Optimized for Growth

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Optimized for Growth 1 John 23-11 OIF Sermon
Series on 1 John
NASB used
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Why cant we get all Christians to grow?
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Insistence on Growth
Why is it that when a child isnt healthy, we
bring him to every doctor in town to figure out
what is wrong.
But we dont care when someone doesnt grow
spiritually?
Why should I grow? I like being a misfit.
Let others have the love, joy and peace from
growing in Christ I want to go on and dry up
like a spiritual prune. I want a terrible
marriage. Leave me alone. My children are
awful but that is just how I want them to be.
I like being angry and mean. Leave me alone!
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1) Life principle at work 2) No life, no growth
no desire to grow.
1) Malnutrition
2) No life
Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will
enter the kingdom of heaven but he who does the
will of My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 721
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Premise (1 John 23)
And by this we know that we have come to know
Him, if we keep His commandments.
God is light.
know
We
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1 John 23-11
And by this we know that we have come to know
Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who
says, "I have come to know Him," and does not
keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth
is not in him but whoever keeps His word, in him
the love of God has truly been perfected. By
this we know that we are in Himthe one who says
he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the
same manner as He walked.Beloved, I am not
writing a new commandment to you, but an old
commandment which you have had from the
beginning the old commandment is the word which
you have heard. On the other hand, I am writing
a new commandment to you, which is true in Him
and in you, because the darkness is passing away,
and the true light is already shining. The one
who says he is in the light and yet hates his
brother is in the darkness until now. The one who
loves his brother abides in the light and there
is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one
who hates his brother is in the darkness and
walks in the darkness, and does not know where
he is going because the darkness has blinded his
eyes.
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1 John 23
And by this we know that we have come to know
Him, if we keep His commandments.
1 John 24-5
The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and
does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and
the truth is not in him but whoever keeps His
word, in him the love of God has truly been
perfected. By this we know that we are in Him
1 John 26-8
The one who says he abides in Him ought himself
to walk in the same manner as He walked. Beloved,
I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an
old commandment which you have had from the
beginning the old commandment is the word which
you have heard. On the other hand, I am writing a
new commandment to you, which is true in Him and
in you, because the darkness is passing away, and
the true light is already shining.
1 John 29-11
The one who says he is in the light and yet hates
his brother is in the darkness until now. The one
who loves his brother abides in the light and
there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the
one who hates his brother is in the darkness and
walks in the darkness, and does not know where he
is going because the darkness has blinded his
eyes.
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(No Transcript)
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A.) The Profession Based on Confession (24-5)
I know Him (Problem evangelicals)
The one who says, "I have come to know Him,"
and does not keep His commandments, is a liar,
and the truth is not in him
but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of
God has truly been perfected. By this we know
that we are in Him
gtliberalismlt gtconservativismlt
saved by works saved by belief
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Sign of Growth Keep His Word
But whoever keeps His word, in him the love of
God has truly been perfected. By this we know
that we are in Him
3 commonly asked questions
Why are we tested against keeping commandments?
Is it proper to judge whether another person is a
believer?
I thought people are not saved by works?
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Assurance of salvation
But whoever keeps His word, in him the love of
God has truly been perfected. By this we know
that we are in Him
Obedience is our love response to Gods love.
Assurance of salvation
You can see how much I love God by how much I
carefully do what He wants me to do. I study His
Word and make what life changes that are
necessary to be like Him.
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B.) The Profession Based on Relationship (26-8)
I abide in Him (Problem traditionalists)
The one who says he abides in Him
ought himself to walk in the same manner as He
walked.
Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to
you, but an old commandment which you have had
from the beginning the old commandment is the
word which you have heard. On the other hand, I
am writing a new commandment to you, which is
true in Him and in you, because the darkness is
passing away, and the true light is already
shining.
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Ought himself to walk in the same manner as He
walked.
How can I live like Jesus?
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Assurance of salvation
Which is true in Him and in you, because the
darkness is passing away, and the true light is
already shining.
Obedience is our love response to Gods love.
I know I am not perfect but I am getting to be
more like Jesus all the time. You should have
seen what I was like before. I am praying right
now about this one area.
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C.) The Profession Based on Spirituality (29-11)

I am in the light (Problem modernists)
The one who says he is in the light
and yet hates his brother is in the darkness
until now.
The one who loves his brother abides in the light
and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But
the one who hates his brother is in the darkness
and walks in the darkness, and does not know
where he is going because the darkness has
blinded his eyes.
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In His light spirituality
Divorce of confidence from reality
Many a mans knowledge is a torch to light him
to hell. Thou who has knowledge of Gods will,
but doth not do it, wherein dost thou excel the
devil, who transforms himself into an angel of
light. Thomas Watson
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Darkness
There is no light apart from love.
But the one who hates his brother is in the
darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not
know where he is going because the darkness has
blinded his eyes.
The one who hates
Walks in the darkness
Does not know where he is going
Too prideful to forgive? darkness Too greedy
to care for others? darkness Too angry to be
sensitive? darkness Too selfish to love?
darkness
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Path to Spiritual Growth
One who loves his brother abides in the light
We are kind to one another.
Christs spirit influences our own.
Find Gods grace in Jesus
Repent seek help
The more sensitive to sin
As you grow closer to the light
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Basic Principles of Growth
1) Our subjective experience is important. Our
true beliefs will always affect our life choices.
When we really know God, then it will truly have
an awesome effect on our lives. 2) The love of
God is perfected. We see God working in our
lives like never before. 3) We do not have to
convince everyone to believe our way is the right
way so to bolster our confidence. Our confidence
is derived in the security of our relationship
with the Lord and the confirming testimony of our
lifestyle. 4) Our assurance of salvation grows
stronger and stronger, and our testimony of the
Lords greatness is easier and easier to share.
There is no light apart from love.
There is no light apart from love.
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Meeting God
Growth is a natural change that occurs in those
having new life.