VIDEO
what does spiritual maturity look like?
This sermon was given on 9/14/25 at Pax Christian Church.
SPEAKER
Brian Lucas is one of the Co-Lead Pastors at Pax Christian Church.
SERMON SERIES
This sermon series is “The Letters of John: 1 John, 2 John, 3 John”
NOTES
Find the full notes below on this page, or in the YouVersion Bible App.
NOTES:
What does spiritual maturity look like to you?
I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
Three groups addressed:
“dear children” = young in the faith
CHILDREN: your sins have been forgiven. / you know the Father.
FATHERS: you know him who is from the beginning. x2
YOUNG MEN: you have overcome the evil one. / you are strong. the word of God lives in you. you have overcome the evil one.
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.
If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.But 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, purifies us from all sin.If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
IF…THEN…
What is “the world”?
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.
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.For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.
“THE WORLD” is not life on this planet… it is the WAYS of this world that are not God’s ways.
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sinsin which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
THIS IS ABOUT OVERCOMING SPIRITUAL BATTLES AND GROWING IN CHRIST.
For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
LUST OF THE FLESH = desires for physical sin
The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in placeand with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
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