Sermon Tone Analysis

*"Theology Matters"*

*1 John 5.13-21*

 

Have you ever wondered why studying theology is important?

Do you think that it should be relegated to the classroom?

Why would one care about such things when we are called to action?

I hope to convince and encourage you with the truth that theology is extremely important for daily life.

In fact, you already live your life "theologically."

The crucial point for the Christian is to ensure that we are thinking and living correctly according to God's Word.

And before your eyes glaze over and you tune me out because I mention words like "theology," let me also suggest that you might actually find that you will be excited about this text - and about theology.

This morning, we conclude our study in the epistle of 1 John.

It has been a fascinating study (for me at least).

I hope that you also have benefitted from this portion of God's Word.

To recount, we noted that John has set out to do two things primarily - to point out to his readers the false teachings from those who had departed from their midst and to encourage those who remain by providing assurance of their relationship to God.

In this pursuit, John refers to three tests in order to make distinctions.

He uses doctrinal tests surrounding the person and work of Jesus Christ.

And it is belief in this Jesus Christ, our obedience to his commands, and our love for our brothers and sisters that will demonstrate that we are in relationship with God.

It is not based on "empty" confession, but our actions will confirm our confession.

And, for the false teachers, the obedience and love were absent.

But for those who remained, John says that their actions should encourage them because they confirmed their relationship to Christ.

And now John concludes his letter.

Largely, John sums up much of the letter.

And in so doing, he will ground all of his remarks based upon what they know.

Something that I want to continue to emphasize is that "right living requires right thinking."

Note that it is possible to think correctly without living correctly.

Somebody can pass a theological exam and not follow through with obedience.

But we cannot live properly without thinking properly.

We are in 1 John 5.13-21 this morning.

Please turn there with me.

And we will read it before examining God's Word together.

READ.

We will look at this final portion of the letter in four points.

First point is the *Theology of Assurance*.

Can we be assured that we are saved by God?

And are truly his children?

I will begin and end with this line of questions.

Would your understanding of the assurance of salvation change (or maybe confirm) your perspective on life?

How you view circumstances and struggles with sins?

Would it provide hope for you and encourage you?

I think and hope that you would respond with "yes."

Let's investigate the *Theology of Assurance.*

We see this in the opening verse and the concluding verses - verses 13 and 18-20.

Many of these verses will include John's saying that "we know."

Did you hear it as we read it together?

I find it quite interesting that it is now fashionable to speak words without conviction.

In other words, it somehow is perceived as humility if we speak indefinitively, offering opinion, asking questions, and (whatever you do) do not promote absolutes or indicate that someone else may be wrong.

It is true that in this lifetime we will never have complete knowledge.

We will have eternity to learn more of our great God and his ways.

This goal in unachievable here and now.

However, God has given us his Word in order to communicate with us.

And in his Word is the expectation that we will understand it and obey it.

One of the primary directives it to teach and preach God's message to mankind.

If we are so "humble" to not declare anything with certainty, what does that say of God? Either he is not able to communicate effectively or he is not to be taken seriously.

The apostle John was convinced that God had given him the authority to proclaim truth confidently.

And in this section it is clear that he believes in objectivity.

And that will be demonstrated in his numerous references to "we know."

I find this tremendously encouraging that we can "know" truth about God.

Let's begin in verse 13.

In this verse, John points out the reason that he has written this letter.

And I believe that when he says that he writes "these things," he is referring to the entire content of his letter.

Some of you may recall something similar that he had written in his Gospel.

Do you remember that he did the same thing there?

In John 20.31, he says "but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

John's gospel was written evangelistically (that people may believe).

John's epistle was written to those who do believe.

"I write these things *to you who believe in the name of the Son of God.*

From elsewhere we know that salvation is only to be found in the Son of God - Jesus alone.

Despite outside pressures and strong temptations to be more inclusive, God alone determines how people may be reconciled to him.

Jesus said that he was the way, the truth and the life and that no one comes to the Father, but by him.

In the Book of Acts, Luke records the words of the apostle Peter as he was filled with the Holy Spirit saying that "there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other */name/* under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

To believe in the "name" of Jesus is to believe in his full person - all that the name stands for.

In fact, this is what much of this letter is about - a correct understanding of the person and work of Jesus.

He is God come in the flesh to save people from their sins.

And so John says here also that to those who believe in the name of the Son of God, you may know that you have eternal life.

Remember that he desires to encourage his readers in their Christian walk.

He has stated previously that "And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments" (2.3).

"We know that awe have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers" (3.14)."

In so doing, John wants his readers to be confident in Christ and not to listen to the false teachers who were trying to deceive them into thinking differently.

The false teachers did not believe in the name of the Son of God because they denied some of his core attributes.

They had fabricated a god in their own image and likeness and not believed in a biblical Jesus.

One commentator notes that "It was his [John's] readers who manifested the authentic marks of those who have eternal life: they were the ones who continued in the teaching first proclaimed by the eyewitnesses; they were the ones who continued to obey the commands of the Lord; and they were the ones who loved the children of God, which is the essential mark of those who have eternal life."

Do these things characterize your life also?

If not, do a reassessment of your confession.

If they do, be encouraged that you can know that you possess eternal life and not eternal death.

Note also that John says that we already /have/ eternal life.

We may often think that eternal life is something that will be granted when we breathe our last breath.

But the reality is that the believer in Jesus Christ presently possesses life eternal.

Look now at verse 18. John writes that "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."

I want to first focus in on the last part of this verse.

Do you hear the assurance in this phrase?

"he who was born of God protects him and the evil one does not touch him."

Whereas John's first reference to "born of God" refers to the Christian - the one who has believed in Jesus, the latter one speaks to Jesus himself.

And he uses a verb tense here (aorist) to speak to a specific event in history - namely the incarnation of Jesus.

John says that Jesus protects that one who has trusted in him.

What better hands can you find yourself in?

And this concept of the believer's protection is found elsewhere.

Perhaps you remember Jesus' lengthy high priestly prayer in John's Gospel when he recalls to the Father: "While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me.

I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled (John 17.12).

And from the apostle Peter we read, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who */by God’s power are being guarded /*through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Pet.

1.3-5).

And remember the words from Jude who wrote, "Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy" (Jude 24).