MPC, 17th October 1999.REAL CHRISTIANS
1 John 1:1-2:4
Phil Campbell MPC, 17th October 1999.
Have you seen that ad on TV with the guy chatting up a girl at the bar, and he's boasting about all the famous people he's met? And he's got the photos to prove it.
"Come back to my place and have a look." So she does. And there he is framed on the wall; a photo arm in arm with the pope. And singing with Pavarotti. There he is with the QUEEN. Shaking hands with BILL CLINTON. How long have you known MIKE TYSON? There he is in the ring.
The walls are COVERED with framed photos. All side by side with FAMOUS PEOPLE. Best mates.
And of course, they're all FAKES. Every single photo. It's an ad for a new INKJET printer you hook up to your computer, and the prints are SO CLEAR that you can't pick 'em from a photo. So as you can with gadgets these days, he's fiddled around and added himself into the picture beside the Queen and he PRINTS IT OUT. A fake. But it looks so REAL.
Now in the ad, the girl this guy's trying to impress is smart enough to know she's being taken for a ride. But what a GOOSE you look like if you're sucked in. Fooled by a FAKER. I mean, what if she'd fallen for it. What if she'd MARRIED THE GUY… and then found he wasn't mates with Bill Clinton at all.
Sometimes, it's hard to pick a fake from the real thing. But it's WORTH DOING, isn't it. Even more important when it comes to matters of faith. When it comes to THE GOSPEL. And I want to ask the question this morning, how do you pick THE REAL CHRISTIAN… from a FAKE.
It was a big issue back when John wrote these three little letters near the back of our bibles. We're looking at the first one, we call it 1 John. A letter written to Christians at a time when there were FAKES AROUND. As there are now. How do you pick the REAL CHRISTIAN… from the FAKE? What are the marks that let you pick the counterfeit Christian from the real thing?
John's writing late in the first century; he's an old man; Christianity has grown and spread. And I guess there's the sort of thing we see today… I'll have my version of Christianity, you have yours, as if they're thickshake flavours at McDonalds. I prefer Chocolate, your like vanilla. What's it matter. Live and let live. Pick and choose.
To which this old disciple of Jesus wants to say… BE VERY CAREFUL. Because there's only ONE REAL GOSPEL. And everything else is a fake. There's only ONE SORT OF REAL CHRISTIAN… and the rest are forgeries. And he goes on to spell out what the REAL THING LOOKS LIKE.
Let's take a look. Number 1 if you're following your outline, REAL CHRISTIANS stick with the REAL JESUS. Sounds obvious, doesn't it. Except it's not. Legends grow. Theories that have got more in common with the latest trends in philosophy than with the REAL JESUS.
And so John starts his letter like this. He says, what I'm writing to remind you about is THE REAL JESUS. The Jesus who I saw and touched and heard; the REAL JESUS who CAME FROM GOD… the one I followed on the dusty roads. The one we disciples ate and drank with. John was THERE WITH HIM. Saw his life. Saw his death. Saw his RESURRECTION. And that's the basis of his message.
Read what he says - verse 1. That which was from the beginning, WHICH WE HAVE HEARD, which WE'VE SEEN WITH OUR OWN EYES, which we have LOOKED AT… and OUR HANDS HAVE TOUCHED--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.
John's had HANDS ON EXPERIENCE with the GENUINE JESUS. This is EYE WITNESS NEWS. Which makes John qualified to say REAL CHRISTIANS are the ones who stick with the REAL JESUS. And not some made up one. Verse 2, it's the REAL JESUS who's the source of life; the REAL JESUS who was with God, and came to earth.
And so if you're going to be a REAL CHRISTIAN, you need to take notice of the ones who were there. Who were COMMISSIONED to bring the news to US. Look what he says in verse 3. He says, the whole reason I'm telling you this, the whole reason I'm WRITING YOU THIS, and he's talking to us as well, is so you'll know the REAL JESUS. Which is the only way to be IN FELLOWSHIP. With John and the other apostles. And with the FATHER and the SON as well.
Verse 3: We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that YOU ALSO MAY HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH US. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
Now I don't want to go on too much about this, but can you see the point is, the way to FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD - and it's the ONLY WAY - is by knowing Jesus. And the way to know Jesus, it isn't to MEDITATE; or to come up with some sort of deep sounding spiritual philosophy. It's to take notice of what's here in your bible. Eye witness accounts from people like John. Who can TELL US… about the REAL JESUS.
There's that old hymn, the chorus goes "And he walks with me and he talks with me." Which is a nice idea. But it's not how it is. He didn't walk and talk with you and me. He WALKED AND TALKED WITH HIS DISCIPLES. And he COMMISSIONED THEM AS APOSTLES. Which means OFFICIAL MESSENGERS. So what an apostle like John writes HERE… that's what shows us the REAL JESUS. Rather than what your HEART might say. Or what anyone ELSE might say.
Real Christians stick with the REAL JESUS. Seen, heard, touched by John. Who TESTIFIES HERE IN THE SCRIPTURES. So John says, if you want to know LIFE, if you want to be in fellowship, take notice. And don't go off on your own.
