God’s presence in our lives makes us overcome the world

Introduction

Good morning, Lafayette Baptist Family. It is a joy and a privilege to see you and worship with you all again today. Our text today is 1st John 5:1-5, if you will all please go ahead and turn there in your bibles. In a few moments we will read together from the screen but please go ahead and turn there in case you need to reference anything during today’s message.

Usually, during this time I share with you some story, or thought, or antidote to prime our thoughts towards the day’s message. Today, I want to do something a little different. That is, I want to announce that next week we will be participating in the Lord’s supper together. This of course is something that is important for each believer to participate in (and I want to make this clear that it is for believers only), as Jesus Himself set the ordinance. We do this, in an continual act of remembrance of Him, of what He did for us, taking the cup of wrath for our sins. We do to keep our minds and our hearts in a continual stage and place of repentance, as a Christian is to live a life of repentance, turning from sin and glorifying God through changed hearts. I say that also, to acknowledge that doing this, participating in the Lord’s supper is a serious matter. It’s so serious, that many writers and theologians equate this, administering the ordinances (which is the LS and Baptism) as one of the primary functions of a church. Also, on the matter of seriousness, Paul warns us not to participate in it if we have anything we need to repent of or if we have anything we need to work out with another believer. Know this, there is no shame in not participating if you do not need to, all that means is that you are working on something. So, know that we are doing this next week and make anything right with God and man if you need to. With that being said, onto this week’s sermon which is titled, God’s presence in our lives makes us overcome the world.

Scripture

If you will all please rise for the reading of God’s word today. As usual, the text will be on the screen, please read out loud along with us, then when we finish I will say “this is the word of the Lord” and if you will all please respond with “thanks be to God.” First though, let’s pray. Father, refine us. You make us new, you make us new in You and we thank You for this. That you have saved us from the tyranny of sin. We ask You, as this church and as individual believers that you refine us this day. Refine us through your word, make your word a beacon to us father, let it illuminate our way. Help us Father, help us to put anything aside today that is keeping or going to keep us from hearing your word. Help us to focus and understand what it is you are sharing with us this day. Sanctify us in Your Word Father, Your Word is truth. Then, take this truth and make it cause us to go into the world and share with others the truth, that Jesus saves and nothing else matters. Make this the cry of our hearts and our knowledge, that You would be glorified through us. It in these things that I ask and In Jesus Christ’s Holy and Precious name that I pray, Amen. 5 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. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Context

We continue this week in our expository journey through the letters of John. In fact, today marks the beginning of the last chapter, chapter 5. Nearly there, nearly there. I am looking forward to celebrating this milestone together, to go through an entire book together. In fact, if you were wondering this is the 17thinstallment of this letter we have gone through together, and I am thankful for every one of them as God is showing me new things about Himself and about me every week.

One thing I want you to remember this week as we enter this text is that we are still largely focusing on the upward and downward relationships. That is, in the first two chapters of this book John was focusing much on our relationships with other believers now John focuses much on our relationship with God and the things of God’s nature or who He is. So keep these things in minds as we study this text and see how God speaks not just to first audiences, but also believers today as He tell us about Himself and ourselves. Then take this, and apply it to your own faith lives.

In last week’s message, we began by pointing out something that we all know and need to continually head, that God’s Spirit, God the Holy Spirit testifies to the Son (Jesus Christ). In fact, this is the primary ministry of God the Holy Spirit, that He points others to Jesus Christ. We know, that a believer is a believer in God if He (the Holy Spirit) has been given to that person, which points to Jesus who points to Father. In a sense, all three of the trinity are continually pointing to the glory of one another. We then went into another point that John was reinforcing. That is, that God is in those that love Him, just as we were saying those that confess Jesus as the Son of God, accepting His Lordship, God lives in this person and this person comes into the family of God, as children. Sons and daughters. God Himself, being the definition of love, loves us in this way and we are abide in love ourselves. Then we talked about fear, specifically that God’s love keeps us from fear. That those planted in the goodness of God’s grace, those adopted as children, those that have confessed Jesus Christ as the savior have no fear or terror of judgement. You are safe, you are awaiting joy, not fear. You are living in the love of the savior, love of God and love of the brethren, this love casts out fear; putting it so far away that is never seen or thought of again. Finally, we talked more at length about God’s love. That it is a supernatural love, a special love, one that many do not have and unfortunately will never experience. The agape love we talked about for several weeks now, is only possible and empowered by God, it is not selfish or deceitful, it only seeks to accomplish two things. These are, to follow those two great commandments, to love God and love the brethren. By this, we can be assured of our own faith and observe the faith (or lack thereof) as was needed to the original audience of John’s letter here, who were of course enduring false teachers who’s words echo loudly in the world even today. Watch out, watch for Love of God, not the love of self in all that you do. All of this, was under the main idea that In God abides perfect love, which is as I reminded you a title that almost wrote itself, as the key words were found multiple times in the text itself. Remember as I’ve said, if you’ve noticed a word or idea many times in your bible reading, this is author saying “keep your eyes peeled/look closely.” With all of that in mind, let’s move deep into this week’s text.

