Autumn Studies in John’s Letters How can I be sure I am a Christian?

Series so far… 1) 14 th September – 1 John 1:1-2:2 – Fellowship and Forgiveness 2) 21 st September – 1 John 2:3-17 – Walking the Truth 3) 12 th October – 1 John 2:18-27 – Theology is Crucial

How can I be sure I’m a Christian? John’s Three Tests: – 1) Moral Test – Do I obey Jesus’ commandments? (2:3-6) – 2) Social test – Do I love my Christian brothers and sisters? (2:9-11) – 3) Doctrinal Test – Do I believe the right things about God; especially about Jesus? (2:18-27)

1 John 2:18-27 Theology Matters

Theology matters because ideas matter. Many politicians today have used this catchphrase to point out that the way we think about things always works its way out into how we live our lives. Thoughts and ideas don’t just stay inside our head. They always and necessarily express themselves in our lives. And with that in mind, what could be more important than our thoughts about God; theology, the study of God.

‘Of course, I’m no theologian!’ In the introduction to his excellent book, Know the Truth, Bruce Milne says he often hears people saying: ‘Of Course, I’m no theologian!’ If he’s right, if we are suspicious about theology then horrifyingly: a)we have little in common with Christians throughout 2,000 years of church history and b)We are more influenced by Western culture than the Bible. Actually, of course, R C Sproul is right that ‘Everyone’s a Theologian’. We all have thoughts and ideas about God. The question is …. Are they right or not?

Paragraph 1 (Vs 18-19) 18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. (NIV)

Paragraph 2 (Vs 20-23) 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist – denying the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also (NIV)

Paragraph 3 (Vs 24-25) 24 As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what he promised us – eternal life. (NIV)

Paragraph 4 (Vs 26-27) 26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit – just as it has taught you, remain in him. (NIV)

Applications For Non-Christians – Do you have ‘eternal life’? For Christians – Are you ‘seeing to it’?

Theology Books Know the Truth – Bruce Milne From Creation to New Creation – Tim Chester The Book of the Covenant – B.N. Howard Delighting in the Trinity – Tim Chester Rock Solid I Believe