1 John 5:18-21 (2)

The Beautiful Benefits That Knowing the Son of God Produces

Introduction:

Thank you for having us, I bring you greetings from Grace Bible Church in Hutchinson, Ks. Where it is much cooler but no we are enjoying being here. Over the past couple of years my family and I have traveled on missions trips to Brazil and Monterrey Mexico and now here to Laredo. And something I needed to invest in was one of those “doorbell” cameras. Have you seen those? If someone comes to the door it alerts our phones so we can see who is there. It also lets me know when the neighborhood cat comes walking by or the trash truck. Does anyone have one of those? For some reason knowing that if anyone comes up to our house and I can see them break-in brings me comfort. There’s not much I can do from here but when we’re home it makes a feel a little more protected. Isn’t that what we all want? To feel protected. That’s why we moved to the country, to be separate from the city, and mostly to feel as though I am preserving my family’s life.

The desire of mankind to feel protected, separated, and safe is a desire given to us by God. Many people from all over the world come to the United States because where they came from they may have lived in a house with no windows or doors, unprotected. They may have had to live in the midst of crime, violence, and drugs, not separated but connected with that misery,. And every day they would wake up not knowing if this was their last day, truly unsafe. And yet they come to the United States, and see that not even here are we truly protected from crime, separate from evil, or safe from harm.

This brings us to the Apostle John, who bears a pastor’s loving heart and who declares promises and benefits for all who have been born of God, not only in his gospel but also in this letter we receive as “1 John”. He describes the benefits of knowing the Son of God, specifically protection, separation, and salvation.

In his lectures on 1 John, Martin Luther declared, “I have never read a book written in simpler words than this one, and yet the words are inexpressible.” His fellow Reformer John Calvin remarked about the author, “At one time he admonishes us in general to a godly and holy life; and at another he gives express directions about love. Yet he does none of this systematically, but varies teaching with exhortation.”

Knowledge of God is not hidden, he has revealed it through his word and through his Son. But Richard Baxter says this about knowledge, “Remember that as it is Christ’s work to teach, it is yours to hear and read and study and pray and practice what you hear. Do your part, then, if you expect the benefit. You come not to the school of Christ to be idle. Knowledge drops not into the sleepy dreamer’s mouth. Dig for it, as for silver, and search for it in the Scriptures as for a hidden treasure.”

Let’s read the text and pray for the Lord to help us dig for this knowledge this morning.

**READ/PRAY** PLEASE STAND FOR THE READING OF GOD’s INSPIRED and INERRANT WORD…MAY GOD BLESS THE READING AND TEACHING OF HIS WORD

Plural Noun Proposition: In 1 John 5:18-21, John makes known to you, three beautiful benefits of knowing the Son of God. Do you know him? The three benefits are: Protection, Separation, and Salvation.

First Benefit: You Know That God Shields You From the Evil One v.18

18 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.

Well the first way that God shields you from the evil one is:

You Have Been Born Again (From God)

We…know…

John begins this epilogue with a familiar phrase...”we know.” He uses this phrase 14 times in this short epistle. “We” or “Us” or “Our”, perfect first person plural pronouns. He is addressing believers. We who believe, we who repent, we who have faith, we who love what God loves, we who obey God’s commandments. Throughout this epistle John addresses “us”

I remember when I was not one of “us”. Some of you may remember a time like that? I didn’t know the Lord and this letter was not for me. Us…if you haven’t believed, if you haven’t received the gift of repentance and faith, if you don’t love what God loves, and if you don’t press on to obey God, then friends…you are just like I was, you are not one of “us”. You are not included in the “we”. John is not writing to you. You are not part of those that know. But there is a good news.

Romans 10:9–10 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

When you do that you become part of “us” or “we”

1 John 2:3, “and by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments

1 John 3:2 “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

1 John 3:16 “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”

We football team illustration, that’s how some people who claim that they are Christian’s are. They say ‘we’ but they are not on the team, they are spectators. They are not in the game. And as soon as their faith is tested. They are quick to take off the jersey and switch to another team.

We think we know a lot of things on our own, do we not? For instance, we know Laredo gets hot in the summer, the spring, the fall, and the winter. Some of you know how to file taxes on your own, some of you know how to paint, some of you know how to sew, but listen to Augustine

Humanity, potential with God

All great knowledge is this, for a man to know that he himself by himself is nothing; and that, whatever he is, he is from God and on account of God.

