Sermon Notes for March 11, 2007

Dealing With Difficult Emotions As a Christian “Dealing With Guilt” I John 1:8-2:2

Four preachers met for a friendly gathering. During the conversation one preacher said, "Our people come to us and pour out their hearts, confess certain sins and needs. Let’s do the same. Confession is good for the soul." In due time all agreed. One confessed he liked to go to movies and would sneak off when away from his church. The second confessed to liking to smoke cigars and the third one confessed to liking to play cards. When it came to the fourth one, he wouldn’t confess. The others pressed him saying, "Come now, we confessed ours. What is your secret or vice?" Finally he answered, "It is gossiping and I can hardly wait to get out of here."

Introduction A. We Continue Our Sermon Series Of DEALING WITH DIFFICULT EMOTIONS. 1. It is my opinion that many, many Christians do not deal very well with their emotions. a. perhaps Christians think that they should “feel the same way” all of the time – “never high and never low” b. or that something is “spiritually wrong” with showing emotions like grief, depression and fear 2. Whether it is right or wrong, WE ARE ALL EMOTIONAL PEOPLE AND WE CAN’T DENY THAT. a. emotions will “do whatever they do” despite all of our efforts to deny them 1. you may “think” that you weren’t offended when someone argued with you 2. you may “think” that you have not been affected by your difficult upbringing 3. ask yourself these questions: a. are you happy? b. are you at peace? c. do you get angry easily? d. are you encouraged or discouraged? e. are you free? b. my hope is to encourage you to be honest about your emotions – for honesty about your emotions brings a real freedom to deal with them B. We Continue Our Sermon Series By DEALING WITH GUILT. 1. Our problem with guilt. a. “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing.” b. “I will never do that again. c. “I must be the worst person who ever lived.” d. What do you tell a woman who has had an abortion? Two abortions? 2

1. many women who have had abortions have an enormous struggle with guilt 2. how would you help someone deal with guilt like that? 2. God’s perspective of guilt. a. how is the Christian supposed to view guilt? (two extremes) 1. do we deny that we may feel guilty at times? 2. or do we become obsessed with our guilt and struggle with it every day of our lives? b. today we will look very closely at guilt and how we should deal with it as Christians I. The REALITY Of The Sinner. A. Christians Are SINNERS. Vs. 8 – “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” 1. The world’s view of sin. a. the world says . . .there is no such thing as sin – therefore, there is no such thing as guilt b. for years, therapists have attempted to help people deal with their “supposed guilt” c. by the way, I want to ask these people if there is no such thing as sin and guilt, why then are there: 1. locks on our doors? 2. locks on our cars? 3. locks on our bicycles? 4. passwords on our computers? 5. jails and prisons? d. story of David, open car 2. Some Christian’s view of sin. a. some Christians believe that once you become a Christian, then you are no longer a sinner b. a visit that I had with someone who visited our church 1. he “no longer struggled with sin” 2. although his wife did not hold that view 3. The Word’s view of sin. a. the Bible’s description 1. sin started with Adam and Eve Genesis 3:21-22 - The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. And the LORD God said,

"The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil.” 2. sin continues in each of our lives a. Ecclesiastes 7:20 – “There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.” b. Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” c. James 4:17 – “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.” d. Romans 6:6 – “For we know that our old self was 3

crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless so that we should no longer be slaves to sin.” 3. LOOK AT HOW THE APOSTLE PAUL VIEWED HIMSELF AS HE GREW AS A CHRISTIAN. a. in 59 A.D. – I Corinthians 15:9 – “For I am the least of

the apostles.” b. in 63 A.D. – Ephesians 3:8 – “Although I am less than the least of all God’s people.” c. in 65 A.D. – I Timothy 1:15 – “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.” 4. Look at what the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:12-16 (read) b. man’s deception Vs. 8 – “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” 1. we are deceived a. in the first part of verse 8, John speaks of the sin nature of the Christian, “If we claim to be without sin” (i.e. we

are not sinners); we deceive ourselves.” b. John is CLEARLY saying that if a person does not believe that he is a sinner, then HE IS DECEIVED 1. to wander away 2. to be seduced 3. to be led into error c. in other words, the Christian who thinks that he is no longer a sinner IS BIBLICALLY WRONG! 2. we are doubtful a. in fact, John goes so far to say that the person who says that he is no longer a sinner MAY NOT EVEN BE A CHRISTIAN! Vs. 8 – “The truth is not in us.” b. for where should the truth of God be located – INSIDE OF US! 1. if the Holy Spirit’s task is to convict us of sin – John 16:7-8 – “But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:” 2. WHY IS THE HOLY SPIRIT NOT DOING HIS

