1 00:00:05,835 --> 00:00:11,975 This one comes from Vlad. 2 00:00:11,975 --> 00:00:16,716 That sounds Russian or Romanian. 3 00:00:16,716 --> 00:00:20,029 "If I have sinned, 4 00:00:20,029 --> 00:00:25,724 and sin brings death (James 1:15), 5 00:00:25,724 --> 00:00:29,184 how can I have life 6 00:00:29,184 --> 00:00:34,911 and fellowship with God again? 7 00:00:34,911 --> 00:00:36,891 I've committed a sin 8 00:00:36,891 --> 00:00:38,842 and realize I no longer have the same 9 00:00:38,842 --> 00:00:42,472 relationship I had. 10 00:00:42,472 --> 00:00:46,628 Although I was pressed by God to repent, 11 00:00:46,628 --> 00:00:49,606 and did so. 12 00:00:49,606 --> 00:00:53,269 Can you say something about 1 John 5:16, 13 00:00:53,269 --> 00:00:55,185 "God will give him life," 14 00:00:55,185 --> 00:00:58,344 because that is what I'm looking for. 15 00:00:58,344 --> 00:00:59,445 I have read somewhere 16 00:00:59,445 --> 00:01:01,905 that the relationship is not broken, 17 00:01:01,905 --> 00:01:05,359 but fellowship can be broken. 18 00:01:05,359 --> 00:01:10,038 Is it biblical to say so?" 19 00:01:10,038 --> 00:01:14,133 Ok. Somebody read James 1:15. 20 00:01:14,133 --> 00:01:19,254 Let's get a feel for where he's struggling. 21 00:01:19,254 --> 00:01:23,781 Somebody read James 1:15. 22 00:01:23,781 --> 00:01:25,847 "And desire when it has conceived 23 00:01:25,847 --> 00:01:27,485 gives birth to sin, 24 00:01:27,485 --> 00:01:29,652 and sin, when it is fully grown, 25 00:01:29,652 --> 00:01:31,793 brings forth death." 26 00:01:31,793 --> 00:01:39,020 Ok, so he sees desire, sin, death. 27 00:01:39,020 --> 00:01:42,981 But it doesn't just say if there's desire 28 00:01:42,981 --> 00:01:48,067 and it results in a sin, 29 00:01:48,067 --> 00:01:50,104 that there's death. 30 00:01:50,104 --> 00:01:51,677 It says sin does something. 31 00:01:51,677 --> 00:01:56,786 What does it say happens to sin? 32 00:01:56,786 --> 00:01:58,741 When sin what? 33 00:01:58,741 --> 00:02:02,427 Is fully grown. 34 00:02:02,427 --> 00:02:06,464 Now that's not to say that the wage 35 00:02:06,464 --> 00:02:10,696 of a single sin isn't death. 36 00:02:10,696 --> 00:02:14,717 But when he talks about sin fully grown, 37 00:02:14,717 --> 00:02:19,259 it's like there's this growth. 38 00:02:19,259 --> 00:02:22,944 Now he's describing desire. 39 00:02:22,944 --> 00:02:24,531 What's behind sin? 40 00:02:24,531 --> 00:02:27,680 There's desire that fuels our sin. 41 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:32,751 And then sin, when it's full grown, 42 00:02:32,751 --> 00:02:35,337 then there's death. 43 00:02:35,337 --> 00:02:41,413 More like a picture of the life of the unbeliever. 44 00:02:41,413 --> 00:02:44,010 You have this desire that percolates 45 00:02:44,010 --> 00:02:46,598 and results in sin, and the sin grows, 46 00:02:46,598 --> 00:02:48,910 kind of like the sin of the Amorites. 47 00:02:48,910 --> 00:02:50,497 It's not yet full. 48 00:02:50,497 --> 00:02:53,093 It grows. 49 00:02:53,093 --> 00:02:56,332 Our sin grows. It multiplies. 50 00:02:56,332 --> 00:02:58,258 And you get to this place 51 00:02:58,258 --> 00:03:00,972 where you're like Christian in Pilgrim's Progress 52 00:03:00,972 --> 00:03:03,274 where you've got this huge pack on your back. 53 00:03:03,274 --> 00:03:06,178 It's like God lets it grow to a certain place 54 00:03:06,178 --> 00:03:08,816 and then it just explodes in death. 55 00:03:08,816 --> 00:03:11,972 But the very fact that James walks us 56 00:03:11,972 --> 00:03:13,263 all the way through; 57 00:03:13,263 --> 00:03:16,146 there's no life - it just goes to death. 58 00:03:16,146 --> 00:03:20,426 That would seem to indicate the growth 59 00:03:20,426 --> 00:03:25,603 of lust and sin resulting in death 60 00:03:25,603 --> 00:03:27,950 in the life of an unbeliever. 61 00:03:27,950 --> 00:03:34,726 It's basically just lost man. 62 00:03:34,726 --> 00:03:38,167 Now he also mentions 1 John. 63 00:03:38,167 --> 00:03:42,309 Let's go over there. 