March 28
This Sunday we begin our journey, verse by verse, through the book of 1 John. Last Sunday Phud introduced us to the book and highlighted some things for us to anticipate as we study. I would encourage everyone to continue to press on and work diligently as we memorize the first six verses of chapter 1 this week. Remember the IMPORTANCE of Scripture memorization and don’t miss this opportunity. Two reasons why God says it is important:
1. Your personal walk. Remember David’s words in Psalm 119 (the longest chapter in the Bible devoted to the glory of the WORD of God) “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). When Jesus was tempted by Satan, he fought and resisted with Scripture (Luke 4:1-13). Ephesians 6:17 calls the Word a SWORD. Know it and use it.
2. It benefits the body of which you are a part and for whom Christ died. We can put the issues of 1 John into practice as we love one another. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16).
Here’s the plan for this Sunday:
Confession by Mars Hill Music
Sermon: 1 John 1:1-4
Our Redemption by Remedy Music
How Great Thou Art (Public Domain)
Here is Love by Mars Hill Music
Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed by Sojourn Music
Sending: Go and Send and Pray (Music and arrangement by Remedy Music)
A note on the new song, “Confession.” The lyrics echo Paul’s lament in Romans 7. Read through that chapter this week when you get the chance. We can all relate to Paul as he cries in verses 21-25,
“21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.”
Though we are redeemed and regenerated by the Holy Spirit to love Jesus and delight in God’s law, we have an entire life of sin to leave behind and our bodies have to leave behind the evil habits which once controlled us. This is not easily and quickly done. Sanctification is a long process and it is a struggle while we are still in our sinful bodies to always and constantly honor Christ. “Confession” moves lyrically from a place of despair to eventually a place of rejoicing in the freedom bought for us only by the blood of Jesus. Jesus became sin for us so that we would be forgiven of all of our sin past, present future. As Christians, we are already righteous in Christ but are not yet perfected until the day of redemption. Therefore, we move from singing the first verse,
“I am obstinate, my neck an iron tendon
My head is like a stone, I want to do what I want
Wretched, wretched, bound, gagged and shackled
You give, You give life, I ignore it”
To the final chorus,
“Chains are broken, I’ve been chosen
Sin is put to death, is put to death!”
Amen. Live in the Gospel this week. It is ALWAYS ALL about Jesus.
Love
Cameron