1 John 5:1-21--KNOW

The next series will be on the topic of prayer, it’s mystery, and how it looks in the life of a follower of Jesus. Together with ideas from our prayer team we’ll explore that through June.

Then in July and August we will enter a series we need your help with.

We have pieces of paper that we want you to write your questions on, we’ll have a look at the ideas and then work through some of them this summer.

The series is

STRANGER THINGS

Weird stories from the Bible. Maybe you have been reading along in your Bible when you come across something that you just go. HUUUU?

There is a sermon that killed a guy because he couldn’t stay awake.

There is an axe head that floats.

Lighting a field on fire using foxes.

Teens getting mauled by bears after calling a guy bald.

A talking Donkey.

A left handed judge who took down a king.

a little tree was cursed by Jesus because it didn’t have fruit.

And more. What we need from you is your ideas. So on this piece of paper being handed out answer this question:

What strange / confusing / weird stories from the Bible would you like to explore this summer?

Fill it out and drop it off with the ushers on your way out.

We are conluding our series Living in the Light and are in 1 John chapter 5 today if you won’t to head their in your Bibles.

Through all of history the sayings of Jesus have turned religions on their head. Instead of us trying to get something out of God, God says, I want to give you my rest. Instead of us being afraid that we can’t measure up to God, we can come to him and receive a burden that is lighter than the one that we have placed on ourselves. Instead of God being distant we find Jesus we wants to relate to us intimately. Every so often someone is confronted with Jesus and inside them something stirs that says, “Finally here is a clear voice among all the voices out there.” Here is someone that knows me and cares about me. Here is someone who holds that words of life. I want to know this person. I can trust this Jesus.

The problem is, the world, my own desires, and the devil want to cloud that message and make it less clear.

This past weekend I traveled down for my Dad’s 80th birthday. We had a great time together. Before I left to fly back my mom brought 3 full size chocolate hammers that were given away as prizes at a party they had with brothers and sisters. I shoved them in my bag and wondered what was going to happen at security as the scanned my pack.

As I waited on the other side of security I saw a confused look pass over the person operating the x-ray. Then i saw concern. Then my pack was shuffled to the side and a security attendant came over and opened the bag herself. Looked in, looked at me, looked in again. Then asked, “Are those chocolate hammers?” I said, “Yes.” She said, “Why?” I said, My Dad turned 80, he is a carpenter.”

What could have turned into a more serious situation erupted into laughter. What looked like a hammer was a glorified chocolate bar.

Now imagine I was bringing three real hammers through security and trying to pass them off as chocolate. A different situation would have ensued.

Not such a big deal really in the end, but there is something that isa big deal. How we view Jesus. How we view Jesus matters.

Some people view him as a good teacher, a wise man, who lived a good life and died and was buried.

Some people view him as a mystic who had special powers that allowed him to twist reality.

Today some people view Jesus as a chocolate treat.

There was even a song written about by tom waits, the chorus goes like this:

Well, I've got to be a chocolate Jesus Make me feel good inside Got to be a chocolate Jesus Keep me satisfied

Even the folks in the early church were being presented with an idea about Jesus which was undermining their faith and how they were behaving in their community. Today we call it Gnosticism or in the case of this letter that John wrote, proto-Gnositcism. Not something we encounter much today but there has been a resurgence with a book called, “A Course in Miracles” which Oprah Winfrey highlighted in one of her shows. still important to understand so we have context for the letter.

In this community in Ephesus a belief system was developing which denied that Jesus was both fully man and fully God.

How it was presented was that there was a human Jesus who lived 30 years out of te spot light, then at his baptism by his cousin John the “spirit of Christ” a different being came and took over Jesus. Then, just before Jesus was crucified, the “spirit of Christ” left him and Jesus the human died and stayed dead.

Some of the core elements of this belief system were that the nonmaterial world, or “spirit” was good while anything material or physical was evil. Bring into this an idea that only few people have this secret knowledge. in their teaching Jesus could not have been fully God and fully man because God simply would not do that. Then it evolved into the idea of sin being an illusion, and the door was open for all kinds of abuses. Two of the biggest being who Jesus really was and a lack of love for each other which we have seen in the book so far. So John wraps up his letter reminding them of what is really important. We are going to attack it in two sections , then 16-21.

