A Life of Victory

As I studied this passage, I was reminded of the relationship John enjoyed with Christ. He was part of the inner circle, one of three that were closest to Jesus. I am convinced Jesus didn’t love those three more than the others, but they were privileged to experience events and activities the others missed.

John enjoyed a physical relationship with the Lord as he walked with Him and witnessed the many miracles He performed. John was referred to as the one Jesus loved. He was found at the last supper to be lying on His bosom.

He saw enough physical evidence to prove Jesus was the Christ, but I believe John’s spiritual relationship with Christ exceeded the physical encounters. He witnessed the empty tomb, talked with the resurrected Lord, and was there as Jesus ascended back to the Father.

John was absolutely convinced Jesus was the Christ. He knew the benefit of such a relationship and he wanted the church to experience it as well.

Keep in mind this epistle was written to the church at large. We are thousands of years removed, but it bears application for our lives as well. Just as those who received the actual letter penned by John’s hand, we would do well to heed it instruction. We need to experience a fulfilling relationship with Christ as well.

John had written to them in hopes of providing necessary guidance on how to live victoriously in Christ, not bound by the burdens and consequences of sin. He desired their focus to be upon the Lord and service to Him rather than on the lusts and desires of the flesh. I want to discuss with you what it takes to live a life of Victory!

I. The Cornerstone for A Life of Victory

Verses 1 and 2 give to us what exactly our cornerstone is And what that corner stone has to offer.

I think it would be safe to say that most everyone knows who the cornerstone of our faith is. It is no other then Jesus Christ.

So what does John tell us about Jesus Christ our cornerstone.

A. Our Advocate

(1) – My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father,...

Jesus is our Advocate. He stands alongside us in order to help in any way possible.

The word advocate means helper, one who is called to come along side in a time of need.

This pictures a friend who offers comfort and help to one who is troubled or distressed.

It pictures a commander called upon to encourage and equip a discouraged troop.

It also pictures a lawyer who pleads our case before the judge.

Jesus is each of those to us. When we sin and fail in the journey, we have an Advocate who stands with us and for us!

B. Our Acceptance

1b. Jesus Christ the righteous.

We are accepted into the beloved, not because of our righteousness which are nothing but filthy rags, but because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

You are not accepted based on your life, your lineage or luxuries

Your are not accepted based on your giving or your grandmas prayer

You are not accepted based on what church you attend or what club you are a member of.

no!!!

you are accepted based only on His righteousness

When we sin and miss the mark, engaging in activity that ought to bring punishment, we stand righteous before God in Christ.

We are covered by His righteousness.

He fully satisfied the righteous demands of God and His righteousness is imputed to our account.

When God looks at the believer, He does not see the faults and failures present in our lives; He sees the righteousness of His dear Son!

1 Peter 2:24 KJV 1900

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

C. Our Atonement

[2] And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Jesus is also our propitiation. This means He is “our sacrifice, our covering, the payment and appeasement for sin, fully satisfying the righteous demands of the Father.”

The word propitiation carries the idea of satisfaction.

Romans 3:25 KJV 1900

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Jesus Christ, by His bloody sacrifice on the cross, satisfied God’s holiness and turned away His righteous wrath from sinners.

The wrath that should have been poured out on sinners was poured out on Jesus.

The judgment that should have been experienced by sinners was experienced by Jesus.

The hell that should have been experienced by sinners was experienced by Jesus.

John reminds the church that the propitiation of Christ was not limited to just them.He was made a propitiation for the world.

As He offered Himself an atonement for sin, He appeased God for the sins of the world.

Why was Jesus made to be a propitation, Paul explains it in one verse, 2Cor. 5:19

2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV 1900

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

This one verse would be hard to explain by the following individuals:

A feminist Delores Williams who claims to be a theologian, says “There is nothing divine in the blood of the cross.” And an Episcopal bishop John Spong completely misses the mark when he says, “ Neither do I want a God who kills his own Son. Then there is Steve Chalke who is in complete error when he said that the orthodox understanding of the cross is a form of cosmic child abuse, I quote, “a vengeful father punishing his son for offence he has not committed is a twisted version of events morally dubious and a huge barrier to faith.”

How wrong these individuals are. They have no sense of there sin and have no sense of a loving God.

Daniel Akin in his expostion of 1John makes this statement

Exalting Jesus in 1,2,3 John Jesus Is Our Atonement (1 John 2:2)

the work of atonement accomplished by Christ on the cross is where God’s holiness and God’s love meet, where God’s judgment and God’s mercy kiss. Yes, it pleased the Father to crush His Son and put Him to grief (Isa 53:10), and it pleased the Father to highly exalt Him and bestow on Him “the name that is above every name” (Phil 2:9).

These things ought to comfort and challenge our hearts.

I am so glad that Christ was the ultimate sacrifice.

He was our atonement that satisfied God’s wrath.

I am glad salvation is offered to all who look to Christ by faith.

