The Forgiven (Part A)

All you need is the blood of Jesus Christ to receive degree, submit to salvation. That's what it is forgiveness of sin all absent all fall short of God's glory every single human being course, with the exception of the Christ is based on God's word is based on Christ's work on the cross and it is based on the Holy Spirit as a witness. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of first John, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, and now here's Pastor Rick as he continues through first John chapter 2 with a brand-new message called the forgiven well. We are in first John and its business as usual. And so it should be. As Jesus said, did you not know I was about my father's business. First John chapter 2 verses 12 through 14. I write to you little children because your sins are forgiven you for his namesake right you father's because you have known him, who is from the beginning. I write you young men because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the father. I have written to you. Father's because you have known him was from the beginning.

I have written to you young men because you are strong word of God abides in you, you have overcome the wicked one, the forgiven, that is the title of this morning's consideration and in the churches that were receiving this letter, and of course it was written by John Bennett made copies and circulated throughout the churches and in those churches were people very much like us. They had all sorts of problems going on. They had good things going on. Some had financial successes, financial problems, some are healthy some are not so healthy. Some had solid families. Some had families that were problematic marriages were good marriages were bad careers were going up really coming down just like every body else yet John is not addressing those things because they are addressed in the spirit and rest of the word. He knew about the struggles he himself had his own is very old at this time and sure is healthy. Had health issues is creep up on us as we age, but there were spiritual bandits loose in the church spiritual predators, and he tells us that he wrote because there are deceivers of just another reason why road for several reasons.

He states them. But in verse 26 of the second chapter.

First John, he says there are many deceivers out there trying to deal with this countering the enemy's influence. So he reaches out to believers to assure them once again of their salvation of their faith because believers need that and he addresses the new believers of the newer believers, the longtime believers in the very long time. Believers, children, young men, the fathers say the children. The young men and women, mothers and fathers within the church. The rookies and the veterans that's who he's writing to. That's all of us. That's the entire church is as I'm writing to the forgiven I'm writing to those who have been forgiven, who have been washed the blood of the Lamb from the guilt of their sins. All stages of Christian on every level of development and as Christians we are supposed to develop and mature in the faith on everyone who grows old grows up, and the Bible knows this. It addresses it throughout gives us the stories of those who are faithful in their young, and those who were faithful in their old bulls were faithful in the young and those who are not so faithful as they get old to teach us how we ought to live in the presence of our God throughout Scripture. Believers are distinguished or mayor. Rather, I'll say it this way. There is a distinction made between believers and unbelievers between believers and make believers fake believers that just two kinds of people with God's saints and maintenance and really is no other category you're either right with him. You are not. We know we know the Lord Jesus Christ and we know him because of his Holy Spirit come to him for salvation because no one else can give it whether we are new believers, long timers or old-timers we are forgiven and that is what he is telling them I am not just giving your speech or a lecturer attempting to setting up what is coming, what is already here is our text is given to us. The outline is presented with the verses so where what I just mentioned to you that we are whether short timers. Longtime is very long timers we are forgiven. So now we look at verse 12 and he says I write to you little children because your sins are forgiven you for his namesake. He writes, as opposed to ignoring the dangers he addresses them.

He writes he does what he can do as an apostle, even at his age and he says the little children hear the Greek word Technion. It's dear ones I write to you dear ones it's to all the church now when he gets to verse 13 is going to use a different Greek words at verse 12 verse 13 Patty, that is the the undeveloped ones that are not grown yet the babes in the faith, and so in the English and I was the translators would do a little bit better be a little bit more consistent, but they're not in flow. Unfortunately we don't have the address given in the Bible we go them a letter a fix this is a little children in verse 12 is addressing the church and then in verse 13 is addressing the newer believers we know that because of the Greek language that the original which is the original language of the New Testament. They wrote in the Greek. They did not always speak in the Greek, but they did write that way in the copies and manuscripts that we have of the New Testament are from the Greek. It is a term of endearment that is what it is for the entire body of Christ coming from John the apostle. So imagine if you were in the church and you get a letter from John latest his hand on the bosom of Christ there in the upper room was that close to Jesus so close to Christ, the disciple whom Jesus loved, which we all should be able to say about ourselves.

Also, so he says I write to you dear ones, because your sins are forgiven you, forgiven, meaning that were saved from the wrath of God to come upon those who are not right with him. Those who reject his son Jesus Christ. Those who are not impressed with the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They are under the judgment of God and so he says your sins are forgiven you because God loves sinners and he demonstrates this throughout his word so he saves them through Christ alone. Romans chapter 5 Paul's letter to those Christians living in Rome in that first century and he says to them much more than having now been justified by his blood, we shall be saved from the wrath through him justified is another way of saying forgiven your sins have been taken from you.

