Empty Claims or Genuine Salvation
Truth Taught- A false Christian is one of words only while a true Christian keeps Christ’s commands
Last time we looked together at John’s description of the true and regenerate believer. This person is the one who knows Christ by experience and has confidence that he knows Him based on his love for Christ and love for those in Christ’s Church.
So, the mark of a true believer is outpouring of love for Christ and for the Church.
John stated in a positive way that which is true for all who are born again or born of the Spirit.
The visible Church is the Church gathered throughout the centuries. Among those gathered are true believers and unbelievers, those who have saving faith and those who only claim belief but have never really believed unto life. They are professing Christians but their profession is not accurate. They have deceived themselves into thinking they have Christ and salvation when in fact they do not.
So, John sets out to show us there is a vast difference between those who are and those who only claim to be Christians.
What John does in this epistle is what Jesus has done in multiple places in the Gospels…one such place…
Matthew 13:3–9 (ESV)
3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.”
Matthew 13:18–23 (ESV)
18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
The Word of God goes forth and is cast on all different types of people. It lands on different hearts. Some seed sprouts and for a time looks like the person is a believer. Then, troubles come and they fall away. Some hear the Word and don’t understand it. Some hear the Word and they receive it with joy but then trouble comes and they too fall away. Some hear the Word but there are so many cares of the world that they choke out the Word and they too fall away. Then there are those who hear the Word, understand it, it takes root and begins to produce fruit. Of the four examples, the last one marks the Christian the others are simply those who may profess to be Christians and who may even look like Christians for a while but are shown to be false.
The mark of a genuine believer according to Jesus is the root and fruit. The root keeps us secure and held fast during times of trouble. Much like a hurricane beating rain against the side of a hill. If there are roots, they hold the soil in place. If there are none then the entire hill can be washed away.
Then as the roots take hold of good soil, the plant begins to produce fruit. The person goes through hard times and yet the roots hold tight, their faith endures and their love for others holds fast. Bitterness is not part of a Christian whose roots are growing in the sweet soil of Jesus Christ. Hard hearts are not found among true believers but there is a peaceful and sweet fruit produced within the very being of the Christian. Trouble in this life for the Christian produces the sweetest fruit not bitter fruit.
We discovered last time that the commands/commandments John speaks of here are the commands to love Jesus Christ and love one another. These are the marks of good soil, strong roots, and sweet fruit.
Please Stand…
1 John 2:4–6 (ESV)
4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
1. God’s Description of the Liar (2:4)
4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,
This person says that he’s a Christian. If you asked for all the Christians to line up over there, he would immediately jump up and join the group. He adamantly claims with all his might that he is a Christian. He would be angry if you ever questioned his claim. This person knows the language of Christianity. They know the answers. He claims that he knows Christ.
All these claims are lies and deception. He does not know Christ because there is not Holy Spirit wrought love within him. He has no real love for Christ but he loves some of the things Christ may give to him but for him, Jesus is just a means to something better. His business is growing because his customers think him to be a Christian. He is thought well of in the community as he professes to know Jesus. However, there is more to this person than meets the eye. He’s different when alone verses when he is in public. He wants to be well thought of for the benefits he can get from others.
When it comes to reaching out to help those within the Church, to visit the sick and needy within his fellowship he says I’m a Christian but does not reach out to care for the needs of others. I am saved, he says and that is good enough.
The reality of this man is that he is nothing but a liar. He doesn’t really care or love others. He is content to tuck his Christianity in a confined compartment and use it when he needs it but it’s not really a part of him and it’s not really who he is.
The Church Liar has said many things regarding his salvation. He has made many claims. These claims are nothing but lies because, the truth is not in him,
He does not walk in union and communion with Jesus. He does not know Christ. No matter what he might say, he does not walk in fellowship with Jesus. God calls this person a liar. Why? There is no truth within him. His life is a deception.
John 14:6 (ESV)
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus is the Truth…John writes there is no Truth within him. So, God tells us that there is no Truth within this person. So, he speaks from what is within him. He speaks lies because lies are all that he has. What’s in him comes out…
Jesus has called Satan the father of lies. He speaks what he knows, and all the devil knows are lies and deception. This is the picture of the false professor of salvation. He has deceived himself with his own lies. He thinks his claim makes it real. John walks up to this man and says…you are a liar!
2. God’s Description of the Christian (2:5)
5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:
How is the Christian different from the mere professor? John tells us that the Christian keeps his word. Here, the Word is to be seen as what John has already written about. The Word here is somewhat different from the commands of Christ but they do connect together. The Word John has in mind here is the Gospel. The Gospel being the way in which Christ is received into the heart of the believer. So, how is the true believer proven to be so? The Word of Christ is a part of who he is. The Holy Spirit has taken up residence within the believer’s heart. What is in him comes out.
The Holy Spirit operates on him, within him, and out of him. He produces spiritual fruit that is seen as external proofs of a genuine salvation.
Matthew 7:17–20 (ESV)
17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
The first man claims to be a Christian but has no fruit, just in word only. The second man does not rest his assurance on claims but is actually producing spiritual fruit leading to external proofs…obeying the commands and the Word.
This shows up in many ways…Obeying the Word means that what we read in God’s Word concerning the promises and commands are lived out experientially. The love of God is truly found inwardly through the Holy Spirit and He causes us to produce fruit. This fruit are things like true affections to Christ, our minds are changed, our hearts are changed. As we live in this world, we begin to see things differently. We take the commands of God and actually do them.
I want to make sure we understand something. Spiritual fruit is not what we do but who we are. Its not deeds but a new creation. There is a huge difference between being a Christian and doing Christian things. Even serving in the Church does not mean you are saved. The Holy Spirit changes us from the inside.
Out trust and love for Christ and the Holy Spirit residing within us produce a changed person. Our worldview is different our priorities are different. How we live is different and amazing things are produced as the Holy Spirit works in and through us.
Proverbs 3:5–12 (ESV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.
11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights.
When a believer reads these commands and promises, he seeks to put them into practice. When confronted with a challenge, his mind goes back to…
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
He says Okay, I’m going to do this. He and the HS begin to work out the details and he does it. He discovers God does know best. He learns the promises of God can be trusted.
Then the rest of the verse 1 John 2:5 comes true…
in him truly the love of God is perfected…
He loves God more and more as he walks in His ways, obeys His commands and reaps a bountiful harvest of faithfulness and love toward God. God’s commands go past mere legalistic rules but become sweet to the Christian. Through obedience one’s love for God increases and as John puts it is perfected.
3. Jesus Shows Us How to Obey God (2:6)
6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
Whoever claims to be in Christ, live in Christ or abide in Him should obey as Jesus did. Jesus showed us steady and purposeful obedience to the Father.
Jesus tells us what it means to abide in Him…
John 15:4–5 (ESV)
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
To “abide” is to live, continue, or remain; so, to abide in Christ is to live in Him or remain in Him. When a person is saved, he or she is described as being “in Christ” (Romans 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17), held secure in a permanent relationship (John 10:28–29). Therefore, abiding in Christ is not a special level of Christian experience, rather, it is the position of all true believers. The difference between those abiding in Christ and those not abiding in Christ is the difference between the saved and the unsaved.
John parallels abiding in Christ with knowing Christ from verse 3. Here he speaks of a continual relationship with Christ. This begins at salvation and continues through our lives as we increasingly obey Him resulting in more love for Him which in turn produces more obedience and then more love. It’s an upward spiral that takes us closer to Jesus all the time. This is abiding in Him.
Jesus showed us that an obedient life is categorized by a walk.
ought to walk in the same way in which he walked
Here John means that we are to obey God’s commands as Jesus obeyed. Jesus’ life was a walk, a steady purposeful obedience.
Many today could call their lives a slumber, sleep, crawl, or even a sprint is not the picture of Christ. He was steady and purposeful. We too must live purposeful and walk as He did.
Jesus lived a life of abiding in the Father and a life of steady obedience…walk.
Our Lord shows us what obedience to the Father looks like…a steady consistent walk.
That’s our call a steady walk in obedience to the call especially, the call to love one another.
Beloved, our calling is not busyness just to be doing things, but a true love and care that is visible and practical. Love one another and in that you will find assurance of salvation, growth in Christ, and a perfection of your love for the Father.
Resources Used:
https://www.gotquestions.org/abide-in-Christ.html
Letters of John by Kruse
1 John by Pierce
Words of Blessing
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