I am glad it wasn’t reserved for the Jews or for the elite in life.

I am glad there were no social or financial restrictions placed upon it. Christ gave His life for the sins of the world.

He died so that all might be saved!

I am also glad that we are made righteous because of Christ and being made righteous we have an advocate. One to go to court for us. One to dispute our case for us.

Thank God we weren't left to defend ourselves.

II. The Certainty That You Have The Victory

(3-4) – John also addresses the allegiance, or commitment, of believers. Our relationship with the Lord, or lack thereof, will be evident in our lives. Consider:

A. The Authenticity of your Conversion

(3) – And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

Have you ever doubted your salvation? Have you ever wondered if your relationship with the Lord was all it needed to be? Has someone asked you how we can know for sure we have been saved?

John knew of these questions and the uncertainty they create in our lives.

In this epistle John shares several assurances of our salvation.

This is one of those assurances.

He does not infer that we will live above sin, but there will be a continual desire in our hearts to live pleasing unto the Lord.

Our lives will be measured and dictated by the Word of God.

Doesnt Christ Himself say “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15.

 This is an attribute that will reveal itself. It will be evident in the lives of believers. We will be known by living in obedience to the Word.

Luke 6:44 KJV 1900

For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

I have struggled in the past with my eternal security. Thank God that is not the case today. I do not live a perfect life, but I do see fruit that bears witness of my salvation. It is possible to be confident in your relationship with Christ, fully putting all doubt and fear to rest.

B. The Authenticity of your Confession

(4) – He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Just as believers are known for their fruit, the unbeliever is identified by his fruit.

The lives they live confess their lack of faith and conversion.

Many today claim allegiance to the Lord, but their lives reveal something different.

He is dealing with those who profess Christ and yet there is never any confirmation through the lives they live.

If our lives are lived in continual disobedience to the Word, without any desire to please the Lord, we are deemed a liar, void of truth.

 Our allegiance to the Lord will be revealed much more by our walk and actions than through the words we speak. We can talk of the Lord all day, but our lives must also bear witness of a relationship with Him.

The Cornerstone for a life of victory

The Certainty that you have the victory

III. The Confidence to Live a Life of Victory

Being confident of this very thing, He which hath begun a good work in you shall perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

John lists two things that can give the believer confidence that they are living a life of Victory

A. The Perfection of your Love

(5) – But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

I didnt say the perfection of your life, I said love.

If you are living a life of victory you will have confidence of this through His Word.

The word perfection is a verb in the Greek meaning “bringing to completion”

John is telling his readers that if you are doing what His Word tells us, then the love of God will grow towards completion in you.

Are you keeping His Word?

Are you living up to, “Be ye perfect even as your father in heaven is perfect”?

Are you striving to live more for him each day?

Are you witnessing to those that you encounter everyday?

What has priority in your life?

You say, pastor I read and study Gods word every day.

Thats good, but it does you no good to read it and study it if you dont adhere to it.

If your life is bearing fruit for the Lord, it is bearing evidence of salvation.

Christ wants us to live victorious, with absolute assurance of our salvation. It is impossible to enjoy a life of victory when you are producing no fruit.

As we live according to His Word, His love is perfected in us. His love becomes complete and mature. We know the Lord more intimately than before. Our fellowship with Him is enriched as we grow in Him.

B. By The Progress of your Walk

(6) – He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

If you are searching for the real litmus test for salvation, I suppose this would be it.

Our lives ought to reflect the life of Christ.

Our desires and actions should reflect those of the Savior.

We all have areas of weakness and moments when we struggle, but the Christian will reflect the Savior.

It will be evident for us and others to see.

When we walk with the Lord, in a way that pleases Him, there won’t be any question regarding our salvation.

 Conformity to Christ is a huge benefit for the believer.

Our maturity in Him brings closer fellowship with Him.

Our lives are lived in light of His holiness rather than the desires of the flesh.

We enjoy continual guidance and communion with the Lord.

That type of life is noticed of others.

If we are to reach the world for Christ, we must be genuine in our walk. We will never be an effective witness if our lives don’t reflect Christ!

John 15:4–5 KJV 1900

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Conclusion:

I am sure you are well aware of the struggles we face. Living for the Lord was never promised to be a life of ease. There is much we face that brings temptation, distraction, and discouragement to our lives.

But If you have the right cornerstone, you have the same opportuity that I have to live a life of victory.

Inevitably even the best christian will fail and come short. However, we do not have to live in defeat. We can overcome and live victorious in Christ. He is more than able to supply what we need while walking this journey of life.

There is victory in Jesus, but only for those who belong to Him. We can live in full assurance of our salvation and impact the world around us for the Lord.

If you are struggling with security or particular battles in life, seek the Lord. He wants you to be productive for Him, enjoying close fellowship on a daily basis. If you have never been saved, Jesus desires to save you. He wants you to make the journey with Him as well.

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