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Howard Baptist Fellowship Messages

Sermons by Evan Digby

Howard Baptist 05/07/2026

When we think of the letters written in the New Testament, the author’s final words are usually follow a pattern of summery, encouragement and affection. True? Same for us.

John’s final words to a divided, hurting church, followed the same caring pattern.

After delivering a loving message to them, containing so much healing and reassurance, John concludes his letter, in his case, not by giving them some new teaching, but rather encouraging them to stay the course, that had already been given to them.

The well known Hymn, ‘Tell me the old, old story, of Jesus and his love.’ Puts what apostle John was delivering to that church, and its is the same for our church today. Jude 1:3.

The faith once delivered to the saints does not change, the good news of Jesus Christ does not change, it just needs to be heard, and reheard, and heard again, and always obeyed.

John 1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.

16 If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 We know also 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--even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

Knowing and obeying the truth.

These final words of John’s letter, conclude with a very powerful message, so let it’s power impact you as well.

In rebuilding the church he was writing to, John wants to ensure that his readers are confident in their faith, not doubting, not fearful, not timid. John wanted them to have full confidence that through receiving Jesus Christ, they have also received eternal life. John puts a big emphasis on possessing eternal life, as a strong basis in healing and rebuilding the church.

It is not a matter of feeling you have eternal life, but knowing you have eternal life. They did not have to work for it, or worry about it; by sincerely putting your faith is Jesus Christ you are guaranteed of eternal life, it is a factual certainty. Knowing this makes us strong Christians, we can live fully in the present knowing that our eternal future is in good hands. John 5:24.

It is God the Father and God the Son that give eternal life, no one else can give eternal life!

Jesus John 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. John 17:2, 5:24. 1 John 5:11,12.

Reading these words of Jesus should give you deep confidence, that through faith in him, you now possess eternal life, and no one can take it away, as we read, it clearly all depends on God’s grip on you, not your grip on God.

We are secure in the hands, of the one who holds the future!

We will fail God at times, but God at no time will fail us! We may at times loose a bit of grip, but God will not let go his grip on those born in him.

Also in his Gospel of John, John had given us good reason why we can know we have eternal life now, in fact John tells us this was the reason his Gospel was written.

John John 20:30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John here tells us that his account of Jesus’ ministry, was sufficient information for someone to believe in Jesus Christ, and receive eternal life.

Wow! For John, for anyone with access to his gospel, and by sincerely reading it, can be saved.

This maybe why some Bible groups, have published the book of John, as a booklet giveaway. For example, Love is the Bridge, distributed by The Pocket Testament League of Australia.

In our Bible reading, John tells his readers they are children of God. John wants them to know, that because they are confident in their eternal life, they can approach God in prayer, like a human child can approach their loving human father, and just as the human father will grant needs and blessings to their children, so to, God will for us.

Don’t go to God asking to win the Lottery, or for you to somehow inherit a lavish lifestyle, rather go to God seeking his will, his love and his joy in your life, and you will receive.

Matthew 6:10. Mark 11:24, 14:36.

Jesus Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Eighteen times through this first letter of 1 John, John says to his readers we know.

And five of those references are in today’s reading.

John is reminding them that they already know, what they need to know, they just need to put it into practice. So the newly presented secret knowledge of the false teachers was just misleading, irrelevant and deadly.

John was like Paul who wrote to the Galatian church, where Paul reminds them they already knew what they needed to know, but there were those nearby that wanted to mislead them.

Paul Galatians 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!

So John and Paul, are repeatedly saying, put what you already know into practice!

There is a story, of a golfer that just won a major golf championship. On his way off the course, a spectator said to him, Wow, you had a lucky day!. To which the golfer replied -

And the more I practice, the more luck I have!

Like this golfer, being a sound, secure Christian is not a matter of luck, it is a matter of putting the good teaching you have received into practice, what you already know, do it, practice it, live it out. Continue - walking in the light, obeying God’s commands, praying for one another, loving one another, being of service to God, doing what is right.

John then looks to a matter that was a pressing church concern, most likely resulting from the false teachers disruption.

John 1 John 5:16 If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

Here, John continues his theme of approaching God in prayer.

If you see a fellow Christian falling in sin, importantly we need to pray for them, then hopefully, forgiveness and restitution will follow. Matthew 18:15-17. James 5:19,20. Jude 22,23

Love reaches out in prayer and forgiveness.

Matthew Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

22 Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Jesus reminds Peter and us, that Christians do sin, and we can at times be a disappointment to others, but we need to be loving and forgiving, especially to our brothers and sisters in Christ, and hopefully they will be loving and forgiving to us, when we fail.

As Paul reminds us. Paul Colossians 3:13 ------ Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Ephesians 4:32.

But John also mentions There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that.

The sin that John refers to, may well be the gross sin of the boastful, unrepentant false teachers, whom continued to lead people away from possible faith in Jesus. John looks to be declaring, that until these false teachers repent, and turn away from their demonic teaching, they have no chance of redemption. In fact John seems to see them as so deliberately hardhearted, they are unlikely to repent. Matthew 13:1-9,18-23. 1 Timothy 4:1.

John did not say, do not pray for these sinners, but perhaps he wants them to focus on where their prayers will be most beneficial.

Just as Jesus tells his disciples to do, when his message is rejected.

Jesus Mark 6:11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them." Move on! Matthew 10:14. Acts 13:51, 18:6.

These false teachers were so caught up in the teaching of demons and denying the Holy Spirit, that they were basically unreachable. Without humility and repentance, there is no next step of forgiveness. 1 John 1:8,9.

It has been well said, if we knowingly sin, and we feel grieved and convicted of that sin, it means that the Holy Spirit is still able to convict us. Ephesians 4:30.

But if people can sin and feel no conviction by the Holy Spirit, that is a very bad place to be. 1 Corinthians 11:27-32

A sinful rebellious life, is totally incompatible with the life received from God.

John 1 John 5:18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 We know also 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--even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

After covering the negative aspects of unrepentant people.

John then turns to the positive aspects of those who are born of God.

John looks to three certainties, three ‘we knows’, that characterize his teaching against the false teachers. Each we know, is a certainty.

Certainty 1. In verse 18, John says, We know that anyone born of God does not continue living in sin, John even tells them that God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. John 17:12,15.

The devil certainly cannot take away our eternal life, he cannot snatch us our of Jesus’ hand or the Father’s hand. John 10:28,29.
The devil cannot take away our born of God reality. We cannot become unborn!

Certainty 2. In verse 19 John says, We know that we are children of God -. To be born of God is to be included in God’s family, you belong to him. We may fail at times, but the Lord looks after his own, as we do our own children. Not to be born of God is to be wholly under the power of the evil one, you belong to him.

For John, clearly there is no middle ground. John tells them, the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

As children of God, we are no longer part of the sinful world, controlled by the evil one. We have broken away from the world and it’s allegiances.

We are in the world, but praise God, we are not of the world. John 14:19, 17:14-16.

Certainty 3. In verse 20 John says, We know that the Son of God has come into this evil world, and has given us definite understanding and knowledge about himself.

John states this, to counter what the false teachers had been telling them. As they taught it, fellowship with God came only through special divine ‘knowledge’ on the subject, that only they possessed.

But John reminds them that saving knowledge is through Jesus Christ alone, through his gospel. Hebrews 1:1,2.

John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus is the Word of life, he is the eternal life, no one else is, or can be. John 6:68. 1 John 1:1,2.

No other can give eternal life, not a angel, not a prophet or a leading church leader can give eternal life, only God can give eternal life, and this again shows that Jesus is God.

John clearly and boldly declares, the deity of Jesus, He is the true God and eternal life.

Jesus is the author of eternal life. John 11:25. Hebrews 5:9.

John then closes his message to his readers, in an affectionate way as Dear children.

This is what we are to God, and he tells them to keep yourselves from idols.

An idol is whatever substitutes or replaces our relationship with God. Meaning human religion, seeking possessions, power, wealth, or self centered living. But John is blunt, there is one path, not many.

So don’t go making an idol for yourself, as we know that Almighty God is the one true God, and Jesus is the only path to him!

John tells us the good news of God’s love, and eternal life through his Son - we should go, and tell others this good news!

Message; and embolden, underlining, and arrangement of Bible text by Evan Digby.

Howard Baptist 28/06/2026

The Christian church is not a material building; it is the many followers of Jesus Christ, that makes a church. In that sense, you can be part of a local church, and part of a national church, but in a bigger sense, we are all part of the worldwide church that Jesus has established. Matthew 28:19,20.

Today we see where in love, John continues on, bringing healing and unity into a church that went through a church split, these can be very stressing and upsetting experiences.

John ministers to the church, by bringing comfort and encouragement, at a personal level, to each person.

A building made of bricks requires all the bricks to be solid and sound, if the bricks are cracking and crumbling, the whole building is danger of falling down.

Same with the church, the individual believers in a church are like bricks that together make the walls, Peter describes us as being living stones in God’s church and kingdom.

Peter 1 Peter 2:4 As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him-- 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

So like Peter, John is looking at strengthening each person in the church, to make them living stones, that are assured and confident in their salvation, and having deep faith in their Lord.

It was Paul who said 1 Corinthians 3:11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

John is ensuring that the church he is writing to, is building on the foundation of Jesus Christ, he will never let them down.

John 1 John 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

6 This is the one who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Knowing you have eternal life.

John carries on in his pastoral care for the church by sharing with them, that whoever positively believes that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah), shows by their testimony, they are born of God. Until those in the church had Jesus Christ in their lives, they and all people were, to God, physically alive - but spiritually dead.

Paul Ephesians 2:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world ---

Paul describes us before coming to Christ, we were dead to God. Dead men walking! That is why every Christian life begins with a funeral, your own! That old dead life is buried when we come to the Lord, this happens then we supernaturally become a new creation. The burial of our old life, is included in our repentance, when we turn to God.

Paul 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

That describes us, once God comes into a person’s life, we are given a second birth, this second birth is a spiritual birth. Jesus elsewhere describes it, being ‘born again’. John 3:3.

As Christians, you could say we have two ages, our physical age and our spiritual age, in that sense, we also have two birthdays, our physical birthday, and our spiritual birthday! So if you like, you can celebrate two birthdays throughout the year! Not a bad idea!

And as John goes on to explain, now that we are born of God, we are changed and we can be loving and obedient to God, we know and do what is right. Look at the state of the world, who or what has the answer? As Christians, we believe that Jesus is the answer, for us individually, and for the world. God’s love looks to the world, providing for it’s salvation.

John 1 John 2:1 ------ we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

And as John tells us, ‘everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.’ Humanly speaking, when you have love for a father, you also love his son, so too with God the Father, we love him, and we should also love his Son.

The heavenly Father and Son are one in substance, and are united in our salvation, in our blessings, and in our spiritual growth. John 5:17. 10:30.

John 14:23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

So your spiritual birthday, is when God the Father and God the Son move into your life! We receive the Holy Spirit at the same time. Ephesians 1:13. Believe and sealed by Holy Spirit.

John tells us what God expects of us in this life, that by our free will, we are to love him and to do what he requires of us, to obey his commands.

This goes back to the requirements that God had for Adam and Eve, but the devil firstly got to Eve, and made her think, she could do better than obey God.

Genesis 3:2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, `You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "

4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Eve knew God’s will and commandment, she said God did say, but she choose to follow what the devil said. Paradise was not enough for Eve, walking and talking with God was not enough for Eve, she wanted more, she wanted special wisdom, and she wanted to be like God.

So she reached out and did what she thought was just a minor thing, she took the forbidden fruit, and ate it. Then she gave the forbidden fruit to her husband and he ate it.

But that seemingly small act of disobedience had a massive impact, brought imperfection into perfection, it bought sin into sinlessness. From that time on, Adam and Eve’s desire was to go their own way, not God’s way.

God’s commands are commands of love, God made us and he knows what is best for us.

So what is best path in life? As John said This is love for God: to obey his commands.

God’s commands and standards, are solid, sound. It is good to know that it is truly possible to love and please God in this life, it is possible to live a life pleasing to God. Paul 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living.

So it is possible to live a life pleasing to God. Yes it is. These were just normal people.

In going through the Bible Explained course, Michael Bennent shared a newcomer’s impression of first attending a church, he sensed that these people were ‘clean!’

A church is not a place where people live perfect lives, but church is a bit like a spiritual hospital, where sin damaged people are being healed and are getting better. Cleaned up.

John 1 John 5:4 ------ for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Being an overcomer does not mean that you are a super duper Christian, but rather it is knowing that you are infilled by God in all his fullness. John 16:33.

God is within us, God is living within us, he is spiritually healing us, changing us, and empowering us from within. I am glad that John emphasizes, that it is God’s victory through Christ that makes us overcomers. Believing that Jesus is the Son of God declares that you believe in God Almighty, and that he has sent his Son into the world to save us through the gospel, and you have received that salvation through faith. An overcomer!

John 1 John 5:6 This is the one who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son.

What is John saying here? It looks to be John’s way of picturing the commitment of Jesus to the his ministry of salvation. Most commentators agree the ‘water’ as referring to Jesus' baptism and the ‘blood’ is referring to his death on the cross. John 19:34.

Some Gnostic teachers denied that Jesus had a real human body, and they taught his body was rather an apparition. But John emphasizes that Jesus had a human identity, and a human body. In his water baptism, Jesus identified himself with humanity, and as Peter puts it, the meaning of baptism is –

Peter 1 Peter 3:21 -------not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God.

And blood in Jewish thinking was linked to death, because enough loss of blood was terminal. So Jesus had a real body that bled for us, and in he which carried our sins, and in which he gave up his life.

So starting at his baptism, Jesus was anointed into his ministry in three ways.

Firstly - Jesus had no sin to repent of, but through baptism, Jesus had declared obedience and a good conscience to God. Jesus identified with what God wants for all people.

Secondly - Jesus received empowerment and approval by God sending him his Holy Spirit, after which a voice from heaven said Matthew 3:17 ------ "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

Then at the completion of his ministry.

Thirdly - Jesus willingly shed his blood, in dying for our sin.

These three, the Spirit, the water and the blood; testify to us, the obedience of Jesus to the Father, and we are to gratefully accept what God has done for us, through his Son.

By receiving what Jesus has done for us, we receive him into our lives, and as the result of having the eternally living Son in our lives, we also receive eternal life..

John 1 John 5:10 Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

John makes it very clear to his readers and to us, as we read his letter, that Jesus is the basis of our salvation. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

In rebuilding that church, John knows that the strength the church needs, is for the attenders to know that God’s loves them, and they have eternal life in Christ, and that will not be taken away.

When God sees his children, he sees Jesus living within them. When we pass from this life into the next, all whom God sees has Jesus Christ within, are heaven bound.

John wants all to know you can have eternal life, now.

So, who wants to have God’s forgiveness and go to heaven?

Simply - believe in the salvation that comes through Jesus Christ and you will have eternal life – and you will have it now!

Message above; and embolden, underlining, and arrangement of Bible text by Evan Digby.

Howard Baptist 21/06/2026

It has been said that the Christian faith is a relationship with God, not a religion, and this is what our reading from John powerfully confirms to us today.

A close, loving relationship with God is the reality of what God intended with humanity, right from the beginning. It is important to state that God does not change, but his program for humanity does change.

