Holiness Is Not Optional 1 John 1:5-2:2 1

“5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:5-10 2

“1My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin “1My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:1-2 3

I. It starts with Grace through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross Holiness Is Not Optional – 1 John 1:5-2:2 I. It starts with Grace through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross A. Jesus is our Advocate (1 John 2:1) Used to describe the Holy Spirit John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7 Romans 8:16 John says our Advocate is in Heaven 4

I. It starts with Grace through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross Holiness Is Not Optional – 1 John 1:5-2:2 I. It starts with Grace through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross B. Jesus is the Righteous One (1 John 2:1) Jesus Christ The Righteous One 1 Peter 1:19; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9 5

“19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” 1 Peter 1:19 “1 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 “9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—” Philippians 3:9 6

I. It starts with Grace through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross Holiness Is Not Optional – 1 John 1:5-2:2 I. It starts with Grace through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross B. Jesus is the Righteous One (1 John 2:1) Jesus Christ The Righteous One 1 Peter 1:19; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9 7

I. It starts with Grace through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross Holiness Is Not Optional – 1 John 1:5-2:2 I. It starts with Grace through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross C. Jesus is the propitiation (atoning sacrifice) (1 John 2:2) 1 John 4:10; Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17 8

“10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10 “25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished” Romans 3:25 “17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.” Hebrews 2:17 9

I. It starts with Grace through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross Holiness Is Not Optional – 1 John 1:5-2:2 I. It starts with Grace through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross C. Jesus is the propitiation (atoning sacrifice) (1 John 2:2) 1 John 4:10; Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17 Pagan idea of propitiation Appeasing an angry god with a sacrifice Propitiation according to 1 John 2:2 10

– John Stott (The Epistles of John) “an appeasement of the wrath of God by the love of God through the gift of God.” – John Stott (The Epistles of John) 11

I. It starts with Grace through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross Holiness Is Not Optional – 1 John 1:5-2:2 I. It starts with Grace through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross C. Jesus is the propitiation (atoning sacrifice) (1 John 2:2) 1 John 4:10; Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17 Pagan idea of propitiation Appeasing an angry god with a sacrifice Propitiation according to 1 John 2:2 12

II. God’s grace leads us to holiness Holiness Is Not Optional – 1 John 1:5-2:2 II. God’s grace leads us to holiness A. Holy living is possible (1 John 2:1) 1 John 3:7-9 B. Perfect Holy living is NOT possible (1 John 2:1) C. Holy living happens when we understand the sacrifice of Christ which brings us grace. (1 John 2:1) 2 Peter 1:5-9 13

“5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.” 2 Peter 1:5-9 14

II. God’s grace leads us to holiness Holiness Is Not Optional – 1 John 1:5-2:2 II. God’s grace leads us to holiness A. Holy living is possible (1 John 2:1) 1 John 3:7-9 B. Perfect Holy living is NOT possible (1 John 2:1) C. Holy living happens when we understand the sacrifice of Christ which brings us grace. (1 John 2:1) 2 Peter 1:5-9 15

The key to holiness - understanding God’s grace shown to us through the sacrifice of Christ 16