Known Part 2

Known Part 2

1 John 5

Intro

We are in the last week of our series called “Known” where we are looking at how we can know that we know we are in a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

So how do you know if your faith is real?

What if it’s just a myth, like the things you read in fantasy books?

What if you have just talked about it so many times that it has become “truth” in your mind, but it’s not truth in your heart?

Scripture

We want to be KNOWN by God, so how do we know if we are?

1 John 5:13 (ESV) “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Application

Known people affirm sound doctrine.

1 John 2:20-24 (ESV) “But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.”

John teaches that no true believer will fall into any serious, Christ-denying error or heresy.

This does not mean you’ll get all the theological viewpoints right.

You may have varying opinions on Calvinism, dancing, end times, etc., and that’s ok.

Ex: Do your best dance move & then ask who thinks that was wrong? As Christians you can think that was ok or that it was wrong. It will be wrong on a different, that’s just not right, type of level!

Can two of you be Christians & disagree on Calvinism, end times, or dancing? (Yes.)

This verse does mean you’ll affirm every doctrine correctly dealing with Jesus as Christ.

Liars deny Jesus as Christ (even calls them anti-christ).

You can’t claim to have God but deny Jesus as Son.

Ex: You can be a Christian & think dancing is a sin. You can also be a Christian & think dancing is ok. But you can’t be a Christian & think Jesus was just a prophet (Jewish/Islam). You must affirm Jesus as Christ.

2.Known people seek after holiness.

1 John 2:29 (ESV) “If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.”

If you have a relationship with Christ, then your actions will become more Christ-like.

1 John 3:3-4 (ESV) “And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.”

If your sin doesn’t bother you, then you don’t really have hope in Jesus.

This isn't talking about sinless perfection or even the frequency or duration of our sin.

“Sin” is describing someone who lives an immoral, ungodly & unrighteous life continually.

If you really “hope in Him” then you would act like Him.

Ex: If you like an athlete/musician then you will try to act like them. You’ll dress & talk like them because you think so highly of them. Give an example.

1 John 2:6-9 (ESV) “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.”

No one “in Christ” tries to live differently than Jesus lived.

If you are consciously seeking out & practicing ways that are different than Jesus, then you are “of the devil.”

If you have a relationship with Jesus, you can’t continue to want to sin & it crushes you when you do.

You have no desire to sin because you know it breaks your relationship with Jesus.

3. Known people have the Holy Spirit.

This is an overarching test that sums up all of the others.

Is there evidence the fruit of the Spirit is present in your life?

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Do these fruit exist in your life?

By the way, it’s the “fruit” not the “fruits” meaning it’s all of these that are signs of the Holy Spirit inside of us. Not just a few of them or even just one.

If you belong to Jesus, then your flesh/sin has been crucified with Him on the cross.

Your fleshly, worldly desires have been put to death.

You won’t want to sin and you won't want to reject God’s laws.

If we have the Spirit, then we’re called to live in holiness.

Closing

Our assurance of salvation does not need to be based on a past decision or an experience.

It should rest first of all on one’s faith in the objective truth of God’s Word, Jesus Christ, and the gospel.

It should also rest on the reality of a changed life marked by obedience, a love for Jesus and His righteousness, and a hatred for sin.

Take heart if these things are true in your life, and trust God to continue to work out His salvation in your life.

If you are unsure of your salvation, then talk to someone.

Provide the opportunity for students to pray or talk with someone, & also surrender their life to Christ.