From early in the book of Genesis, we see God acting with humanity, to restore that broken relationship, back to a close relationship. Over many generations, people set up barriers between themselves and God, but throughout his Word, we see God’s love dismantling those barriers, until finally God introduces his Gospel, through Jesus Christ – God’s Covenant of Love and Grace.

The Bible is a big book, but it’s overriding message is; paradise / paradise lost / paradise restored. Creation, then the fall, then followed by the New Creation.

God wants you to be included in his paradise restored; God wants you to be included in his new creation! God’s love, has opened the door for us --

John 1 John 4:13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Broken relationship restored.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

Wow, these words from first John are saturated with references to God’s love, love, love and here John purposefully restates these words over a dozen times, to remind his readers of what God wants for them, then, now, and as was from the beginning.

Again in our reading, we see the statement God is love. Just a three word sentence, yet it is a statement of highest authority, that all understanding of true love stems from God.

But we need to unpack these three words, God is love.

It has been said, that unless love is shared or expressed, then it is not true love.

To explain this, we will take a little detour from our reading.

From timeless eternity, well before creation, it is important to understand that God has shared love with others. How do we know this?

Moses Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

27 So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God he created him;

male and female he created them.

It is clear here that God, in referring to himself, is plural. A Hebrew name for God, Elohim is a plural word, even when referring to the singular God of Israel, he is plural in personhood and majesty.

Elohim describes very well, the plural reference of God to himself, as us and our.

By reading through the Old Testament and into the New Testament, we see that God is revealed as, singular - yet plural. Isaiah 9:6.

About the best expression of oneness yet plurality, is when Jesus embedded the fullness of God into his baptismal formula.

Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Here Jesus reveals that when we come into a relationship with the one true God, we are being brought into a relationship with the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit – the Trinity. At baptism, we are acknowledging that we have been brought into the fullness of God.

The reason why God is love, is because God has eternally been sharing love, within the Trinity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

There has always been love, interaction and relationship, between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

God has never been alone. He is the eternal representation of interactive love.

God is love, always was, always will be.

It was not good that Adam was alone. Why, because God has never been alone!

And when God created humanity, it was not because he needed someone to share love and relationship, because he already had it! He created humanity, to willingly share, what he already had, with those made in his own image - men and women!

Unlike other supposed Gods mentioned in other religions whom are unitarian, meaning a single entity, or single person God, they could not be loving, as love needs to be actively shared. This is another good reason for the accepting the Trinity.

John explains our relationship with God very well, God lives in him and he in God.

This living relationship of God and mankind is meant to be interactive. This is shown to us very well, in how God made his first relationship with humanity.

Moses Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"

10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."

When taking a literal view of Genesis, these words describe the closeness that God originally intended with humanity, God was literally walking and talking with Adam and Eve in his beautiful garden of Eden, and we accept that it was the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ - the Word, walking and talking with them. John 1:1,2.

How good was that! This is the close personal relationship God originally intended for us, and why he created us. God made us, so he knows what is best for us.

But, for love to be love, it has to be voluntary, not forced, of free will, unfortunately for Adam and Eve, when their love was tested, they sinned, they disobeyed God.

So as we read, they initially hid, and then tried to make themselves presentable to God by sewing fig leaves together as a covering. These sewn fig leaves, was the first man made religion, where through their own efforts, the first people tried to make themselves acceptable to God.

Religion is a man made system, of trying to make yourself acceptable to God.

Well, their religion of self effort did not last long, as they were soon cast out of Eden.

But before casting them out, God showed his love to them. We are told --

Moses Genesis 3:21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

So God removed their fig leaf effort of religion, then he placed on them, fur skin garments from an killed animal. Meaning that Adam and Eve were made acceptable to God, through the death of an animal, that was a picture of the eventual sacrifice of Jesus for our sins.

So for Adam and Eve, it was out with religion, and in with forgiveness and loving relationship with God. It is the same today, out with religion, and in with forgiveness and loving relationship with God.

