Sermon Outline: 1 John 2:15-29

I.      Introduction:

   This past Monday, we celebrated Valentines Day, and Lyndsey and I had the very best Valentines day ever. There were a lot of things that made this day special for us, all of it was G-Rated. We ended up eating at an affordable, but nice restaurant in Del Mar, and then went for a walk on the beach afterwards. We were both so blessed, because of our love for one another. And it made me think about how love can be so inspiring for us as people.

   Have you ever been in love before, to the point where it has inspired you to do something out of the ordinary? Have you ever been so in love before that you wanted to do something extremely special for the one you loved? Because when you truly love someone there is absolutely nothing you would not do for that person. Maybe you were inspired to drive for over two hours just to see the one you love for 30 minutes, only to drive back home. I have a friend who has been married for over 30 years now, and her spouse loves her so much that he drove all the way up to the Sierra Mountains (5 plus hours one way) and back just to buy her a puppy for Valentines Day. Have you ever been inspired by love before? Have you ever been moved into action because of your love for someone, or because of someone’s love for you?

   This morning we are going to be looking at a message entitled: “When God’s Love INSPIRES us”, where we will see that when God’s love inspires us, there will be certain things that take place within our lives, because of God’s great love for us, and our great love for Him.

II.     Revelation/Application:

a. God’s Love inspires us to put God first in our lives (1 John 2:15-17)

   God’s Love inspires us to forsake the things in this world, such as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (2:15). When the Bible is speaking about “the world” in this passage, and “if anyone loves the world”, the Bible is not speaking about the world in terms of “planet earth,” in its physical form. What the Bible is talking about is created order that is in rebellion against God, and under the influence of Satan (1 John 4:3), as he has the whole world under his sway (cf. 1 John 5:19). To be overtaken by worldly lusts is to move further away from God. In other words, for a believer to be overtaken by the things of this world means that they are wandering back into darkness, rather than walking in the light.

   Many believers are uninformed about the reality of worldliness in their lives. They think that it is limited to “external behavior” – like the physical pleasures of life, the material pleasures of life, and the pride of life. However, worldliness first begins in the heart. It is an internal reality within each person as well. It begins in the heart and is characterized by three attitudes.

1.    Craving for physical pleasure

2.    Craving for material objects

3.    Craving for self-promotion

See what fragrance are you? post for an illustration that helps drive this point home.

   If these attitudes are not fought against with the Word of God, prayer, and obedience, they will take over a believers’ life and shipwreck their relationship with God. Jesus tells us in Matthew 13:44, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Jesus is telling us how we can tell who His followers are and who His followers are not, simply by what we treasure most in life.

b. God’s Love inspires us to Remain True to the End (1 John 2:18-23)

   It is the last hour (2:18a). The last hour is referring to the end times. Not necessarily the tribulation period, but none the less, at some point towards the end of world history, just before that time. The way that we can know that we are in the end times is spelled out in this passage.
   1. The Antichrist is coming (2:18a)
   2. Many antichrists have come already (2:18b-10)
   3. God has given us an anointing to help us discern the times (2:20-21)
   4. Many will deny that Jesus is the Christ, both in profession and actions (2:22-23).
   
   Because we have an anointing from the Holy Spirit we need to be discerning about the times, and about the enemy’s objective to corrupt the truth of Jesus’ identity, and his objective to lead us into sin.

c. God’s Love inspires us to have an Abiding Faith (1 John 2:24-29)
   1. An Abiding Faith remains true to God’s word (2:24a)
   2. Remaining true to God’s word is how we know we are abiding in God’s Son (2:24b)
   3. Abiding Faith receives the promise of eternal life (2:25). An abiding faith can be seen through a person “who does the will of God” (2:17), because they will “abide forever” (2:17)
   4. Abiding Faith is not easily deceived (2:26)
   5. Abiding Faith comes with an anointing (2:27).
   6. Abiding Faith in Jesus is what gives us complete confidence in our salvation (2:28). The goal of the Christian faith should be that we are able to meet Jesus face to face without shame or condemnation.
   6. Abiding Faith practices righteousness (2:29). Every one that is “born” of God will practice righteousness. This word for “born” in the Greek is the same word Jesus uses in John 3, when He tells Nicodemus that “unless a man is born again” he cannot enter into heaven. To be born again means that you will seek God first, remain true in the last hour, and practice righteousness, because the new birth places God’s heavenly DNA within our heart and mind, causing us to desire these things.

   It can be likened to a new baby. When a baby is born it needs milk, and baby food, and just as important, it needs nurturing love from its parents. It doesn’t have to be taught to desire these things, it just desires them. In the same way a person who has been born of God does not need to be taught to desire these things, we just naturally desire them. It is just within us to do so. 

   Though our righteousness is through Christ alone, God still calls us to strive to live holy lives that are set-apart. When we live our lives righteously it displays to the world that God is at work in our lives.

III.   Conclusion:

   As I bring this mornings’ message to a close, I want to challenge you to be men and women who allow the Love of God to inspire the way you live out your life. 
   1. By Putting God first in your life over the things of this world.
   2. By Remaining True to Jesus to the end.
   3. By having an Abiding Faith.