Porter Podcast

Series: I John

Confidence through Obedience

I John 2:3-6; 3:4-10

Being “right with God” is important because you are designed to live in relationship with God and your eternity will be based on this relationship. 

3 ways to “know that you know”

Theological:       You believe the right things.

Moral:                 You strive to keep His commands.

Ethical:                You love His people.

“if we keep His commands” 

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·      Is not works-based righteousness  

·      Is not legalism  

·      Is not perfectionism 

3 This is how we know that we know him: if we keep 

his commands. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know him,” and yet doesn’t keep his commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps his word, truly in him the love of God is made complete. This is how we know we are in him: 6 The one who says he remains in him should walk just as he walked.

I John 2:3-6 

Confidence through Obedience

Those who know God value God’s Word.

Those who know God strive to obey.  

​Those who know God will reflect Jesus through the way they live. 

Until we get to heaven, we will not overcome the tension of desire and shortfall. 

Those who keep God’s commands have a posture of repentance.

My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous one. 2 He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.

I John 2:1-2 

Series:  how do you know?

Confidence Through Accurate Belief

I John 1:1-2:1

 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of 

the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

I John 5:13

3 ways “you know that you know Him”

·      You believe the right truth.

·      You strive to keep His commands.

·      You desire to love God’s people.

How do you know if you believe the “Right Truth?” 

 You believe something rooted in history.

You believe something that has been confirmed by witnesses.

So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household,

 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,

 with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.

Ephesians 2:20   

“Koinonia” = joined together, shared experience

You believe something that provides an affirming experience.

The experience John is writing about is not an emotional feeling or a providential circumstance, but rather an internal witness that affirms the gospel’s veracity. 

You believe something that holds up in light of spiritual realties.   

There are 2 colliding spiritual realities:  

God is perfect; human beings are not.   

TRUTH:  Anyone who trusts in Christ will be saved and can have confidence.

1 John 

Romans 16

Romans 15: 14-33

Galatians 2:1-21

Series: Romans

The Hope of the Gospel

Romans 15:8-13

The Context

The church was a multicultural church, comprised of Jewish and Gentile believers. 

The church was struggling to maintain harmony because of their differences.

Romans 15:8-13

A primary purpose of Romans is to encourage people who say they love Jesus to love each other.

The secret to Christian living is to live your life in light of what Jesus has done for you. 

Jews and Gentiles should live in harmony because they are saved the same way. 

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe

so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

For my people have committed a double evil: They have abandoned me, the fountain of living water, and dug cisterns for themselves— 

cracked cisterns that cannot hold water.

Jeremiah 2:13

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

I Peter 1:3

The hope of God is worth sharing with those who do not know Christ, and it is sufficient to help us love those who do.  

Today’s Takeaways

  Everyone, everywhere needs a hope that will hold up.  

  The resurrection of Jesus is the only basis for a lasting hope. 

  God provides hope to people through faith in Jesus alone.

  Focusing on the hope provided by Christ will secure present peace and joy for a believer. 

Series: Romans

Love in Disputed Matters

Romans 14:13-23

(Concentric circles of belief) graphic here

loving those with differing convictions

ü Determine to not cause another believer to stumble.

ü Make sure your positions do not tarnish the gospel.

ü Do your part to maintain healthy relationships

·      Pursue peace.

‌

·      Build others up‌

·      Sacrifice for unity

If a person is misunderstanding the gospel because of a conviction, we should gently correct.  In all other situations, deference to a weaker brother is our position.

ü Realize that matters of conviction can affect the soul.

Sin is NOT a matter of personal opinion.

‌            Christian liberty is not a license for selfish pursuits

– it is the result of holding to faith alone.

‌Today’s Takeaways

Righteousness is not obtained by behavior, but by faith in Christ.

Faith in Christ should affect all of our decisions and our lifestyle.

A believers’ choices can affect other believers—either directly or indirectly.

Mature believers make loving sacrifices to help those who are not as mature in their faith.

Series: Romans

Grace in Convictions

Romans 14:1-12

Concentric Circles of Belief 

grace when convictions collide

Develop a posture of acceptance.

Recognize everyone is not in the same place in their walk with Jesus.

Realize divisive issues will always exist among Christians.

Wedge issues are typically: 

1) issues of holiness 

or        2) issues of church practice 

Devaluing others because of held convictions is not acceptable.

Be convinced that the gospel alone saves.

Believe the best of those with different convictions.

Remember you will give an account for how you live. 

Today’s Takeaways

ü Learn to discern between essential core issues, personal convictions and preferences. 

ü Hold tight to your convictions while generously offering grace to others. 

ü Resist the temptation to judge others.  

ü Avoid being contentious.  It does not help the cause of Christ or your character.

ü Remember it is grace alone—for you and for others!

Series: Romans

The Christian Citizen

Romans 13:1-14

Let everyone submit to the governing authorities,

 since there is no authority except from God,

 and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. 

Romans 13:1

God designed humanity to live within authority structures.

God’s Intention for the Government

·      Governments exist to allow and protect human flourishing.

·      Governments exist to restrain evil.

The Christian Citizen

·      We are called to submit to God’s assigned leaders.

The government’s rule is not absolute in our lives, only God has that right and role. 

·      We are expected to honor the installed authority.

Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, 

for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Romans 13:8

·      We are commanded to live out the Golden Rule. 

·      We are commissioned to faithfully proclaim the gospel.

Today’s Takeaways

God has established government for the good of humanity, and Christians should seek to live peacefully within its structure. 

Government often fails to fulfill its godly purposes, but that does not alleviate Christian responsibility. 

No human institution can sustain hope for humanity, only Christ can bear that load. 

Christians are to share the gospel to bring hope to broken people and broken structures.