JOB? Maybe, because HE IS NOT THERE! B. Christians SIN. 4

Vs. 10 – “If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 1. The Christian’s sin. a. the second point that the Apostle John makes in verse 10 is not about the sin nature but sinning itself as a result of “being” a sinner – Vs. 10 - “If we claim we have not sinned . . .” 1. thus, first John is saying that we are all, by nature, sinners 2. and that BECAUSE we are sinners, WE ALL SIN! b. in other words why does a: 1. dog bark – because it is a dog 2. cat climb trees - because it is a cat 3. Christian sin – because WE ARE STILL SINNERS! c. you see there are two problems with Christians who do not think that they are sinners 1. they will be very, very confused about who they really are a. if they are sinless, why do I keep acting the way that I do b. perfectionist elder 2. these “sinless Christians” will be impossible to live with a. because they don’t sin, they can act or say anything b. and if anybody is wrong, IT IS NOT THEM! 2. The Christian’s statement. a. when Christians make the statement that they are no longer sinners and that they do not sin – THEY MAKE TWO HUGE STATEMENTS ABOUT GOD 1. ONE – we call God a liar Vs. 10 – “we make Him out to be a liar” a. THE ENTIRE BOOK OF GOD’S WORD SPEAKS FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION ABOUT THE SIN OF MAN 1. sin started in the Garden of Eden 2. God prophesied about sending His Son Jesus to solve the sin problem in Genesis 3 3. the entire Old Testament portrays that blood must be shed to solve the sin problem 4. Jesus enters this world in order to go to the cross and die for the sins of mankind b. yes, sin is mentioned “a little bit” in the Bible 1. so when you say that you are not a sinner and that you don’t sin 2. you call God a liar and say that the mission of Jesus Christ was a colossal waste of time 2. TWO – we don’t believe God’s Word Vs. 10 - “and His word has no place in our lives.” a. how in the world can you read God’s Word and not see the CONSTANT REFERENCING to man’s sin and God’s solution by the death of Jesus Christ 5

b. in other words, how can you call yourself a Biblical Christian with such a view?

c. THIS ENTIRE BOOK IS ALL ABOUT SIN! R.C.H. Lenski – “The whole Word of God declares that we are sinners. It says so in a large number of places. From beginning to end it deals with us as with sinners. Its history, its law, its gospel present sinners, lost sinners, ransomed sinners, saved sinners, damned sinners, glorified sinners.” II. The ROUTINE Of The Sinner. A. The ORDER Of Dealing With Sin. Vs. 9 - “If we confess our sins . . .” 1. The condition of our sin. a. if: 1. it is a possibility 2. if in case 3. we have a decision to make about dealing with our sin b. we 1. a plural pronoun 2. the ENTIRE CHURCH 2. The confession of our sin. a. confess 1. two Greek words a. homo 1. same 2. homo-sexual b. legeo 1. to say 2. to agree with 3. to concede 2. thus, to truly, Biblically confess our sins is to call our sins a. Bruce Goettsche – “To confess our sin means that we say the same thing abut our sin that the Holy Spirit says about it” b. Westminster Confession of Faith – Of Repentance Unto Life – “Men ought not to content themselves with a general repentance, but it is every man’s duty to endeavor to repent of his particular sins, particularily.” c. Galatians 5:19-21 – “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.” b. our sins 6

1. John is talking about the entire church 2. we have many, many sins to confess

B. The OUTCOME Of Dealing With Our Sins. Vs. 9 – “He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1. He is faithful. a. trustworthy b. reliable c. one who trusts in God’s promises d. HE WILL DO WHAT HE SAYS HE WILL DO! 2. He is just. a. this is how God deals with our sins and “brings justice” to us – by our confession of our sins to Him b. otherwise, God would simply have to “overlook” our sins – which He cannot do c. slide – vertical/horizontal 3. He is forgiving. a. to send away – Leviticus 16 – the scapegoats b. to let go; to let alone c. to keep no longer; to give up a debt d. to go away and leave something behind 4. He is complete. a. cleanse 1. to make clean; to free from defilement of sin and from faults 2. to purge 3. to free from guilt 4. to pronounce clean b. all unrighteousness 1. NOTICE the word all a. each, every b. everything c. all things 2. all means all! III. The RIGHTEOUSNESS Of The Sinner. A. The PROBLEM With Our Sin. 2:1a – “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.” 1. an exhortation not to sin a. some may get the sense that because God will forgive each and every sin that I will commit, that I shouldn’t worry about how much I sin b. but notice what John says 2:1a – “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.” 1. this verse “assumes” that Christians still have the capacity to sin 2. but John is challenging them not to 2. an expectation of sin 2:1b – “but if anybody does sin” a. yes, John is exhorting us not to sin 7