Augustine of Hippo

Do you know this? Do you believe this? That everything you are is from God. If so then you have knowledge.

that everyone…who has been born of God

All believers have been born of God, in other words “Born Again”. John says that “We know that everyone who has been born of God…everyone that has been born again”

In John’s gospel he speaks of being born again in John chapter 3 with Nicodemus but even in the beginning of his gospel in John 1:9–13 “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Those who believe have been born of God

Does not keep on sinning

1 John 3:9 “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.”

However in the LSB, CSB, NASB95, and the KJV instead of does not practice sinning or does not keep on sinning, they translate the Greek word as “does not sin” and in the text we just read 1 John 3:9, it even says “and he cannot sin.”

You say, “Yeah I get it but even keep on sinning, kinda means the same thing. Because I sin everyday.”

ii. John mentioned this earlier in this same letter, in 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Only the born again believer will be able to see their sin for what it is…the debt that Jesus paid with his blood.

The second way God shields you from the evil one is:

Your Savior Protects You From the Evil One

But…(because) He…who was born of God protects…him (you)

1 John 5:1 “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.”

“But” in contrast or unlike you, who is still in your body of sin, Jesus, who was also born of God, protects you

There is a play on words here. Everyone who was born of God and He who was born of God. John uses this structure to communicate how believers can identify with Jesus.

In Jesus’ high priestly prayer Jesus says in John 17:12 “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.”

This protection is not a physical protection. It is not a financial protection. Although, God does care for his sheep in these ways. But the protection is spiritual and eternal. It is protection from the evil one.

Martyrs Illustration 2014 Isis

But God protected their faith and their salvation, they never wavered

1 Peter 1:3–8 “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, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,”

And why can we be confident and express joy even through trials?

And the evil one…does not touch him

Touch. This word in the Greek expresses a touch which exerts a modifying influence upon the object it’s touching. So don’t think of like an attacking touch, more of like when you have your AC on in your car and it gets a little chilly and you gently move the vent in another direction. So as to take its aim off of yourself.

You see Satan can be resisted , with the help of God the Holy Spirit, and by the sovereignty of God.

James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

1 Peter 5:8–9 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”

Satan’s power is limited

Job 1:12 “And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.”

Job 2:6 “And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.””

Luke 22:31 ““Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,”

Jesus resisted Satan

Matthew 4:1–11 “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus sai…”

Hebrews 2:18 “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

God protects his elect from satan

2 Thessalonians 3:3 “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”

John 17:15 “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.”

And God protects you by providing you with spiritual armor Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Remember, this armor is spiritual, it protects your faith and your soul

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.”

Some of you are part of “us” or one of the “we” that John is addressing in this letter but you feel unprotected by God. Life has hit you pretty hard. You have faith but oh how weak it is. You want to believe more in the goodness of God but from your childhood and maybe even now, life seems too much to bear at times. Well, friend, you are not alone. This is the human condition, the human life here on this earth.

My kiddos have just moved into separate bedrooms. Since birth they have been together in the same bedroom. At night they always had a nightlight on. For some reason that little light in the darkness gave them comfort, by focusing on the light they are able to rest. In the same way, when you are hemmed in on every side, with nothing but despair and darkness, remember the light, look to it, look to him.

John 8:12 “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””

Will you follow him?

Application: Therefore how should you live if you know the Son protects you?

You must be bold and present Christ to a dying world that desperately needs to hear their Great Shepherd’s voice. Are you fearing God or are you fearing man? Fear God and share your faith, call your lost loved ones to repentance and faith, so that they will be with Christ and with you in glory one day!

Friends, if you have been born of God, he who was born of God protects you. He has given you the light of life. Trust in him and this promise in v18. But that’s not all, not only does your Savior protect you from the evil one but he also sets you apart from the evil one and the world.

Second Benefit: You Know That God Sets You Apart From the World v.19

19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one

You Lie in the Power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:16)

We…know…that we…are from God

Romans 8:16 “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,”

For believers, God the Holy Spirit is the one who regenerates our hearts, and sanctifies us with his power by indwelling in us. At the new birth, God grants believers new life and a new identity in Christ. Separate from the identity we had in the world. John calls this the “new birth” John 3:3 “Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”” , while Paul calls this regeneration a “new creation”, 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

When you lie in the power of the Holy Spirit, you are not given a secure worldly life, you are given a sealed eternal life, a life forever with God in everlasting peace. This power that indwells within you will keep you and preserve you until the last day.

Most Christians are not joyful persons because they are not holy persons, and they are not holy persons because they are not filled with the Holy Spirit, and they are not filled with the Holy Spirit because they are not separated persons.

