12-11-11 PM - Testing of Our Faith, Pt. 2

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "Testing of Our Faith, Pt. 2"

02 TESTING OF OUR FAITH
1 John 2:7-11 7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Luke 10:30
1. What’s yours is mine. (Robbers vs. 30 they stripped him of everything he had)
2. What’s mine is mine. (Priest/Levite vs.31-32 saw him and passed by on the other side)
3. What’s mine is yours. (Samaritan vs.33-35bandaged the man took him to an Inn where he cared for him and then paid the innkeeper to care for him)                                                                         

Jesus said which one of these was a neighbor to the man that fell?

When we get together as the body of Christ we should be able to say what’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine.                                   

1. THE SUPREME COMMANDMENT: (7-8) Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

(1) It’s an old command-

(2) It’s a new command

Matt. 5:43-45 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Matt. 5:45 says “that you may be the children of your father which is in heaven”

(3) True light shines and erases the darkness

2. THE PROFESSING MAN: (9) He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

Matt. 7:21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

3. THE OBEDIENT MAN: (10) He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

The first is he abides in the light; that is in Christ.

The second thing said about this one abiding in the light is; there is no occasion of stumbling in him.

Romans 8:34-35 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Romans 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

4. THE BITTER AND HATING MAN: (11) But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.               

- Walks in darkness- He is wrapped up in everything worldly.

- Has no direction and is blind- He is blind to the needs of others but very much aware of his own needs and what he wants.

2 Cor. 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Eph. 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: