MAC KIRK

 The Question of Sin I John 1:5-10    If the Church and our lives are to mean anything they must reflect the light and glory of God.  We are to be like Christ.  Romans 8:29  " For whom He foreknew He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son"   God is light.  John 1:4 and Jesus is the light of men.  Heaven is that way . Rev. 21:23  "  And the city had no need of the sun ....for the the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof" The troublers there were arguing that their behavior did not matter. " he , that hates his brother is walking in darkness"  I John 2:11  We are to " do all things without grumbling or disputing...among whom you appear as lights in the world."  Philippians 2 :14 Here is an illustration about light:  " If the sun shines on a dull brick or stone, they reflect none of its beams...there is nothing in them capable of this, nor is there in an ungodly man any natural power of reflecting

 I John 1:1-4   Proclamation, Fellowship & Joy What produces joy in your life?  A care-free life?  Friendships?  A car that runs?  The list can go on.  John starts his letter with telling us how to have joy that is everlasting and will allow us to get through the difficulties, problems and situations that we cannot handle by ourselves.  God is life, light and love in John's letter. 1.  The proclamation of eternal life produces fellowship and joy in our lives.   There is the story of John Wesley who had no joy and he considered himself a failure.  He was up at 4 am to pray for 2 hrs and then read the Bible for an hour before going to jails, prisons and hospitals.  Once on the way back from America a great storm at sea continued and the ship was about to sink.  Wesley feared he was going to die that hour and he was terrified.  He had no assurance of what would happen to him when he died. Despite all of his efforts to be good , death was now for him a big, black, fearful question

 The Epistle of I John. Introduction.    In the letter of John we enter a world of truth, certainty and the way to eternal life.  The themes are assurance, true knowledge reflected in true Christian holiness of living, confidence and  boldness in believing the truths of the Christian faith. The greek word to know is used over 25 times, and the key verse we can reflect on is I John 5:13, " These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God---in order that you may know that you have eternal life."  John the Apostle wants us " to know that we are in Him." 2:5 He wants us to "know that we have passed out of death into life." 3:14  ; that we " are of God" 5:19 and that He " is in us." 4:13 John's main purpose is to bring believers to the knowledge that they have eternal life as well as to address those who are " from the world" 4:5 who " went out from us" 2:19 and do not have eternal life. Ho