REAL CHRISTIANS ARE (REFORMED) SINNERS
Here's the second point he makes. And you'll see it on your outline. If you want to know the second mark of a real Christian, here it is. Real Christians are SINNERS. And they know it.
Do you realise we're living in a world where SIN is right out of fashion? The New Directions newspaper, you can get a copy up the back after church; there's a news story about Joe Wright, a minister who was invited to give the traditional prayer to open a Kansas State Legislature meeting. They do the same in Parliament here. A perfunctory prayer. Nobody takes any notice. And they expected Joe to do the usual polite generalities. Except Joe called a spade a spade. Joe's prayer said, in a nutshell, we're a nation of sinners. He said, Heavenly Father, we know Your Word says "Woe to those who call evil good," but that's exactly what we've done." We've SINNED. And need forgiveness.
And a whole bunch of legislators apparently got up and walked out in protest. Appalled that in this enlightened age anyone would DARE to use the word SIN. Because we just call it "alternative lifestyles". Or "freedom of choice."
Calling sin "sin" has gone right out of fashion. Believing there's any such THING as sin has gone right out of fashion.
And not just out there in the world. There's another way it goes, too… popular among good Presbyterians. Like one old lady at our last church who used to say, to me, "Mr Campbell, I don't like all this business about SIN. It's not NICE. We shouldn't talk about it." She said, "After all, I've never done any of it. We're all good CHURCH PEOPLE here."
John's facing something similar. People who are claiming SIN'S NOT A PROBLEM. But as he looks back to JESUS, the REAL JESUS, there are three things about SIN John wants us to know.
First and foremost, you've got to face the TRUTH. See, you might be absolutely satisfied with yourself; performing to your own little standards 110%. But you're using the wrong measuring stick.
Sin runs right to the core in all of us. We're born like it. And the only way forward is to see it. And ADMIT IT. I'm not necessarily talking the robbing, mass murdering type sin; the quiet lusting, jealous, spiteful in your heart type sin that nobody sees; doing things YOUR WAY, ignoring God.
You saying, NOT ME? I'm not like that. Cause that's what some of the fake Christians were saying back then, as well. As John writes. And John says, "You're kidding yourself." Jump ahead to verse 8. We'll come back to the other bit in a minute. "If we claim to be without sin, we DECEIVE OURSELVES, and the truth is not in us." Same again, verse 10. God says you're a sinner; measured by HIS STANDARDS. What do YOU SAY? "If we claim we have not sinned; and I showed this verse to my good Presbyterian friend down in Maclean; if we claim we have not sinned, we make God out to be a liar. And his word has no place in our lives."
Sign up for alcoholics anonymous, and the first thing you have to do is OWN THE PROBLEM. Hi, I'm Barry and I'M AN ALCOHOLIC.
Hi. I'm Phil. And I'm a sinner…
And can you see the reason that's so important is exactly the same here as at AA. Because it's only when you know you've got a problem that you know you need a saviour. Which is the whole reason the REAL JESUS came. And DIED the way he did.
Three verses to look at - they all say the same. We'll go verse 9 first; and it's one we should all carry in our heads. He says, if you say you're without sin you're deceiving yourself. But verse 9, IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, he is faithful and just and will FORGIVE US OUR SINS… and PURIFY US from all unrighteousness."
Almost the same words back at the end of verse 7; the blood of his son Jesus PURIFIES US FROM ALL SIN. Because in HIS DEATH, with his back up against the splinters of the cross, he's PAYING OFF OUR DEBT. Declaring a fresh start for sinners.
Got something in the mail the other day for the previous owners of our house. From the Blockbuster Video Library. A blue card, that said, "WE FORGIVE YOU. We want you to come back."
That overdue tape, you know, five bucks a night… you forgot about it, racked up an account of probably hundreds in overdue fees. The last thing you'd do is go back in there. But Blockbuster has apparently decided they'd rather KEEP THE RELATIONSHIP that COLLECT THE PENALTY. It's an AMNESTY. A new start. Just take in the Card and they'll cancel the account.
Which is God's offer of FORGIVENESS to SINNERS. Come back in… because the penalty's taken care of.
Verse 2 in chapter 2, same again. Worth saying three times, because it's at the heart of what it means to be a REAL CHRISTIAN. Jesus Christ the RIGHTEOUS ONE, he says, is the ATONING SACRIFICE for our sins, and not only ours, but also for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD. A blue card for ANYONE… all they need to do is come on in. And the penalty's been paid.
They say the English athlete Linford Christie was one of the most visible campaigners against DRUGS IN SPORT. Linford Christie liked wearing a t-shirt that said 100% PURE TALENT. Boasting. No drugs. Trouble was, it was a smokescreen. And apparently he was using steroids all along.
And as we come to the third point John wants to make about sin, there's probably something similar going on back there. And it's maybe the case that the ones who protest their innocence too loudly are doing it to cover up their guilt.
