It's for Real

1 JOHN 1:1-4 FELLOWSHIP AND JOYFUL CONFIDENCE ARE THE RESULTS OF RIGHT BELIEF ABOUT JESUS. 1 JOHN 1:5-2:2 WE ARE SINNERS AND JESUS IS THE SOLUTION TO OUR SIN— FOR SALVATION AND RIGHTEOUS LIVING! 1 JOHN 2:3-17 Obeying God And Loving One Another Reveal A Right Relationship With God. 1 JOHN 2:18-27 FAITHFULLY BELIEVING THE GOSPEL TRUTH REVEALED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT REVEALS MY FAITH. OUR RESPONSIBILITY: IDENTIFY LIES, BELIEVE TRUTH, REST IN THE HOLY SPIRITS WORK IN OUR HEARTS. 1 JOHN 2:28-3:3 CONFIDENCE IN OUR FUTURE STANDING BEFORE GOD, GOD’S LOVE, AND OUR FUTURE COMPLETE SANCTIFICATION SHOULD MOTIVATE US TO RIGHTEOUS LIVING TODAY. I JOHN 3:4-10 DON’T BE DECEIVED ABOUT THE NATURE OF SIN AND ITS LACK OF POWER OVER YOU. 1 JOHN 3:11-18 WE MUST REVEAL THE LOVE OF GOD BY LOVING OTHER BELIEVERS GENUINELY THROUGH EVERYDAY ACTIONS. 1 JOHN 3:19-24 WHEN YOUR HEART IS OVERWHELMED BY DOUBT, REST IN THE CHARACTER AND WORK OF GOD ALLOWING DOUBT TO TURN INTO TRUST YOU ACT UPON! 1 JOHN 4:1-6 DISCERN FALSE TEACHING— THE CONTENT OF TEACHING REVEALS THE SOURCE OF TEACHING. 1 JOHN 4:7-21 WE LOVE FELLOW BELIEVERS BY FULLY UNDERSTANDING THE LOVE OF GOD AND CHOOSING TO LOVE OTHERS IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE LOVE OF GOD. 1 JOHN 5:1-5 GOD’S WORK IN THE LIFE OF BELIEVERS ALLOWS THEM TO HAVE VICTORY OVER THIS WORLD’S SELFISH VALUES ENABLING BELIEVERS TO LOVE OTHERS. It’s For Real 1 JOHN 5:6-12 NKJV: 6 This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. ESV: 6 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. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. IT’S FOR REAL 1. God’s witness reveals that Jesus is God and Messiah. 6-9 2. Our personal faith is a witness that Jesus is God and Messiah. 10-12 IT’S FOR REAL, ETERNAL LIFE IS ONLY FOUND THROUGH JESUS CHRIST WHO IS GOD AND SAVIOR! APPLICATION 1. We must remain committed to the inerrancy of Scripture and to the inspiration of the original autographs of Scripture. 2. Knowing that our faith rest on the witness of God Himself gives confidence to our faith. APPLICATION 3. In our gospel witness, we must remember that the witness of God as revealed in the Word of God is our greatest witness—not creation apologetics or human reasoning. Depend on the witness of God to communicate the message of God. APPLICATION 4. In our gospel witness, we must remember that our personal witness of our faith and God’s transforming work in our life is a powerful witness to the gospel! Use it! 5. When you struggle with doubts and fears, go back to these two witnesses: God Himself and your faith bringing God’s transforming power. IT’S FOR REAL, ETERNAL LIFE IS ONLY FOUND THROUGH JESUS CHRIST WHO IS GOD AND SAVIOR! TRUST GOD: JESUS IS YOUR SAVIOR!