Three Tests For Authentic Christianity
Journey through 1 John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
Last week we talked about Paul’s admonition that we test the Spirits, in the next passage of scripture, John goes on to re-emphasize the need for loving the brethren. As I mentioned last week, I don’t want to deemphasize the importance of love in action, but we won’t get into a full sermon on that particular passage of scripture, seeing as how I think that as a congregation, we are doing really well here. Please take the time to read it yourselves, every word in scripture is there for a reason, and there is something it it for all of us, but in the interest of making sure we are getting the most out of each of our studies, I want to make sure we hone in topics that I think are most relevant to us as a body of believers.
As we began our study of First John, it was noted that it had a different objective than the Gospel of John. John wrote his gospel in order that one might “have” eternal life.
Yeshua performed many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book. But these things have been written so that you may believe that Yeshua is Mashiach Ben-Elohim, and that by believing you may have life in His name.
His epistle was written so that one might “know” they have eternal life.
I wrote these things to you who believe in the name of Ben-Elohim, so you may know that you have eternal life.
Throughout his epistle, then, John has mentioned the kind of things that provide evidence that one is truly a child of God, possessing fellowship with the Father and the Son.
It is clear who are the children of God and who are the children of the devil by this—anyone who does not act righteously or love his brother is not of God.
There are actually several tests that John has been applying by which we can know that we have eternal life, they are mentioned together in the main text for today’s message.
Everyone who believes that Yeshua is the Messiah is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves the one born of Him.
We know that we love God’s children by this—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. For everyone born of God overcomes the world. And the victory that has overcome the world is this—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world, if not the one who believes that Yeshua is Ben-Elohim?
In these verses there are “Three Tests Of Authentic Christianity”, and the first one is...
The Test of Belief
The Test of Belief
What kind of belief pastor? Well I’m glad you asked because the belief he advocates specifically is
The belief in Yeshua
The belief in Yeshua
But not just that he existed as a historical person, but certain things about him. Such as the fact that he is Messiah
1 John 5:1a (TLV)
Everyone who believes that Yeshua is the Messiah is born of God,
But beyond that, the fact that he was the Son of the Father.
1 John 5:1b (TLV)
and everyone who loves the Father loves the one born of Him.
Finally, a belief that he has come in the flesh (especially in light of the strong influence of the gnostics)
You know the Ruach Elohim by this—every spirit that acknowledges that Messiah Yeshua has come in human flesh is from God,
The belief that Yeshua as Messiah is the Son of God
The belief that Yeshua as Messiah is the Son of God
After all, to deny this makes one a liar and an anti-christ.
Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Yeshua is the Messiah? This one is the anti-messiah—the one who denies the Father and the Son.
Why is this so significant then? Because to deny Jesus as the Son of God makes fellowship with both the Father and the Son impossible.
Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Yeshua is the Messiah? This one is the anti-messiah—the one who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; the one who acknowledges the Son also has the Father.
Why this is important?
Why this is important?
In a nutshell, it is the very foundation for salvation.
1 John 5:1a (TLV)
Everyone who believes that Yeshua is the Messiah is born of God,
Without faith it is impossible to please God.
Now without faith it is impossible to please God. For the one who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
So then, faith in Jesus is necessary to experience eternal life.
Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins. If you don’t believe that I am, you will die in your sins.”
These are obvious though, we know these but there is one reason that isn’t as obvious but one with which we should be fully acquainted. Faith in Jesus is necessary for us to “overcome the world!”
For everyone born of God overcomes the world. And the victory that has overcome the world is this—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world, if not the one who believes that Yeshua is Ben-Elohim?
We can’t overcome the world on our own strength, we can only overcome it by the one who lives in us.
You are from God, children, and you have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
And with that kind of strength being available to use, we can do anything that God desires of us.
I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me.
Without faith in Jesus as Messiah, Ben-Elohim, the Son of God who came in the flesh, we cannot be born of God and so live so as to overcome the world! So that’s it then? Belief is the only test? Not quite. According to Jesus, and His beloved disciple John, there is also...
The Test of Love
The Test of Love
According to Jesus
According to Jesus
The teachings of Yeshua make it clear that brotherly love is a clear sign of discipleship.