The clam: Jesus is the Christ

The witness: God

Committee: Readers/Us

Jesus Christ is a title: Messiah/anointed one

Our eternity rests on how we repond to Jesus.

1 John 5:1–5 NIV

1 John 5:6–12 NIV

6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Wow right. Thanks for clearing things up John. That wasn’t confusing at all.

As we look at this passage I want to start in verse 6-8. What is John talking about here? If the false belief was being spread that Jesus was just a vessel for the Christ and wasn’t fully human and fully God, then what needs to be addressed? That Jesus was the Christ from his conception through his death and his resurrection. It is a complete circle to what John was saying at the beginning of the letter.

1 John 1:1–2 NIV

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.

1 John 1:1

1 John 5:6-

John gives three testimonies to the reality of Christ. Jesus and the Christ are the same person. Christ isn’t his last name. It is his title. Christ means Messiah, or anointed one. Someone who was set apart. What was Christ set apart for?

John 10:10 NIV

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 3:16 NIV

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

In the life of Christ we see these three testimonies:

The Water

This represents Jesus baptism.

John’ Jesus’cousin said this after he baptized Jesus.

John 1:32–34 NIV

32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

John 1:

Jesus did not suddenly become God’s chosen one. He was born in that role as both God and man.

The blood:

represents Jesus death for the sins of humanity.

Romans 3:25 NLT

25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,

Jesus the Christ was killed in his role as both God and man.

The final testimony is the Holy Spirit:

John 14:25–27 NIV

25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:25-

For followers of Jesus, we are not left to our own strength or devices, we are left with the Holy Spirit living in us. God living in us. Let that sink in. That God in his grace would choose to, and want to live in you. WOW.

1 John 5:10 ESV

10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.

And the Holy Spirit was only given because Jesus was raised to life and is alive today.

Romans 8:10–11 NIV

10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

If these three are true and we know that John was an eyewitness to all of them then what John says to the believers and to us.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. The life lived out of that is a life of obedience to the commands of God. What commands did John have in mind here.

The two that Jesus gave, the ones that framed everything else.

Matthew 22:37–40 NIV

37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

We see this again and again through the gospel of John and the letters of John.

Along with this is the repeated claim that Jesus is who he says.

The claim: Jesus is the Christ

The witness: God

Committee: Readers/Us

Jesus Christ is a title: Messiah/anointed one

Our eternity rests on how we respond to Jesus.

So What?

If Jesus wasn’t God, he couldn’t pay for all of our sins.

If Jesus wasn’t human, he couldn’t pay for the sin of other humans.

If Jesus wasn’t both God and man, he wasn’t qualified to be our savior and Lord!

Hebrews 2:14–18 TNIV

14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Hebrews 2:14-

So we have this claim then.

1 John 5:12 NIV

12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Whenever we see claims like this in scripture, they confront the beliefs that may be popular but opposed to the exclusivity of Christianity. And there are many of these claims in the Bible.

Today we refer to it as The Law of Non-contradiction. The Law of Non-contradiction simply states that two opposing statements cannot be true at the same time.

In the church at Ephesus, they were encouraged to believe that Jesus wasn’t God and you didn’t need to be saved from sin because your spirit was untouchable.

Today we encounter different ideas. Like all roads lead to God. Everyone is going to be saved.

In my own life, I sometimes think of it this way. Early in my journey with Christ I visited with a Jehovah witness. Most of what they said was bang on and accurate to scripture. While we used a similar language, we weren’t talking about the same things. In the end eternity came up and it was explained to me that my eternity could have three outcomes. I would get to be with God in heaven but that only went to the really good and special people, or I would live in paradise on earth, or I could be sent in oblivion and cease to exist. But I would have a choice. after I died I could choose either paradise on earth or oblivion. So I asked, “What difference does it make what I believe now then?”

As I went away I realized that at minimum I could follow Jesus and live life well and not lose. Because if other belief systems are right I lose nothing. But if Christianity is right and choose not to follow Jesus, I lose everything. I’m not saying I use that as a reason to follow Christ because it is way bigger than that, but even if it is just an allusion, which I know it isn’t, I haven’t lost anything. Because the burden is light.