1 John 5:16 64 00:03:42,309 --> 00:03:44,881 Somebody read 1 John 5:16. 65 00:03:44,881 --> 00:03:47,482 Brethren, I'll tell you this, 66 00:03:47,482 --> 00:03:50,154 sometimes the most difficult verses 67 00:03:50,154 --> 00:03:53,797 to understand can really be helpful 68 00:03:53,797 --> 00:03:58,400 in shedding light on some things 69 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:00,354 when properly understood. 70 00:04:00,354 --> 00:04:02,026 Sometimes difficult verses can be 71 00:04:02,026 --> 00:04:05,840 the foundation for horrible error. 72 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:11,677 Sometimes they can be really helpful 73 00:04:11,677 --> 00:04:14,341 in helping us to see things 74 00:04:14,341 --> 00:04:17,209 the way they really are. 75 00:04:17,209 --> 00:04:20,640 Somebody read 1 John 5:16. 76 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:22,865 "If anyone sees his brother committing a sin 77 00:04:22,865 --> 00:04:24,370 not leading to death, 78 00:04:24,370 --> 00:04:27,035 he shall ask and God will give him life - 79 00:04:27,035 --> 00:04:29,832 to those who commit sins that do not lead to death, 80 00:04:29,832 --> 00:04:31,727 There is sin that leads to death. 81 00:04:31,727 --> 00:04:34,998 I do not say that one should pray for that." 82 00:04:34,998 --> 00:04:37,174 Read it again: 83 00:04:37,174 --> 00:04:40,000 "If anyone sees his brother committing..." 84 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:43,704 Ok, stop. 85 00:04:43,704 --> 00:04:46,779 Who's he writing to? 86 00:04:46,779 --> 00:04:53,509 Who is 1 John written to? 87 00:04:53,509 --> 00:04:56,345 Who said believers? 88 00:04:56,345 --> 00:04:59,666 Prove it. 89 00:04:59,666 --> 00:05:01,376 Prove it's written to believers. 90 00:05:01,376 --> 00:05:02,207 (from the room) 91 00:05:02,207 --> 00:05:03,507 "My little children..." 92 00:05:03,507 --> 00:05:11,516 My little children - where does it say that? 93 00:05:11,516 --> 00:05:12,464 (from the room) 94 00:05:12,464 --> 00:05:15,036 1 John 2:1 95 00:05:15,036 --> 00:05:17,426 Quote 1 John 5:13 96 00:05:17,426 --> 00:05:19,261 "I write these things to you who 97 00:05:19,261 --> 00:05:21,154 believe in the name of the Son of God." 98 00:05:21,154 --> 00:05:24,148 I write these things to you who believe. 99 00:05:24,148 --> 00:05:26,972 Ok, go back to 5:16. 100 00:05:26,972 --> 00:05:32,667 "If anyone sees his brother committing a sin..." 101 00:05:32,667 --> 00:05:34,115 Ok, who is he speaking to now? 102 00:05:34,115 --> 00:05:35,861 He's speaking to those who believe. 103 00:05:35,861 --> 00:05:39,226 And if they see who? 104 00:05:39,226 --> 00:05:40,782 His brother. 105 00:05:40,782 --> 00:05:43,306 What's the implication there? 106 00:05:43,306 --> 00:05:47,283 Is he speaking about seeing a lost man? 107 00:05:47,283 --> 00:05:48,439 Now, see, I would say 108 00:05:48,439 --> 00:05:51,279 James was speaking about a lost man. 109 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:53,043 Now, he may be speaking about 110 00:05:53,043 --> 00:05:54,847 what would happen to any one of us 111 00:05:54,847 --> 00:05:56,579 if we weren't plucked from that. 112 00:05:56,579 --> 00:05:59,441 But basically, the end is death. 113 00:05:59,441 --> 00:06:02,068 The end for the Christian isn't death. 114 00:06:02,068 --> 00:06:04,676 The end for the Christian is life. 115 00:06:04,676 --> 00:06:06,700 But if we go here, 116 00:06:06,700 --> 00:06:11,601 the idea is that if anybody sees a brother 117 00:06:11,601 --> 00:06:17,378 who's sinning a sin that is not unto death. 118 00:06:17,378 --> 00:06:20,136 Well, if they're truly a brother, 119 00:06:20,136 --> 00:06:21,763 if they're truly a brother... 