Reality Test of the Christian Life: SONSHIP Pt.3 1 John 5

INTRODUCTION: Reality Test of the Christian Life: SONSHIP Pt.3 1 John 5 Over that past two weeks we have been looking at 1 John as kind of a precursor or primer for our Men s and Women s studies that will be starting up mid- September; and we have been focusing in on the 2 nd half of the book (chs. 3-5) which deals with SONSHIP or with Being Born of God. And we have seen that, in this section, John gives us three tests that we can apply to our lives to determine if, or whether of not we are TRULY born of God (believers, children of God): 1. The Test (diagnostic) of Obedience (ch.3) 5 Motivations * The Love of God * The Return of Christ * The Sacrifice of God * The New Nature * The Indwelling Holy Spirit 2. The Test of Love (ch.4) 5 Reasons * The Love of God * The Return of Christ * The Sacrifice of God * The New Nature * The Indwelling Holy Spirit We come now to the 3 rd test (diagnostic) of SONSHIP the test of TRUTH. The phrase we know in chapter 5 is the key phrase (vv.2, 15, 18-20). Ginōskō vs. Eída This gives the understanding that we intuitively know that we have particular, determined CERTAINTIES because of our relationship with Jesus There are several CERTAINTIES found in this chapter. 1

I. We Know What a Christian Is (5:1 5) A. Most people in the world do not know what a Christian is or how they can become Christians. 1. They trust in religious works and good intentions, depending on the energy of the flesh the goodness of their own perceived merit B. God says that a Christian is someone who has been born again. (John 3:3 except a man be born again, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven ) 1. We are born into sin separate from God born with a sin nature physically alive but dead spiritually a. Ephesians 2:1-5 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience, among whom we all (without exception = ALL of us) once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loves us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved. b. And so everyone experiences a physical birth but we have to be BORN spiritually i. That only happens when we come to life in Jesus Christ ii. Once we come to life in Jesus, we are Born spiritually 2. It is FAITH in the finished work of Christ that makes a child of disobedience INTO a child of God. a) John 1:12 13 But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were 2

born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God b) 1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by God s power are being guarded through FAITH for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 3. John uses the phrase born of God 7X in his first epistle and describes the birthmarks of believers : a) They practice righteousness, 2:29; b) they DO NOT practice sin, 3:9; c) they love other Christians, 4:7; d) they overcome the world, 5:4; and e) they keep themselves from Satan, 5:18. C. In v.1 John says, Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father (lit. who is begotten of the Father) loves whoever has been born of Him (lit. who is begotten of Him). 1. AND SO JOHN S POINT IS THIS: If we have God as our Father and LOVE Him, then surely we will also love His other children. a) BUT NOTICE THAT OUR SALVATION RESTS NOT ON WHETHER OR NOT WE LOVE THEM BUT UPON WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT JESUS. (1) To be clear we are BORN OF GOD when we put our trust in Jesus and on His saving work in our lives (2) John is talking about trusting in and relying upon Jesus as Messiah, AS SAVIOR that is what this word believes means 3

(a) It doesn t merely mean to believe, to think rightly but to trust in, to confide in, to commit to, to entrust with and so forth (b) The very MARROW of the meaning of faith is confidence in and reliance upon Jesus as God and Savior b) And so, being Born of God is AFFIXED TO FAITH faith in the Person and finished work of Jesus Christ. D. Being Born of God also has these THREE EFFECTS: 1. It is assumed that we will love God (who begot us) 2. But it also assumed that we will love others who are also begotten of Him. 3. And we demonstrate this love by keeping God s commandments. a) In v.2, John writes, By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. b) ONE OF THE TESTS OF MATURING LOVE IS OUR PERSONAL ATTITUDE TOWARD THE BIBLE because it is in the bible that we find God s will for our lives revealed. (1) An unsaved man considers the Bible an impossible book, mainly because he does not understand the spiritual message (1 Cor. 2:14). (2) An immature Christian considers the demands of the Bible to burdensome - He is somewhat like a little child who is learning to obey, and asks WHY do I have to do that? or Wouldn t it be better to do this? (3) BUT, the mature Christian, who experiences God s perfecting love finds himself enjoying the Word of God and truly loving it i) He does not read the Bible as a text book, but as a PERSONAL LETTER from God 4

ii) He begins to see how wise and good the commandments of God are - iii) That they are gifts to show us the BEST and most FULFILLING life possible (4) Love lightens burdens (a) The burden of religion (man trying to please God in his own strength) is a grievous one, it is a HEAVY one; but the yoke that Jesus puts on us is not burdensome at all My yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matt. 11:30) (b) Old proverb, Love feels no loads (c) JACOB HAD TO WORK FOR 7 YEARS to win the woman he loved, but the Bible tell us that they seemed unto him a few days, for the love he had for her. (Gen. 29:20) (5) Perfecting love produces joyful obedience! E. (4-5) Christians are not to love the world, belong to the world, or yield to the world They are overcomers, overcoming the world, the devil (2:13 14), and the false teachers (4:4). They overcome by FAITH in God s Word, not by their own power or wisdom. 1. The word OVERCOMES (v.4) is a favorite of John: He uses it in 1 John 2:13-14 with reference to the devil He uses it 7x in Revelation to describe believers and the blessings they receive. 2. When John uses the word overcomers, he is not describing a special class of believers (elite force) He is using the word overcomer as a name for the True Christian. 3. Because we have been born of God we ARE overcomers a) ALEXANDER THE GREAT Get in there and fight or change your name! (1) WHAT IS OUR NAME? Children of God born again ones of God 5

i. Alexander the Great wanted his name to be a SYMBOL OF COURAGE ii. And likewise our name carries with it the ASSURANCE OF VICTORY! (2) To be born of God means to share God s victory! 4. To paraphrase vv.4-5 John says, You Christians do not have to walk around defeated, because Jesus Christ has made you victors! He has defeated every enemy and you share His victory. Now, by faith, claim His victory. F. We know for CERTAIN that a True Christian loves God, Loves God s people, keeps His commandments and is someone who is VICTORIOUS! II. We Know Who Jesus Is (5:6 13) A. A person who trusts Jesus Christ is (1) born of God and is able to (2) overcome the world. 1. To believe that Jesus is the Son of God is BASIC to the Christian experience 2. But how do we know that Jesus is God? a. There were those who taught that God was to pure and to holy to take on the form of sinful man so that if Jesus was actually God, that He wasn t God in human bodily form but more of an apparition or Phantom. b. But John insisted that God the Son did come in the physical body of man and was 100% God and 100% man! 3. In this section John gives us three proofs or testimonies to corroborate the Jesus is in fact God. B. Throughout the centuries, there have been many different ideas about exactly what John meant by this phrase: this is He who came by water and blood Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood 6

1. But probably the best explanation is the oldest Christian understanding of this passage (first recorded by the ancient Christian Tertullian). 2. Most likely, John means the water of Jesus baptism and the blood of His crucifixion a. When Jesus was BAPTIZED, He was not baptized in repentance for His own sin (He had none), but because He wanted to COMPLETELY IDENTIFY with sinful humanity. 1) When He came by water, it was His way of saying, I am one of you. b. When Jesus died on the CROSS, He did not die because of the guilt of sin in His life (He had none), but He laid down His life to IDENTIFY with sinful humanity and to save us from our sin. 1) When He came by blood it was so that He could STAND IN OUR PLACE as a guilty sinner, and to take UPON HIMSELF the punishment our sin deserved. 3. The Law required that there be 2 or 3 witnesses for a matter to be settled (Deut 19:15) we have the water and the blood, that is two but there is another (v.6): Because the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. a. John s point is that the Holy Spirit also bears witness to the true person of Jesus, even as Jesus promised He would (He will testify of Me He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you John 15:26; 16:14) 1) The consistent message of the Holy Spirit to us, Here is Jesus 2) CHARLES SPURGEON - A priest was always ordained by sacrificial blood, cleansing water, and oil that spoke of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. So Jesus also had these three witnesses to His priestly ministry. b. These are all CONSISTENT WITNESSES in telling us who Jesus is 7

1) The Scriptures ASSERT that our Savior Jesus Christ was declared to be the Son of God at His baptism (Matt. 3:17), and proved to be the Son of God at the cross (John 8:28; 12:28 33). 2) AND the Holy Spirit BEARS WITNESS that Jesus is the Christ through the written Word of God. 1) The entire Godhead agrees that Jesus is GOD! 2) John tells us that God is witnessing to the world that this is His Son C. And so, as Christians (those begotten of God), we know with CERTAINTY who Jesus is! III. We Know How to Pray with Confidence (5:14 15) A. It has well been said that prayer is NOT a way of overcoming God s reluctance, but a way of laying hold of His willingness. 1. I like that a. It s one thing to know that Jesus is good and that we are God s children; but what about the needs and problems of daily life? b. Jesus helped people when He was here on earth; BUT does He still help them? c. Earthly fathers take care of their children; BUT does the Heavenly Father respond when His children call on Him? 2. John tells us in vv.14-15 that Christians have confidence in prayer: a. As we have seen, the word confidence means Freedom of speech. (assurance) 1) #1 we have access to Him 2) #2 we can come to Him with boldness 8

i. Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. ii. Amplified Version Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God s unmerited favor to us sinners) that we may receive mercy (for our failures) and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]. b. What that means is that we can come to OUR Father freely, boldly, confidently and tell Him our needs and He WILL listen! And He will act! B. Of course there are conditions that we must meet: 1. First, we must have a heart that does not condemn us (1 John 3:21-22) a. Unconfessed Sin is a serious obstacle to answered prayer (Ps. 66:18) b. Marital Unrest can hinder prayer (1 Pet. 3:1-7) c. Unresolved Conflict If there is anything between us and any other Christian, we must settle it, for it can hinder our prayer (Matt. 5:23-25) d. Abiding in Christ unless a believer is abiding in Christ, in love and obedience, his prayer will not be answered (Jn 15:7) 2. Second, we must pray in God s will a. ROBERT LAW wrote Prayer is a mighty instrument, not for getting man s will done in heaven, but for getting God s will done on earth b. Remember Prayer is a way of laying hold of God s willingness! C. If we know God s will, we can pray with boldness. BUT HOW DO WE KNOW IT? 9

1. God reveals His will in His Word, and the Holy Spirit confirms it 2. WE SEEK GOD S WORD IN ORDER TO FIND GOD S WILL AND WE LOOK TO THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GIVE US THE INWARD WITNESS OF GOD S WILL! D. True prayer is much more than saying words to God. a. It involves FAITH (God hears and answers) b. It involves searching the Word, c. Letting the Spirit search the things of God (Rom. 8:26 28), d. And yielding to God s will as we share our requests with Him. E. WARREN WIERSBE Prayer keeps a Christian in the will of God - and living in the will of God keeps a Christian in the place of blessing and service. 1) And so we pray not to move God to do our bidding, or even to make us feel better 2) NO, we pray because God has commanded us to pray and because prayer is the God APPOINTED means for a believer to receive the things God wants to give him. 3) And so we know how to pray with Confidence! IV. We Know How a Christian Acts (5:18 19) A. The Gk. verb in v. 18 means does not practice sin. 1. Practice here means to keep on sinning as a way of life or as a matter of custom it implies habit, continuity, unbroken sequence as if it is the norm for you (common practice). a. These common practices characterize WHO YOU ARE they define you (drunk, drug addict, womanizer, liar, a swindler, untrustworthy) 10

b. We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning (18) 1. Know = eida - intuitive knowledge; to perceive and be aware of; to understand. 2. CONTRAST: ginosko (knowledge by experience) 3. This comes as a result of and ONLY in view of our relationship with God THROUGH JESUS 2. Those who are Born of God (those begotten of God) understand intuitively that this type of behavior or lifestyle is unbecoming of a Child of God! B. Christians do not practice sin This isn t who we are we are not characterized by sin, but we are characterized by Christ! C. John s point is that Christians do not keep themselves saved (That is God s business), but they DO keep themselves out of the snares of the devil. 1. MATTHEW HENRY: Christians do not sin with that fullness of heart and spirit that the unregenerate do, and consequently not with that fullness of guilt that attends the sins of others; and so he is secured against that sin which is unavoidably unto death, or which infallibly binds the sinner over unto the wages of eternal death; the new nature, and the inhabitation of the divine Spirit thereby, prevents the admission of such unpardonable sin. 2. IN OTHER WORDS: God s working by His Spirit inwardly, and man s working under the power of that Spirit as a responsible agent, KEEPS US from falling into the temptation and trappings of habitual sin. 3. Paul would tell us in Ephesians 4 that we, as Born Again believers, should PUT OFF the habits and practices of the old nature and PUT ON and WALK in accordance with the new nature the new habits and new practices that are REFLECTIVE of the character and attitude of Christ 11