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also you must love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
And moreover it was a commandment he gave us to prove that we were his friends.
“This is My commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this: that he lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you.
“These things I command you, so that you may love one another.”
According to John
According to John
John stressed that it is evidence of abiding in the light.
The one who loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.
It is evidence of being a child of God
It is clear who are the children of God and who are the children of the devil by this—anyone who does not act righteously or love his brother is not of God.
It is evidence of having passed from death to life
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death.
It is evidence of knowing God and being born of God
Loved ones, let us love one another, for love is from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
Of course, in all of this there is also John’s very persistent admonition to practice brotherly love, he goes through quite a bit of exposition, or discussion (actually three sermon’s worth) to demonstrate that it as a necessary corollary to loving God. If you love God who brings forth children then you must love those children who have come from Him!
And then of course the normal outflow of this would lead us back full circle to the conclusion that we can be sure that we love God's children (i.e., have brotherly love): by loving God and keeping His commandments
We know that we love God’s children by this—when we love God and obey His commandments.
After all, you may claim to love my brother, but if you don’t love God and keep His commandments, how can you be taken seriously?
So one who has been born of God, not only believes in Yeshua, but also loves God’s children.
In discussing the necessity of loving the children of God, John mentioned keeping the commandments of God. This leads to the third test of authentic Christianity.
The Test of Obedience
The Test of Obedience
Emphasized by John Earlier
Emphasized by John Earlier
John had emphasized this test earlier. He said it was essential to having fellowship with the Father .
If we say we have fellowship with Him and keep walking in the darkness, we are lying and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of His Son Yeshua purifies us from all sin.
He said it was essential to knowing Jesus, otherwise we are liars.
Now we know that we have come to know Him by this—if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
He taught that obedience was essential to abiding in the Son.
whoever claims to abide in Him must walk just as He walked.
He demonstrated that it was indicative of who is or isn’t a child of God.
It is clear who are the children of God and who are the children of the devil by this—anyone who does not act righteously or love his brother is not of God.
And finally, when it comes to answered prayer, well just read with me.
and whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight.
Re-emphasized by John
Re-emphasized by John
John is now saying, as we just discussed that being obedient is necessary. He starts by saying that obedience is necessary to even love the children of God.
We know that we love God’s children by this—when we love God and obey His commandments.
and then he goes on to expand on that even further by claiming that we can’t even love God without obedience!
1 John 5:3a (TLV)
For this is the love of God—that we keep His commandments.
And furthermore, they are not burdensome.
1 John 5:3b (TLV)
… And His commandments are not burdensome.
Think about it. By this time he had been serving Messiah for about 50 years. 50 years of living in a society that openly rejected him for being Meshichi (a Messianic). He would eventually be exiled to the labor colony in Patmos, and through all this, he says “His commandments are not burdensome”!
His attitude toward "commandment-keeping" was like that of David's.
It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other end.
Nothing is hidden from its heat.
The Torah of Adonai is perfect,
restoring the soul.
The testimony of Adonai is trustworthy,
making the simple wise.
The precepts of Adonai are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The mitzvot of Adonai are pure,
giving light to the eyes.
The fear of Adonai is clean,
enduring forever.
The judgments of Adonai are true
and altogether righteous.
They are more desirable than gold,
yes, more than much pure gold!
They are sweeter than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
Putting it All Together
Putting it All Together
It is in these three areas that we find proof of genuine Christianity.
Belief in Jesus as the Son of God who came in the flesh
Love for the brethren
Obedience in keeping the commandments of God
It is interesting that today many people do not have any problem with the first two (belief and love), but will often balk when told they need to be obedient to the commands of Messiah. They’ll protest by saying things like “Oh, you are just being legalistic!” or “We’r not under the law!” or even go so far as to justify themselves with scripture “There is therefore now no condemnation...”
All the while, ignoring what Yeshua flat out tells us:
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
But if we really love God and His children, if we really believe in Jesus as the Son of God who came in the flesh and died for our sins, then the commandments of the Lord will not be grievous.
Are we passing the tests of authentic Christianity? Let us pray.