120 00:06:21,763 --> 00:06:23,554 now I recognize sometimes Scripture 121 00:06:23,554 --> 00:06:26,749 speaks about what people claim to be, 122 00:06:26,749 --> 00:06:29,131 not what they really are. 123 00:06:29,131 --> 00:06:30,514 And Scripture is charitable 124 00:06:30,514 --> 00:06:32,695 and will regard people according to 125 00:06:32,695 --> 00:06:36,036 what they claim to be. 126 00:06:36,036 --> 00:06:41,820 Scripture can speak about 127 00:06:41,820 --> 00:06:43,408 the righteous. 128 00:06:43,408 --> 00:06:47,086 Jesus talked about He didn't come 129 00:06:47,086 --> 00:06:49,710 to call the righteous. 130 00:06:49,710 --> 00:06:52,720 Scripture calls them what they claim to be, 131 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:54,797 not what they really are. 132 00:06:54,797 --> 00:06:56,277 But here, a brother. 133 00:06:56,277 --> 00:06:58,219 You see a brother who commits a sin 134 00:06:58,219 --> 00:06:59,187 not unto death. 135 00:06:59,187 --> 00:07:02,255 Well, anybody that's truly a brother, 136 00:07:02,255 --> 00:07:04,191 truly a Christian, can only 137 00:07:04,191 --> 00:07:09,655 commit sins that aren't unto death. 138 00:07:09,655 --> 00:07:11,983 But in light of the context of 1 John, 139 00:07:11,983 --> 00:07:19,377 what would be a sin that leads unto death? 140 00:07:19,377 --> 00:07:25,138 The feel is - what he's talking about 141 00:07:25,138 --> 00:07:28,748 is you've got these antichrists. 142 00:07:28,748 --> 00:07:31,418 They went out from us, because they weren't of us. 143 00:07:31,418 --> 00:07:32,861 See, they continue in sin. 144 00:07:32,861 --> 00:07:34,185 They practice sin. 145 00:07:34,185 --> 00:07:36,329 And the idea is, 146 00:07:36,329 --> 00:07:39,817 if you go out after having had this light, 147 00:07:39,817 --> 00:07:42,024 and you go on practicing sin, 148 00:07:42,024 --> 00:07:43,613 that's a sin unto death. 149 00:07:43,613 --> 00:07:45,705 You see, the idea here is, 150 00:07:45,705 --> 00:07:48,139 he's talking to them about something 151 00:07:48,139 --> 00:07:51,999 he expects them to recognize 152 00:07:51,999 --> 00:07:53,559 from his epistle 153 00:07:53,559 --> 00:07:55,259 what he's talking about, 154 00:07:55,259 --> 00:07:56,527 when he talks about a sin 155 00:07:56,527 --> 00:07:57,800 that leads unto death, 156 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:00,376 when he talks about a sin that doesn't lead unto death. 157 00:08:00,376 --> 00:08:02,149 If you go through the whole letter, 158 00:08:02,149 --> 00:08:04,290 he's talking about Christians... 159 00:08:04,290 --> 00:08:06,952 "I write to you, little children, that you don't sin. 160 00:08:06,952 --> 00:08:08,803 But if you do sin, we have an Advocate 161 00:08:08,803 --> 00:08:11,074 with the Father - Jesus Christ the Righteous." 162 00:08:11,074 --> 00:08:13,786 You know that is a sin that doesn't lead unto death. 163 00:08:13,786 --> 00:08:15,499 Why? Because, "my little children." 164 00:08:15,499 --> 00:08:16,935 And we have an Advocate. 165 00:08:16,935 --> 00:08:18,526 So that doesn't lead to death. 166 00:08:18,526 --> 00:08:21,009 Whereas those who professed to be Christians 167 00:08:21,009 --> 00:08:25,329 at one point, but denied Jesus Christ - 168 00:08:25,329 --> 00:08:27,068 to deny Jesus Christ doesn't mean 169 00:08:27,068 --> 00:08:29,140 you say Jesus doesn't exist. 170 00:08:29,140 --> 00:08:33,210 It means you deny something about Him. 171 00:08:33,210 --> 00:08:35,010 They continued in this sin. 172 00:08:35,010 --> 00:08:36,950 They went out from among the Christians 173 00:08:36,950 --> 00:08:39,544 because they weren't really of the Christians. 174 00:08:39,544 --> 00:08:41,969 They continued in unrighteousness. 175 00:08:41,969 --> 00:08:45,069 He's saying, look, I say to you, 176 00:08:45,069 --> 00:08:47,692 you pray for those brothers - 177 00:08:47,692 --> 00:08:50,050 those who are faithful, 178 00:08:50,050 --> 00:08:52,731 those who have stuck by the Christians, 179 00:08:52,731 --> 00:08:55,331 those who show that they have a love for the brethren; 180 00:08:55,331 --> 00:08:58,430 those who keep the commandments of Jesus Christ 181 00:08:58,430 --> 00:08:59,397 as a rule; 182 00:08:59,397 --> 00:09:01,739 those who are following Him. 183 00:09:01,739 --> 00:09:03,627 Those who are not given to worldliness. 