I’ll be posting a summary of my notes from each night of revival this week. Here are my takeaways from last night:
1 John 2:1-6
- This stuff about Jesus is either true or false, real or fake.
- In our over-familiarity with Jesus, we tend to reduce him to myth and morality tale (like one of Aesop’s fables).
- But Jesus is true and real. He does more than inspire; he radically transforms us.
- What Jesus is Doing:He is advocating for us, pleading our case like a defense attorney.
- He doesn’t plead for justice because we’re innocent. He pleads for mercy because we’re guilty.
- His advocacy is continual (he’s always facing the father, ready to intercede for us), unique (he’s the only one qualified for this job) and honest (all his clients are guilty, so he doesn’t base his plea on our righteousness but his own).
- What Jesus Did: He wiped out/covered over our sins (propitiation).
- He said, “Father, they’re guilty. But punish me instead of them.”
- His sacrifice is eternal (we never need to sacrifice anything else again), sufficient (powerful enough for the sins of the whole world) and unique (he is the only one qualified to do this, which is why he is the only way to be saved).
- What We Should Be Doing: Responding with love by being obedient.
- It’s impossible to embrace Jesus and sin at the same time.
- Our obedience is a response to his love for us. It does not earn his love. God already loves us as much as possible through Jesus.
- WWJD is the wrong question. What has Jesus done is the right question.
- Therefore, our love for God is to be thankful, as well as guarded (we are to ‘keep’ his commands the way we would keep something precious) and progressive (we should be growing and maturing in it).
Thanks to Justin Nash for bringing the word with clarity and conviction. All are invited to join us tonight for another service at 7pm. 704-545-5893 for more information.