The Spirit cannot fill whom He cannot separate, and whom He cannot fill, He cannot make holy, and whom He cannot make holy, He cannot make happy!1

A. W. Tozer

You see, joy comes from holiness. Knowing that God has separated us not only from the world, but also from death.

James warns believers about worldliness in James 4:4 “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

Friends you are from God, you lie in the power of the Holy Spirt, you know longer lie with the whole world, that lies in the power of the evil one

You No Longer Lie in the Power of the Evil One

The whole world…

Does it seem like the world is fallen? Sin seems to be throwing the world off the rails, does it not? I could make a list of all the things that are sinful in the world today but is it really that different than it has always been. The world has been fallen since Genesis 3 and continues in the power of the evil one.

John tells believers earlier in this letter of 1 John 2:15–16 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.”

1 Corinthians 1:21 “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.”

In response to an article in The Times of London entitled, “What’s Wrong with the World?” Chesterton replied, “I am. Yours truly, G.K. Chesterton.”

We want to make sure that we don’t see the world as the enemy only, but also the mission field. Let us remind each other that we have been saved only by God’s grace alone, not by works so that none of us can boast. Therefore, look to others with compassion and empathy and go to them with the truth of the gospel because they are lying under the weight of sin and the power of the evil one.

Lies in the power of the evil one

Whereas believers are made alive in Christ, born again by the hand of God, the world remains lying powerless, unable to rise, in the hand of the evil one. This is a Greek idiom for “is inside the hand of” and has a sense of being a servant of the one whose hand they are inside of.

Ephesians 2:1–3 “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

2 Corinthians 4:4 “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

I remember lying under the power of the evil one. Anyone else? I lived only to please myself. I lived only for my own desires and wants. I kinda cared about others but only if people saw me care. But God…being rich in mercy…showed me that although I spoke like a goat, and walked like a goat, and acted like a goat…I had always been a sheep, his sheep. And when I heard my Saviors voice, he drew me and I came running into his loving arms. He apprehended me with his love and grace.

Separation Illustration: My kids have a lot of toys. They have grandparents that buy them everything. Throughout their short little lives they have accumulated action figures, dolls, and stuffies. About once a year we go through their toys and tell them it’s time to donate some of them. They begin to separate toys they want to keep from the toys they are willing to part with. There is one item though that has always been and probably always will be separate from the others and that’s Steven, my son’s teddy bear. He received it when he was sick one night in the Emergency Room from a nurse. It’s been next to him in his loving arms ever since. In the same way believer, your heavenly Father came to you while you were sick, dead even in your trespasses and sins, and by his grace and mercy he has set you apart from the world, just like Steven the teddy bear. Yet although Steven the teddy bear will disappear one day, God has set you apart for eternal life into his loving arms.

Application: Friends, let me ask you this…are you part of the world or has God separated you? Are you under the power of the Holy Spirit or are you still under the power of the evil one? Are you living with one foot in the church on Sunday and the other foot in the world for the other six days? Then maybe you are a sheep pretending you’re a goat like I was or maybe you are just a goat. Headed for destruction. Either way listen, the world is passing away, everything here is temporary, and will dissolve one day. Therefore make today the day that you stop casting lots with your soul and run to your Redeemer. Repent pretenders and place your faith in him and love his church and the lost enough to go to them with the good news. That’s why God has set you apart.

So not only does God shield you from the evil one, and not only does he separate you from the world and the evil one, but he also saves you with truth and understanding from the Son Jesus Christ.

Third Benefit: You Know That God Saves You With Truth From the Son v.20-21

20 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. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Your Savior Gives You Knowledge of What’s True

The Son of God has come…

John 5:25 ““Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.”

Whatever the world thinks it knows and has discovered, Christians know that the Son of God came in the flesh. And God has given believers the mental capacity to attain knowledge of the true God. This is why we can in our hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks for a reason for the hope that is in us, and do it with gentleness and respect (1 Pet 3:15). Our defense is that the Son of God has come.

Given us understanding…

John 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Why?

So that we may know…him…who is true

Jesus is the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through him, and he has given you understanding of this

The Preacher’s Notebook: The Collected Quotes, Illustrations, and Prayers of John Stott The Hindu Understanding of Sin

Dr. Anandkumar said at Bermuda [in January 1978]: “A Hindu will never admit that he needs a Saviour. Not because he doesn’t acknowledge he’s a sinner, but because he believes he can save himself—by Karma, by bhakti (devotion, dedication and duty to God) and by ceremonial washing. Vivekananda said ‘it’s a sin to call a man a sinner.’ ”

You see that’s the difference between “us” and “them.” Every false man made religion believes that it is up to the individual to save themselves, even Jews believe they must keep the law. But Jesus has made himself known to us…why? Because Christians believe that we need him. We know that we cannot save ourselves. We can’t bridge the gap between “us” and God. Not only is the distance too far but our sin is too great. We need him. Do you need him? The only reason you believe that is because Christ has granted you that understanding, so that we may know him as our true Redeemer.

