INTROUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• I have enjoyed our journey through the book of John. I hope this book both challenged and encouraged you in your walk with Jesus.
• I believe there are times when we can get overwhelmed by all the things we should and need to know concerning our faith.
• We can get so overwhelmed that we sometimes do not know where to begin.
• Many people struggle in their walk with Jesus because they do think they know enough to get started.
• As we finish our series in 1 John I want to give you some encouragement.
• You do not have to be a biblical scholar to be able to live for Jesus. You need to start somewhere.
• As you start to develop a relationship with Jesus; you will want to get to know Him.
• This is similar to when you meet a person that you think you like. You want to get to know them on a deeper level than just thinking they are hot.
• Our message today is entitled “We Know.”
• As John concludes this letter, he wants to remind of the readers of the things they know concerning their faith and the basis of their faith.
• Remember the backdrop of John’s letter was the Gnostics who were distorting the Gospel, they were causing some to leave their faith. It is amazing how little things have changed.
• I want you to see that you know enough to begin your journey with Jesus.
• You know more than you think. You know enough to start to develop the relationship with Jesus that deep down you desire.
• WE need biblical knowledge, so I do not want to appear to minimize the need for extensive study of the Word.
• Biblical illiteracy is a BIG problem in the church today. People do not know why they believe what they believe, but that problem spills over into other areas of life also.
• If you want to really start to grow in your relationship with Jesus, getting to know Him is one of the keys to seeing that happen. Bible Fellowship (Our Sunday School Program), our newly forming Life Groups are great places to start!
• Knowledge is important because when you feel like you do not know much about a subject you can feel overwhelmed to the point of not even wanting to try.
• Today I want you to see that you know more than you think. If you know the three things John shares with us today, you will well on your way to developing a great rewarding relationship with Jesus!
• Let’s start with verse 18
• SLIDE #2
• 1 John 5:18 (HCSB) We know that everyone who has been born of God does not sin, but the One who is born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.
• SLIDE #3
SERMON
We know…
I. Christians are called not to practice sin.
• John reminds us that we KNOW that the practice of sin is not what a Christian is called to.
• The phrase WE KNOW is used to begin verses 18,19, and 20. This phrase is the link that holds these verses together.
• The word KNOW in all three verses is the same and it denotes to gain understanding through reflection and thinking.
• Verse 18 is a pretty simple principle; however, it can be a difficult carry out with all the temptations surrounding us.
• When you are a part of God’s family, you need to understand that practicing sin is not what being in God’s family is about.
• A Christian is NOT someone who NEVER sins, but rather one who resists the temptation to sin because continuing to sin is contrary to what is expected of a child of God.
• I have stated on numerous occasions that as long as we live on this earth we will struggle with sin. Each of us have battles we fight, whether they are sins that can be seen such as immorality or the inward sins of jealousy and pride.
• We must be careful of just excusing our sin because we are “only human.”
• This leads to a victim mentality to where we just are powerless to stop the onslaught of sinning.
• Healthy families have expectations of one another.
• My daughters always knew that certain things were not acceptable for a person who is in our family.
• If you understand that Christians are not to practice sin, you will find yourself being more aware of the sin around you and you will have a deeper desire to fight it off.
• It is too easy to excuse our sin.
• I have dealt with people who have made conscious decisions to sin. They refused to change. I have made those choices at times.
• When you start to be aware that God does not want you to sin it will help you to resist the lure of sin.
• Sin literally means to “miss the mark.” God sets a standard for us and when we fall short of that standard it is sin.
• We also need to understand something concerning being in God’s family.
• God provides protection for His family.
• Since we are in God’s family, God our father offers us protection.
• In verse 18we are told the ONE who is BORN of God keeps him (the one who is born of God), and the evil one does not touch him.
• The Greek text reveals that those who are in God’s family are protected by Jesus who was the ONE born of Him.
• When John speaks of CHRISTIAN’s, he uses the word BORN in the perfect tense (who has been born). PROCESS WITH NO ASSESSMENT OF THE ACTIONS COMPLETION. This form is used in the first part of verse 18.
• However, in the second instance where the word BORN is used, it changes to the AORIST TENSE (One who is born of God) ONE_TIME ACT CONTINUING RESULTS
• So Jesus KEEPS those who are born of God. The word KEEPS denotes, to keep safe, to guide, protect, to watch over carefully, to defend.
