Text: 1 John 5:1-21
Title: The Christian’s assurance
Introduction
This final chapter of 1 John is all about certain assurances given to everyone who is a genuine believer in Jesus Christ.
As I list the assurances given to everyone who is a genuine believer lets ask; “Do I have all of these assurances?”
1.The assurance of eternal life (6-13)
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (v13)
2.The assurance of victory over the world (1-5)
“Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” (v5)
3.The assurance of answered prayer (14-17)
“And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him.” (v15)
4.The assurance of God’s protection so that we never again come under the control of the evil one (18-21)
“We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin, the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.” (V18)
1. The assurance of eternal life (6-13)
“This is the one who came by water and blood – Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify; the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept man’s testimony, but God’s is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Anyone who believes in the Son has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life and this life is in the Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
Myth: No one can really know for sure that they have eternal life.
1.The Bible was written that you may know for sure who has eternal life.
“He who has the Son has life, he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (v12)
2.The testimony God has given us about His Son
“Eternal life is in the Son.”
Eternal life is not in a religion or a set of rules but in a person
3. There are three others who testify that eternal life is in the Son.
1.The Spirit
2.The water= by which He offered himself in baptism as the savior of the world
3.The blood =by which he purchased for us the free gift of eternal life
Many do have yet have eternal life because they do not have the testimony about Jesus Christ where it counts.
V10 “Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart.”
Many do not yet have eternal life because they do not have the testimony about Jesus in their hearts. They have historical facts about Jesus in their heads but their hearts are closed to Jesus. Knowing some historical facts about Jesus is not enough. The Devil knows more about Jesus but he is not going to heaven.
Do you know for sure that you have eternal life? If you believe in Jesus Christ you already have eternal life.
2.The assurance of victory over the world (1-5)
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God; by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God – to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
a.Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God overcomes the world (v5)
b.Everyone born of God overcomes the world (v4)
c.Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God (v1)
Everyone who believes in Jesus has eternal life and overcomes the world.
What does the believer in Christ overcome that the world is so against?
1.The world is so against us loving God
Whenever you love God you are overcoming the world.
In fact you are overcoming the world right now by being in church. (if you are here because you love God)
Loving God is obeying his commands
“This is love for God – to obey his commands”
The world tries to overcome us by making it as burdensome as possible for us to obey God’s commands.
The world tries to make it as burdensome as possible for us to obey God’s commands by such means as persecution, fear, worry, busyness and by offering all kinds of worldly alternatives.
Remember this is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. By our faith we secure the victory over the world.
By our faith in God not by our faith in ourselves
3. The assurance of answered prayer (14-17)
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: That if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us- whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him. If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is a sin that does not lead to death.
A.God has promised to answer every prayer that is according to his will.
B.Therefore if we approach God with any prayer that is according to his will we can have complete confidence of two things.
1. That He hears us.
2. That we have that which we prayed for.
We do not always have what we prayed for immediately.
C.God will not answer any prayer that is not according to his will
“when you ask, you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” (James 4:3)
D.Is there a prayer that we should always pray?
If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death he should pray and God will give him life.
E. Is a prayer that we should never pray?
”There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that.”
If someone deliberately does something wrong and is not willing to repent then don’t pray.
4.The assurance of God’s protection so that we never again come under the control of the evil one (18-21)
“We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe and the evil one cannot harm him. We know that we are children of God and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Dear Children, keep yourselves from idols.”
1.The whole world is under the control of the evil one. (v19)
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” (Ephesians 2:1-2)
2.The child of God is under the control of God (v18)
“We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe and the evil one cannot harm him.
Harm him = to control him
3.Either God controls us or the evil one controls us
The Bible calls it being a slave of God or a slave of sin
4.God’s protection= To come under the control of God
5.How do we know whose control we are under? The one who is under the control of God does not continue to sin. The one who is under the control of the evil one continues to sin.
6.How do you come under the control of God?
A. Become born again
“We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin.”
How do I become born again?
“Yet to all who received him, (Jesus) to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12)
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ He is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” 2 Cor. 5:17)
B. Get more understanding of God
We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life
The more understanding we get about God the easier it will become to give over more control of our lives to him
Psalms 23:1 - 6 (TMSG) 1GOD, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. 2You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. 3True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. 4Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure. 5You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. 6Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of GOD for the rest of my life.
C. Keep yourself from idols.
Dear Children, keep yourselves from idols.” (v21)
Conclusion
Do I have the assurance of eternal life? (6-13)
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (v13)
Do I have the assurance of victory over the world (1-5)
“Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” (v5)
Do I have the assurance of answered prayer (14-17)
“And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him.” (v15)
Do I have the assurance of God’s protection so that I never again come under the control of the evil one (18-21)
“We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin, the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.” (V18)
