"ASSURANCE"

1 JOHN 5:1-3 “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. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”

>>>The first “theme” of ch 5 talks about being “born of God”-the moment God becomes Father to the person trusting in Him.

>>>As mentioned before, those born-again love others who were born-again.

ASSURANCE OF NEW BIRTH

>>>( v.1) John provides assurance of salvation believing on Jesus and loving God/others.

>>>The underlying assurance of being born of God and loving others is loving God Himself.

>>>The assurance of a new birth is obeying the commandments of God.

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

>>>John writes that those born of God overcomes (conquers) the world.

>>>How does the believer overcome the world? Faith in Jesus for salvation.

>>>(v.5) John asks a rhetorical question followed by the answer.

*Those outside the faith can never have true victory in the world. Only those in Christ are able to walk victoriously in the world.

ASSURANCE OF VICTORY

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1 JOHN 5:11-13 “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever 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, that you may know that you have eternal life.”

>>>Verses 6-10 talk about the testimony God has shared about His Son.

>>>(v. 11) This verse explains what the testimony is-God has given eternal life through Jesus.

>>>(vs.12) This is where John compares having Jesus to having life.

*Those who have a relationship w/Jesus is truly alive and has eternal life. A relationship w/Jesus=eternal life.

>>>(v.13) Notice that this verse begins w/John saying he is speaking to believers. The reason he writes about Christ and life is to give the believers confidence of their eternal life.

*He wanted the believers to be confident in their relationship w/Jesus

ASSURANCE OF LIFE

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1 JOHN 5:18-19 “We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”

>>>(v.18)John echoes what he says in the middle section of chapter three-that those who have been born again cannot continue to live in sin.

>>>(v.18)Instead, the one born of God protects himself through guarding his heart and is not even touched by the devil.

*As bad as the devil’s attacks my be, he has no real power over those who are born of God.

*He has to stand hands off the entire time he is attacking a child of God. In extreme terms, a child of God cannot ever be a demon possessed because he is “Spirit-possessed.”

>>>(v.19) Those in Christ are now from/of God while the world is under the power/domain of the devil.

*The implication is the world no longer controls a believer (victory)

ASSURANCE OF SAFETY

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1 JOHN 5:20-21 “And we know 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, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”

>>>(v. 20) Jesus has given understanding to those who believe to know the true God.

*The word “know” in this verse refers to “experience”.

>>>(v. 21) The final thing John says is for the believers to keep themselves from idols.

*Odd way to end

*Given context, Jesus being the way to the real God gives not reason to follow false ones.

ASSURANCE OF THE REAL GOD

>>>Sometimes for us to know God is the true God is to actually experience His presence. “How do I know my God is real? I’ve met Him!”

>>>No other religion claims to have met its deity (god)

*Egyptians-never met sun

*Buddhism- a man who “discovered” morals/worship of ancestors

*Islam-Muhammed had vision of “angel” not Allah

*Mormonism-J. Smith had vision of “angel” not God

*Catholics-Follow