And John wants us to know, the reason we need to recognise our sin, the reason we need to have our SIN FORGIVEN… it's not so we can KEEP ON SINNING. But so we can learn NOT TO.
There's bumper sticker that says, "Jesus died for our sins, so lets make the most of it." As if to say, you beauty, let's DO WHAT WE LIKE. Then be FORGIVEN. John says, if you want to say that, it's a sure sign you're a FAKE. You can claim to be a Christian all you like. But if you're happy to keep going in your sin, you're not a Christian at all.
You can say you're a Christian all you like; but if your life shows you prefer the darkness to the light, you're a COUNTERFEIT CHRISTIAN.
Pick it up back in verse 5 and see what he's saying.
"This is the message we heard from him and declare to you: GOD IS LIGHT, and in him there is no darkness at all. IF WE CLAIM to have FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM, yet walk in the DARKNESS, we LIE… and do not LIVE BY THE TRUTH.
Coming to Jesus is not a license to sin. It's a license NOT TO. And so if you've got someone claiming to be a Christian, claiming to be a follower of Jesus, who wants to say, "doesn't matter HOW I LIVE…" - then you're talking to a fake.
Churches are full of them. Men - pretending to be Christian leaders - and they're looking for a chance to molest little kids. You see it on TV week after week. And they tout out their fine Christian qualifications when it comes to court. But you know, they're FAKES. Pretending to have FELLOWSHIP WITH JESUS… maybe you're eyeing off another mans wife. Making plans. Breaking up families. They're FAKES. Claiming to WALK IN THE LIGHT… but on Monday at work, happily FIDDLING THE BOOKS; cheating on the boss; stitching up dishonest deals. And somehow excusing it. And keeping on and on and on. Counterfeit Christians. Claim to have fellowship with him and keep walking in the darkness, you're a liar. That's what he says in verse 6. And you don't live by the truth.
Which isn't to say - and we need to hear this - which isn't to say, Christians never get it wrong. Which isn't to say, Christians DON'T SIN. But what real Christians WON'T DO is use fellowship with Jesus as a CAMOFLAGE for keeping on walking in darkness. And live the lie.
What we WILL DO… is keep on admitting we're sinners. Keep on CONFESSING OUR SINS. Keep on FINDING FORGIVENESS.
That's John's point at the start of chapter 2; he's writing what he's writing so we WON'T SIN. Not as an excuse so we will. But he says, if anyone does sin, we've got the best advocate in town. The atoning sacrifice himself.
This is great news, isn't it, for REAL CHRISTIANS. No news at all if you want to play games; of claiming you're not a sinner at all, when you really are; of claiming you're in fellowship with Jesus when you're quite happily living in darkness; no news at all if you want to be like that. But if you want to be real, the start of chapter 2 gets s beautiful balance. Whatever you do, don't sin. Because sin's such a terrible thing that Jesus came and DIED FOR IT. But if you DO SIN, don't lose heart… because JESUS CAME AND DIED FOR IT. Read it. "My dear Children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody DOES SIN, if you have sinned, if you know you've blown it, GREAT NEWS… the GOSPEL IS JUST FOR YOU… if anybody does sin, and notice how he includes himself… WE have one… not YOU have one… WE HAVE ONE who speaks to our Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the righteous one… the one who paid, who atoned for our sins on the cross."
CONCLUSION
John the disciple of Jesus is writing this letter to Christians who are getting confused about what's REAL and what's FAKE. A time when they're starting to be pulled different ways. Told different things. Told maybe they're missing the full story. That the Jesus they've heard about, the Jesus they've trusted in, doesn't fit the spirit of their age. Change this. Change that.
I guess today we get a similar thing. Maybe the Jehovah's witness at the door. Or those so called SCHOLARS. There's a bunch in America, they call themselves THE JESUS SEMINAR. Every couple of years they publish a new book. They say they're stripping away the UNBELIEVABLE BITS… getting back to the REAL JESUS. They say, there's no way he could have done miracles. So leave out those bits. They say, there's no way he could have done all that teaching. Take out those bits. And they publish a few sentences here and there from the gospels and they say, this is all that's left. Here's the REAL JESUS. And every time, the newspapers are there, ready to run it as a full page story. Cutting Jesus down to size.
John says, I WAS THERE. I saw. I heard. I touched. So this is the WORD OF LIFE. Don't listen to anyone else. Listen to ME. The REAL CHRISTIAN is the one who knows the REAL JESUS through God's word.
And he says, if you're going to say SINS NOT A PROBLEM, you're MISSING THE WHOLE POINT. Jesus came to DIE FOR SIN. To PURIFY YOU… from those things on your heart you thought you could never wash off. The things on your conscience that you somehow feel deserve to be punished … so you keep going over and over and over them in your mind. They've been PUNISHED ALREADY. A real Christian knows sin is very real. A REAL CHRISTIAN … REALLY REPENTS. And a real Christian comes to the REAL JESUS… for REAL FORGIVENESS. Anything else might look good for a while… but it's really just a fake.