What is Real?

1 John 3:11–24 (ESV) “For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another… By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers… Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” The Problem with How We Talk About “Love” We use the word love for everything—from french fries to soulmates. Pop culture paints it as reckless passion or self-fulfillment. “Loving him was red,” sings Taylor Swift—intense, confusing, painful. Films reduce love to chemistry. Even spirituality sometimes shrinks love to vague niceness: be kind, be affirming, and that’s that. John Mayer gets closer than most when he says, “Love is a verb.” Biblically, love is indeed something you do . But Scripture goes further: love is a cruciform verb. It takes shape in sacrifice , self-giving , and ultimately blood —Jesus Christ laying down his life for sinners. The apostle John writes to a church rocked by a split. False teachers walked out, and the faithful were left asking: What does real Christianity look like? Who truly belongs to God? John answers with three tests: The moral test — Do you obey God? The doctrinal test — Do you confess the real Christ? The social test — Do you love God’s people? Last week was the moral test: those born of God take sin seriously. This passage focuses on the social test: love —not as sentiment or slogans, but costly, concrete, cross-shaped action. Guiding question: How do we know if our love is real? John gives five answers. 1) Real Love Rejects the World’s Pattern (vv. 11–13) “This is the message… that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain , who was of the evil one and murdered his brother… because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.” Love isn’t a late add-on; it’s “from the beginning.” The gospel’s ethic has always been love one another (cf. Gal. 5:6). John contrasts that with Cain—the archetype of anti-love. Cain didn’t just fail to love; he resented righteousness and attacked it. So don’t be shocked when the world hates holiness. As Calvin observed, the world hates the righteousness of God wherever it appears. Spurgeon was blunt: following Christ means heaven at last—but often hardship on the way. Modern parallel: In an age of curated self-love, Christlike love confronts envy and comparison. True love celebrates holiness instead of resenting it. Heart check: Where does Cain’s pattern show up in you? Do others’ obedience provoke comparison—or praise? Real love chooses celebration over competition . 2) Real Love Reveals Spiritual Life (vv. 14–15) “We know that we have passed out of death into life , because we love the brothers … Whoever does not love abides in death … Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer.” This is resurrection language. Love for the family of God is evidence of new birth. John isn’t describing a perfect feeling but a persistent practice —ongoing, imperfect, Spirit-enabled love. Jesus made the same point: hatred is murder’s seed (Matt. 5:21–22). Cain’s hatred ended Abel’s life; Christ’s love gives life to His brothers. Pastoral word: Discouraged by your failures but still drawn to love? That desire is not from the flesh. It’s the Spirit’s heartbeat in you. Practice: Is your love more than talk? Pursue, forgive, show up, carry burdens—especially when it costs you. 3) Real Love Imitates the Cross (vv. 16–18) “ By this we know love , that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers… If anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart , how does God’s love abide in him? … let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth .” The cross doesn’t just define love; it forms it. If Jesus laid down His life, then Christian love moves toward self-giving . Notice John’s movement from the ultimate sacrifice (“lay down our lives”) to the ordinary (“meet material needs”). James says the same (Jas. 2:15–17). Translation into Tuesday: Open hands, open wallets, open calendars. In the kingdom, love is proven less by poetry and more by presence .

