1 John 5:1-13 – 1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. 2 We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. 3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. 6 And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross – not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony. 7 So we have these three witnesses – 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood – and all three agree. 9 Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. 10 All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son. 11 And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. 13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. (New Living Translation)

How We Lighten Our Spiritual Load?

1. The burden of disobedience is lightened by expressing our love for God with obedience to His commands

2. The burden of discouragement is lightened by trusting in God for spiritual victory

3. The burden of ____________________ _________________

are lightened by receiving God’s ______________________ about Jesus.

1 John 5:5-9 – 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. 6 And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross – not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony. 7 So we have these three witnesses – 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood – and all three agree. 9 Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. (New Living Translation)

• What has been some of the “conflicting claims” you have encountered that have challenged your faith?

• How have you responded to these “conflicting claims?”

• How can you keep these “conflicting claims” from burdening you spiritual journey?

4. The burden of ________________________ is lightened by knowing where we __________________ with God.

1 John 5:10-13 – 10 All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son. 11 And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. 13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. (New Living Translation)

• What brings uncertainty and doubt into our lives?

• How is it that we can be so sure about many biblical things in our spiritual journey and still have uncertainty about where we stand before God?