• As a father I tried to do what I could to protect my children. God has given is the ultimate protector in Jesus.
• This verse says the evil one does not touch him.
• Each moment of each day, the evil one is trying to attach himself to you. One commentator translates the end of verse 18 this way, “the evil one does not fasten himself on him.
• Satan is always looking for ways to attach himself to you; he is always looking for that opening, the chink in the armor. He will get a foothold in your marriage and other important relationships if we let him.
• You NEVER have to fall into sin, Jesus protects you from Satan attaching himself to you.
• Knowing God’s word can be a great way to protect yourself from lure of temptation.
• SLIDE #4
• Psalm 119:11 (HCSB) I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You.
• Next let’s examine verse 19
• SLIDE #5
• 1 John 5:19 (HCSB) We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one.
• SLIDE #6
We know…
II. Christians belong to God.
• When you give your life to Jesus, you belong to Him. God is your father Jesus is your savoir, and the Holy Spirit is in you!
• Verse 19 says we ARE OF GOD. This literally means that you are OUT OF HIM. This would mean that He is the source of your life since you came from out of Him.
• Since you came out of Him, He is your purpose!
• This is exemplified by Paul in Philippians 1:21
• SLIDE #7
• Philippians 1:21 (HCSB) For me, living is Christ and dying is gain.
• Paul understood that he belonged to Jesus and he was to draw his purpose for life from Jesus.
• When I got married I gave myself to Robyn. I belong to her, she belongs to me. I do not say that as if I were a possession or a trophy (which I am ).
• I am saying that my life is no longer all about me, my life is about being the the best husband I can because that is what God calls me to do.
• If you not want to belong to another you need to stay single.
• When we belong to God, we should want to do what pleases Him.
• The reason I know what pleases and displeases Robyn, is that over the 30 plus years of marriage, I have made the effort to know her.
• The way you get to know what pleases God is by knowing Him also.
• When you start to grasp the fact that you belong to Jesus it will change how you live and how you desire to live.
• As your love for Jesus grows, your desire to please Him will grow
• The longer you are a Christian, the more you should want to please Him.
• There are only two families from which we can be aligned, God’s family or the family of the evil one.
• The saved have a special relationship with God, the lost do not.
• The lives of the lost are under the influence or power of the evil one.
• This doesn’t mean that lost people are Satan worshippers in the sense we would think.
• They are under His influence. Whole world is under the sway of the evil one.
• This word SWAY was a common idiom meaning to be the servant of some chief.
• Since I belong to Robyn, I am under her influence. I am not under the influence of other women because I do not belong to them.
• Let’s look at verse 20
• SLIDE #8
• 1 John 5:20 (HCSB) And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true One. We are in the true One—that is, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
• SLIDE #9
We know…
III. The Son of God has come.
• There is enough evidence for us to understand who Jesus is.
• When you KNOW the Son of God has come it will help us to grow.
• WE see examples of how KNOWING who Jesus was changed people. We spoke of the Apostles and how they changed.
• There was Paul, who went from persecuting the church to writing most of the New Testament.
• There was James, the brother of Jesus, he was not a believer in the beginning.
• SLIDE #10
• John 7:5 (HCSB) For not even His brothers believed in Him.
• THE WOMAN at the well was an example.
• Verse 20 tells us that we have enough evidence from John and the other biblical writers to know who Jesus is.
• In John 20:30-31 John tells us that Jesus performed many other signs that were not written. John wrote so that we can believe that Jesus is the Son of God!
• We are in the true One
• Understanding who He is allows us to have fellowship with Him.
• When you accept Jesus as the Son of God, you are ready in your heart to accept all else that is said and proven by credible evidence.
• Those who reject Him will not want to have fellowship with one they do not believe in.
• Remember that the word “know” in the last part of verse 20 means to acquire knowledge. It implies a continual acquisition. It should never stop!
• That knowledge and fellowship with Jesus will give us confidence because in Jesus we have eternal life in THE TRUE GOD!
• Jesus came so that we could have life, He did not come to ruin our life but to enrich it.
• When you know your eternal life comes from Jesus, it will give you the strength to carry on.
CONCLUSION
• You know more than you think concerning Jesus. You know enough to start to have a great relationship with Him right now!
• Do not live a defeated life because you do know think you know enough. You know plenty to get started!
• Are you ready?
