2078 - I John 4-5 - Keeping God First

Darryl Henson - August 8, 2026 - As we come to the final sermon in our journey through 1 John, it is worth stepping back and asking what John has been trying to impress upon us from the beginning. His message has been remarkably simple, but that doesn't mean it is easy. He has continued to bring us back to the basics—knowing God, walking as Christ walked, keeping God's commandments, loving one another, overcoming the world, and remaining faithful to the end. These are not separate subjects. They are all connected, and together they describe what it means to truly belong to God.John has also given us something we desperately need: confidence and hope. We are living in a world that pulls us in the opposite direction, and overcoming our own nature and the influence around us is a constant battle. Yet John reminds us that God has a plan, that Christ's sacrifice makes forgiveness possible, and that God's Spirit gives us the help we need to continue growing. We don't have to be perfect today, but we do have to keep moving in the right direction.And so, as we close out I John, John's final words bring us right back to where everything begins: keep God first. Whatever competes with God for our loyalty, our attention, or our love can become an idol. After everything John has taught us about love, obedience, faith, overcoming, and eternal life, that is a fitting place to end. The question is not simply whether we know these things, but whether we are living them—and whether our lives are preparing us for the future God has promised.