Episode 43 - The Biggest Little Word in Scripture

There are a lot of big words in scripture, especially the Old Testament.  And these words are hard to pronounce and understand.  There are also many words that are as clear as can be and very powerful.

In this episode I look at one of the biggest little words in scripture.  It only has two letters; "if".  This word is used a lot and always carries tremendous meaning.

I'm going to focus on the wonderful and hope filled words from 1 John 1:5-10.  John uses the word, "if" 5 times as he provides us with how we can have confidence in the faithfulness of God, even when we are weak.

This information is based on a sermon presented by Jack McNiel at the Oak Grove Church of Christ.  https://www.ogchurchofchrist.org/Sermons/the-biblical-word-if/

I invite you to follow our podcast and share it with others as together we walk with our Master.

Please contact me if you have questions or you wish to share with me something about your walk with the Master. My email is walkingwithourmaster@gmail.com

The Prattville family meets at 344 East Main Street, Prattville, AL. Our web site is: https://prattvillechurch.org.

And please, leave feedback using the "Send us a text" link above.

Transcript

Hello friends, I'm your host Dave Laton and welcome to the podcast, Walking With Our Master, an outreach of the Prattville Church of Christ designed to inform, encourage, and teach as we daily walk with our Master. 

In this episode I’m briefly looking at the biggest little word in scripture.  The word, “if”.

This two-letter word has a tremendous impact on our walk with our Master.

I like to use the English Standard Version of scripture.  In that version, “if” is used 1,307 times. (OT - 705) (NT – 602)

I want to narrow my focus of the use of this word to the way John uses it in one of my favorite passages of scripture.  It is 1 John 1:5-10.  A key point I want to bring out is that John wrote this to the Church.  So “if” apply to us.

Let me read it in its entirety and then go back to how John uses it in each verse.

"This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice 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 cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (ESV)

The first “if” is what I will call the 

The fatal “if” – 1 John 1:6 - If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 

Too many times we find ourselves trying to live in the world and in Christ at the same time.  We cannot live by the world’s standards and be a faithful disciple.  Remember, to be a disciple means we put Christ first in everything.  So, as John says, we cannot walk in darkness.

The next “if” is the assuring “if” – 1 John 1:7 - 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 cleanses us from all sin.

There’s that word “walk” again.  To walk means to make it a way of life.  So “if” we stumble, another “if” comes into play.

A related verse to this is 1 John 2:1 - My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

By the way, one more favorite verse of mine comes to mind here.  It is Psalm 37:23-24.  

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”

OK…Let’s look at another “if” from 1 John.  It is The deceiving “if” – 1 John 1:8 - If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

We know there is sin all around us and it affects us.  I you will allow me; I want to change this verse just a bit.  “If we say we have no sin then we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us because we are full of the sin of pride.”

Also, too many times we deceive ourselves thinking sin doesn’t affect us.  That we can participate in things and not be affected…Sadly, we deceive ourselves.  

Another “if” is a good one.  It is:

The blessed “if” – 1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

Another hope filled verse.  Life the prodigal son, we will be received by the father when we return to him.  That’s a promise and God is faithful to His promises!

The last “if” is not a good one and we must be very careful!  It is

The insulting “if” – 1 John 1:10 - If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Just a thought…sometimes “saying” something is not just verbal.  It can be how we act. 

Let’s never be guilty of insulting God.  

So, there we have the use of this powerful word, “if” from 1 John 1:5-10.  I praise God everyday that He has given us the promise of forgiveness “IF” we are faithful.

Remember, God does not demand perfection, but He does demand and reward faithfulness.

Well friends, I'm your host Dave Laton.  Thank you for joining us in this podcast.  I hope you will continue to do so. If you wish to share with me something from your walk with our Master or you would like to learn more, please email me at:

walkingwithourmaster@gmail.com.

I invite you to follow our podcast and share it with others as together we walk with our Master.  And until next time, remember, we give all glory to God the Father.