The Battle for the Mind

Transcription

1 The Battle for the Mind It is very important that we guard our minds, and keep out anything that is not conducive to our growth in the Lord. You turn on the television, you open a newspaper, you switch on the radio, the posters in the street, - they are all battling for the attention of your mind. On a Saturday morning it s the latest toys that are being advertised, so they battle for the mind of the children. More than ever, the Battle for the Mind is on! That is nothing new, of course. It has been happening since the Garden of Eden when the master-deceiver lit the eyes of our first parents up with what they thought was the best deal on offer. The Battle for the Mind is still raging. The apostle John addresses this subject, and he seeks to show the believer how distinct from the world they are, and how blessed they are. Light (1:5,7; 2:8,9,10). Life (15 times in 12 verses, 1:1,2; 2:16). Love (33 times in 23 verses, 2:5,15) He puts it across that the Christian lives by a different set of priorities and principles, unlike anything that the world offers or can live up to. In a similar way Peter wrote, ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation (I Pet. 2:9) The Christian is different has no truck with the values of the world, as James put it, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (Jas. 4:4) I have only two points that I want to set before you this evening from this passage, and they are both very important: first of all, there must solidarity amongst the people of God; secondly, there must be separation.

2 D.G. 2 SOLIDARITY vv John is writing from a position of strength here, - he has had the experience and privilege of working with some of the greatest men and women of God. John himself had left the old fishing nets at the side of the Sea of Galilee and he had taken to following Christ. He preached Christ, he lived Christ, - his one desire was to see people won for Christ. Even when the old Roman authorities exiled him to the Isle of Patmos he enjoyed the beautiful presence of Christ. Not a bit of wonder then he loved those who loved the Saviour too. He reminded them that in Christ they are brothers and sisters, - they belong to the Family of God. Each is precious, each matters to God. When bitterness and hatred and envy seep in to any little crack, - no matter how small! - the waters begin to widen and brotherly fellowship is threatened. John emphasised the importance of striving to keep the unity of spirit into which we have been born again. At every level John addressed his readers. the little children (vv.12,13), the young men (v.13). the fathers (vv.13,14), it is so important forgod s people to stand together. Christ has redeemed us and bought us back to the Father, He saved us by His precious blood, He keeps us with the seal of the Holy Spirit, and we belong to God, we are not our own! Along with every born-again child of God we are part of the Bride of Christ, the Beloved of God, the Redeemed and Living Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. member of the Church of Scotland who has been washed in the blood of the Lamb, - we are part of the same Body, For the Pentecostal, the Brethren, the Free Church (aye, even the Free Presbyterian Church), who knows sins forgiven, For the little independent meeting that meets so faithfully and gives their allegiance to their Lord and Saviour,

3 D.G. 3 We are at one with them in the Gospel of Saving and Sovereign Grace. Yes, there may be points of doctrine upon which we differ, but our foundation together is one and the same, - it is none other that the saving and redeeming work of Christ. And John is at pains to emphasise the solidarity that exists within the Family of God. I hope I have sufficiently emphasised how important it is to stand alongside those who love the Gospel we find in the Bible and preach it so faithfully. But wherever you find the men of God at work you will find the enemy. That is why it is important to consider not only SOLIDARITY but also SEPARATION vv Have you noticed that the world is seeking to get back to a Tower of Babel scenario? One language, one religion, one currency, one government, etc. trying to get rid of a need for God. ( cosmetic ) We live in a religious world, and religion is coming into fashion again, - film stars, etc. are getting into it! All religions lead to God, - that s what the children are taught in the schools, bishops and archbishops agree, so do Prime Ministers and Presidents. Within the context of Christendom we have different gospels, - a social gospel, a good works gospel, a gospel to attract the younger people, an anything goes gospel. But Paul said one time, Gal. 1: 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. There is only one Gospel, - it is the Good News that

4 D.G. 4 God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:8) In these verses John is writing about a particular set of people, and they propagate another gospel He describes them as antichrists (vv. 18,22). Now what is an antichrist? Turn with me please to Mt. 2:22, when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, That s an antichrist, ajnti;means being in the place of, If I was to sit down here and someone else were to come and lead the Bible Study they could be described as coming in the place of me. Mt. 20: 28 the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for [ajnti] many. When we are talking about antichrist we are talking about someone who seeks to take the place of Christ. Immediately, we are thinking of the inhabitant of the seat of Peter, the Bishop of Rome, - he by his own words claims to be the earthly representative, the vicar, the antichristus. And by the way, through the doctrine of apostolic succession the authority of the Bishop of Rome, - the antichrist, - is channelled through the cardinals - archbishops - bishops - to the ordinary parish priest. and when an evangelical stands alongside a priest of Rome he stands alongside a representative of antichrist. But we can t just finish there as we briefly consider the subject of antichrists; the Word says, 18 even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. Today there are many whose agenda it is to confuse the Word of God, - in the same way that the serpent in the Garden did. They are receiving great commendations from many within Christendom. And we don t have to go to big names that we all know!

5 D.G. 5 Any person that denies the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ is antichrist (vv.22,23), - seeking to usurp His position. If someone stands in the pulpit of a church, and preaches that there is another means of salvation other than by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ it is the gospel of antichrist, if someone comes knocking on your door and presents you with a gospel that denies Jesus to be the Son of God, it is the gospel of antichrist, that s what the Bible says! (v.22b). John warns his readers that these antichrists, - preachers of another gospel, - are out to seduce you (v.26b). Yes, I believe that in the end times an Antichrist will arise, I believe that we live in an age that is most definitely preparing for the coming of the Antichrist who will set himself up in the temple, - the Church, - and seek to deceive many, even the Elect if that were possible. I also believe that since the time of the Lord Jesus there have always been antichrists, It s a subject that John spends much time on, and he hastens now to change the direction of his readers thoughts. He throws in a But (v.27) the Christian ought to have no company with the antichrist or any of his representatives. We have been saved out of all falseness and error, and brought into the truth of God. His truth is infallible, inerrant and uncompromising; a disservice is done when His truth is set alongside error. CONCLUSION. Yes, the Bible teaches SOLIDARITY amongst the members of the Church of Christ. It teaches, too, SEPARATION from fundamental error. John had heard the Saviour saying, Abide in me, and I in you. and now he passes on the same message to his readers (v.27) John had proved the influence of the antichrists, but he had proved too that the power of Christ was far greater. His hope was entirely in Jesus (v.28), and in the righteousness that comes from Him alone, and look!... there is that phrase again, precious to every believer, - born of Him. (v.29)