Message

Our first main point, God born means belief.

5 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.

Just look at the beginning of this passage. John is sharing with us once again a familiar phrase, that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ (meaning the savior) is born of God. Though it may not have been said in exactly, the same wording, we see the same idea come up over and over again through this letter. That is, Jesus Christ is the savior. It is required of any person, that if they are a true lover of God, then this person must in turn love Jesus. Let me say that first word everyone, EVERYONE who loves God must be a lover of Jesus Christ the righteous. You might even think of it in the way of a human mindset, though I admit this analogy falls well short. That if you love a person you love their children as well. If you love God the Father, You must love God the Son (Jesus) as well.

If you believe this, that Jesus is the Christ then it is in a sense your adoption papers into the family of God, you are adopted as a son or daughter. You have been born of God, you are new. This is what we as Christians know to be regeneration, being made new. Paul writes on this in 2 Cor 5:16-17 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[b] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. We become new in Christ. We become born of God, meaning we have a believing faith in Christ as the savior, as the redeemer of our sins, which were and are so great. We live a life of belief in the power of the cross and repentance from sins that God would glorified through us, our lives, our mission(s), and our testimony.

A second point, Gods child means obey.

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

John here again is showing us a test. A Test that points out the haves to the have nots. The people who have to Holy Spirit to those that have not been gifted. The redeemed (or saved) from those of the world, you might call them the natural man/woman. The loving children of God will obey God out of love. Most of us in this room are already parents or aspire to be someday. I’m sure you can all agree with me that it is much more special to you when your child does something, obeys you or your commands out of love for you rather then out of terror or even annoyance. Sure, even though they may not understand why you are telling them or teaching them to do something, they don’t have what you have. They don’t have a lifetime of experience as you do and don’t yet possess the foresight that a parent already has on the subject.

For example, a good friend of ours has two daughters. One is 5 and the other is 12. They share a bedroom and normally go to bed at the same time at night and as you know, in this situation going to bed means going to talk to your sister for an hour before you close your eyes. The older sister though, because she is getting older, is now allowed to stay up a little later than her sister, which is completely normal of course. When you get older, you get a later bedtime. Little sister though, doesn’t have the wisdom to understand this, she just sees that big sister gets to stay up later and DOES NOT LIKE THIS. In fact, she got in a spot of trouble the other day from the temper tantrum she had. Why is this? It’s because her parents know more about how a child’s body and mind operates than the 5 year old does, so they make her go to bed early knowing that if she doesn’t get a certain among of sleep she will not be able to rightly handle herself the next day. This of course, is all because the parents know so much more than the child. How much more so, does God then know about us and mankind? I think every one of us (especially the guys) can say with honestly that we really don’t know what’s going on around us all the time. We don’t understand the ins and outs of the law, we don’t know why we do this or that but we know we have to, for the sake of not driving our minds mad, we create shortcuts to understanding. We may just say, we go this speed in this place because it’s the law. Whereas, we know it is probably much more complicated than that, what with complicated driving tests, countless books on data on speed and safety, and of course who could forget government road subsidies and everything that falls under that. God though, has the perfect image and understanding. It’s all under His control as sovereign and His direction. He knows the right and wrong way and desires all people to choose the right way and directs His children (who should be endeavoring to hear from Him) in the right way, His will. What is this will, well a lot of it is to follow His commands.

Remember we said the chief two are to Love God and love the brethren. By doing this, we show a proof of our love a God. In fact, the person who obeys God’s commands is doing what is right, both toward God and toward his fellow believers and is thus loving both God and them.[1]We read more about this, about the “not burdensome” part in Matthew 11:25-30. Jesus is talking here, 25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.[g] 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Jesus’ commands are not to be burdensome and weigh you down, they are to be a joy. It is a JOY to love God with all our heart it is a JOY to love the brethren and work together for His glory, this to be what we desire with every breath of our life. Brethren, make this true in your life. Put anything aside that keeps you from rejoicing in the love of God, in obeying his easy commandments. This is all of course done through the love of God that is given to us when we accept Jesus Christ’s death on the cross. To God be the glory.