The church John had been writing to, had been divided by man made religion. Where did worldly religions come from? They are things taught by demons. 1 Timothy 4:1.

But John was bringing healing and comfort to the church, through God’s love and spiritual provision through Christ, reminding them that they had been given the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit who enabled them to testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

John states that there is only one Saviour for the world, it is either Jesus, or you may as well sew some fig leaves together to try save yourself. But the good news is, that the loving message of Jesus and his gospel, goes out to all the world. Mark 1:15.

It was Adam and Eve that hid from God, God has not hidden himself from humanity!

Yet many still try to hide from God. Stop hiding, he knows where you are, he is calling out to you, ‘Where are you?’

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Here we see God’s love, love shared in action to the world.

John 1 John 4:17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

The reason we can love one another, is because God’s love is made complete amongst God’s people. Meaning we are all transformed by God’s love, through the death of Jesus for our sins, we have been embraced by God’s love in action.

Because we are daily becoming like Jesus, as John says, in this world we are like him, therefore we can have every confidence that God is with us, not against us. The fear of God is gone, and fear of punishment is gone, we are confident and prepared for our eventual day of assessment and judgment. In fact we can look forward to that day, as thereafter will be the new heaven and a new earth, sin gone forever. Paradise restored.

The fear spoken of here by John, is not to be confused with reverence for God. Reverence will only deepen our experience of God's love.

So with our future secure, and our fears conquered through the victory of Christ, we have every reason to be loving to others, it is God’s love flowing through us, especially towards our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Love for God, and love for your neighbour are inseparable.

John emphasizes this to his readers, recovering from their church split.

John 1 John 4:21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

When John wrote this, he may have been looking back to a command of Jesus he recorded in his gospel.

Jesus to his disciples John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Matthew 22:36-40. Mark 12:30,31. Luke 10:25-28.

The quality of their love for each other is compared to how much Jesus loved them.

Jesus tells us that people are looking at us, seeing how we love each other, until they see that, then they will not be impressed by our claims of discipleship.

Have no doubt that God loves you, regardless of what has happened in your past - God cares, and he loves you. He wants to restore a loving, personal relationship with you.

Come to him through Jesus Christ today! Matthew 4:17. John 5:24. Acts 3:19.

Message above; and embolden, underlining, and arrangement of Bible text by Evan Digby.

Howard Baptist Fellowship Messages

Sermons by Evan Digby

Facebook notes for the Howard Baptist Church 08/01/2023

10.00 AM. Song – How Deep the Father’s Love

No matter what group you belong to - where there are people, there will be issues and problems along with friendships, fellowship and progress - the Church is no different.

There is no perfect church; I once read a quote that stated ‘There is no perfect church, if there is, it will become imperfect once I join it.’ Perhaps C.L.Lewis

We all have different backgrounds and experiences in life, and that guarantees that we will at times see things differently to someone else.

In some ways Christianity is easy compared to Churchianity! (a real word)

It would be great if church attenders all got along with no issues, but we are not robots - so along the journey, issues will arise within a church.

The apostle Paul was very aware of this, and his letter writing was largely based on giving encouragement and resolving problems within the churches. He was a busy man, and while he liked to visit the churches and personally meet with people, it was more practical for him to receive letters and write letters to the churches about whatever matters concerned them.

All of Paul’s letter writing was a good thing then and especially for us today, as we have the content of many of his letters, called epistles, and they have become New Testament books of the Bible.

We have gone through many of New Testament books in past years, and last year we progressed through Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians – where he addressed many major problems disrupting the church.

Carrying on from Paul’s concluding words to the Corinthians in his first letter to them, we will begin looking into his second letter 2 Corinthians, and over the next months, we will progress through the whole book as it in many ways follows on 1 Corinthians.

In this book we will see where Paul had a fruitful response to his letters, with some matters seemingly resolved, but other matters still needing attention.

