1 John 5:1-5 Overcomers winterblast

1 John 5:1-5 Overcomers

Have an arm wrestling competition Seahawks vs Patriots

Last week we spoke about fear standing confident without fear. This week we are going to talk about the natural result of not being afraid on Judgment day the Overcomers.

I have to tell you. I like to think of myself as an athlete, but I was moderate at best. The only MVP I ever recieved is in elementary school, I consistently won around the world in math class. However, I loved the game of basketball. I played basketball all the time. I lived on the court all the time. I was ok and I played on my varsity basketball team. I like to brag to my students that my basketball teams were the best that ever played. We would double the other teams score. We filled our school’s bleachers and in my high school gymnasium our banner years still hang today and the trophies are still in the glass case.

I can’t sit here and tell you that those are there in any part because of me. Sure I played on the team but I think the team would have been just as good if I never played the game. Sure they gave me a jersey and I played the game, but I can’t take any credit for the team winning.

The theme of 1 John is assurance of fellowship.

1 John’s Purpose Statement:

1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

I really like the writing style of the apostle John. In my mind John’s books read like a text book. They have a purpose, the systematically defend the purpose and give instructions on how to apply that purpose to your life. 1 John’s purpose is the perfect follow-up to the gospel of John

The Purpose statement of the gospel of John:

John 20:31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

John wrote His story of Jesus which has a singular purpose I want you to fall in love with Jesus like I did and believe beyond a shadow of doubt that He is the Son of God and if you believe you will go to heaven. Believe in Jesus and Recieve Eternal Life. 1 John follows that up so well. Ok I understand you wonder am I really going to heaven I want you to KNOW that you are a Christian!

You can have confidence at the rapture.

1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

I want to show you that as we have been taking this journey, John keeps reminding you. I am writing this so you can be confident. Confident at the rapture.

You can have confidence before God.

1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.

I love that verse which has become a song, a song I love. For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto him against that day. As I have been going through 1 John with you. I have stopped and listed to what John has said and tested my faith. It has made me stronger in my faith. Helping me know that when I stand before God, and He asks why should I let you into my heaven my answer will be simple and firm. Not by works of righteousness which I have done but because of the mercy purchased by His blood on the cross. Not my righteousness but HIS!!!!

You can have confidence on Judgment day.

1 John 4:17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

So I ask you this question. If you were to die today? Are you ready for judgment day? John wants you to leave this book with confidence and this chapter seeks to do that by giving you one of His classic tests: Are you a believer in Jesus Christ? Than these three things are evident in your life

3 evidences that you are born again:

1 FAITH

2 LOVE

3 OBEDIENCE

I am giving you the list because the three are going to overlap in the next three verses, but none the less John is asking you do you have these three things evidence in your life. He gets specific, it is not faith in faith or worldly love or you are an obedient dog.

1 Faith, that Jesus is the Christ, is evidence that you are saved.

1 John 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.

The evidence that you are born again is that you have come to a very real faith in Jesus Christ that He is the Son of God. In the language here this

“BELIEF” is an ongoing faith, not a one time thing.

I make this distinction because there are some people that for one day say, I think Jesus is God, but they quickly abandon that. This is the evidence that you are saved. The temptation when you here something like that is to think about someone else. Johny came to Sunday School and he lived for the LORD for like a day but he has no faith today. That isn’t John’s point it’s about you! Remember Jesus parable of the sower. Is your faith Growing! or has it been snatched by birds or choked by thorns. This is the evidence that you are genuine alive born again vibrant Christian.

Are you born again?

John 3:7 Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again.”

I echo the words of Jesus, are you born again? I didn’t ask are you Christian or do you go to church, I asked are you born again? Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ

2 The Love of God is evidence that you are saved.

1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.

This is a perpetual theme in the Bible. In other words, it is something that just keeps on coming at us. In this book in the words of Jesus in the words of Paul. Christians have God’s kind of love. Love is the evidence that you are saved. Not just loving people you like. Loving like Christ loved. Loving when it is difficult, loving others is vital evidence that you are born again. It is important to understand that all three of these are intertwined. If you have FAITH in God, than if you believe He is God, His words His commands matter above all else. If His words matter and He is God than we obey them that is evidence that you have faith and if His command is to love than you love, because He said so and do what he says because he is God end of story. I will tell you this I have struggled with certain things I would call Christian liberty issues. Is it ok to eat bacon? Should a Christian fix a fire on Sunday? Should you have a Christmas tree? Should you get tattoos or play cards. That is not what this verse is talking about. This is talking about the commands of Jesus, the words written in red, do you obey His commandments. The law can not save you, but obeying God’s commands, especially His command to love is the evidence that you are saved, it doesn’t earn your way to the cross, it evidence that you are a life that is saved.

3 True Christians keep Jesus’ commands.

1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

Here are some of Jesus commands,

Turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, go make disciples, pray and do good to your enemies, take up your cross daily, forgive completely as you are forgiven. I believe that I have had someone push back on every single one of those. They are all summed up with LOVE The LORD with all your HEART and LOVE your neighbor as yourself. Christians shouldn’t have a problem with these. I have had people say to me, I don’t think I can do good to my enemies I will avoid them, I have had people say I can forgive but I won’t forget, I have had people question attempting to disciple make and they talk about these commands of Jesus as they are burdensome. As you grow in the LORD, these get easier. Think about what Jesus did, they struck Him on the cheek and he endured the cross with joy. He wronged Him and He forgave us! So completely that He invites us to His home heaven and remembers our transgressions no more. Jesus asked you to do the same. These things ring in the back of my mind. The more I surrender to them, the more I feel the fellowship with Christ.