1 John 3:4–10 (ESV) Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness… You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin… No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him… By this it is evident who are the children of God… whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. Where We Are in 1 John John writes to a church rattled by departures and deception. False teachers had walked out, and with them came painful questions: Who really knows God? What does genuine Christianity look like? How can we be sure we belong to Him? Chapters 1–2 answer with sharp, hopeful contrasts— light vs. darkness, truth vs. lies, love of the Father vs. love of the world —all to build assurance in real believers. As chapter 3 opens, John applies what many call the tests of true faith —not to crush, but to clarify and comfort : Identity : Are you God’s child? Righteousness : Is your life being shaped by His purity? Love : Do you reflect the Father’s character? And before any command, John begins with wonder (3:1–3): we are already God’s children; we are not yet complete; and hope in Christ purifies us. From that foundation, he shows what new birth looks like in real life (3:4–10). 1) Those Born of God Take Sin Seriously (v. 4) “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness .” John redefines sin—not a quirk to manage, but cosmic defiance : the heart pushing God away and crowning the self. That’s why David confesses, “Against You have I sinned” (Ps. 51). Sin is vertical before it’s horizontal. New birth changes our tolerance for sin. Christians are not sinless (1 Jn 1:8), but sin stops feeling normal. The Spirit creates holy discomfort . Illustrations Hotel-couch sleep : you can do it, but you can’t rest there. Unanswered text from someone you love : the inner nudge isn’t humiliation but a relational reminder . God’s conviction protects fellowship. Takeaways The test isn’t “Do you ever sin?” but “What does your heart do with sin?” Real believers confess , not excuse; step into the light , not hide. Feeling the weight of sin is a sign of spiritual life , not spiritual failure. 2) Those Born of God Trust God’s Victory (vv. 5–8) “He appeared to take away sins … The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil .” John lifts our eyes from our battle to Christ’s finished work . Jesus didn’t come to help us “manage” sin—He came to remove it. The decisive blow has already landed (Col. 2:15; Heb. 2:14–15). We don’t fight for victory; we fight from victory. Takeaways After a fall, run to Christ, not away from Him. Confidence is rooted in the cross , not your streak. “Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as He is righteous ” (v.7): your practice flows from His person. 3) Those Born of God Grow in Righteousness (v. 9) “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him…” John isn’t preaching perfectionism. He’s describing direction . God plants His life in us, and life grows —slowly, steadily, often painfully, but really (Phil. 1:6; John 15). Takeaways Ask directional questions: Am I quicker to confess? More tender to God? Celebrate small sprouts of grace. Small growth is still real growth. Abiding (John 15) isn’t passive; it’s returning to Christ again and again. 4) Those Born of God Make Their Identity Visible (v. 10) “ By this it is evident who are the children of God… whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother .” Identity doesn’t stay hidden. Fruit will be seen (Matt. 7:16). John grounds assurance not in a vibe but in a visible trajectory : obedience, love, repentance, truthfulness—imperfect yet unmistakable. Takeaways If someone watched your week, what “family” would they see? The question isn’t perfection but pattern . Not no sin, but no peace with sin . Assurance grows as likeness grows— not flawlessly, but genuinely . Conclusion: Assurance, Not Anxiety John isn’t handing you a grading rubric; he’s painting a portrait of new life . If you’re born of God, this is what happens— You take sin seriously (conviction), You trust Christ’s victory (confidence), You grow in righteousness (change), and Your identity becomes visible (clarity). Still feel slow? Still stumble? John would say: the struggle is evidence of life. Dead things don’t fight. The grief you feel over sin, the hunger for holiness, the pull toward righteousness—this is family resemblance emerging. Not sensing that life yet? John isn’t condemning you; he’s inviting you: Come to the One who takes away sin and destroys the devil’s works. Sonship isn’t earned by behaving better; it’s received by believing (John 1:12). Hope for CTK Veritas We are not defined by failures. We are not saved by performance. We are not kept by our strength. We are God’s children —born of His Spirit, kept by His grace, changed by His love. So we take sin seriously , trust Christ’s victory , grow in righteousness , and make our identity visible . Where God begins a work— He finishes it .

Key text — 1 John 3:1–3 (ESV) See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are . The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now , and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him , because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. The Ache to Belong When I first read the opening chapters of Harry Potter, I felt that ache for the boy under the stairs. Harry is forgotten, unwanted, convinced the cupboard is all there is—until a letter arrives and tells him he belongs. He has a name, a place, a story. That longing to be known and claimed sits in every human heart. And that’s exactly the note John strikes: “ See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God — and so we are. ” The phrase “what kind of love” (Greek potapēn) is a gasp: what foreign, otherworldly love is this? God didn’t only forgive; He adopted . He didn’t just clean the slate; He brought us home and wrote a new name over our lives. This short passage unfolds that reality in three movements: We are already loved. We are not yet complete. We are being made pure. 1) We Are Already Loved (v. 1 — Past Foundation) John begins with wonder, not command: “See…” The verb “has given” sits in the perfect tense—love bestowed in the past that continues in the present. God’s love didn’t flicker and fade; it landed and abides . Then the tender assurance: “and so we are.” Not just called children— we are children. Adoption in Scripture isn’t sentiment; it’s a covenant reality sealed by the Spirit. As the Reformed tradition puts it, union with Christ brings not only pardon but sonship . “The Son of God became the Son of Man, that the sons of men might become sons of God.”