Idea: By Christ you have fellowship with God, the forgiveness of sin, therefore shun sin.
Intro: During the Christmas season we remember and thank God for Christ's birth. It is through the life and death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus that you and I have the hope of salvation. John speaks of it in this letter as having fellowship with God who is light. He speaks of it as having the forgiveness of sin. From that reality, then comes a lifestyle that avoids sin. We walk in the light as He is in the light.
Unfortunately, people have come to misunderstand the nature of the gospel especially as it relates to their relationship to sin. John corrects three specific errors in this text which we will consider this morning.
Explanation: Gnosticism, or developing gnosticism, which John contends against.
Explanation: God is light.
Three Errors regarding sin:
1. I'm good. I trust Jesus so my sins just don't matter.
2. I'm good now. I've advanced to the place where I don't sin any longer.
3. I'm good all on my own.
Godly response:
I'm undone. God forgive me a sinner. This results in a life that is full of constant appreciation for Christ your redeemer; a life characterized by repentance and confession; a life blessed by the assurance that because of Christ that you have been cleansed of your sins.
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