184 00:09:03,627 --> 00:09:06,185 Those who have not gone out from us, 185 00:09:06,185 --> 00:09:08,978 because they are of us. 186 00:09:08,978 --> 00:09:10,374 When they sin, 187 00:09:10,374 --> 00:09:11,826 you pray for it. 188 00:09:11,826 --> 00:09:13,332 You pray for that kind of sin, 189 00:09:13,332 --> 00:09:14,557 because that's a sin that 190 00:09:14,557 --> 00:09:15,949 doesn't lead to death. 191 00:09:15,949 --> 00:09:18,068 Whereas these people that continue in sin, 192 00:09:18,068 --> 00:09:20,869 these people that deny Jesus Christ - 193 00:09:20,869 --> 00:09:23,131 you deny the Son, you deny the Father. 194 00:09:23,131 --> 00:09:24,658 Those people that deny. 195 00:09:24,658 --> 00:09:25,687 Those heretics. 196 00:09:25,687 --> 00:09:28,098 Those people that are redesigning 197 00:09:28,098 --> 00:09:30,491 and redefining Jesus Christ. 198 00:09:30,491 --> 00:09:34,627 I'm not saying to pray for them. 199 00:09:34,627 --> 00:09:38,625 But here's what he's asking about, 200 00:09:38,625 --> 00:09:43,164 and here's what's really interesting. 201 00:09:43,164 --> 00:09:46,790 If you pray for a brother who has 202 00:09:46,790 --> 00:09:51,515 committed a sin not unto death. 203 00:09:51,515 --> 00:09:57,152 What happens? 204 00:09:57,152 --> 00:10:04,036 God will give him life. 205 00:10:04,036 --> 00:10:05,377 What happened? 206 00:10:05,377 --> 00:10:09,066 Did he lose life? 207 00:10:09,066 --> 00:10:12,149 Did he lose his life when he sinned? 208 00:10:12,149 --> 00:10:14,098 What do you mean God will give him life? 209 00:10:14,098 --> 00:10:15,938 I thought when we first believed upon 210 00:10:15,938 --> 00:10:18,260 the Lord Jesus Christ, we have eternal life. 211 00:10:18,260 --> 00:10:19,950 I thought that Jesus said that 212 00:10:19,950 --> 00:10:22,855 him who comes to Me, I will not cast out. 213 00:10:22,855 --> 00:10:26,154 Has he been cast out? 214 00:10:26,154 --> 00:10:29,423 Didn't Jesus say eternal life? 215 00:10:29,423 --> 00:10:32,166 No one will pluck them. 216 00:10:32,166 --> 00:10:33,680 Isn't that what we're told? 217 00:10:33,680 --> 00:10:36,101 Can it be eternal life if 218 00:10:36,101 --> 00:10:38,857 a brother who commits a sin 219 00:10:38,857 --> 00:10:41,087 that's not unto death...? 220 00:10:41,087 --> 00:10:42,769 Well, wait. He's a brother and 221 00:10:42,769 --> 00:10:44,741 he commits a sin that's not unto death. 222 00:10:44,741 --> 00:10:49,746 Where does life even come in? 223 00:10:49,746 --> 00:10:52,262 Life. 224 00:10:52,262 --> 00:10:55,358 Doesn't he already have life? 225 00:10:55,358 --> 00:10:57,228 Did it get taken away? 226 00:10:57,228 --> 00:11:07,783 Did he lose his life? 227 00:11:07,783 --> 00:11:12,202 You know, I think what it helps us to do 228 00:11:12,202 --> 00:11:19,261 is really think about the nature of life. 229 00:11:19,261 --> 00:11:26,858 We are so, I would say, earthly minded 230 00:11:26,858 --> 00:11:30,625 when it comes to life and death. 231 00:11:30,625 --> 00:11:32,749 Because we tend to see people 232 00:11:32,749 --> 00:11:37,864 who are moving, living... 233 00:11:37,864 --> 00:11:44,025 In our eyes, even though we don't regard things 234 00:11:44,025 --> 00:11:46,852 according to the flesh any longer, 235 00:11:46,852 --> 00:11:55,808 yet we do see through physical eyes. 236 00:11:55,808 --> 00:11:58,494 We've been to funerals. 237 00:11:58,494 --> 00:12:00,074 We look in the casket. 238 00:12:00,074 --> 00:12:01,257 We see death. 239 00:12:01,257 --> 00:12:02,281 Oh, that's death. 240 00:12:02,281 --> 00:12:03,792 They're dead. 241 00:12:03,792 --> 00:12:05,369 There's no pulse. 