(attributed to early Christian reflection; beloved by Calvin) John also adds a sober line: “The world does not know us because it did not know Him.” Family resemblance brings cultural friction. If the world misunderstood the Father, it will often misread His children. Two images to hold: Courtroom: The judge’s gavel declares the adoption—your status changes. Living room: The Father’s voice at breakfast—your heart changes. The gospel gives both: justification in the courtroom, adoption in the living room. Live from that love. Takeaways Recover your wonder. Don’t just parse this love— behold it. Rest in belonging. “ And so we are ” means security now, not probation. Expect misunderstanding. Family likeness won’t always win applause. 2) We Are Not Yet Complete (v. 2 — Future Hope) “ We are God’s children now , and what we will be has not yet appeared ; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him , because we shall see him as he is .” Identity now; destiny not yet revealed. The Christian life stretches between assurance and anticipation . The heart of our hope is the appearing of Christ . Notice the order: seeing leads to becoming . Historic theology calls this the Beatific Vision —the unveiled sight of the risen Lord that transforms us fully into His likeness. Glorification isn’t a self-upgrade; it’s the completion of adoption . What is partial becomes whole; what is dim becomes face to face (1 Cor. 13:12). Live in confident hope. John doesn’t say “might”—he says “we shall be like Him.” Let mystery humble you. “ Has not yet appeared ” invites worship, not worry. Fix your gaze forward. Our hope is not a trend; it’s a Person who is coming. 3) We Are Being Made Pure (v. 3 — Present Pursuit) “And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” Hope fuels holiness. John’s grammar matters: he doesn’t say “purify yourself to earn hope,” but “everyone who has this hope purifies himself.” The verb (hagnizei) is present, ongoing— a rhythm, not a one-off . Think window-washing : the sun outside is blazing, but grime on the glass dims the room. Sanctification is the Spirit cleaning the panes of our hearts so Christ’s light shines through . You don’t create the light; you keep the glass clear —repentance, faith, obedience, again and again. Reformed reflection: The Spirit who secured our adoption (v. 1) and guarantees our glorification (v. 2) is the same Spirit who sanctifies us now. Christ justifies no one He does not also sanctify. Holiness isn’t an elective for advanced Christians; it’s the normal fruit of union with Christ . Let hope shape choices. A vivid horizon makes compromise feel cheap. Practice repentance as a habit. Cleansing is daily , not just crisis-driven. Pursue purity together. John’s “everyone” assumes community . The Whole Arc in Three Verses Love given (past): “See what kind of love…” Hope guaranteed (future): “We shall be like him…” Purity pursued (present): “Everyone who thus hopes… purifies himself.” The Father’s love reached back before time. The Son’s appearing stretches beyond time. The Spirit’s work meets you in real time —today. Your life right now is the meeting place of eternity and grace .

There’s a question underneath every decision you make, every desire you chase, every impulse you justify: What do you love most? Not, “What do you believe?” Not, “What do you agree with theologically?” Not even, “Do you go to church?” What do you love most? The apostle John says the answer to that question will explain not only your behavior, but your whole spiritual condition. This is what 1 John 2:12–17 is about. John is going to show us that the Christian life is not just about what you know, and it’s not just about what you do. It’s about what — and who — you love first. That’s why this sermon is called Reordered Loves . Where We’ve Been So Far in 1 John Quick recap of where John has taken us so far: Week 1: The gospel is not just a message. The gospel is a Person — Jesus Christ. Truth is not just an idea; truth is Someone you can know. Week 2: If we really know that Jesus, we don’t hide behind spiritual filters. We can come to God honestly, because “we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). His blood cleanses us. Week 3 (last week): Once we’ve stepped into that light, something changes. We don’t just say “I know Him,” we begin to obey Him. Obedience is not how we earn salvation — it’s the evidence that we truly belong to Jesus. Today in 1 John 2:12–17, John goes deeper. If God has forgiven us… if we are walking in the light… if we’re learning obedience… Then what happens to our loves? Because if Christ is in you, your loves will get rearranged. Step One: Remember Who You Are (1 John 2:12–14) John pauses his warnings for a moment. He slows down. His tone becomes pastoral, almost fatherly. “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, 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 men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” (1 John 2:12–14) At first glance it sounds like he’s talking to different age groups — “children,” “young