I John 3: 4-10 Time Will Tell To Whom We Belong 9/24/17

Intro: A “Snapshot” of Peter and Judas turning away from the Lord – Matthew 26:75/ 27:3-5

Over time, Peter showed by his lifestyle that he really did believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Judas was around the things of God, but never trusted Christ with his life; time proved it.

Text Intro: I John 1: 5-2:1 “Walking” takes time. “Practicing” takes time.

John would desire that we never sin; but he knows this is impossible in this world.

We have a new nature in Christ that gives us all the power we need to overcome,

but it takes time to learn how to walk in that new nature and reflect Christ.

Text Today: I John 3: 4-10 *************************************************

There is a new “want to’ in the believer that is not in the unbeliever.

Some can fake being a believer for a while, but time will tell if you are trusting Christ with your life, or trusting someone or something else. If you love the world, (and that means serving yourself,) and living a life centered upon yourself; time will tell.

Even though we believers struggle to learn to walk, abide, continue with, and totally depend on Christ for all meaning in our life, here and for eternity; it will become evident to whom we belong; time will tell.

Point: John does not deny that Christians sin. He does emphatically deny that they sin habitually!

Tyndale Commentary on I John 3:4 Lawlessness! Total anti-God state of mind!

Ex. Martin Luther on Psalms 51:4 Sin is worse than we think!

Ex. Auto Convoy- 2 cars with two different groups of people- Danny and Kenny conversation.

Kenny- (unbeliever) - “What were you guys doing in the car over there?”

Danny- (believer) - “We would like to hang with you guys, but you guys were smoking dope.

So we have devotionals and pray while we do lunch.”

Kenny- (unbeliever) – “ I believe I can enjoy this ( smoking a joint), and have Jesus also!”

I mean, there has to be a bare minimum that God will accept?”

Danny- ( believer) – “Let’s see Kenny; Jesus was murdered on a cross because of His great love for you. Now you ask, ‘What is the bare minimum?’ People coming to Jesus, and those who really know Him, would never, ever ask that question!”