What we will learn from Paul, is that the principles that applied to the church then, apply to the church today. And by going through a book of the Bible verse by verse, it is amazing what varied moral, historical and theological subjects that are covered - in context and application. It is called Systematic Expository Preaching, just as Paul’s letters were read to the congregation, so too we benefit as we go through what God’s has delivered to us.

Paul Colossians 4:16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

Acts 15:30 The men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. 31 The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. 1 Thessalonians 5:27. 2 Thessalonians 3:14

We get the picture of Paul’s letters and other important letters being read out to the churches and share around and discussed - part by part, and section by section.

Today we look at Paul’s introduction to the church, as it is here that the writers would usual name themselves and establish their credibility to speak with authority.

2 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:

2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pause now -- Prayer – Praise to God - Nation, World, Coronavirus and Medical staff, our Missionaries and School Chaplains, Rain, and our local Communities.

Going forward in the Faith.

We can feel for Paul in those early days of the church, as he had many church matters that he

had to deal with, in addition to dealing with those in the church who were undermining his

authority, and also with physical persecution mainly from the Jews. Paul did however, have some trusted helpers to represent him where he could not attend himself.

Paul’s love for the churches, is very evident in his writing, he personally feels the issues that they are dealing with,

Paul 2 Corinthians 11:28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?

He was so concerned about the churches, that if he is not there physically with them, he is with them in spirit.

Paul 1 Corinthians 5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? 3 Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.

And in all his interaction with the churches, Paul’s principle was to build them up, not tear them down.

Paul 2 Corinthians 13:10 This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority--the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

And as Paul was concluding his 1 Corinthians letter, we read that his remedy to the friction and clashes in the church was doing everything in love.

Paul 1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.

Paul wrote this second letter to the Corinthians church while at Macedonia, in about AD 56.

We need to be reminded that what we call the books 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians were not Paul’s first and second letter to them, as in writing 1 Corinthians, Paul mentions having written to them beforehand, but that initial letter is lost to us.

Paul 1 Corinthians 5:9 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people-- 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

From this we know that there was a letter written by Paul to them before 1 Corinthians, and we know from this letter, that sexual immorality in Corinth was becoming a problem in the church, to the point of now directing them not eating with immoral church attenders! The corrupt values of the world were threatening to come into the church; as they do even today!

Also, in reading 2 Corinthians 2:4, 7:8-9, Paul refers to a stern letter that many scholars suggest was written by himself after 1 Corinthians, but before 2 Corinthians.

If so, this letter is also lost - so we can see that the letters we do have may be the second and fourth letters of the four letters Paul wrote to the Corinthians.

So, the New Testament books of 1 and 2 Corinthians are actually the two Corinthian letters that still exist and they were probably penned about 18 months apart.

The reason that Paul wrote this letter was mainly for pastoral reasons, to generally encourage the Corinthians in their walk with the Lord the matters of controversy and dispute he had written about in previous letters.

So, Paul writes to inform them of his forthcoming visit, and to express his great relief at the Corinthian’s positive response to his ‘severe letter’ that had been delivered and explained by Titus, and also to finalize their promised collection for the saints at Jerusalem before he visits. Other matters of importance are also contained in his letter such as Paul again establishing his credentials as an apostle, that was still being questioned by many.

It could well have been like the tall poppy syndrome, where some people didn’t like someone getting so much attention over themselves.

As in most of his letters, Paul begins by referring to himself as ‘an apostle’ of Christ Jesus. Although he was not one of the twelve chosen by Christ, here we see where he claimed equality with them. Paul here strongly declares his apostleship of Jesus Christ, and also by the will of God. He did this to without doubt give credibility and authority to himself and his letter. So right from the start, his letter has God’s authority and power upon it.

But what is an apostle? Some of us know, but it may need explaining for others.

The name apostle means ‘sent one’, meaning they were appointed and sent by Jesus to declare the truth and salvation of God. Three qualifications are required -

Firstly, to become an apostle, a person has to be commissioned by Jesus.