D. And in order to do that, God s people must keep their eyes wide open because, John tell us -- that the whole world lies in the grip of the wicked one. 1. John tells us in v.19 that there is a head of the malignity and of the malignant world; and he (satan) has such sway here that he is called the god of this world the prince of darkness. 2. He has blinded millions of people spiritually and has kept them in bondage. E. And John affirms that as Born Ones of God we INTUITIVELY understand - because of our relationship with Jesus that this is REALITY 1. The world is broken up into two major divisions: a. Those who belong to God, who are secured in Him and bound up in Him those who have a CERTAIN future and a CERTAIN hope b. And those who are separate from that hopeful certainty Who are under the power and sway of the wicked one. In the jaws in the bowels of the wicked one. 2. Knowing this (that we are born of God - separate from this world no longer under the sway of the wicked one) means we can be FREE to BE what we are in Jesus! 3. And so, we know with CERTAINTY how a Christian is supposed to Act the Bible is very clear! V. We Know the Truth (5:20 21) A. In the conclusion of the letter, John returned to his major theme: Fellowship with God. 1. We must KNOW HIM 12

a. And the word that John uses for Know (ginosko) speaks of knowledge by experience. That is how Jesus wants us to know Him by experience! b. The work of Jesus Christ in us gives us an understanding the ability to know Him and be in Him 2. This is the secret of the life that is REAL 3. Because we have met the true God, through His Son Jesus Christ, we are in contact with REALITY Our fellowship is with a God who is GENUINE a. The word REAL means the original as opposed to a copy and the authentic as opposed to an imitation. b. Jesus Christ is the true Light (John 1:9), and true Bread (John 6:32), and the true Vine (John 15:1), and TRUTH ITSELF (John 14:6) i. He is the ORIGINAL; everything else is a copy. ii. He is AUTHENTIC; everything else is only an imitation. c. We know Him who is TRUE, and we are in Him who is TRUE We have the REAL THING! d. 1 John 1:3,4 That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that your joy may be complete. B. John ends the Epistle with the admonishment of v.21, Little children, keep yourselves from idols. 1. It seems like a strange way to end John s letter but it fits in with the theme of a REAL, LIVING relationship with God. a. The enemy to fellowship with God is idolatry: which is the embracing a false god, or a false idea of the true God. b. John rightly closes with this warning. 13

2. Because, Christians live in an atmosphere of REALITY a. Most people live in an atmosphere of pretense; but Christians have been given SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT to know the TRUE from the FALSE. i. Christians do not simply choose between good and bad; they choose between true and false. ii. An idol represents that which is false and empty; and a person who lives for idols will himself become false and empty. iii. DAVID GUSIK Idolatry, whether obvious (praying to a statue) or subtle (living for your career or someone other than God) will always choke out a REAL RELATIONSHIP with God, and damage our relationships with our brothers and sisters in Jesus. b. No wonder John ends his letter this way! c. This is how we protect our relationship with God! d. Because we know truth READ. V.20 VI. CONCLUSION (WORSHIP TEAM) And so we see that there are SPECIFIC CERTAINTIES that TRUE Christians enjoy: 1. The know what a Christian is 2. They know who Jesus is 3. They know how to pray with confidence 4. They know how a Christian acts 5. They know the TRUTH And so, over these past three weeks we have been looking at 1 John 14

The theme has been SONSHIP. Obedience, love, and truth are the key thoughts in this epistle; and serve as tests (diagnostics) that we can APPLY to our lives to confirm if in fact we are truly BORN OF GOD! They are the EVIDENCE OF SALVATION and The ESSENTIALS OF FELLOWSHIP THE SECRET of true and abiding life. The world boast of its enlightenment (intellect and knowledge), but a Christian walks in REAL light, because God is light. The world talks about love, but it knows nothing of REAL love which a Christian experiences because God is love. The world displays its wisdom and learning, but a Christian lives in TRUTH because the Spirit is truth God is light, love, and truth; and these together make a life that is REAL! 15