Don’t try to be good in order to earn heaven, it will be a weight you can’t carry.

Matthew 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

If you get it backwards, you can’t carry the load. I am convinced Jesus is the answer to the LAW. He fulfilled the LAW that you can’t. So if you try to follow a list of dos and don’ts you can’t earn your way to heaven, the weight of the job will crush you. Do you notice that when I read the list of commands a minute ago. I did not say the Christian does not play with playing cards, they don’t go to the movies, they wear ties on Sunday, they don’t start fires on Saturdays, they don’t get tattoos, they don’t have Christmas trees. I will tell you why I read that list.… Because those are all things that people try put as a standard to earn heaven or God’s favor. When I say born again Christians, follow Christ’s commands, I don’t put any of those on the list. I will tell you what some of those I do and some of those I don’t and I have my reasons, and you should have yours and Christian your reasons should not be my opinion but based on you understanding of the scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit prayerfully considering things. I look at these as Christian liberty issues. BUT When Jesus commands something, OBEY IT! End of Story! Here is another thing His commands align with the 10 commandments. If you LOVE God you won’t take His name in vain, IF you Love you brother, you won’t commit adultery with his wife. But my point is Jesus commands aren’t a weight, that man if I don’t wear a tie to church on Sunday I am not going to heaven. For the Christian Jesus commands aren’t a heavy burden around your neck.

Jesus commands are not burdensome.

Matthew 11:29–30 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

If you are a born again Christian Jesus commands are second nature. Love and Forgiveness. Making disciples are as comfortable to you as you left thumb they are second nature. If you sit there and make excuses, I can forgive, but I can’t forget. Or you say God helps those who help themselves so I won’t go the second mile for them, or you refuse to turn the other cheek you aren’t vulnerable enough to try and make disciples. Either you have to ask God to change your heart or examine to see if you are really saved. I know that I feel like a Christian the most, when I humble myself to serve my enemy with love or I give a Christian brother or sister a hug when they need it most. Or if someone asks for forgiveness and it doesn’t take me a second to forgive, it doesn’t make me a good person because none of those things used to be natural but He made them natural.

True obedience is an continual thing.

John 14:15 If you love Me, keep My commandments.

John 14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.””

John 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

Just like our belief in God is a continual thing the believers love is a continual thing. The language about our obedience tells us that it is a continual thing. We don’t get to obey on Sunday and start living like the world on Monday. We have the continuous relationship with him and it is getting better all the time.

God’s commands are not mysterious.

Deuteronomy 30:11 For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off.

In Deuteronomy 30 the prophet Moses gives Israel the choice obey and be blessed, chose life, or don’t and chose to be cursed. It was all very similar to John’s words here but He makes a very interesting statement God’s commands before you aren’t mysterious. Neither are Christ’s. If you read the words in red they are clear as day. LOVE FORGIVE MAKE DISCIPLES LIVE RIGHT LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE GOD AND MAN PRAY FOR YOUR ENEMIES! He isn’t hiding his commands. Are you following them? They are a barometer of if you are born again

So what’s the big deal about being born again?

Those who are born again are overcomers.

1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Overcomer - To conquer, overpower or triumph over the enemy

The Christian has three enemies.

1 The WORLD

2 The Devil

3 The Flesh

In Christ we conquer all three. The world is not this beautiful creation of God but the world system of the devil. The devil is Lucifer the serpent of old the Dragon Satan Himself the first who will throne in the lake of fire and our final enemy the flesh that old sin nature that keeps us from heaven and causes us to fall under the slavery of sin.

Jesus is the first overcomer!

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

When Jesus died on the cross and Rose from the grave. You have to put those two together. Than He overcame the world. He defeated our big three enemies first. That even happened outside of time. And it’s ramifications extended outward to eternity past and eternity future.

We have conquered the world because of Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

I love that phrase more than conquerors, overcomers. But I don’t give the credit to myself. Remember I have only ever won a game of around the world. I can’t even win a basketball game by myself. I only win, because of Jesus. He is my champion. I win because He won!

Our trophy is eternal life.

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

After Jesus tells us that He was victorious over the world. He tells us in that same breath, that the prize that we receive is eternal life. Eternal life in Him who lives forever.

Real Victory is for those who have been born again.

1 John 5:5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Have you been born again? 3 questions Do you believe, not just one time thing but ongoing, Do you Love? Do you obey? This isn’t what saves you. You are saved like that, but this is the evidence that you are saved? If you are born again, you are an overcomer! You belong to Jesus! You are victorious you have eternal life. One of the biggest moments in my high school carreer was cutting down the basketball nets. So what, I have a trophy gathering dust, whoopdie do? Pointless, BUT I HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN! My Jesus is my champion He has over come our trophy that He won is that crown in heaven. Nothing compares. That will last forever. I didn’t do a thing, I am not the MVP but He the coach says hey scrub get in the game take up your cross and follow me, and in that I find myself more than a conqueror!