men,” “fathers.” That’s how these verses get used sometimes at youth conferences. But most theologians agree: John isn’t dividing the room by birth certificate. He’s embracing the whole church . “Little children”: that’s all of us in Christ — tender, dependent, adopted. “Young men”: that’s all believers — strong in the Word, fighting spiritual battle. “Fathers”: that’s all believers — those who truly know the Eternal One. In other words: Christian, this is who you are. Let’s pull out what John says is already true of you in Christ: 1. “Your sins are forgiven for His name’s sake.” Not “will be forgiven if you behave.” Not “might be forgiven if you prove you’re serious.” Are forgiven. In Greek this is perfect tense — an action completed in the past with ongoing results. Jesus’ cross was 2,000 years ago, and His forgiveness is still active right now. 2. “You know Him who is from the beginning.” You don’t just know facts about God. You know the Eternal Son — “Him who is from the beginning.” You are in relationship with the Ancient, uncreated Christ. 3. “You have overcome the evil one.” Not “you’re trying really hard.” “You have overcome.” That victory is not because you’re impressive. It’s because your Savior is. 4. “You are strong.” Even if you don’t feel strong. Even if yesterday didn’t look strong. You are strong in Christ because — and John says this next — 5. “The word of God abides in you.” God’s Word lives in you. It’s not just in your notes. It’s in you. John is saying: Before I tell you what not to love, before I warn you about the world, before I say, “Don’t go there,” you need to know who you already are. You are forgiven. You are loved. You are known. You are strong in Him. You are not property of darkness anymore. This matters, because if you forget who you are, you will start chasing what you’re not meant to love. Step Two: Reorder Your Loves (1 John 2:15) Now John turns the corner and says something that sounds harsh — unless you’ve heard what he just said before it. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15) That lands heavy. But hear it in sequence: You’re forgiven. You know God. You’re strong. You have overcome. Therefore… don’t love the world. He’s not saying, “Behave so God will love you.” He’s saying, “God loves you — so don’t hand your heart to His rivals.” So what does John mean by “the world”? He does not mean sunsets, mountains, music, good food, snow, oceans, craft, poetry, art, design. God made those. Genesis calls that good. When John says “the world,” he’s talking about the system — the invisible architecture of culture that takes good things and bends them into idols. The world: Takes beauty and turns it into vanity. Takes love and turns it into lust. Takes work and turns it into identity. Takes blessing and turns it into entitlement. Takes gifts and replaces the Giver. The world is the voice that says, “You can have joy without God. You can build a name without God. You can define yourself without God.” John says you can’t love that and love the Father. Those loves are competitive. And only one can sit in first place. This is where Augustine, 4th-century bishop of North Africa, helps us. Augustine said sin isn’t only “doing bad things.” Sin begins as disordered love — loving lower things as if they were the highest thing. He wrote: “A just and holy life requires one to be capable of an objective and impartial evaluation of things — to love things in the right order: so that you do not love what is not to be loved, or fail to love what is to be loved, or have a greater love for what should be loved less.” In other words: Your heart is going to love. The question is not if you love. The question is what order you love in. If God is not your first love, something else will be. And whatever sits in that first slot becomes your master. That’s why John says, lovingly but directly: “Do not love the world.” If you do, “the love of the Father is not in you.” Not because God is joyless. But because God loves you too much to watch you marry an illusion. Step Three: Know What You’re Fighting (1 John 2:16) John now pulls back the curtain and names the competing loves directly: “For all that is in the world — the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not from the Father but is from the world.” (1 John 2:16) This is brutally honest. John says the world runs on three engines: 1. “The desires of the flesh” The pull toward comfort, pleasure, indulgence. “I deserve this. I need this. My feelings rule me.” This is the craving to feel good at any cost. 2. “The desires of the eyes” The endless hunger for more. More money. More status. More control. More attention. It’s never enough. You hit one goal, and the goalposts move. Seven championships? You need eight. One house renovation? Now you need the next upgrade, and the upgrade after that. There’s a story from a couple who were renovating their house. At first, it was exciting — new paint, new floors, new furniture. But slowly, they stopped going to church. Stopped showing up for family. Stopped resting. Stopped worshiping. All their time, money, thought, energy went into “the project.” One night the husband said to his wife, “We used to own the house. Now it’s like the house owns us.” That’s “the desires of the eyes.” The slow creep of “just a little more.” 3. “The pride of life” The obsession to be seen. To be admired. To be applauded. “Respect me. Notice me. Approve me.” And don’t think pride disappears in religious spaces. It’s in business, athletics, Instagram — and yes, it’s in seminaries. Pastors can chase applause just like CEOs can. John is saying: These three things — pleasure without obedience, possession without gratitude, identity without humility — are not from the Father . They’re part of the system that tries to convince you: “You don’t need to love God first. You