I'm going to continue blogging about the 1 John sermons here for continuity's sake, and this afternoon's continuation of the series was excellent, but our pastor has started preaching through the Canons of Dort, and this morning's sermon on article 5 was nothing short of amazing. If you find yourself wanting to hear a sermon that will challenge your mind and heart, go to the Bethany Website and listen and be blessed.
1 John highlights the truths regarding the salvation of Jesus Christ that must be communicated as basics of the Christian faith. For this reason, it is a good book to turn to as an evangelistic tool or for the instruction of new Christians. The central theme of this particular passage is that Jesus is the Christ, and this declaration would be meaningless without an understanding of the Old Testament. We cannot truly be saved unless we understand that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies.
"But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things" (v.20). The truths that we know have been revealed to us through an anointing. Those who have received this anointing are contrasted with the antichrists of v. 18, the ones who "went out from us" of v. 19. The "you" of v. 20 refers to all of those who are still with us, who have not left. This anointing that we have received results in knowledge (vv. 20b-21). This truth has been imparted to us, and this truth is that Jesus is the Christ.
The truth John has been talking about has been rejected by liars (v.22a), those who say that Jesus is not the Christ. As a Jew himself, John was aware that many Jews were rejecting Jesus but claiming to worship God. This was impossible; there is no separation between Old Testament and New Testament religion and faith. There is no such thing as a Judeo-Christian ethic. John knew of no such distinctions. In v. 23a, John explains that the Son becomes as important, relationally, as the Father. You cannot have one without the other. If you know the Son, you know the Father, and if you know the Father, you know the Son. In v. 23b John talks about acknowledging the Son, and there is a public element to this idea of acknowledgment. The one who knows and loves the truth will acknowledge it. We do this today when we make a public profession of faith or when we come together for public worship.
This truth remains in us ("let that abide in you," v. 24), and results in a unity between a relationship with Christ and knowing the truth. We can't have a relationship with Christ without content.
And clearly with the themes of last weekend's Philadelphia Conference in his mind, our pastor concluded by reminding us of the Reformed understanding of the perspicuity of Scripture--that we ourselves, as individuals, can come to an understanding of the truth. God's people can understand the truth--we need not be Greek and Hebrew scholars to come to an understanding. We ought to be able, with confidence, to say "I believe." The Word of God and the Spirit of God are teaching us, and so we ought to go to His Word with confidence.
8 comments:
You mentioned that Rev Freswick preached on Article 5 of the Canons. You are talking about the fifth head of doctrine, called Perseverance of the Saints, correct?
I forgot to mention this earlier: the last post was for clarification.
And thank you for posting this series on I John, Annette. I enjoy reading them. In fact, I enjoy reading all the sermon excerpts you have posted.
Today was Calvinette Sunday, or as they say in the CRC, GEMS Sunday. the sermon today had to do with the theme for the Calvinettes, which was The Secret of Contentment, and the verse was Philippians 4:10-13. I'll send you excerps of the sermon later this week.
The Lynwood URC girls also call the Calvinettes GEMS. And I wish they'd get away from CRC talk. We aren't part of that denomination any longer. Even my minister says the same thing.
Dave,
It was the First Head, article 5 on election.
That's actually what I thought it was: Canons I.5. I worded my first response wrong. Those Canons are oh, so powerful, are they not?
Those Canons are amazing. And I think it's great that our pastor is preaching through them. I've never been in a church that preached through them before.
My minister not too long ago (around the fiorst of the year, I think) just finished the Canons, only he didn't include the Rejection of Errors. My last minister did this several years ago, and included the RE. And notice in the Canons---each head is also found somewhat in the other heads as well. This is why all 5 points flow so well together and must all be taken as one, and not separately.
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