breathing room: 1st John: The Word of God Lives in You

sermon notes from the Vineyard Church of Milan 08/21/2011

[Play video: 1 John 2v12-14…]

¹²I am writing to you, dear children,

because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.

¹³I am writing to you, fathers,

because you know him who is from the beginning.

I am writing to you, young people,

because you have overcome the evil one.

¹⁴I write to you, dear children,

because you know the Father.

I write to you, fathers,

because you know him who is from the beginning.

I write to you, young people,

because you are strong,

the word of God lives in you,

and you have overcome the evil one.

1 John 2:12-14

Plagiarizing from Mars Hill, and Rob Bell today. Started our series before they did, but Rob spoke about this text in a way that spoke to my heart. I want you to have the best that I can give you. And much of what he said, and even some of the ways he said it, is the best that I can give you. Send complaints to me, and props to him…

A reminder of where we find ourselves in this letter…

It began with:

Witness

(breathless excitement, the encounter with and experience of eternal zoe life)

Invitation

(have fellowship with us, this is for you, join us)

Instruction/teaching

(light and darkness, sin, confession, forgiveness)

Comfort

(my dear children, the pause that refreshes)

Correction/Rebuke/Reminder

(no room for hate, it all boils down to love)

Like a teacher, at a key moment, who knows that the learning now depends on something else, something beyond the material, beyond the classroom and the work. You need to know why I am saying this to you. You need to know something about yourselves that you might not know, but I do. I see something in you. Because I believe in you.

So why is John pouring himself into this community of Jesus’ followers? Because it’s his job? Is it because he wants to leave a legacy? Is it even because God told him too? Or is it because he can see something of what God has done in them, because he believes in them, because by being a part of what is happening in them, he gets to be part of something awesome.

Because your sins have been forgiven

Because You know God

Because You are strong

Because the word of God lives in you

And because you have overcome the evil one.

Your sins have been forgiven

You know God

You are strong

The word of God lives in you

And you have overcome the evil one

I write because your sins have been forgiven,

apheontai, sent away. Gone, not here any more, dismissed.

I write because you know,

gnosko - first hand personal experience, a knowing that is deeper than head knowledge, heart knowledge, the way you know your favorite voice.

I write to you because you are strong

Ischuros, powerful, mighty, like the wind in a storm, like Jesus’ weeping in the garden of gestemene, like an angel casting boulders in the sea, like a fully armed man guarding his dwelling.

I write to you because the word of God lives in you

ho logos ho theos, the word that created the universe, that speaks light into being, that healed the blind, that sustains every living thing, Jesus himself who holds all things together, the song that undergirds the universe.

I write because you have overcome,

neNikekate, a battle that’s already been won, victory in the past whose effects spill into the present and the future.

I write because you have overcome the evil one,

poneros, the evil one, or evil, but also the pain sweat and sorrow that come with evil

[Volunteers / 3 to speak and 3 to hear]

___________________,

Your sins have been sent away

You know God

You are strong

The word of God lives in you

And you have overcome the evil one

The good news is the disruptive announcement of who you really are, in Christ, what has really happened, in Christ, what is true about reality, in Christ, whether or not it feels true [Thanks, Rob!]. The announcement itself disrupts the darkness, unravels it.

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes…” Romans 1:16

Who believes. Not assents to it in their head, but who acts in trust of it.

It may not be true, but it’s True.

In receiving it, the good news takes root in you.

The word takes on flesh and blood and comes to us.

And more often than we realize, we are the flesh and blood the word takes on to come to others.

Set up Blood diamond clip…

Child kidnapped from African village, turn him into child soldier, brainwash him, train him to be a killing machine. Father, Solomon Vandy, sets out to find his boy. While the searching continues, the boy is corrupted further and further. At the end, the father finally reaches this boy, holding a gun, and realizes it is his son, Dia.

[Play Blood Diamond clip…]

“You are Dia Vendy, of the proud Mende tribe.

You are a good boy who loves soccer and school.

I know they made you do bad things,

but you are not a bad boy.

I am your father who loves you.

And you will come home with me

and be my son again.”

Gospel of John full of “believe”, 86 times. Believe in Jesus, believe in his good news of the kingdom. Believe as in trust, as in act in confidence that it’s true.

Some of us are being called to announce the good news in this very practical, simple way John does, with new clarity and confidence, towards others.

How would that change the way you raise your kids? Serve in children’s ministry? Youth ministry? Compassion Ministry? Lead your small group? Love your spouse? Your friends?

What basis does John have for saying it? He loves, and he abides in the light. That’s it. That’s enough. This is what we can see to be true about reality, about those we love, when we see in the light of the Gospel.

Your sins have been sent away

You know God

You are strong

The word of God lives in you

And you have overcome the evil one

[this is why I pastor the Vineyard Church of Milan…]

Some of us are being invited today to receive this good news, in a very simple, practical way, with new clarity and confidence, from others.

Your sins have been sent away

You know God

You are strong

The word of God lives in you

And you have overcome the evil one