can love you first.” But that system is lying to you. Step Four: Stay With What Lasts (1 John 2:17) Here’s the final contrast, and it’s stunning: “And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:17) John is saying: The system that promises you everything? It’s temporary. The cravings you think are irresistible? They’re expiring. The approval you’re chasing? It will evaporate. But the will of God — loving God first, obeying His Son, walking in His light — that remains forever . So this is not “try harder.” This is “build on what won’t burn.” Remember who you are. Reject what competes. Remain in what lasts. That’s the shape of reordered love. Let’s Get Uncomfortably Honest for a Moment If you belong to Christ: You are forgiven. You are held. You are strong in His strength. The Word abides in you. You have overcome the evil one — not because you’re impressive, but because your Savior is. So here’s the question: Why would you hand your heart back to a world Jesus died to free you from? And if you feel like, “Honestly… I think I still love the world,” then hear this with love: It’s time to reorder your loves. Not by sheer willpower. Not by guilt. Not by fake spirituality. But by returning God to the top of the list. If He is not first, everything else will rot you from the inside out — even the good things. Family, career, romance, success, reputation, “the grind,” your own self-story… none of those can carry the weight of being your god. None of them can save you. None of them can keep you. Only Christ can. The Call Is Not: “Be Stronger.” The Call Is: “Remember Whose You Are.” John is not shaming the church. He’s pastoring them. He’s saying: You are already forgiven in Christ. You already know the Father. You already have victory in Him. You already have the Word. So don’t trade that for a world that’s passing away. Stay where love lasts. “Whoever does the will of God abides forever.” That’s not a threat. That’s an invitation. Read This Over Yourself Let’s take John’s words and aim them directly at the church — at us: I am writing to you, Church, because your sins are forgiven for His name’s sake. I am writing to you, Church, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, Church, because you have overcome the evil one. I am writing to you, Church, because you know the Father. I am writing to you, Church, because you are strong, and the Word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. That is your identity in Christ. Now live like it. Not to earn it. Because it’s already true.

If you’re visiting CTK Veritas—welcome! We’re glad you’re here. We’ve been working through 1 John. Week one: the gospel is more than a message —it’s a Person , Jesus Christ. Week two: when His truth shines on us, God’s light exposes —not to shame us, but to cleanse us. Today, John takes the next step: If God’s light has truly shined on us, what follows? Answer: obedience . “By this we know…” — John repeats that phrase to give believers assurance markers. Scripture: 1 John 2:3–11 (ESV) “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments . Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar , and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word , in him truly the love of God is perfected . By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked . Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment but an old commandment that you had from the beginning… At the same time, it is a new commandment , because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining . Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light , and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and the darkness has blinded his eyes.” 1) Obedience Is the Evidence (vv. 3–5) John’s “two-factor authentication” for Christian assurance is simple and searching: Claim : “I know Jesus.” Verification : “I keep His commandments.” In John’s vocabulary, know is relational—like the Hebrew yada—an intimate, lived knowledge , not mere information. We are justified by faith alone , but that faith is never alone; it bears fruit in obedience . This isn’t perfectionism. “The love of God is perfected ” points to a maturing process. Real believers still sin, but sin no longer feels like home. The Spirit disturbs our comfort, draws us to repentance, and trains us to obey. Quick check: Am I growing in obeying Jesus’ summary of the law— loving God and loving my neighbor ? 2) Imitation Is the Mark (v. 6) “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” Christianity is not only avoiding what’s wrong; it’s resembling what is right— Christ Himself . We imitate His patterns: truth-telling, humility, mercy, faithfulness . Don’t just ask, “What would Jesus do?” Ask, “What will Jesus do in me right now?” The Spirit empowers Christlike reactions in real time. 3) Love Is the Light (vv. 7–8) John calls love both old (Lev. 19:18) and new (John 13:34). Old : “Love your neighbor as yourself.” New : “Love as I have loved you .” The standard and source are raised: Jesus’ own love becomes the measure. The true light is already shining—we’ve seen what love looks like in the cross. By the Spirit, that love becomes our new operating system. 4) Hate Is the Darkness (vv. 9–11) John’s definition may surprise you: hate is not only active hostility; it can be indifference —the absence of love . Indifference keeps us in the shadows, blinds our eyes, and trips others. Where love is present, John says, there’s no cause for stumbling . Love clears paths. Putting It Together Assurance : “By this we know…” Obedience doesn’t earn salvation; it evidences it. Direction : Walk as Jesus walked—pattern your words and ways after Him. Community : Love is the family resemblance of those who abide in the light . Warning : Persistent indifference to brothers and sisters is darkness —confess it, and step back into the light . 

