The Evidences Of Life

A Covenant To Proclaim

1 John 1.5-7

[Proclamation is the propagator of the Christian faith.  Without a doubt, when born again Christians fail to proclaim the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, the message of the Word of God, then the Church of our Lord will wither and die.  Our faith is passed on from generation to generation through the proclamation of the gospel Message.  ] 

[What is the message we must carry?  It is,] 

[1 Corinthians 15:1-4 ¹ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; ² By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. ³ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ⁴ And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: ]

[It is the death, burial, and physical resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Apostle John proclaims this vary message in the opening verses of this text.  Someone might ask, Where is this found in 1 John?  Consider what John is saying,] 

[1 John 1:1 ¹ That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; ]

[John is not just saying, “Hey, I know Jesus was a real man, because I touched Him.”  People would just think, “Okay, so what.”  There’s nothing spectacular in just touching another human being.  What John is alluding to is what is recorded at the end of the Gospel of Luke,] 

[Luke 24:36-40 ³⁶ And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. ³⁷ But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. ³⁸ And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? ³⁹ Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. ⁴⁰ And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.]

[The Apostle John is saying, “I know Jesus is the eternal God because I handled Him after His resurrection.”  John is witnessing to the fact of what he heard, saw, and handled.] 

[Now John says, ] 

[1 John 1:5 ⁵ This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, . . . ]

[The Apostle John is saying the same thing Winston Churchill once said, “If anyone can get up and walk out of a grave, He is worthy to be heard.”  Hence, the message John is declaring is not just John’s message, it is the message first delivered by the Lord Jesus Christ and substantiated by His resurrection.] 

As we consider this text notice: 

A.     The Necessity Of Our Witness – [Born Again Christians have been given an incredible spiritual and mortal gift.  The Spiritual gift is eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ.  The mortal (earthly) gift is the illumination, purpose, and contentment gained through that spiritual gift.  With this gift there comes an incredible and often disregarded responsibility.  The responsibility to proclaim or witness of the gift one has received.]

[It has already been noted that if the children of God fail to witness, then the gospel message and the Church of our Lord will wither up and die.  The Church of our Lord Jesus Christ is truly in peril in these end times.  Someone might say, “But wait, Christianity is the largest religion in the United States and is permeating the world in many ways.”  Is this really true.  Yes, Christianity is monstrous, but what proclaims itself to be Christian in our day is becoming less and less associated with the Gospel and the true message of the Bible, and more related to the religious philosophies of mankind.”  The leaven of deception has permeated contemporary Christianity, and the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is no longer the hallmark of Christian religions.]

[It is absolutely essential that born again Christians proclaim the Gospel message, and rightly divide the Word of God.  We must be impressed with the necessity of our witness, or else the faith that brought us to Christ will die with us.  What are we told about the necessity of our witness?] Our Witness Is: 

1.      A Scriptural Mandate (Matt 28.18-20; 1 Cor 1.21) [– We are reminded by Scripture that our Heavenly Father expects us to share our faith.] 

a.      [The Great Commission demands our proclamation] 

[Matthew 28:18-20 ¹⁸ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. ¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. ]

b.      [The lost in our world require our proclamation.  There is no other way for lost and wayward men, women and children to hear the gospel message than through our proclamation.] 

[1 Corinthians 1:21 ²¹ For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.]

[Romans 10:14-17 ¹⁴ How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! ¹⁶ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? ¹⁷ So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. ]

[But, as any parent knows, a mere mandate will never cause one to perform consistently and willingly.  A mandate expresses the importance of the needed act but that will rarely provide the need results because is it often fails to generate heartfelt motivation.]

2.      A Spiritual Manifestation (Acts 1.8) [– In 1 John the Apostle John is a witness rather than an attorney.  A witness proclaims what he has experienced.  An attorney argues a case from its hard cold facts.  We are called upon to be witnesses just like the apostle John.  Perhaps we have not physically heard, seen, and handled the Lord, but we have heard, seen, and handled the Lord through our spiritual eyes of faith.  One of the evidences of our spiritual maturity is the witness we are compelled to proclaim.] 

[Our heartfelt proclamation of the gospel message and the Word of God is evidence of The Empowering Presence of the Holy Spirit] 

[Acts 1:8 ⁸ But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.]

[The Holy Spirit within us cries out with the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  What the hard cold command of God could not cause us to do, the living, vibrant being within us compels us to do.  The Holy Spirit should generate a motivation within us bringing life to the mandate of God. We should find ourselves proclaiming the Gospel message because we just cannot seem to help ourselves.  We find that we are just beside ourselves as we openly and loudly declare the truths contained within God’s Word.]

3.      A Significant Ministry (Mark 16.15-16)  [- I have seen many a Christian, drug down through the fields of life’s despair.  They appear disillusioned, disoriented and wandering.  They often wonder, “Why am I here.”  They are heard asking, “Why doesn’t God just take me home?”  Why has God brought you to the place where you are, and why are you still here?  Nothing has changed.  The Word of God has not changed.  The revelation of God is still absolutely the same.] 

[You are where you are, in the trials that you are in, bearing up under the burdens you are carrying for the same reason that has always been revealed by God.  So that you can be a living witness for our Lord Jesus Christ.]

[You are right where you are by the divine providence and sovereignty of Almighty God that you might be His witness.  So why are you not witnessing?]

[God has said,]

[Mark 16:15-16 ¹⁵ And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. ¹⁶ He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.]

[Why aren’t you proclaiming?  You might say, ]

·        [“Because it just doesn’t do any good?”  God doesn’t command you to be effective, He just calls you to witness.]

