A Christian

1 John 5:1-12

Tucker Carlson: “I just can’t believe that in the end, when it really gets intense, as it is now, that it is Christians, people that actually believe the Bible, are the only ones with wisdom, who understands what is going on. They are not shocked at all and they are not panicked at all, they get it.........the last shall be first.........the humble will be exalted........everything is opposite......victory is defeat.”

Tucker Carlson does not claim to be anything of a good christian, but this report of believers is pretty awesome testimony of a life of faith! One phrase that I thought was profound......when speaking of things getting intense, he says that Christians are the only ones with wisdom, they understand what is going on, they are not shocked at all, nor are they panicked!

Panicked is the characteristic that I want to deal with today.........to have that testimony of yourself, is to have the testimony of Christ, seen through your faith in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ and the future that is promised through Jesus Christ!

YOU ALL KNOW THAT FUTURE RIGHT?............LIFE, ETERNAL LIFE!

I want to quote a couple of verses where Jesus responded to a question from the Pharisees......Luke 17:20–21 “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Within you is the key............Ephesians 2:19–22 “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

A habitation of God through His Spirit........Revelation 21:3 “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”

Through Christ that should already exist on a smaller scale than when we are present with Him, but anything small scale in the Lord is great in comparison to worldly existence!

Let’s read our text........1 John 5:1-12..........There is a lot that is in this passage, however I want to touch on a few things from it, if not, we won’t leave this place!

Our faith is in Jesus as the Christ.......what does that mean........Jesus is the Messiah........As we read last week that the woman at the well said in John 4:25–26 “The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.”

Christ means the “Anointed One”.......Deuteronomy 18:18 “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.”

In Daniel ch. 9 he prophesies what is given by the Lord the exact timing of when the Messiah will come.

Most believe that Daniel is speaking of the triumphant entry into Jerusalem......not to get into great detail, but it is a prophecy of 483 years that transpired from when the Persian Artaxerxes decree to rebuild Jerusalem (Ne. 2).

Jeremiah 23:5–6 “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

Believing in Jesus as then the Christ and also we must believe that He is born of God!

Voddie Bauchman said this about what believe about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.....He is speaking of man being born into sin through Adam, therefore sin was upon all humanity, we are born into...... “So that, God in His goodness and His mercy, sent forth His Son, Who was not born of the ordinary generation, but was born of a virgin. Yes, the virgin birth matters, why? Because if Jesus is born of ordinary generation, His is born in sin, but because He is not born of ordinary generation, Jesus is not born in sin, He is clean of sin......Fully man, but fully God, with no sin!

Oh how important is that......Listen let us never bring Christ down to our level, our level is marred with sin, let us always go to Him!

We are nothing to be praised, but He is ever to be praised!

This is important.........

Faith is a characteristic of a Christian........Love is next on John’s list........How do we know are God’s children, we love......because our faith is in God and we know from the last chapter that God is love!

The next characteristic is obedience, keep His commandments...........God’s commandments are not burdensome (Bro James loved that verse)........man-made traditions are burdensome, but Jesus said.....

Matthew 11:28–30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Our obedience is after Christ!

The result of this life is that believers are made to be overcomers........2 Corinthians 2:14 “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” .......

Romans 8:37 “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

The word “overcomer” in the original language conveys the idea that the believer has continual victory!

Jesus said in John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

In Jesus we have peace, not in the world because He has overcome the world!

We will possibly deal with the next few verses tonight.......The Spirit testifies to the believer of Jesus Christ, the Truth! 3 bear record, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost all present at Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 3.....

Let’s move down to verses 11-12.......The testimony of the believer is life, eternal life......this is the blessing of the believer......John 3:36 “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

It is painfully obvious that eternal life/everlasting life is not down here.........I have listened and read after several faithful men of God that stated “We don’t win down here.”

Even from a self-professed horrible Christian, states that very thing!

Jesus said this in Matthew 16:25–26 “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

What does that mean? It is what Jesus said in Matthew 16:24 that sums it up.......“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

We are following Jesus, we are promised eternal life through Jesus Christ, alone!!!!!! We are not panicked!!! What a great life to live down here and to experience in the future!

Stephen wasn’t panicked in Acts 6 & 7........Turn with me a moment.....Acts 6:8-15.............

Notice.....full of grace and power.......

Acts 7:1........

Stephen used the OT to make the case for Christ!

Acts 7:51-53.............They have been refusing the coming of Christ way back......so much so they killed the prophets that spoke of the Righteous One to come.

Acts 7:54-60.......What a testimony of Christ through a believer! Are we at this place of faith in Jesus Christ!

I will leave you with this, it is always true and always good! It doesn’t necessarily mean that down here we will have a bunch of victories, but it does declare a eternal victory in Christ Jesus, within us and in the life to come! Romans 8:31-39........

Do you understand the difference of victory in Christ Jesus, than victory in this world?

“The future is God’s and not yours. God will temper whatever is necessary, according to your needs. But if you want to penetrate this future by your own wisdom, you will only reap anxiety, and the foreseeing of some inevitable ills...........as much as God upsets your inclinations, he will support your weakness in the same degree. Fear nothing and let God act.”

“Kinship to Heaven carries this benefit: Romans 8:17 “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Such a privilege lifts the Christian above any fear of suffering he might have had. For example, a few sweet meditations on this truth raised Paul’s soul into a place where the troubles of this life could not discourage him: Romans 8:18 “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Paul refused to let himself or any other Christian undervalue the inheritance or the love of God that settled this glory on him by dwelling on the severity of suffering. It is as if he asked, “Has God made us His heirs, and given us Heaven, for us to sit down and moan about a few minor problems in our short lives? How important can suffering be, compared to the vast circumference of eternity that we will spend worshipping at Jesus’ feet?”

A man confined to a pauper’s (beggar’s) spirit if he is defeated by one or two petty losses; and it is a miserly Christian indeed who cries and complains about any cross he might have in this life. We must conclude that such a person either is heir to nothing in eternity or that he has little knowledge of what is actually waiting for him. .......WILLIAM GURNALL...... 1655

1 Peter 4:12–15 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.”