Another point, God belief means victory

4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

So, what does it mean to overcome the world? It means that you have trusted in Jesus. It means that the mires of sin and death no longer have their grasp on you. Yes, your body itself will die, but it might be more appropriate to say asleep. Because Jesus (GOD) has defeated death! He overcame it at the cross! The curse of sin has NO HOLD ON YOU, WHO THE SON SETS FREE OH IS FREE INDEED! Though your body may go, your spirit lives on in delight and ever lasting perfect worship of the creator God, which is why we were even made in the first place, to bring God glory. People all over the world are looking for the meaning in live, the purpose to live. Well, here it is, to get to bring Glory to our God, that is the meaning of life. We bring glory to Him when we become a child of His, follow His commandments, and worship him rightly both now and in our eternal life. So, brothers and sisters, you have NOTHING to fear. You have the greatest life insurance a person could ever have. Your joy is assured for eternity if you are in Christ HALLILUJIA!

Through our faith, we have victory over the power of sin and death. To paraphrase what John wrote: “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.”[2]Again, we do this the acceptance of Jesus death on the cross and seeking to do the fathers will, which includes obeying His commands, and glorifying God in all that you do.

Then, John shares with us another word, another idea. A word that we have seen probably a million times in Christian walks, yet one that often times remain a mystery or almost so ethereal that we don’t really get it. I am talking about faith. Let me describe and define it here through Paul’s usage in scripture. Let’s start in Hebrews 11:1-3 11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. John then goes on to describe many of the examples of faith through the bible in the chapter, and for sake of time I will not read them all, but I encourage you all to on your own today.

Zooming to the end of the chapter, Hebrews 11:39- 40 39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised(he means that promise was still to come for them, which has come for us, the savior Jesus Christ) , 40 since God had provided something better for us (Jesus and his atonement!), that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Then, moving into the next chapter Paul continues on this thought, Hebrews 12:1-2 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (talking about the examples we skipped in 11, again check them out), let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Let us lay aside EVERY SIN and look to Jesus who perfects our faith who died horribly at the cross, God was shamed in front of man that man could redeemed. Again, here is God turning the order of the world upside down. We thought and think we are strong, we are not. We need another, we need Jesus. Jesus gives us victory, Such victory over the world entails trusting God even when it hurts, even when it seems to cost us. This is true victory, and it comes by faith: trusting God in order to obey him.[3]

Conclusion

Beloved, do you here this, does it move you!? What will it take to make it move you? Ask yourselves these questions. Honestly, do this. Write it down if you must. Do the facts of God move you and if not why? What will it take to make it move you? What needs to change? Where am I not totally surrendered to God? If you are anything like me, in my faith walk I am continually discovering areas that I wasn’t fully surrendered or just offered lip service. What do we call this? We call it sin, because it is sin to not Love God and love the brethren. Remember the main points today. God born means belief, that if you are a believer in God if you are among the redeemed, it requires faith and surrender to Jesus Christ the savior, there is no other way. Gods child means obey, obey his commandments and will in your life, which always includes loving Him to the fullest and loving the brethren to the fullest, if you are God’s child you will delight in doing this. God belief means victory, it means that you have no reason to fear, in the second you became a believer you entered into a life of victory, of victory in our chief purpose to glorify God, don’t live in fear don’t let fear motivate you, let your mighty God motivate you! Then finally and most importantly know this, God’s presence in our lives makes us overcome the world. Know this beloved apply this beloved.

For others in this room. You may not be ready for this just yet. Perhaps you are struggling with the idea of faith or even of God or even with sin. Let me be plain to you. God is real, in fact He is the most real thing. He created everything, yourself included. Through sin, we are separated from Him. Yet, He still wants us. He still desires a relationship with you, He made the way possible for this. This is through accepting the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross. All the world agrees and groans under the weight of the curse of sin. All the world know that there is a God, and now you know everything you must know to be in His love for eternity. Won’t you respond.

Brothers and sister, I love you all. Let’s conclude. Father God, thank you for this message. Move us. Motivate us. Light a fire under us. Make and mold us in way that delights in You more than anything. That delights in fulfilling your will much more than anything else this world has to offer. Strengthen our faith, put opportunities in front of us to glorify you. Make us bold to proclaim you to others. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, amen.

[1]Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Victor Books, 1985, p. 901. [2] Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Victor Books, 1996, p. 526. [3] Van Neste, Ray. “1 John.” Hebrews–Revelation, edited by Iain M. Duguid et al., vol. XII, Crossway, 2018, p. 465.