Today we’re looking at 1 John 1:5–10 —and I’ll also read 2:1–2 . You can open your Bible or app there. Last week we opened the letter and saw how John takes us straight to the heart of the Christian faith: Christianity is not an idea or a cute story; the Christian faith is a Person—Jesus Christ. John said, “That which we have heard, seen, and touched… we proclaim to you.” We called that sermon More Than a Message . Today, in 1:5–10 (and 2:1–2), John invites us to live a no-filter faith . 1 John 1:5–10 (ESV) “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light , and in him is no darkness at all . If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another , and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin . If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins , he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness . If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John 2:1–2 (ESV) “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins , and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” Filters—and the God Who Needs None Instagram once removed many of its built-in beauty filters. Of course, users still find ways to filter—through other apps or uploads. I have a friend who loves the filters; in real life she looks normal, but with the filter she looks like Thanos . (I told her so!) It’s not just Instagram. Humanity has always had a filter problem. Since the fall, we’ve tried to make ourselves look better—before others and before God. John writes: “God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.” God uses no filter, needs no distortion, no added contrast. He is perfect light. And He invites us to walk in His light —to remove our filters. 1) God Is Real: “God Is Light” (v. 5) John moves from experience (“we heard, saw, touched”) to confession (“this is the message”). What did the apostles learn from being with Jesus? God is light. John doesn’t say God has light or merely produces light; light is His essence . He’s writing to Jews and Gentiles: To the Greek mind, light implied knowledge . To the Jewish mind, light meant holiness and truth . So “God is light” declares: God knows all, is holy, and is truth itself. And remember last week’s point: that God walked among us —Jesus of Nazareth. When John says “God,” think Jesus . God is not made of parts (“a little light here, a little truth there”). He is simple —fully and always Himself. As Calvin put it, “When Scripture calls God light, it means that in Him there is nothing but what is pure and right.” Illustration: In a house we once moved into, a bulb kept flickering. Replacing the bulb didn’t help; the wiring in the outlet was loose. That’s our lives—bright for a while, then dim. We can’t fix our own wiring. Jesus can. He exposes and heals what’s loose in us so the light doesn’t keep flickering. A no-filter life starts here: God defines reality. It’s His world; His rules. “In Him is no darkness at all.” 2) Faith Must Be Honest (v. 6) “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” If God is light, then claiming fellowship while persisting (“walking”) in darkness is a lie. John uses the phrase “if we say” (vv. 6, 8, 10) to confront self-deception . Many of us have known the right words while living the wrong way. I have. Knowing gospel vocabulary is not the same as walking in gospel light. This doesn’t mean perfection . God’s light exposes us—like Adam and Eve, we want to hide. But a no-filter faith isn’t sinlessness; it’s honesty . Stop pretending you’re righteous in yourself. You cannot walk in God’s light by your own merit. You can walk there in Christ —by His merit. 3) Grace Is Active (v. 7) “But if we walk in the light , as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another , and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin .” John admits the possibility—and shows the power behind it: the blood of Jesus . We keep walking (present tense) because His blood keeps cleansing . This is the difference between justification (once-for-all declaration: righteous) and sanctification (ongoing growth in holiness). John is not being metaphorical about the blood. Christ’s substitutionary atonement actually saves. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Heb. 9:22). The Heidelberg Catechism (Q43) says our old self is crucified with Christ so “the evil desires of the flesh may no longer rule us.” Also notice the order: walk in the light → fellowship with one another → cleansing known and enjoyed . Grace is not only personal; it is communal . 4) Forgiveness Is Possible (vv. 8–10; 2:1–2) “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves… If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive … and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Denying sin removes you from the truth; confessing sin brings forgiveness and cleansing. In God’s courtroom there is a Judge—but there is also an Advocate : “Jesus Christ the righteous” (2:1). He is the propitiation —the wrath-bearing sacrifice—for our sins, and not for ours only but for people from the whole world . So go preach —no category of sinner is beyond His saving reach. Confession, then, is not dangerous with God; it is safe . Exposure before men often leads to shame; exposure before God in Christ leads to healing . Don’t put on spiritual makeup to talk to God— He already knows you and invites you near. As Luther wrote in Thesis 1, “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent,’ he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.” Step Into the Light Maybe you feel your life is heavily filtered—performing, hiding, unsure how to be real with God or people. Good news: Jesus won’t walk away. The One who said, “Let there be light,” shines to restore , not to humiliate. What is sinful in us needs destroying; we need redeeming. Come humbly—and confidently— through the blood of Jesus . The safest place for a sinner is in the light of God , because there—and only there— forgiveness is certain.

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