My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.  And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;                     
                                                                                                     The First Epistle of John 2:1

1st John,  the first Chapter,  gives an introduction to the gospel message that Jesus Christ offered pardon and forgiveness for everyone.  I don't know about you, but to me that's good news to know that forgiveness is available for my sins.  No matter what you've done or where you've been, Friend, Jesus' death on the Cross was sufficient to forgive you for that sin.  That's the invitation that has been extended to you this morning.  Some people believe that they are good enough without Jesus.  Therefore, they think they don't need this salvation.  They say, ”I'm good enough, I don't need to be a Christian; I can get to Heaven by myself. ” 

I have a wake-up call for you! The Bible says: “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”  1st. John 1:10.  Everyone needs a Savior.

The first chapter in 1 John preaches the gospel to a world that needed a Savior.  The next chapter, is for those who have accepted the invitation to the forgiveness of sin, “My little Children.”   But everyone cannot be a child of God.  The Bible says those who have the Spirit of God are His children, adopted into the Family of God through grace.  So when He said, “My little Children"  the focus shifts from the lost to the saved.  

People who say they love God and are wrapped up in the world have something very wrong in their lives.  I will say it again, “If you say you love God and you are committing things in the world the Bible tells you not to do, there is something not kosher.”  It should be every Christian's desire to rise above sin.  You say, “Oh, Preacher, I'm only human.”  That's no excuse!  When you stand before God and He asks you, “Why did you confess Me and then keep right on running--keep right on drugging--keep right on gambling--keep right on drinking--nothing changed about your life.  Why did you do this?”  Will you answer Him with, “I'm only human.”  He may ask You, “Did you ever read the Bible?”

 “Well yeh! I heard the Preacher read it.”  Then, “What part of 'sin not' did you not understand?”

When you become saved, you are no longer human; you become super-human.  Jesus Christ dwells in your heart.  You are not just a common ordinary person.  Romans 6 asks:  “Should we continue in sin that grace may abound?”  Paul says, “God forbid. How that we that are dead in sin, live any longer therein.”  So you see, you've got no excuse to sin. 

What is sin?  It's disobedience to God, plain and simple!  I'm a called Man of God, but I deal with sin just like ever person in this church.  It's a battle, Church!   When you become a Christian, the devil  backs up and comes at you like a big rhinoceros.  It's a daily fight, but, we can't give up.

There was a movie out once -- how many of you have seen Outlaw Josie Wales?  Come on, Church;  don't you look at me like I'm strange.”  I know I'm not the only one in this church that saw this movie. (That's better; every man and half  the women raised their hand).  In this movie there was an Indian man who went to Washington to plead the case for all Indians when the white man was taking their land.  He said,  “Endeavor to Persevere,” or was it “Persevere to Endeavor"?  (Candice told me that).  That should be the Christian's motto, too!

 I want people to know that I'm a Christian because I walk like a Christian, I  talk like a Christian, I go to Christian places. I want them to know by my actions and not because I told them I was.  I want to be more like Jesus; and the longer we live the more like Jesus we should become. 

“Little Children.”   That's me, and that's you.  There was a time in my life when I made a total mess of it, but Jesus said, “Child, I'll plead your case, I'll go to the Father for you."  As long as Jesus is standing in for me, I'll take my chances with the ”Cross Crowd.”  Give me that old-fashioned salvation.  "Give me that old time religion, give me that old time religion, give me that Old Time Religion, it's good enough for me."  It was good enough for Paul and Silas--It was good enough for Mom and Dad and it will be good enough for you too, Child of God.

I take comfort in knowing before I even start to confess of my sins, Jesus has already gone to the Father in my behalf.   He has His eye on me at all times. I'm very important to Jesus.  You are too!  Who would you rather have plead your case before the Judge of the Universe than the Judge's Son? Talk about getting in tight. You can't get any tighter than to be in with Jesus Christ.  One of the benefits of being a Child of God is forgiveness of every sin you have committed.  Can you trust Him?  Completely!    God knows our heart.  He knows everything about us.

You say;  “You don't know what I've done, Preacher.”  I don't care what you've done; God will forgive you.  If  you think you have blown it don't live in the regret of messing up.  If we gave up we would never “endeavor to persevere.”

He is the propitiation of our sins (“I've been wanting to use that word all morning”).  What does propitiation mean?  It means, concrete forgiveness, atonement, mercy......Let this be the day of your restoration.

Bro. Jr Fields........July 30, 2006.

Sermon edited by Mary King

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