Paul talked about this in Corinthians

1 Corinthians 1:26–31 NIV

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 1:26-

How does this look in life?

1 John 5:3 NIV

3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

1 John 5:

If Jesus is who he says, and he did what he did. What is a natural response. Sometimes, I think we really overthink this and put ourselves in a spiral of thought and action that makes following Jesus hard.

But think about it. What is more burdensome? Trying it my way, or being free to live Christ’s way.

Two years ago, I was in a dark place personally. I was discouraged, I was hurting, and I was keeping it to myself. It was a selfish and unloving act not to share what was going on with those close to me. The burden was huge and I was managing it on my own.

When I finally shared it with Lisa and a few others, God was able to bring about a process of healing that I would not have experienced on my own. The command to love others was to tell them what was going on so they could show God’s love to me and bring freedom.

I’m so thick sometimes. The greater burden was walking alone. When it was finally shared the burden was lifted and shared. Imagine if we became a community where we didn’t have to hide anything in the first place because we knew we would encounter the Love of Christ first expressed through those around us.

Then John gives this encouragement.

1 John 5:13–15 NIV

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

The false teachers did not have a secret that only they knew. They weren’t special. They couldn’t treat others any way they wanted or exclude others. Why? Because every follower of Jesus can have confidence in approaching God, knowing that he will hear them. This is the same confidence we have today folks.

1 John 5:13

If my eternity depends on how I respond to Jesus, am I willing to humble myself and bend a knee to the creator of the universe, to the creator of you, of me, and surrender my life to him.

So we know that our eternity rests on how we respond to Jesus.

How does that look practically?

Lets read the last part of chapter 5

1 John 5:16–21 NIV

16 If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. 18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

1 John 5:16-21

I know what you are thinking. Sweet, there are sins that don’ lead to death!

1 John 5:1–21 NIV

1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. 16 If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. 18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

Also, what sin does lead to death? If you are worried about that sin that leads to death you haven't committed it.

We don’t actually know what sin the leads to death that John was talking about. What we do know is that while we are on this side of eternity, there is no sin that God will not pardon, except what Jesus called blaspheming the Holy Spirit found in .

We don’t actually have agreement on what that is either. Maybe this two verses are speaking about the same thing. And a wise, godly mentor said, if you are worried that you’ve done it, you haven’t.

So we have a few options, It could be a really bad sin that is unforgivable, we don’t know which one that would be though. It could be a hardness of heart like Pharaoh showed when he wanted to keep the nation of Israel in slavery and would not let them go. He refused to humble himself before God, but there were other kings who had hardened hearts, repented and were forgiven. It could refer to a sin that resulted in physical death, like when Ananias and Sapphira brought money for the church but lied about what the actually made off the land. Finally it could be final outcome of the unrepentant, those who reject God in this life.

Hebrews 9:27 NIV

27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,

One someone dies and enters eternity, it is to late to pray for their souls. Their decisions have been made.

Honestly we don’t know. What we do know is that we are called to pray for our brothers and sisters who do sin. Why? So they can be free from the burden of it and encounter the freedom that is in Christ through community. You know what that means. We should always be praying for each other all the time, because we all sin.

What John wanted to make clear to the believers was that a person saying they follow Jesus does not continue in and condone living a life of sin while at the same time calling themselves a child of God. Can you imagine the confusion being sown by false teachers who were saying, it doesn’t matter what you do with your body because your spirit is clear. So do what you want. If that was true today imagine how much more messed up the church would be. So John was telling them, don’t take that old burden on yourself again, you have been set free to live a knew way.

When you sin, confess it and continue to claim hold of the truth that you are God’s child. But never begin to condone sin in your life and call yourself a Christian. It does not work. Understand the difference. Take your sin seriously, repent of it, pursue freedom in Christ together. Pray for each other. Support each other. Know each other.

I’m convinced the true spiritual freedom in Christ is experienced as we are in relationships with each other, moving toward Christ, while at the same time having someone know everything about me and loving me anyway. Not looking past my sin, but seeing me as God’s child and a brother or sister and walking along with me in the same freedom. Doesn’t that sound attractive?

And we are moving in that direction. I’ve had a couple of conversations with people over the last few weeks who are knew to Christianity and church. They both said, “This is te first place, I felt like I belonged. Like I was in a family.”