Victorious Faith
Notes
Transcript
Overcoming the World Through Christ
I. 1 John 5 Triumph and Victory Through Christ
I. 1 John 5 Triumph and Victory Through Christ
A. Greeting and setting the context of 1 John 5:1–8
As we gather together today, I'm reminded of the countless stories of triumph and victory that echo throughout the pages of Scripture. From the courageous stand of David against Goliath to the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, the Bible is filled with accounts of God's people overcoming insurmountable odds through their unwavering faith in Him. And today, we dive into the heart of 1 John 5:1–8, where the apostle John paints a vivid picture of what it means to live with victorious faith.
II. The Foundation of Victorious Faith 1 John 5:1-3
II. The Foundation of Victorious Faith 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.
A. Belief in Jesus as the Christ
We know from not only this passage but from many others that belief is the necessity for salvation. This is the essence of faith, it is what you believe, and when you believe you trust in what you believe and trust is where faith becomes alive and shines forth. John here in chapter 5 starts with that, everyone who believes has been born from God, not just belief in God, but in the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God, three persons, dividing of the persons but not of the substance, not three God’s but one God, in three persons. Even knowing all of that still only sets the ground work for John in his gospel writes this.
1. The essence of true faith John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
- This Gospel, encapsulates the essence of true faith in one profound statement: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Our faith begins with a recognition of God's love for us, demonstrated through the sacrificial gift of His Son. It is this belief in the redemptive work of Christ that forms the foundation of our victorious faith.
2. Born of God through faith John 1:12
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
- In the opening chapter of his Gospel, John declares the transformative power of faith: "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." Through our faith in Christ, we are born anew, adopted into God's family as His beloved children. This intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father is the source of our strength and security in the journey of faith.
B. Love for God and His commandments
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
Faith not only in knowing who God is but also what he has done for us, and by knowing this it changes us and creates in us the want to obey God and keep his commandments.
Again we have to be careful we put this in the proper order, not putting works at the evidence of faith, but faith becoming evident through this faith that is created by knowing what God has done for us in Christ.
Jesus leaves us with this in John 13
1. Love as the hallmark of discipleship John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Jesus, in this farewell discourse to the disciples, gives them a new commandment: "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Love is the distinguishing mark of true discipleship, demonstrating our relationship with God and our unity with one another.
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
2. Obedience as evidence of genuine faith (John 14:15
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
Jesus emphasizes the inseparable connection between love and obedience: "If you love me, keep my commands." Our obedience to God's commandments is not a burdensome duty but a joyful response to His love and grace.
This stood out to me even as I have read this hundreds of times that his commandments are not burdensome. For I believe this is one of the stumbling blocks for the world to hear the message of the gospel, it stems from this idea, that many believe that Christians are mere rule followers, that somehow through Christ we are able to keep the law better, that somehow through choosing to come to church that we are endowed with some special revelation that allows us to become perfect. Meaning that in order to become a Christian, we have to put off all worldliness, not sin anymore, and just become dull and not have any fun anymore, giving up every vice.
Of this were only true, then we would be like every other religion of the world, telling you what you need to do in order to come to God, or enlightenment, or what the is that you are trying to obtain. This speaks to that idea of religion versus relationship, I found this picture that describes it well.
It is more than that, the idea of just a relationship apart from religion isn’t exactly correct, but its a matter of true religion verses false religion. Any religion of works, is a false religion, thinking that somehow some rule, or even a choice you make, or something you do is what all religions of the world teach, but true religion is marked not by what we do, but what God has done for us through Christ. Then the relationship is a result of belief, of what God has done. Thus John goes to this next...
III. The Nature of Victorious Faith
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
Christ commandments are not burdensome for being born of God we overcome the world, we are victorious not of our own strength or power, but because Jesus overcame the world.
A. Overcoming the world
1. The victory secured by Jesus Christ John 16:33
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Jesus, in His final moments with the disciples, assured them of victory despite the tribulations of the world. In Christ, we find ultimate triumph over every trial and challenge.
2. Triumph over the powers of darkness Colossians 2:15
He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Through His death and resurrection, Christ disarmed the rulers and authorities, triumphing over them. Faith in Christ enables us to walk in this same victory over the forces of evil.
B. The sufficiency of faith in Christ
1. Faith as the assurance of things hoped for Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
- Faith is not mere wishful thinking but a firm assurance of the promises He has made to us. It is the confident expectation of victory in Him.
Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
2. The power of faith to move mountains Matthew 17:20
He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
It isn’t just faith alone, but who that faith is in, what it is in, the victory won by Jesus Christ through his death burial and most of all resurrection.
IV. The Assurance of Victorious Faith
IV. The Assurance of Victorious Faith
This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
A. The testimony of the Spirit, water, and blood
1. The Spirit as the witness of truth John 15:26
“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
Jesus promised the coming of the Holy Spirit who would testify to the truth. The Spirit bears witness to the reality of Christ's victory over sin and death. Not just the Spirit but the water and the Spirit as Jesus talks about in John 3:5-8
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Jesus is talking about baptism
2. Baptism is a regeneration Romans 6:3-4
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Baptism is our union with Christ in His death and resurrection. Meaning that we are united with him in His victory over sin and our new life in Him.
For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.
Baptism is through the water, that when we are baptized, we are dying to sin and the old self and raised to new life in Jesus and in that new life we are given the Holy Spirit, then we share in the body in the bread and the blood in the wine. These all attest to the truth of God word, that word that became flesh and dwelt among us, thus it all is pointing to the person and work of Jesus Christ, for you.
B. Embracing the testimony of God
1. Faith that overcomes doubt James 1:6
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
James exhorts believers to ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. Victorious faith trusts in the reliability of God's promises.
2. The importance of holding fast to the truth 2 Timothy 1:13
Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Paul instructs Timothy to hold fast to the pattern of sound teaching, guarding the good deposit entrusted to him. In a world filled with falsehood, holding fast to the truth of God's Word is essential for maintaining victorious faith.
V. Living out victorious faith in daily life
V. Living out victorious faith in daily life
A. Living out victorious faith in daily life
1. Overcoming trials and temptations 1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
God is faithful and will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. With every temptation, He provides a way of escape so that we can endure it. Victorious faith empowers us to overcome every trial and temptation we face.
2. Walking in victory through the power of the Holy Spirit Galatians 5:16
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Paul encourages believers to walk by the Spirit, and they will not gratify the desires of the flesh. The Holy Spirit enables us to live victorious lives, bearing the fruit of love, joy, peace, and more.
B. Encouragement to embrace and share the victorious faith
1. Testifying to the transforming power of Christ Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
- Jesus commissioned His disciples to be His witnesses, starting from Jerusalem and spreading to the ends of the earth. Our testimonies of God's faithfulness and victory in our lives have the power to impact others and draw them into relationship with Him.
2. Proclaiming the hope we have in Him (1 Peter 3:15)
- Peter encourages believers to always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks for the reason for the hope that they have. Our victorious faith in Christ gives us a hope that transcends circumstances and shines brightly in a world filled with darkness.