242 00:12:05,369 --> 00:12:10,210 Well, they're dead. 243 00:12:10,210 --> 00:12:12,663 And I recognize when we come to Scripture, 244 00:12:12,663 --> 00:12:15,991 we can talk more about spiritual life 245 00:12:15,991 --> 00:12:20,019 and spiritual death. 246 00:12:20,019 --> 00:12:31,037 But, do you remember how John defines life? 247 00:12:31,037 --> 00:12:35,840 Anybody remember how he defines it? 248 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:38,739 John 17:3 249 00:12:38,739 --> 00:12:44,204 What is it to have life? 250 00:12:44,204 --> 00:12:45,601 (from the room) 251 00:12:45,601 --> 00:12:50,525 "This is eternal life, that they may know Thee, 252 00:12:50,525 --> 00:12:52,308 the one true God and Jesus Christ 253 00:12:52,308 --> 00:12:55,639 whom Thou hast sent." 254 00:12:55,639 --> 00:12:58,643 It's to know God. 255 00:12:58,643 --> 00:13:01,082 That's the issue. 256 00:13:01,082 --> 00:13:04,020 It's to know God. 257 00:13:04,020 --> 00:13:10,283 Life is to know God. 258 00:13:10,283 --> 00:13:12,557 It's to know Christ. 259 00:13:12,557 --> 00:13:19,412 Now look, knowing in Scripture is intimate. 260 00:13:19,412 --> 00:13:22,862 It isn't just knowing facts. 261 00:13:22,862 --> 00:13:24,490 To know. 262 00:13:24,490 --> 00:13:33,055 The word is used in really interesting ways. 263 00:13:33,055 --> 00:13:39,938 When Mary gave birth to Jesus, 264 00:13:39,938 --> 00:13:46,649 Joseph had not yet known her. 265 00:13:46,649 --> 00:13:51,648 There's sexual intimacy actually behind that word. 266 00:13:51,648 --> 00:13:54,281 To know. 267 00:13:54,281 --> 00:13:58,941 Life - you have to understand 268 00:13:58,941 --> 00:14:01,791 what Jesus is saying when He says 269 00:14:01,791 --> 00:14:04,108 that they will have life more abundantly. 270 00:14:04,108 --> 00:14:08,214 It's like we heard on Sunday. 271 00:14:08,214 --> 00:14:11,002 It's to embrace the glory of God. 272 00:14:11,002 --> 00:14:14,450 It's to see the face of God. 273 00:14:14,450 --> 00:14:19,675 To know God is to have intimacy with Him. 274 00:14:19,675 --> 00:14:22,867 It's to embrace Him. 275 00:14:22,867 --> 00:14:27,536 Yes, there's a knowledge that has to do with it. 276 00:14:27,536 --> 00:14:31,997 But when we talk life, when we talk death. 277 00:14:31,997 --> 00:14:36,923 At the deepest level, that's what we're talking about. 278 00:14:36,923 --> 00:14:39,241 Now think about this. 279 00:14:39,241 --> 00:14:45,812 If I am supposed to pray for a brother 280 00:14:45,812 --> 00:14:48,059 who commits a sin that's not unto death, 281 00:14:48,059 --> 00:14:51,634 which means he has life, 282 00:14:51,634 --> 00:14:53,430 and he's never going to see death. 283 00:14:53,430 --> 00:14:54,854 He's not going to go to hell. 284 00:14:54,854 --> 00:14:57,753 He's not going to perish. 285 00:14:57,753 --> 00:15:00,290 What do you mean I pray for him 286 00:15:00,290 --> 00:15:03,645 and God's going to give him life? 287 00:15:03,645 --> 00:15:06,052 He already has life. 288 00:15:06,052 --> 00:15:08,996 Yeah, but remember this. 289 00:15:08,996 --> 00:15:14,455 He's committed a sin. 290 00:15:14,455 --> 00:15:19,893 No, the sin doesn't lead to death. 291 00:15:19,893 --> 00:15:24,323 But what does that seem to communicate 292 00:15:24,323 --> 00:15:28,808 that if I pray for a brother or sister 293 00:15:28,808 --> 00:15:31,605 who sinned, 294 00:15:31,605 --> 00:15:33,608 what does that seem to communicate? 295 00:15:33,608 --> 00:15:37,227 That God will give them life? 296 00:15:37,227 --> 00:15:41,577 When you think about life as John defines it. 297 00:15:41,577 --> 00:15:45,084 What does it seem to mean? 298 00:15:45,084 --> 00:15:47,018 I don't think John wants us to think 299 00:15:47,018 --> 00:15:49,554 oh, they lost their life - now they get it back. 300 00:15:49,554 --> 00:15:51,953 They're in - they're out. They're in - they're out. 301 00:15:51,953 --> 00:15:53,211 If you sin, you're out. 302 00:15:53,211 --> 00:15:55,699 If you get somebody to pray for you, 303 00:15:55,699 --> 00:15:57,147 you're back in again. 