts at all times?

                        5) Who fails to act patiently all the time?

                        6) Who fails to act selfless all the time?

                        7) Who fails to worship properly all the time?

            e. Eccles.7:20; Gen.6:5; Ps.53:3

 

2. John’s admonition – Keep on struggling to not sin

            a. Even though we are all prone to sin – God’s goal for us is to live above sin

                        Rom.6:12; Jn.5:14; 8:11; Isa.55:7; Eph.4:22

            b. We live in a corrupt world; in a body whose nature is to sin; so easily corrupted

                        1) Don’t give in to sin – the world around us

                        2) Struggle to bring every thought captive to Jesus – 2 Cor.10:3-5

                        3) Struggle to live a s good a life as you can – please God in everything

            c. Heb.12:1; 1 Pet.2:11

 

3. If we sin we have an advocate

            a. Advocate – someone who comes along side to help

                        1) Jn.14:16 – Holy Spirit called our advocate too (comforter)

                        2) Someone to plead our case before God

            b. What does Jesus plead?

                        1) Our reputation? Goodness? Works? Not guilty? Personal holiness?

                                    Lived as well as we could? Sincerity? Tried hard?

                        2) Pleads His righteousness; His sacrifice –

Rom.8:34; Heb.2:17; 4:14,15; 7:25,26; 9:24

            c. Propitiation – sacrifice; covering; satisfaction; payment; appeasement

                        1) His sacrifice turns away God’s wrath – appeases His justice

                        2) His sacrifice fully satisfies God’s justice

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                        3) Note – His sacrifice is sufficient for the whole world – all men

                                    All men of all time

                        4) To be covered one must accept Jesus as his covering

            d. Realize – God is the one who must be appeased. He is holy, man is sinful

                        1) God does not need to be reconciled to us – we are the ones who rebelled

                        2) Must come to God on His terms – Jesus – Jn.14:6

 

4. Visible evidences of moral impurity in our lives

            a. Problem – a man’s morality tends to dictate his theology – make excuses

            b. Evidences we are morally corrupt

                        1) Claiming that under grace we are free to do as we want – Jude 1:4

                                    Rom.6:1

                        2) Despising submission & speaking evil of those in authority

                                    Jude 1:8; 2 Pet.2:9,10

                        3) Scoffing at spiritual truths which we do not comprehend – Jude 1:10

                        4) Complaining about moral strictness & seeking to develop new

philosophies – Jude 1:16; 2 Pet.2:18,19

                        5) Arguing about things that contradict God’s word – Titus 3:9-11

                        6) Appearing to be religious but condoning sin in your life – 2 Tim.3:1-5

                                    (compromising with sin; excusing it in your life)

 

5. Steps to conquering sin

            a. Must be in Jesus – Jn.15:5

            b. Learn to hate evil – Rom.12:9

                        1) Minimize it’s benefits (last only a season Heb.11:25)

                        2) Magnify its consequences – Ex.34:7 (3rd & 4th generation affected)

                        3) Make no provision for the flesh to fulfill lusts – Rom.13:14

            c. Manifest complete repentance

                        1) Agree with God – confess with no excuses (accept full responsibility)

                        2) Identify the root cause for your sin – independent spirit (pride)

                        3) Visualize the spiritual consequences – I nailed Jesus to the cross

            d. Learn to walk with God’s Spirit

                        1) Continually be filled – Eph.5:18,19

                        2) Stop grieving, quenching & resisting Him

                        3) Resist Satan – James 4:7

                        4) Seek to be fully cooperative with God’s Spirit (obey quickly)

                                    Extent do = power – Lk.4:14; Col.1:29

            e. Increase your spiritual alertness – Heb.5:14

            f. Seek to transform thought patterns – Rom.12:2

            g. Discern cycles in life – circumstances & times we more vulnerable