Bible Passage: 1 John 1:5-2:2
Pastor: Joel Jenswold
Sermon Date: April 14, 2024

Bulletin April 14 (Confirmation)

In the name of, and to the eternal glory of, Jesus,

Many of you here today have heard the apostle John referred to as “the apostle of love.”  Why is John called the apostle of love?  Does that mean that the other apostles were somehow deficient where love was concerned?  Not at all!  It’s just that in the books of the Bible that John wrote, love comes up quite often.  For example, in John’s gospel he has a very interesting way of referring to himself.  Four times in his Gospel, John refers to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”  Or consider this.  Matthew uses the word “love” 15 times in his Gospel.  Mark uses it 7 times.  Luke uses “love” 14 times.  John, however, uses the word “love” 39 times!

Our text contains another reason why John is the “apostle of love.”  It is a word John uses in our text.  It is the word that is translated as “dear children.”   John is the only writer in the New Testament to use this word.  It is a term of endearment.  It is a term of love.  It seems quite fitting today to call attention to John’s use of this word.  Because today there are some dear children sitting here.  Our confirmands.  They are dear to you because they are your sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters, nieces and nephews.  They are dear to God.  It seems fitting today to listen to John’s Life Lessons for Dear Children.

John underscores the importance of what he writes by saying this is the message we have heard from him [Jesus Christ] and declare to you.  This all comes right from Jesus!  God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (v. 5)  In addition to writing a lot about love, John also writes much about “light” and “darkness.”  “Darkness” is sin and evil.  “Light’ is the complete opposite of that.  God is light.  There is nothing sinful and evil in him!

Now listen to what John says to God’s dear children.  If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. (v. 6)  Think about it this way.  Imagine a person who said to you every day, “I love you so much!”  But each day this person walked up and punched you in the nose.  Finally you would say, “Wait a minute!  I don’t think you really love me!  You keep on punching me in the nose!”  There would be a troubling disconnect between that person’s words and actions.  John says the same is true of our relationship with God.  John’s point is you can’t say, “I love God so much” and then walk around doing all those things God doesn’t like.  It’s like punching God in the nose!

Here is a better way.  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, purifies us from all sin. (v. 7)  We walk in the light!  Ours is a “fellowship of light.”  Our lives seek to tell God we love him, not punch him in the nose.  Our lives glow with the light of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  People don’t hide in the dark to act that way; this is the stuff you can do in broad daylight!

John makes a very important point here, though.  Walking in the light doesn’t mean we are without sin.  John says, the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (v. 7)  God is perfect holiness and light.  We walk in his light.  We reflect the light and the love of Jesus.  But we are imperfect reflectors.  My love is not perfect.  My patience is not perfect.  My goodness and gentleness are not perfect.  The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.  In our fellowship of light we share a fellowship of blood.  Jesus’ purifying blood!.

That is why God’s dear children never need to be afraid of confessing their sins.  Sometimes people are afraid to confess.  Sometimes little children are like that.  Mom says, “Did you draw on the wall with crayon?”  “Did you shave the dog?”  And the little child says, “Not me!”  They are afraid what will happen if they admit what they did.  John warns God’s children about denying sin.  In verse 8 he says, If we claim to be without sin… In verse 10 he says, If we claim we have not sinned… 

Four bad things result if we claim we don’t sin.  John says we deceive ourselves, the truth is not in us, we make God out to be a liar, and his word has no place in our lives.  God has said in his Word that all people are sinners.  If we now say, “Not me.  I don’t sin,” we are in effect saying that God is telling lies because he says all people are sinners.

Don’t deny sin.  By the way, that is the way the founder of Christian Scientism said you deal with sin.  Mary Baker-Eddy said, “The way to deal with sin is to deny it reality!”  Let’s stick with John.  John suggests confession.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (v. 9)  Admit your sins to God.  Lay it all out in front of him!  All of it!  It’s okay.  You don’t have to try to hide anything.  He knows about it all anyway.  He just wants you to admit it.  He has promised to forgive your sins for Jesus’ sake!  He is faithful!  He will keep his promise.  And he is just.  He will not punish you for sins he has already punished in Jesus!

John says he is writing this so that won’t sin.  But when we sin, he reminds us, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One (2:1)  Some translations say, “We have an Advocate with the Father.”  An advocate is some who is by and on your side.  Isn’t that a comforting way to imagine Jesus?  Remember how Jesus “advocated” for those who nailed him to the cross?  He prayed.  Father, forgive them.  Today he advocates for you in heaven.  “Father, forgive him.  Forgive her.  I am the atoning sacrifice for them all.”

What heartfelt encouragement today from the “apostle of love!”  It is almost like he has written it specifically for a Confirmation Day.   For these are the perfect life lessons today for dear children!

Amen.