304 00:15:57,147 --> 00:15:58,964 In and out; in and out; in and out... 305 00:15:58,964 --> 00:16:00,182 That's not eternal life. 306 00:16:00,182 --> 00:16:02,325 Because that's not eternal. 307 00:16:02,325 --> 00:16:03,742 That's temporary life. 308 00:16:03,742 --> 00:16:06,176 That's back and forth life. 309 00:16:06,176 --> 00:16:08,535 That's I'm alive, I'm dead, I'm alive, I'm dead. 310 00:16:08,535 --> 00:16:13,453 That's not eternal life. 311 00:16:13,453 --> 00:16:16,352 For one thing, I think this. 312 00:16:16,352 --> 00:16:21,574 The Bible uses "life" in different ways 313 00:16:21,574 --> 00:16:24,892 in different places. 314 00:16:24,892 --> 00:16:27,933 And I don't think we want to take it here to mean 315 00:16:27,933 --> 00:16:31,493 obviously, it doesn't mean physical life. 316 00:16:31,493 --> 00:16:32,885 It doesn't mean if you sin, 317 00:16:32,885 --> 00:16:34,718 you die physically. 318 00:16:34,718 --> 00:16:36,553 And then God will raise you back up. 319 00:16:36,553 --> 00:16:40,862 Certainly it doesn't mean that. 320 00:16:40,862 --> 00:16:43,588 And it doesn't mean being saved all over again, 321 00:16:43,588 --> 00:16:48,821 because the guy's already a brother. 322 00:16:48,821 --> 00:16:53,894 It seems to indicate, like he says, 323 00:16:53,894 --> 00:16:58,373 it seems to indicate fellowship. 324 00:16:58,373 --> 00:16:59,909 Now you think with me here. 325 00:16:59,909 --> 00:17:02,780 Go back to 1 John 1. 326 00:17:02,780 --> 00:17:07,591 Somebody just begin reading 1 John 1:1. 327 00:17:07,591 --> 00:17:11,337 Just read until we get tired. 328 00:17:11,337 --> 00:17:13,092 "That which was from the beginning, 329 00:17:13,092 --> 00:17:14,138 which we have heard, 330 00:17:14,138 --> 00:17:16,029 which we have seen with our eyes, 331 00:17:16,029 --> 00:17:17,271 which we have looked upon 332 00:17:17,271 --> 00:17:19,003 and we have touched with our hands 333 00:17:19,003 --> 00:17:20,478 concerning the Word of Life. 334 00:17:20,478 --> 00:17:21,823 The life was made manifest 335 00:17:21,823 --> 00:17:23,753 and we have seen it and testify to it 336 00:17:23,753 --> 00:17:26,298 and proclaim to you the eternal life, 337 00:17:26,298 --> 00:17:27,604 which was with the Father 338 00:17:27,604 --> 00:17:29,511 and was made manifest to us. 339 00:17:29,511 --> 00:17:31,412 That which we have seen and heard, 340 00:17:31,412 --> 00:17:33,382 we proclaim also to you, 341 00:17:33,382 --> 00:17:35,819 so that you too may have fellowship with us. 342 00:17:35,819 --> 00:17:38,124 And indeed our fellowship is with the Father 343 00:17:38,124 --> 00:17:40,473 and with His Son Jesus Christ. 344 00:17:40,473 --> 00:17:42,746 And we are writing these things so that our joy 345 00:17:42,746 --> 00:17:44,234 may be complete." 346 00:17:44,234 --> 00:17:46,140 Right. Fellowship. 347 00:17:46,140 --> 00:17:49,887 Our fellowship. 348 00:17:49,887 --> 00:17:54,904 Brethren, I'm going to take my best stab at this. 349 00:17:54,904 --> 00:18:00,714 But I think what John means 350 00:18:00,714 --> 00:18:06,947 is that sin interrupts 351 00:18:06,947 --> 00:18:11,778 not life altogether, 352 00:18:11,778 --> 00:18:14,985 but if life is knowing God... 353 00:18:14,985 --> 00:18:16,991 Listen, Scripture's serious when it says 354 00:18:16,991 --> 00:18:21,328 don't grieve the Holy Spirit. 355 00:18:21,328 --> 00:18:26,336 Sin interrupts your life. 356 00:18:26,336 --> 00:18:33,168 Sin interrupts your knowing God. 357 00:18:33,168 --> 00:18:38,292 Just even at that level, 358 00:18:38,292 --> 00:18:44,296 Adam knew Eve and she conceived. 359 00:18:44,296 --> 00:18:50,826 At that level, if I sin against my wife, 360 00:18:50,826 --> 00:18:57,272 it interrupts that life on that level. 361 00:18:57,272 --> 00:19:05,667 If life is to know God and to know Christ, 362 00:19:05,667 --> 00:19:08,424 sin interrupts. 