You want to take anything from me take my sins away. Titus, Paul, writing to that pastor named Titus. He says not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. Titus was a pastor and he was an impressive servant of God. He knew the gospel very well. Yet, Paul writes the basics to him because it's so wonderful and I don't think Titus Ray got to that partner letter addressed to him and said all this is basic ball.

Come on, tell me something deeper give me some Greek definitions only spoke Greek really me that Ephesians to the church in Ephesus that ancient city now in ruins. But we have this letter that is not in ruins a letter that was sent to the Christians who gathered there, he says, for by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. No one can boast their salvation. No one can say I got myself saved.

Only thing we can say is I received. I have received it. Sufficiency of the blood of the slain lamb sufficiency of his blood very meaningful to us is pictured for us in the book of Exodus that lamb's blood that they put over the threshold of the door.

It was sufficient to save the lives of all those who dwelled in that place with the blood of the lamb was over, the passageway they were saved they were brought out from the bondage of Egypt with Jesus did on the cross is more meaningful. It is enough to save everyone he is the true Passover lamb so that the judgment of sin passes over us and not fall upon us. Christ the lamb. He died as a lamb he returns as a lion but he is always God Almighty and he will demonstrate this and every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess, without exception, no one will be able to deny who he is. The blood of the Lamb. All the sinner needs to stay outta hell, all you need is the blood of Jesus Christ to receive it.

To agree to submit to salvation.

That's what it is forgiveness of sin in all of sin all fall short of God's glory every single human being course, with the exception of the Christ. It is based on God's word. It is based on Christ's work on the cross and it is based on the Holy Spirit as a witness. The word first Peter chapter 1 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible through the word of God which abides forever. That being born again is more than just starting with a new canvas starting with a new life in a new family with a new father with a new inheritance. Everything spiritual is now new and everything physical is filtered through that relationship through the spirit Romans chapter 8 the Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God the Holy Spirit.

When Satan comes and accuses us the spirit of God comes and says to those who love him, you know, I've got you know, your sins are forgiven. No one snatching you out of my head.

No devil no demons taking you away from me then this very letter first John chapter 2 and he himself is propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the whole world, Christ died for everyone but not everyone receives the benefit they rejected the stiff arm him they refuse it, so the most basic idea of salvation we have this children of God.

If he is propitiation for our sins is forgiveness. The most basic part of our faith. Think in your head. Is there someone in life that you are not forgiving something is wrong with you if you saying you're Christian and you gotta fix that that you cannot say I've been forgiven, but I refuse to forgive, if you refuse to forgive you.

Just make sure you don't send. You can't do it.

None of us can always put together can we rely on the Christ is Holy Spirit to help us forget we go to Mesilla not forgiving.

This person or or persons and I need you to help. He says here well before we get to that.

What is the for his namesake. One other thought were where I mentioned the basic idea of salvation is that we have been forgiven by God, we have to eventually go beyond that is not enough, ideally speaking, is not enough to say I'm forgiven. Okay, now what we've got to be used to get others forgiven is a process that God is put in place.

We have to get beyond forgiveness, those Jews who benefited from the blood over the door.

They were saved from the judgment was more work for them to do. Otherwise, we remain babies in Christ's many do not develop for this reason, many never develop skills in the faith, because the state babies always feeding on the mill, never very useful because they won't get involved. Maybe they don't get involved because they're afraid of failing afraid someone is going to hurt your feelings to tell you something to do than to serve Christ you I guarantee you will fail.

And I guarantee you going to get hurt is no way around that which you must overcome why he tells the young man you have overcome things of come your way and you bump them back what what if everybody did it that way.

What a very well. I fell in done on the server got anymore. What you hurt my feelings.

I'm out. Fortunately we have a militia in this church of men and women serve. We even have lads and lassies in the back of serve in the children's ministry serve because of Jesus Christ. What he means to them and that's why continues here in this part is very rich 12 verse I write to you dear ones, because your sins are forgiven you for his namesake for his namesake that sanctifying name of Christ is not like it. Not only does it set my sins aside into the lake to be drowned forever sets me aside to be safe. That name distinguishes believers from everyone on earth. Someone can be better at math than you better at spelling better read this or that, whatever it may be.

Maybe they're even better parents do not better features, but you are still distinguished from them if they be not saved in a very big way. Colossians chapter 3, Paul said, whatever you do in word or deed, do in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. So that's why we say in Jesus name, amen. Because there's no name like it no power like and how much theology and prophecy, and eternity is baked into that name Jesus Christ of Nazareth. There were other people named Jesus, but none Jesus Christ of Nazareth, born of a virgin how much stored in that name name is nature name is identity and he lives up and overrules all of it. The name of Jesus makes the difference between guilt or grace. It's up to each individual.