Mark 3:13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve--designating them apostles--that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons.

We also later see that Paul was also commissioned by Jesus on the Damascus Road.

Saul Acts 26:15 "Then I asked, `Who are you, Lord?'

" `I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. 16 `Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you.

Secondly, to become an apostle, a person has to have witnessed the resurrected Jesus.

After Judas the traitor had died, he had to be replaced --

Peter Acts 1:21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection."

Paul also makes the claim that Jesus had appeared to him on the Damascus Road.

Paul 1 Corinthians 9:1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?

Paul 1 Corinthians 15:7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

Paul was the final person to see the risen Lord, last of all he appeared to me, therefore no designated apostles came after him.

Thirdly, to become an apostle, a person has to be able to perform miraculous signs.

The early church Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.

Paul 2 Corinthians 12:11 I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing. 12 The things that mark an apostle--signs, wonders and miracles--were done among you with great perseverance.

1 - be chosen by Jesus. 2 - have seen the risen Lord. 3 - perform signs, wonders and miracles.

It has been held over many centuries that apostleship ceased with the last of the original twelve apostles and Paul.

Paul Ephesians 2:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

But there are some churches that believe that apostles exist today – for example the Apostolic Church, and there are some churches involved with NAR - New Apostolic Reformation who actually who want to revive apostleship - so it is important to realize that to become a designated apostle of Jesus Christ is not easily repeated.

In Paul’s introduction, we see he includes Timothy as a co-sender of the letter - Paul may have intended this to reinstate this timid young man in the eyes of the Corinthians, possibly after his limited success as Paul's representative at Corinth. Titus had replaced Timothy as Paul's chief representative to Corinth by the time this letter was written.

1 Timothy 4:12. 2 Timothy 1:7; 2:1

Then Paul addresses the Corinthian church, as the church of God in Corinth. He did not address them merely the church at Corinth.

Paul 2 Corinthians 1:1 ------ To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:

Paul wanted the best for the church there, and regardless of their many issues, problems and imperfections - they were God’s church in Corinth. So even a struggling church is God’s church - God sees the potential in a church, where we may just see problems!

And Paul takes it even further, he addresses them as individuals along with all the believers in that area as saints.

To be a saint means that you are sanctified and made holy.

Again, God raises us higher than how we probably see ourselves or our churches. Believers in Christ are actually holy people. We are changed and are becoming Christlike everyday - so we are saints, this is how God sees you.

We are holy and we are described as being a temple of the Holy Spirit - as Paul tells us in

Paul 1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? -----

The Holy Spirit will not reside in an unholy dwelling, so if you have the Holy Spirit, which all believers do, then you are holy person - believe it! 2 Corinthians 6:16. 7:1

The writer of Hebrews goes even further in seeing who we really are in Christ.

Hebrews 10:14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

And how did this happen? Three verses later we are told.

The Lord Hebrews 10:17 Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."

We have been made holy through the forgiveness of our sins through the death and work of Jesus for our sins, from unholy we have been declared perfect in God’s sight and being made holy, more every day.

And this is where the next section of Paul’s introduction makes sense.

Paul 2 Corinthians 1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The basis of our forgiveness won for us by Jesus, is through God’s grace - his favour and mercy. Paul reminds his readers in the introduction of all his letters about God’s grace.

All saints in Christ know that our salvation is of God and through God - not of ourselves.

Knowing this we have what Paul declares is peace with God.

This word peace in Hebrew is shalom.

When we come to Jesus, we have our sins forgiven, we are made holy and we have peace and shalom with God. Truly we are saints.

Hymn. Amazing Grace

Message; and embolden, underlining, and arrangement of Bible text by Evan Digby.

Howard Baptist Fellowship Messages

Sermons by Evan Digby

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Howard Baptist Fellowship Messages

Sermons by Evan Digby

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