363 00:19:08,424 --> 00:19:16,370 It seems like the issue here is this: 364 00:19:16,370 --> 00:19:21,886 that if we pray for one another - 365 00:19:21,886 --> 00:19:24,033 brethren, I'll tell you this is big. 366 00:19:24,033 --> 00:19:25,785 I really think this is big. 367 00:19:25,785 --> 00:19:29,899 For one thing, it really helps us feel 368 00:19:29,899 --> 00:19:33,930 the reality of what life is all about. 369 00:19:33,930 --> 00:19:37,636 It really helps us feel the reality 370 00:19:37,636 --> 00:19:41,020 of how sin interrupts life. 371 00:19:41,020 --> 00:19:45,946 It really helps us feel how important it is 372 00:19:45,946 --> 00:19:50,681 to pray for other Christians that you see 373 00:19:50,681 --> 00:19:55,982 falling into sin. 374 00:19:55,982 --> 00:19:58,243 Because you think about the promise here. 375 00:19:58,243 --> 00:20:01,139 Life will be restored to them. 376 00:20:01,139 --> 00:20:03,139 The fellowship will be brought back. 377 00:20:03,139 --> 00:20:05,017 The sweetness will be brought back. 378 00:20:05,017 --> 00:20:07,199 The intimacy, the closeness. 379 00:20:07,199 --> 00:20:12,330 Sin interrupts our fellowship with God. 380 00:20:12,330 --> 00:20:13,795 We lose something. 381 00:20:13,795 --> 00:20:16,181 We lose a sight of the glory. 382 00:20:16,181 --> 00:20:18,779 We lose the face of God. 383 00:20:18,779 --> 00:20:21,106 He hides. 384 00:20:21,106 --> 00:20:22,760 That's a reality. 385 00:20:22,760 --> 00:20:26,074 And that's one of the greatest pains of sin. 386 00:20:26,074 --> 00:20:29,246 Look, for the Christian, it's not just the consequences 387 00:20:29,246 --> 00:20:32,956 of getting caught in my sin. 388 00:20:32,956 --> 00:20:34,507 A lot of times, brethren, 389 00:20:34,507 --> 00:20:36,458 the grief of the Christian behind sin 390 00:20:36,458 --> 00:20:38,601 is how it's going to affect 391 00:20:38,601 --> 00:20:43,204 my fellowship with the Lord. 392 00:20:43,204 --> 00:20:47,618 That's the heart of the true Christian. 393 00:20:47,618 --> 00:20:50,449 Brethren, a text like this, 394 00:20:50,449 --> 00:20:52,910 just think about what it says about 395 00:20:52,910 --> 00:20:56,500 how terrible sin is. 396 00:20:56,500 --> 00:20:59,821 How awful. 397 00:20:59,821 --> 00:21:05,419 It brings a death of sorts. 398 00:21:05,419 --> 00:21:07,145 Because what? 399 00:21:07,145 --> 00:21:09,254 It removes the smile of God. 400 00:21:09,254 --> 00:21:10,803 Brethren, I'll tell you this, 401 00:21:10,803 --> 00:21:15,388 when you read in Scripture about eternal death, 402 00:21:15,388 --> 00:21:20,440 you need to recognize what we're talking about. 403 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:25,779 What makes death death is not the fire 404 00:21:25,779 --> 00:21:28,414 or the worm that never dies, 405 00:21:28,414 --> 00:21:32,038 or the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. 406 00:21:32,038 --> 00:21:34,974 It is that you are so separated from God - 407 00:21:34,974 --> 00:21:37,481 that's what outer darkness means. 408 00:21:37,481 --> 00:21:39,485 God is light. 409 00:21:39,485 --> 00:21:42,949 To be in the outer darkness means 410 00:21:42,949 --> 00:21:46,145 you are away from His smile. 411 00:21:46,145 --> 00:21:48,487 Oh, you're in the presence of the Lamb 412 00:21:48,487 --> 00:21:50,960 and of His angels - no question. 413 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:54,562 Scripture says that. 414 00:21:54,562 --> 00:21:59,378 You are horrifyingly in the presence of the Lamb. 415 00:21:59,378 --> 00:22:01,343 But there's no smile. 416 00:22:01,343 --> 00:22:03,341 There's no intimacy. 417 00:22:03,341 --> 00:22:05,251 There's no fellowship. 418 00:22:05,251 --> 00:22:08,569 That's death. 419 00:22:08,569 --> 00:22:13,491 That's what this says to us. 420 00:22:13,491 --> 00:22:16,876 And so I would say yes to Vlad, 421 00:22:16,876 --> 00:22:19,060 that that is right. 422 00:22:19,060 --> 00:22:21,134 That this has to do with relationship. 423 00:22:21,134 --> 00:22:23,378 This has to do with fellowship 424 00:22:23,378 --> 00:22:27,584 as stated in 1 John 5:16. 