You're either guilty before God, because you don't have him or you have received the grace of God because you have received his son and so in the book of acts we read the words of the apostle, nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" there is no other name. There's no other way. We are hated for this what you going to have to hate on is that hatred is not enough to bump us off our belief. It is a sovereign name Christ Jesus.

Philippians chapter 2 God also has highly exalted him and given him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven of those on earth, and of those under under earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father that that is pretty that's comprehensively covers everywhere. No one will be able to dispute his Lordship, there are those that can get away with it for one lifetime, and no more. The look on the face of Caiaphas when he died and realized that Jesus is indeed God the son, the Christ, whom he did everything as wickedly as possible to condemn and shamefully murder verse 13 he continues, he says, I write to you fathers because you have known him Lewis from the beginning I write to you young men because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the father.

So these are the saints who have been saved in the faith, the fathers have been saved longer. They have produced fruit spiritual fruit and is this is also a little bit of the timestamp. It tells us that the church had to have been around for some time now to be able to produce fathers. Those who have been long enough in the faith that there are now old-timers. We have three groups represented under little children, those dear ones. The first one. The fathers, the seasoned believers. The young men the strong believers in the little children. The newer believers stages of development in Christ. He says because you have known him Lewis from the beginning. In other words, this is the beginning of John first John chapter 1 where is the beginning of Christ's ministry.

Later he will go back further than that, but hearing when he says because you have known him Lewis from the beginning he saying you have known Christ from the beginning of his public ministry so that these gnostics again. Those false teachers. The good known as the Gnostics took us that we know deep thing Johnson know you don't you know dumb things. That's what you know. Okay, it's funny to me because in my where I grew up this what you did, the people were that fake, so is not what you know to the Gnostics, it's who you know they did not know the son of God and he is to be know God is knowable. First Corinthians chapter 8 if anyone loves God this one is known by him. It's a mutual relationship. That's what the communion speaks of a mutual knowledge to have this in common that we know each other were not strangers as Paul tells us in Ephesians, we are no longer strangers. These new Jesus and it was the Jesus of the apostles not be a Jesus not the Jesus of false believers and make believers. II don't I don't think the universities if I had my way I would send them from teaching about Creswell we have the churches we don't need their input and they take out so many believers with their half-baked ideas. Yeah, I wanted to of the professors might have their act together but is not worth the risk is too many of them are there is a corrupting influence, offering a false and a fake Jesus and as I mentioned before, we have too many young adults to go off to the universities and colleges and workplaces, and everywhere else waving the white flag. I surrender my veil all please tell me more Mr. Prof. you know everything pastors� My parents on over there talking about the old-fashioned which you got together probably and you shoot Bobby in therapy.

You mean nobody so Colossians 2 verse eight beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world and not according to Christ, see the apostles had been number they knew the bad guys they know how they rolled. Why don't Christians know we have no excuse. We have an armada of teachings from the apostles from the prophets.

We have a written litmus test. There's no reason why we should be fold out of our faith. They don't have something better to offer you they have hell to offer you and you get nothing back. Nothing good you get something back right you wish you didn't have you think is bad to catch the flu try catching hell, you won't recover from that mature believers they in the days of John is in the days today.

They know better than this high sounding twaddle that comes from people don't know what they're talking about the try to come off as being the most intelligent people alive listen because a person to get A's on the exam does not mean they know the gospel they get A's on exams. How about on the exam of faith get an a on that to ensure that every Christian should get a on that the blood of Christ.

No one else comes down to.

They don't believe the word of God. They don't want to.

They don't even like it.

Some of them tried to give it an acknowledgment of nonvolatile good literature. So he says the fathers.

I know you have known Christ from the beginning and you not you are not going to be fooled. I know that I got a switch on the say and says you young men I write to you young man. This is the young women to it's not gender specific. It includes both now all that he's going to say that the young men the fathers were supposed already know they have brass this and what young men lack in time in the grade because there's a teaching that can only come in life from time but there are other lessons in there other things that require strength, physical strength, it takes physical strength to study the word of God enemy to just pick through it. I need to study it and these men were men of the word. These believers were men of the word what they lacked in time they get they made up with energy, they were involved and the were promised that if they stayed on the ship.

They too would be the fathers and mothers in the church and so he says I write to you young men out when I say young and middle-age men. We've got plenty of them here. They are now in the hallways and guard the church look out for us and young men here not serving the ushers ministry will wait recruiting moment. Okay, let's pause and go to our sponsor. The Holy Spirit would like you to step forward and serve. Maybe you can be one of them. Thanks for tuning in to cross reference rate cross reference is a ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia. If you'd like to learn more about this ministry, we invite you to visit our website cross reference radio.com find a number of teachings from Pastor Rick available there.

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