My Little Children

TEXT:  1 John. 2:1

INTRODUCTION:

A.      EXPRESSION USED 8 TIMES IN 1 John.

B.      EXPRESSES AFFECTION FOR THOSE TAUGHT.  COMMON EXPERIENCE.

          1.       Paul at Ephesus( Acts 20:36-38 ).

          2.       Paul also at Philippi and Corinth.

D.      DESCRIBES A RELATIONSHIP( 1 Cor. 4:14-16 ).

E.      A RELATIONSHIP THAT I HAVE WITH SOME.

F.      WHAT DID JOHN TELL HIS LITTLE CHILDREN?  JOHN STATES HIS

          PURPOSE IN WRITING TO THEM 4 TIMES.  LET' S SEE WHAT HE SAYS.

THESE THINGS WRITE I UNTO YOU...

I.      THAT YE MAY KNOW THAT YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE( 5:13 ).

A.      GOD PROMISES ETERNAL LIFE TO BELIEVERS( John 6:40 ).

B.      WITHOUT FAITH, THERE IS NO SALVATION( Heb. 11:6 ).  What is faith?

C.      GOD IS FAITHFUL TO HIS PROMISE( Heb. 6:13-19 ).

D.      EVEN IF WE ARE FAITHLESS( 2 Tim. 2:11-13 ).

E.      HIS PROMISES MOTIVATE US ( 2 Cor. 5:7;  Heb. 12:1-2 ).

II.     CONCERNING THEM THAT WOULD LEAD YOU ASTRAY( 2:26 ).

A.      WE MUST BE CAREFUL( Acts 20:29-31;  2 Tim. 1:13-14 ).

B.      THE WORD MUST BE CAREFULLY PASSED DOWN( 2 Tim. 2:2. 15 ).

C.      YOU MUST STUDY - CHECK UP ON YOUR PREACHER.

          1.       Don't take his word for anything.

          2.       Demand Book, Chapter and Verse( Acts 17: 11 ).

III.    THAT YE MAY NOT SIN( 2:1 ).

A.      MANY LOSE INTEREST,  SUCCUMB TO THE TEMPTATIONS OF THE

          WORLD, OR JUST PLAIN GET DISCOURAGED.  SOME DO NOT

          ACTUALLY DROP OUT,  BUT BEGIN TO SIN,  TRYING TO SERVE TWO

          MASTERS( Matt. 6:22-24 ).

B.      SIN COSTS US FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD( 1 John 1:6 ).

C.      RECONCILED THROUGH FORGIVENESS IN HIS BLOOD

          ( 2 Cor. 5:18-21;  1 Pet. 1:18-19 ).

D.      SIN IS CONTRAYR TO OUR NEW LIFE( Rom. 6:1-7 )

E.      THE LORD PROVIDES ESCAPE( 1 Cor. 10:13;  Eph. 6:16;  Rom. 10:17 ).

F.      BUT SOMETIMES WE SLIP( Rom. 7:21-23;  1 John 1:8, 10 ).

H.      WHAT CAN WE DO?( 1 John 2:1-2;  1:7, 9 ).

IV.   THAT OUR JOY MAY BE .MADE FULL( 1:4 ).

A.      CONTEXT IMPORTANT( vs. 3-4 ). JOY IS THE FRUIT OF FELLOWSHIP.

          l.        With God( vs. 6-7 ).

          2.       With one another.

                   a.       Paul speaks of the fellowship he had with Philippi( Phil. 1:3-6 ).

                   b.       This caused great joy( 2:17-18;  4:4 ).

                   c.       John's fellowship with his students brought him joy( 1 John. 1:4 ).

B.      MY JOY HAS BEEN MADE FULL HERE.

V.    FINAL EXHORTATIONS( Phil. 1:27;  3 John 2-4 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?

B.      DO YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD MAKE ALL OF US HAPPY RIGHT NOW?

C.      HOW DO I BECOME A CHRISTIAN?