Six Things To Know

Six Things We Can Know

Six Things We Can Know 1 John 5

1. We Can Know That We Love The Children of God - 1 John 5:1-5

1 John 5:1–5 KJV 1900

1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

‌

2. We Can Know That We Have Eternal Life - 1 John 5:6-13

1 John 5:6–13 KJV 1900

6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

‌

3. We Can Know That God Answers Prayer - 1 John 5:14-17

1 John 5:14–17 KJV 1900

14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

4. We Can Know Victory over Sin - 1 John 5:18

1 John 5:18 KJV 1900

18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

‌

5. We Can Know That We Belong to God 1 John 5:19

1 John 5:19 KJV 1900

19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

‌

6. We Can Know What Is True 1 John 5:20-21

1 John 5:20–21 KJV 1900

20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

I’m sure most of you remember the old vinyl records - they’re making a comeback. It is so odd to me to walk through Walmart or some other store like that and see LP’s of modern artists on the shelves. Ruby Scott a missionary with Wycliffe Translators ministered to the Tila Chols at that time a somewhat small group in Southern Mexico who did not have the Bible in their language. They were reported to be “very wicked” Ruby and other missionaries worked there for several years. Ruby was a nurse and they had a clinic that people could come and get medical help. One night as Ruby was getting ready to turn out the gasoline lantern and go to bed, a stranger appeared at the door and called from the darkness, “Are you there? I need medicine.” Ruby relit the lantern and went to the door expecting a major medical emergency. But there was no emergency. A man stood there and asked for some pills for the ‘empty-day fever’ a term they used to refer to malaria. She asked “How long have you been sick?” He was nervous not sure how to answer and finally hesitantly told her “Well, I’m not really sick” after a long pause, he mumbled, “it’s —its my grandma who is sick.” She was confused but thought she would play along until he told her what he really wanted. And started to count out some pills. While she was getting the medicine ready she asked what his name was and where he came from. Simple questions and he kind of vaguely answered he was from “way over there —beyond the mountains” and that his name was “Jose” After his answer that Ruby didn’t believe at all she asked him if he had ever heard the good news about Jesus Christ? “No,” he answered quickly. “I haven’t heard it. Tell me.” He stepped closer and listened with rapt attention to my every word. Five minutes later, after having carefully explained the plan of salvation, I asked if he understood all that I had told him. “Yes. God’s words grabbed my heart,” he said, his hesitancy gone. “Would you like me to tell you again?” I asked, knowing that it’s hard to grasp all of the meaning the first time one hears it. “Yes,” he said eagerly. “Please tell me again. I don’t want to forget any of the words.” As I repeated the entire message a second time, he often nodded and smiled. Finally, half an hour later, forgetting about the medicine, he said, “I’ll go now, but we’ll talk again.” With a shy smile he slipped out the door and disappeared down the trail. Late one afternoon about three weeks later, “Nicodemus” as Ruby came to call him again appeared at our door. He shyly extended his hand in greeting and said, “Jose isn’t really my name, and I didn’t really need any medicine when I came before. A lot of people say that when anyone comes for medicine, you tell them about the Big God who made the sun and the moon. I had heard a lot of words about your God, but I wanted to know if they were true words,” he said. Then, as if glad to get his explanation out of the way, he stepped a little closer and added, “Some people in my village say they are true words, but others say they are only ‘wind-words’ started by the foreign women.” “And you? What do you think?” I smiled. “I think they are true,” he said, “but I can’t remember them all.” He spent the afternoon in the clinic, listening carefully as I explained the gospel to each patient. He seemed to enjoy hearing it again and again. As evening approached he decided to stay overnight and attend the evening church service, his first ever. He soaked up the message and was delighted with the hymns. Since most of the older people didn’t read, it was customary for those with books to sing a verse through once, then sing it a second time, joined by the nonreading congregation. We looked on in astonishment as he lustily joined the singing. “He’s an unusual young man,” I thought. “I expect the Lord has something very special in mind for him.” After staying overnight with the pastor so that he could hear more of God’s Word, he came by the clinic the next morning to tell me good-bye. I loaned him a hand-crank phonograph and a set of records in the Tila language, each complete with a message, a hymn, and a prayer. His warm smile and handshake spoke volumes as, with a spring in his step, he started home. A couple of months later Nicodemus came for a visit. He reached into his carry-bag and took out a package. After removing the outside banana leaf wrapper, he carefully took off a cloth wrapper and handed me the records I had loaned him. “The black tortillas don’t talk anymore,” he said. Then with a shrug he added, “I don’t know why. Maybe they are tired. They have talked and talked for two months.” One quick glance provided the answer: They were worn smooth! “Yes, these have talked a lot,” I said. “Do people still want to listen?” “Oh yes, they do. Almost every night someone comes. Sometimes they bring their family or a friend to listen with them.” Then with a broad smile he added, “Sometimes the people who have listened lots of times come to sing the hymns along with the singers. They really like it when we all sing together.” I supplied him with new records and needles. As before, he attended the evening service and spent half the night talking about the Lord and learning a new hymn from his host. By daylight, with the new records and needles in his bag and a new hymn in his heart, he was on his way home which was about a ten-hour walk. ~Ruby Scott - The Black Tortillas Don’t Talk Anymore