The Lifestyle of a True Christian

Scripture: I John 2:1-2

C.I.: Do I Really Know God?

Last week we began a new series. – In this epistle (letter), John is defining who is truly a true New Testament Christian (THEMES!).
A true N.T. Christian – is characterized by several things – which prove that they know God!

•  Seven Tests to See If We Really Know God, (I John 2)

A. Test #1: Do I Obey God, ( vs. 3-6)

1. ( vs. 3-6 ), “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. – The one who says, ‘I have
come to know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
a. Is this Legalism?! Legalism = Faith in our obedience; Christianity = Obedience because of our Faith!
1) No matter what level of relationship you have w/God – it will be characterized by obedience.
2) Quote I Jn. 2:3; Jn. 15:14; 14:15.
3) Since Jesus “walked in obedience” to God – for us to “abide in Him” we must do the same!

B. Test #2: Do I Love Others, ( vs. 7-11 )

1. ( vs. 9-10 ), “The one who says he is in the light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. – The one
who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.”
a. As we saw last week, “Love versus Hate” is a key theme in I John .
1) Love = “Doing what is in someone else's best interest, in spite of what it might cost us.”

2) Yet love requires our walk & talk to agree, ( 3:18 ), “Let us not love in word or tongue, but in...”
3) Thus, both Test #s 1 & 2 are essential, ( 3:10 ), “By this the children of God and the children of….”

C. Test #3: Do I Continue to Grow Spiritually, ( vs. 12-14 )

1. ( vs. 12-13 ), “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His Name's sake. – I am writing
to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. – I am writing to you, young men, because
you have overcome the evil one.”

a. John is NOT talking to people of various chronological ages in the church – but various spiritual ages!
1) Those who are young in the faith ( little children ) – need to remember God has forgiven them.
a) New Christians struggle with this (“Am I still saved even though I cussed?!”)
b) They need to remember God's goodness, ( I Jn. 1:9 ), “If we confess our sins, He is….”
c) While all of us need to keep this in mind – it is a vital test for new Christians!!!

2) “Fathers” (mature) must never forget where they have come from & how far they have come!
a) ( Rom. 15:1 ), “Now we who are strong ought to bear with the weaknesses of those with out…
b) The test for mature believers is to remember how far they have come spiritually.
3) “Young men” – Accept the power God has given to us – while never forgetting its source!
a) ( I Jn. 4:4 ), “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”
4) Therefore, be grateful for where we are – and reach forward to where God wants to take us!

D. Test #4: Do I Refuse to Let the World to Control Me, ( vs. 15-17 )

1. ( vs. 15-17 ), “Do not love the world nor the things that are in the world. – If anyone loves the world, the love of the
Father is not in him. – For all that is in the world, for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust if the eyes
and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but from the world. – And the world is passing away, and also its
lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.”
a. Tests: #1 = love God (obedience), #2 = love others, #3 = love Word; but Test #4 =/= don't love world!
1) As we express our love for God by obedience – love of world is express in these three ways.
2) There are the only bullets in Satan's gun – but he uses then in various & different ways.
3) In the Garden ( quote Gen. 3:6 ) – and in the Wilderness ( Matt. 4:3, 6, 9 ).
4) A true New Testament Christian will not allow themself to be controlled by the world!

E. Test #5: Do I Guard Against False Teachers, ( vs. 18-23 )

1. ( vs. 18-19 ), “Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that antichrist is coming, - even now many antichrists
have arisen; - from this we know that it is the last hour. – They went out from us, but they were not really of us; - for if
they had been of us, they would have remained with us; - but they went out, in order that it might be shown that they all
are not of us.”
a. “Antichrists” (PLURAL) – It means exactly what you think, i.e., against-Christ!
1) True N.T. believers – guard themselves from false teachers – while others embrace them!
2) ( II Tim. 4:3-4 ), “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wishing….”
3) Notice: “…they went out from us…,” – thus, no longer in fellowship w/God's word, ( 1:3 )!

2. ( vs. 22-23 ), “Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ?”
a. In the 1 st Century, some taught that Jesus wasn't the Christ, or sent from God, or even God!
1) But if any of these are true – then we also cannot trust anything Jesus Himself said.
2) Because He Himself said that He is not only equal to God, but that He Himself is God!
3) ( Quote Jn. 5:17-18; 8:58-59 ), “My Father is working until now and I Myself am working….” -
“‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.'”
4) Not only believing in “The Man” – but also in “The Plan,” ( quote II Jn. 9 ), “Anyone who…”

F. Test #6: Do I Let God's Word Live in Me, ( vs. 24-27 )

1. ( vs. 24-25 ), “…let that abide in you which you have heard from the beginning. – If what you heard from the beginning
abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. – And this is the promise which He Himself made to us;
eternal life.”
a. What we have “heard from the beginning” – is the gospel of Jesus, ( cf. 1:1-2 ), “What was from the….”
1) Not only did it save us then – it continues to be that in which we remain.
2) When we live/abide/remain/stay in God's word – we receive His promise, E.T., Jn. 8:31-32 .

G. Test #7: Do I have Confidence in My Salvation, ( vs. 28-29 )

•  ( v. 28 ), “And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink
away from Him in shame at His coming.“

a. If we are unsure of our relationship with God (Test #s 1-6) – we will also be unsure of our salvation!
1) We need to begin with the idea that God WANTS us to be saved, ( quote II Pt. 3:9 )
2) The only thing that is in doubt – is do we want to be saved as much as He wants to save us?

•  Brethren, how did we do on the test? – Can we honestly say we are able to answer “YES!” to all seven questions?

•  Guests, your obedience to the gospel gains you God's promise of Eternal Life. – Are you ready today to obey, Acts 2:38?! .