Exhortation, Confession, & Assurance from Sunday, November 27th, 2022

Exhortation

John ends his first epistle with these words, “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” Now, the reason that John gives this final and simple exhortation is that he knows how quick we are to construct and cling to idols. Calvin called the human heart, a factory eager to create all manner of idols. And while this is a great temptation at all times, which we should be on guard against, the season we’re entering this week, seems to be particularly full of possible gods to worship. There are the usual suspects that vie for our heart’s affection: A cornucopia of shiny new toys and possessions, or the things that our neighbors have, the vacation that they get to take, some much-wanted rest, or the perfect calendars or plans for making this season the most wonderful and magical yet. 

All of those, if we let them, are eager to become idols and would love to be worshiped in the days and weeks to come. But, there the are more subtle idols that seem to be the more pervasive in this season: envy, greed, covetousness, a selfish craving for comfort, a haughty spirit that would rather be right than in fellowship with your family and friends, or the hunger to be seen and applauded by others, and in general, all the good gifts of God, that are easily used to supplant the Good Giver. John concludes his letter with the simple exhortation, “Keep yourselves from Idols.” And this wonderful advice is given because John would have us enjoy the good gifts of God in this season, and in particular the gift of fellowship, with God and one another. But anything that is so elevated and becomes the god of this season will be destroyed in the process. For anything that we worship, anything that is not the Lord, we lose, they will buckle and collapse under the weight every time. And so, keep on guard this season. As you celebrate and feast and give and receive, do not let these things become the object of your affection. Receive them from the Object of your affection and give honor and praise to the Giver! Brothers and sisters, keep yourselves from idols, and where they are found, confess them as such. For all idolatry is sin, and in one sense, all sin is idolatry. So, let’s turn and confess our sins to God together.

Corporate Confession

Together: Lord, You command us to seek Your glory, but we love our own. God, You call us to serve You with all our being, and yet we devote our time and effort to the idols of this age. Father, we were created to trust You completely, but we often trust ourselves and the things of this world. Please have mercy on us, forgive us, and turn our hearts to You. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

In 1 John 1 & 2, we find this wonderful news, “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 cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”

This advent season is full of wonderful traditions and reminders. Every year there are certain sure realities: trees will be trimmed, presents exchanged, lights will be strung, and you and I will get tangled up in all manner of sin. We will get short with our children or spouse… we will plant a seed of bitterness over expectations that were not met… in many ways, we will get our affections all out of order and our relationships all out of sorts… But the good news that we celebrate this Day, and every Lord’s Day, is that the primary and sure reality is that we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, who has atoned for all the sins we have and yet will walk into this month. And so the sure reality and the really good news is that our idolatries and sin need not rule the day. For Christ has not only paid their price, reconciling us to the Father but has granted our free and confident entrance to the Father, that our sins might be forgiven instantly. And then, Christ has sent his Spirit to enable us to go and be reconciled to one another and walk in fellowship with Him and with our family, friends, and enemies alike. 

Minister: And that is why it is my delight to remind all who put their faith in Jesus Christ, who have turned from sin to Jesus as the only means of forgiveness and life, brothers and sisters, your sins are forgiven, through Christ.

Together: Thanks be to God!!!

by: Jefff Rodland