·        [“Well I’m just not able to get out anymore!”  Has God given you a phone, email, text messages, whatever else.  Witness with every tool God has given you, witness with every opportunity that God gives you.]

[God has placed you right where you are so that you might be a witness for him in the place that you are.  You will not overcome your feelings of failure and inadequacy until you stop feeling sorry for yourself and start witnessing again.]

[The message you carry is the most significant message in our world.  The only way anyone will hear it is if you speak up and declare it.  God has put you right where you are, and keeps you right where you are, so you will proclaim His message right where you are.]

B.     The Nature Of Our Witness – [What about this message we carry.  What is its nature.]  This message is: 

1.      An Illuminating Message (vs 5; John 8.12) [- Giving Purification and Purpose – “. . . that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” – The Gospel message brings people into the brilliant and revealing light of Almighty God.] 

[We Witness, God Convicts – Many Christians quit witnessing because they don’t see people immediately turning to God.  Christians must remember that we are called upon to proclaim God’s message, it is God’s responsibility to add power to the message.  We carry the message, God gives it spiritual impact.  We Witness, only God can convict.]

[God’s Brilliant Light – Whenever you proclaim the truths of the Bible you are bringing lost and wayward people into the manifesting light of God’s truth.  God is light, and light will always dispel darkness.  Light reveal what is hidden in the darkness, and manifests it hideous ugliness.] 

[God’s light provides purpose to life – Without the light of God in ones life, ones life will be meaningless, empty and hollow.  But once one finds the Lord Jesus Christ, life takes on the eternal meaning only found and illuminated by the presence of God.  Jesus said,] 

[John 8:12 . . .  I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. ]

[Empty Christians - So why is life apparently so empty for so many Christians?  Because they have lost sight of their eternal purpose and the life giving message contained in the Gospel.  They have become so self contained, and so self absorbed that they are not functioning for God.  What do they need to do?  Get your eyes off of your worldly circumstances and get your eyes on God’s revealed and eternal purpose for you.  Declare God’s message!] 

2.      A Transforming Message (vs 6; James 2.19) [- Giving Conversion or Transformation – “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:”  - The Apostle John here separates between confessors and professors.  What is the difference?] 

a.       [Professors are those who have a head knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, but they do not have a heart knowledge.  They are religious people, and carry and intellectual knowledge of the Bible and the things of God.  They may have prayed the sinners prayer, but for whatever reason, did not really give themselves to God in the midst of that prayer.  These will: ] 

(1)   [Claim the be saved]

(2)   [Claim to have accepted Jesus]

(3)   [Claim to believe in God] 

[They are just like their father, the devil,] 

[James 2:19 ¹⁹ Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.]

[The devil knows that Jesus lived.  The devil knows that Jesus was crucified and died.  The devil knows that Jesus physically arose from the grave.  The devil knows that Jesus ascended into heaven.  The devil knows that Jesus is alive today.  But the devil is not saved.  Why?  Because the devil never has and never will accept the sacrifice and lordship of Christ into his life.  How is that evidenced, it is marked by rebellion, self will, and sin in his life and existence.  The devil still walks in darkness.] 

[The Darkness of Delusion – professors know the truths about God and the Lord Jesus Christ, but they are still the lord’s of their own lives.  How is this revealed in their life?  By the darkness that permeates their life.   

a)      [They walk in the rebelliousness of worldliness.]

b)      [They justify their wanton sinfulness.]

c)      [Their mouths declare their redemption while they walk in darkness.] 

b.      [Confessors are those who have truly accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and are striving to walk in the light and truth of a real relationship with Christ.  Confessors may sometimes make mistakes and sin, but the desire of their heart will always be to walk worthy of their Lord, and they will be found striving to live lives that are marked with integrity, holiness and righteousness. 

[So we are reminded by John’s eloquent and simple words to consider who we really are in Christ, professors or confessors.  John wrote,  

[If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth] 

3.      A Unifying Message (vs 7) [- Evidenced by Common Ground or Fellowship –  “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”  - Again the Apostle John returns to the common ground (fellowship) that makes those who are born again a part of the family of God and the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Those who are walking in the glorious, revealing light of Almighty God will find common ground with their Lord and common ground with others who are likewise walking in this same light.  Hence, we will have fellowship one with another.  We will have fellowship in:] 

a.       [God’s Word for we will have a common illumination in God’s Word.] 

b.      [God’s Ministry – In God’s nurturing and maturing work within God’s people in the Church, because God will use each and every member of His Church to train and grow each and every other member within His Church.] 

c.       [God’s Mission and outreach to a lost and dying world because it is through God’s enlightened people that He will reach out and proclaim His message to this world.] 

[Your purpose in life is wrapped up in the enlightening presence of Almighty God and His eternal work in you and through you.] 

C.     The Newness Of Our Witness (vs 7) – [. . . and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. – The message we carry is not the message of worldly religion, striving to find a way to earn acceptance with God.]  This is a message of:  

1.      Transformation (Rom 12.1-2) [- The transformation that can be found through the propitiatory work of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross.  It is a Message that reveals that mankind’s only hope for eternal life and purpose in mortal life is fully wrapped up in the finished work of Jesus Christ when He died for our sins.  Hence the Bible states,] 

[Romans 12:1-2 ¹ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.]

[So the question and proclamation of this message today.  Are you a born again Christian?  Are you walking in the light of Almighty God?  Or are you walking in the darkness that marks those who may have a knowledge of God, but are not surrendered to the guidance of God?] 

2.      Illumination (vs 6) [–  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: - We are reminded again of John’s simple and profound words within our text.   What is the testimony of your walk in life?  What is your hearts desire?  Walk in the light, because He is the light.]

CrossRoads Baptist Church, Feb 10, 2008, Evening