NOTES WEEK 10: Christ, Our Hope For Overcoming March 12, 2015 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:45 ESV Living in this world can be difficult. As Jesus Himself warned us, this world hates us. It is not out for our best interests. Satan, as the prince of this world, sees us as his mortal enemies. He hates us as much as he hates Christ. Jesus said, speaking of Satan, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10 ESV). Satan wants to destroy us, but Jesus Christ has given us victory over the world. Our faith in Him provides us with the resources by which we can live in this life with victory rather than defeat. When we rely on the abiding presence of Christ and express our love for God through obedience to His commands, we will inevitably live in such a way that shows up in love for those around us. And as we sacrificially and selflessly love others, we overcome the world and defeat the plan of the enemy in our lives. Take Notes (Teaching): As you listen to today s lesson, write down anything significant that you hear. Be ready to share them with the men at your table during the discussion time. 2015 Ken Miller 43 Mighty Men a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
Take Part (Discussion): Sometimes God has a way of speaking through others as they provide insights or different applications from the lessons. As you discuss around your table, write down anything you hear that makes an impact on you. Or if you hear another man share a struggle or concern, write it down so that you can pray for him during the week. Take Time (Prayer): Be sure and leave a few minutes for the sharing of prayer requests. Remember, keep your requests short and sweet. Don t let the details bog you down. We don t have to understand all that is going on to pray effectively. 2015 Ken Miller 44 Mighty Men a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
HOMEWORK Homework for week 11: Christ, Our Focus For Saving Faith Read 1 John 5:612 There is much debate among biblical scholars as to what John means when he uses the phrase by water and blood when referring to Jesus. Some believe his reference to water speaks of Jesus baptism by John the Baptist and the blood speaks of His crucifixion. Others say that the water speaks of His physical birth and the blood of His physical death. Still others believe the phrase used by John is referring solely to Jesus death. In his gospel, John writes, But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water (John 19:34 ESV). It is said, that in the early church, it was believed that the water that flowed when Jesus side was pierced represented the coming outpouring of the Spirit of God at Pentecost. The blood was the sign of the New Covenant in His blood. But regardless of which interpretation you take, the emphasis is on the significance of Jesus earthly life and physical death. What are the three testimonies that John refers to in these verses? According to verse 9, who is the source of these three testimonies? In verse 10, John says that whoever believes in the Son of God has these testimonies in himself. How do you think the Spirit, the water, and the blood are in the life of the believer? One common interpretation of these three testimonies is as follows: Jesus makes us alive (the Spirit) Jesus cleanses us (water) Jesus atones for our sins (blood) Read 1 Corinthians 6:911. What did Jesus accomplish for us according to these verses? What do you think John means when he says, whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself (verse 10)? According to verse 11, what is the testimony to which all three (Spirit, water, and blood) testify? 2015 Ken Miller 45 Mighty Men a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
Those who have placed their faith in Christ have His Spirit within them, they have experienced cleansing from sin, and the have had those sins atoned or paid for with His blood. In what ways have you experienced the reality of these three things in your own life? Read the following passage and then write down what they teach us about these three things: 1 John 1:9 Psalm 32:5 Proverbs 28:13 Titus 2:14 Romans 8:9 John 14:17 1 Corinthians 3:16 1 Peter 1:1819 John 1:29 1 Peter 1:12 2015 Ken Miller 46 Mighty Men a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
WEEK 10 Christ, Our Hope For Overcoming This world can be a difficult place. For believers, it can be outright hostile. But John tells us that we are to be overcomers. No, he tells us we already ARE overcomers. We ARE victorious. But is that our experience? Do we feel like victors or losers? The key for John involves faith, but not just any kind of faith. Everyone has faith in something. But the real issue is who or what you are placing your faith in. Faith that is placed in Jesus Christ has visible proof of its effectiveness. It manifests itself in love for God and others. It shows up in obedience to God s commands. And none of it feels overwhelming or too hard to handle. But if that faith is placed in anything or anyone other than Jesus, the results are always going to be lessthanideal. Belief 1 John 5:15 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 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. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:15 ESV Believes that Jesus is the Christ Believes that Jesus is the Son of God Pisteuō to think to be true to place confidence in to be persuaded This is a presenttense faith It is active and ongoing everyone who believes = born of God everyone born of God = child of God every child of God = loves the Father those who love the Father = love one another By this we know we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 1 John 5:2 ESV 2015 Ken Miller CHRIST CHAPEL BIBLE CHURCH
And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another. 1 John 3:23 ESV OBEDIENCE Obeying God Loving God Loving others Doing these three things should not be hard to do Loving one another is part of His command It should come supernaturally (Matthew 11:2830) FAITH LOVE OBEDIENCE good works 2 1 UNBELIEF Deficient knowledge of God 3 4 BELIEF Knowledge of God DISOBEDIENCE lack of good works Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:1314 ESV Faith is the victory For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith. I John 5:4 ESV victory nikē (n) victory nikaō (v) to carry off the victory, to come off victorious This is an ongoing reality Present tense as has overcome and still is Our faith is NOT the hero It is not the size of our faith, but the object There are other faith systems But their faith is in something or someone else And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12 ESV There is no other means by which we can be saved and there is no other way we can experience victory over this world. Human effort will fail. While Nike s slogan, Just Do It, may sound reasonable and motivational, it will not work in the spiritual arena. Our faith must not be in ourselves and on our own ability to pull off some degree of spiritual stamina. Our faith must reside in and remain on Jesus Christ. It is NOT our faith that makes the difference, but the object on which our faith rests: Jesus. Vessels of Clay blog Our belief and trust in Jesus is to last a lifetime It is our ongoing faith in Him that overcomes We will be tempted to place our trust elsewhere Circumstances will compel us to turn away But we must keep on believing 2015 Ken Miller CHRIST CHAPEL BIBLE CHURCH