1. to do all that we can to walk closely with Jesus 2. to find support from other Christians b. but . . . yes, we still will sin – it’s just a matter of time 1. John 13:10 - Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 2. Jesus is saying the same thing as John B. The PERFECTION Of Our Savior. 1. but, you say: a. “I am such a failure.” b. “I continue to sin, often committing in the same sins.” c. “I am so hopeless, especially going before such a holy God.” 2. but God says: a. we have an advocate 2:1 (KJV) – “My little children, these things I write unto you, that ye sin not, and if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous one.” 1. we have one in heaven begging our case before a holy God a. please do not leave Jesus hanging on a cross! b. we must look at the “complete ministry’ of Jesus Christ 1. He was born as a baby in order to grow up to become a man 2. He had to live a sinless life in order to go to the cross to die for our sins 3. then He would be crucified in our place and undergo death and burial 4. BUT . . . He would rise from the dead a. in order to present Himself to this Holy God b. AS WELL AS continue to be our advocate in heaven c. Jesus’ work is not over at the cross! 2. we have one in heaven who is the perfect lawyer a. He “belongs” in the courthouse in heaven b. He “knows the law” through and through c. the judge will find no fault with His arguments and defense on our behalf d. the word for advocate is the Greek word paraclete 1. in the Greek court system, a paraclete was a person who could be called at any moment to appear at court to defend you 2. whenever you may be accused – your paraclete will come, even “run” to your aid b. we have an atoning sacrifice 2:2 (NIV) “And He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1. why can we be SO CONFIDENT that He is a good lawyer on our behalf? 8

2. because anytime that there is a question about whether or not we should be forgiven . . . a. Jesus Christ, our advocate, our attorney, our representative in heaven on our behalf – simply shows a

holy God – His hands and His side b. Pastor John Piper – “He stands before his Father in heaven, and every time we sin, he doesn’t make a new propitiation. He doesn’t die again and again. Instead he

opens his portfolio and lays the exhibits of Good Friday on the bench before the Judge. Photographs of the crown of thorns, the lashing, the mocking soldiers, the agonies of the cross, and the final cry of victory: It is finished.” c. BOTH “one who speaks” in verse 1 and “He is our atoning sacrifice” in verse 2 are in the present indicative in the Greek 1. this present tense shows that Jesus pleads and defends us every day all day 2. while the indicative in the Greek means that it is

indeed a fact. Believe it! Conclusion: 1. The struggle in the Christian life. a. we want to be Godly; we want to be holy – but we fail and continue to fail b. when we consider just how much we fail and how after we fail – we must think that there is no hope – our guilt overwhelms us 2. The solution in the Christian life. a. notice the “reality” of the Christian life 2:1 – “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” 1. the Word of God clearly teaches that although we are called to live a Godly life – we will continue to fall into sin 2. so what do we do? a. we confess our sins b. and we BELIEVE God’s Word that He WILL FORGIVE US c. not because of our merit – but because of the merit of Christ! Vs. 2:1 – “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” b. or what was this all about? 1. Slide #10 9

c. Shortly after World War II, Donald Grey Barnhouse, who was then Pastor of the Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, was counseling a certain young man. He was a professor in a major university and had a sad story to recount. He had been a second lieutenant in the American army and had been sent overseas to France where he had fallen in with bad companions. He was not a Christian at the time, and while stationed there he had lived a life of gross sin. Now, however, he had returned home, become a Christian, met a fine Christian girl, and wished to marry her. But he had a problem. He remembered his past sin and feared that he might again fall into it. If so, he would wound the girl he loved. What should he do? Because of uncertainty he had hesitated to speak of his love for her. The Pastor advised him to speak frankly with the young woman and to tell her briefly of his past life. “She must sense that you love her and that something is holding you back,” he said. “So you must clear the air. If you are going to spend your lives together, there must be no barriers between you.” Still the young man hesitated. At this point Barnhouse told him a story that is retold here in order to introduce the comment that was wrung from the young professor when he had finished. “Some time ago,” he said, “I dealt with a man whose story was not much different from your own. He too had lived a life of sin and had been converted under conditions similar to those existing in a rescue mission. He had then married a fine Christian woman to whom he had briefly told his sordid story. He said that, after he had told his wife this, she kissed him and replied, ‘John, I want you to understand something very plainly. I know my Bible well, and I know something of the workings of Satan. I know that you are a thoroughly converted man, John, but I also know that you have an old nature to which Satan will certainly appeal. He will do all that he can to put temptations in your way. The day may come – I pray that it never shall – when you shall succumb to temptation and fall into sin. Immediately the devil will tell you that you have ruined everything, that you might as well continue in sin, and that above all you should not tell me because it will hurt me. But, John, I want you to know that this is your home. This is where you belong. I want you to know that there is full pardon and forgiveness in advance for any evil that may come into your life.” As Dr. Barnhouse told this story, the professor lowered his head into his hands. But when Barnhouse reached the end, the young man lifted his head and said reverently, “My God, if anything could every keep a man straight, that would be it.” 3. Now, let us sing a wonderful song that confirms exactly what has been preached today. 10

1. Do you struggle with guilt in your Christian life? Is it a constant struggle or every now and then?

2. Is guilt a “good thing” or a “bad thing?”

3. What would you say to a Christian who said that “he no longer sins.” (see 1:8 and 10) How difficult would it be to work and serve with a Christian who thinks that he/she no longer sins?

4. Look very carefully at verse 9. Discuss each word and its meaning regarding how a Christian is to deal with his own guilt.

5. What words in I John 2:1-2 does the Apostle John use to describe Jesus’ ministry for us in heaven. How should these descriptions encourage us as believers?