425 00:22:27,584 --> 00:22:29,776 That seems to be the only thing 426 00:22:29,776 --> 00:22:34,588 that you can possibly make sense out of this text 427 00:22:34,588 --> 00:22:36,620 as far as its meaning, 428 00:22:36,620 --> 00:22:39,535 and in the context of 1 John, I think, 429 00:22:39,535 --> 00:22:41,822 that it makes sense. 430 00:22:41,822 --> 00:22:44,530 It seems to be consistent with that context. 431 00:22:44,530 --> 00:22:46,499 Otherwise, I'm afraid you end up 432 00:22:46,499 --> 00:22:49,781 with some sort of doctrine 433 00:22:49,781 --> 00:22:56,938 you don't want to end up with. 434 00:22:56,938 --> 00:22:59,394 Anybody else have any comments about that 435 00:22:59,394 --> 00:23:05,017 or observations? 436 00:23:05,023 --> 00:23:06,530 But like I said before, 437 00:23:06,530 --> 00:23:09,532 undoubtedly a hard to understand text 438 00:23:09,532 --> 00:23:13,292 can result in all manner of error. 439 00:23:13,292 --> 00:23:16,517 But sometimes, the hard to understand verses 440 00:23:16,517 --> 00:23:20,863 can really be useful in helping us 441 00:23:20,863 --> 00:23:22,263 to understand... 442 00:23:22,263 --> 00:23:28,031 brethren, the horrible, foul, ugly thing that sin is 443 00:23:28,031 --> 00:23:32,965 and what it does to the smile of God in your life. 444 00:23:32,965 --> 00:23:38,783 What the real idea behind death is all about. 445 00:23:38,783 --> 00:23:42,285 And how critical that we pray for one another 446 00:23:42,285 --> 00:23:48,086 when we see other Christians falling into sin. 447 00:23:48,086 --> 00:23:50,854 Brethren, you see anything about me 448 00:23:50,854 --> 00:23:53,105 that seems less than Christlike, 449 00:23:53,105 --> 00:23:54,888 please pray for me. 450 00:23:54,888 --> 00:23:58,531 And I'm serious, because I know you do see that. 451 00:23:58,531 --> 00:24:00,740 We see those things in one another. 452 00:24:00,740 --> 00:24:03,310 I beg you, pray for me when you see them. 453 00:24:03,310 --> 00:24:06,070 (from the room) Can we rebuke you? 454 00:24:06,070 --> 00:24:09,096 You can rebuke me too, but if you're going to rebuke me, 455 00:24:09,096 --> 00:24:10,643 promise to pray for me. 456 00:24:10,643 --> 00:24:14,109 I'll let you rebuke me, if you pray for me. 457 00:24:14,109 --> 00:24:23,381 I'll let you rebuke me otherwise... 458 00:24:23,381 --> 00:24:28,299 Ok, brethren, let's pray. 459 00:24:28,299 --> 00:24:36,607 Father, we thank You for Your Word. 460 00:24:36,607 --> 00:24:39,164 Lord, we want our fellowship with You 461 00:24:39,164 --> 00:24:43,989 to be unhindered, unclouded; 462 00:24:43,989 --> 00:24:46,962 Oh, we want the smile of God upon our life. 463 00:24:46,962 --> 00:24:48,848 Lord, drive sin away from us. 464 00:24:48,848 --> 00:24:53,197 Lord, put a hatred within each one of us for it. 465 00:24:53,197 --> 00:24:56,965 May we detest it as 466 00:24:56,965 --> 00:24:59,843 the most detestable thing imaginable. 467 00:24:59,843 --> 00:25:01,443 Anything that would bring a cloud 468 00:25:01,443 --> 00:25:03,294 between You and us, 469 00:25:03,294 --> 00:25:05,831 Oh, what fools we are! 470 00:25:05,831 --> 00:25:09,035 To choose sin over You. 471 00:25:09,035 --> 00:25:10,930 Foolish. 472 00:25:10,930 --> 00:25:12,346 Deceived. 473 00:25:12,346 --> 00:25:16,271 Blind when we do that. 474 00:25:16,271 --> 00:25:18,325 How wretched that we would ever 475 00:25:18,325 --> 00:25:22,403 choose that which would mar 476 00:25:22,403 --> 00:25:26,236 our fellowship with You. 477 00:25:26,236 --> 00:25:28,381 Oh, Lord, we want to be wise. 478 00:25:28,381 --> 00:25:31,530 We want life more abundantly. 479 00:25:31,530 --> 00:25:33,704 Lord, give us the fullness of that life. 480 00:25:33,704 --> 00:25:35,707 Burden us, Lord, to pray for one another 481 00:25:35,707 --> 00:25:37,264 all the more. 482 00:25:37,264 --> 00:25:38,414 We pray in Jesus' name, 483 00:25:38,414 --> 00:25:40,125 Amen.