We are in him…who is true, In his Son Jesus Christ…

Here in 1 John 5:20 and in 1 John 1:3 John bookends this letter with the full title “his Son Jesus Christ.”

He is the true God…and eternal life

Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

John 20:28 “Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!””

The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge Chapter 20

The disbelief of the apostle is the means of furnishing us with a full and satisfactory demonstration of the resurrection of our Lord. Throughout the divine dispensations every doctrine and every important truth is gradually revealed; and here we have a conspicuous instance of this progressive system. An angel first declares the glorious event; the empty sepulchre confirms the women’s report. Christ’s appearance to Mary Magdalene showed that he was alive; that to the disciples at Emmaus proved that it was at least the spirit of Christ; that to the eleven showed the reality of his body; and the conviction given to St. Thomas proved it the self-same body that had been crucified. Incredulity itself is satisfied; and the convinced apostle exclaims in the joy of his heart, “My Lord and my God!”

He is eternal life

John 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

For they who shall be heirs of eternal life, are chosen by the celestial Father to be children in Christ; and when chosen, they are committed to his care and protection as their shepherd.

John Calvin; John Owen

Illustration: I remember when I was younger, all i wanted to do was grow up. When I was little I had to go to bed early and I thought I can’t wait until I grow up, I’m gonna stay up all night. When I was little I had to get a ride everywhere, and I thought I can’t wait until I grow up, I’m gonna get a car and drive anywhere I want to. Man it felt like it was going to take an eternity before I grew up….Now I’m grown up. I go to bed early and I hate traffic. What we think is eternity isn’t even close to what God is saying here. It’s forever. And soon, some of us sooner than others, will enter into that glorious eternity. Perfectly sanctified by the Holy Spirit, Redeemed by Christ, and Forgiven by the Father. What a gift he offers in himself to you.

Application: How should you live knowing that you have received the gift of eternal life? You should cherish such a gift and praise the Lord with thanksgiving and also…

You Must Keep Yourselves From Idols

John finishes up this letter with a little application for you, he says:

Little children…

John uses this phrase “little children” to his beloved readers of this letter. He uses it 14 times in this letter in 7 verses.

Keep (protect) yourselves from idols (your own works, or imaginary gods)

The word Keep is similar to the word protect in v18. It has the sense of guarding. It is in the aorist, rather than the present imperative, is used to make the command more forcible, although the guarding is not momentary, but will have to continue throughout the life of the believer.

John is reminding you to guard yourself from Idols or anything that takes your gaze off of Christ. Idolatry throughout the bible always had to do with man putting other “gods” before the true God Yahweh. And all idols are false, worthless, and man made images made of wood or literally our sinful imaginations.

Paul reminds the Corinthians and the Thessalonians the same thing, flee from idolatry. And with the help from God, you will.

When I think about John writing about protection, separation, and salvation, I can’t help but think that he was thinking of Jesus.

When he was on the cross, He cried out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”, our Redeemer, unprotected from the wrath of God, so that those words will never have to leave your lips, Christ suffered unprotected so that he might protect you for all eternity.

When he was scourged he was surrounded by the Praetorian Roman guards. Trained executioners, experts at knowing how much blood needed to be left in the human body in order to carry a cross to be crucified without dying first. They tore our beloved Savior’s skin, exposing his bones, and muscle, ribbons of flesh fell to the earth he created. He was hemmed in on every side while they mocked him and hammered a crown of thorns on his head. Surrounded by evil sinful men so that he might separate you from death and unite you with the Father.

And finally, Luke tells us that Jesus called out with a loud voice and said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Jesus being fully man took his last breath and died. But for you believer, on your last day, after your final inhale, and exhale on earth, your eyes will close and immediately your next inhale will be in heaven, breathing in the full glory, radiance, honor, perfect love, worship, adoration, thanksgiving, brilliance, forgiveness, and delight. And with your first exhale, with all the power of the Holy Spirit, you will declare the Lord as , “Holy, holy, holy, is Yahweh almighty!”

Therefore since you know this truth, go and remind those who have forgotten and tell those who desire protection, separation, and salvation, that God sent his Son and it’s through him, that they can receive these beautiful benefits that come from knowing him. Protection, separation, and salvation. Repent and believe.