AF-S73-060505 1 John L
Alêtheia Christian Fellowship (Sermon 73, June 5, 2005)
1 John 5:6-9 ~
NASB: This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. (NLT: And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross) It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. (KJV: in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth) If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son.
KJV First appearance in Greek 1521 (i-raz-mus) Erasmus' 3rd edition under pressure from the Catholic Church. Not in Jerome's Latin, but found in Latin as a footnote starting in 1100 then in the text in early 1500.
Luther's protestant Bible based on 2nd ed of Erasmus, but KJV based on 3rd.
Water & blood, birth, birth and death, death or baptisim and death which looks forward to Baptisim and Communion. The emphasis on blood also shows that the Word of God as Jesus was fully human and died, which the opponents denied. It wasn't just that the Spirit decended on Him, God called Him son and the Baptizer recognized Him as Messiah that accoplished God's work. Jesus had to take the worlds sin and die also.
A FORTIORI (ah-for-she-or-ee) Testimony of men, John & John. Paul says he didn't get his Gospel from any man.
John 5:36-44 ~
“But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me. “And the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. “You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. “I do not receive glory from men; but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. “I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?
1 John 5:10-12 ~
NASB: The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
ANTITHETICAL GREEK SET AGAINST, IF you make God a liar, you are deluded by the God of lies.
Realized eschatology because we are already in relationship and it will continue as we pass through flesh death, but if we are under the influence of lies we are already dead because our lack of relationship will also continue.
Once again it is our non-native un-natural love for each other that prove we have the Spirit, which proves we have eternal life!
1 John 5:13-15 ~
NASB: These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. (KJV: , and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God) This is the confidence which we have before (KJV: in) Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.
KJV redundant to bring it into line with John 20:31: but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
To pray in Jesus Name and to have unswerving faith produces the desired effect….
His name is in His accord, which is the perfect wish, will and desire of the Father. Romans 8:28: And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
James says a person without certain faith is double-minded and should not expect anything.
When you know God and pray for His perfect Will you know the prayer is immediately answered whether we ever see it or not.
1 John 5:16-19 ~
NASB: If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life (KJV: and he shall give him life) to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death. We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, (KJV: but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself) and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
The word is, "He," but the construction makes it clear that it is He/God not he/you and me. However, it a sense it is us if we realize it is only God in us.
The unselfish nature of true prayer! Our brother sins and what are we to do?
Love, nurture, patiently and compassionately restore through prayer.
The tense can even mean a besetting or habitual sin. These sins are not unto death because the person is a true beleiver running the race.
Sin leading to death is the unpardonable sin.
Luke 12:10 ~ 8“And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God; 9but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10“And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him.
We don't request forgiveness for what is unforgivable, but that dosen't forbid us from praying for the lost to be saved.
True beleivers cannot commit the unpardonable sin because the very nature of relationship necessarily precludes it!
This is assurance. IF, you desire God with all of your heart He will not allow anything to separate you from Him.
It is impossible for a Christian to sin unto death, which is refusal to accept the witness of the Holy Spirit. Yet we stumble and it is this which we must lift each other up in prayer for.
Romans 8:37-39 ~ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We don't keep ourselves as the KJV has it, only God can do that. However, IF we understand that Truth we can see that we keep ourselves in the sense that we allow God's love total access and keep surrendering which enables God to keep us.
This world is not our home.
1 John 5:20-21 ~
NASB: And we know 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, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, guard yourselves from idols. (KJV: Amen.)
False assurance
The unregenerate person is beguiled by the natural desire for happiness, flattered by self-love, betrayed by self-righteousness and self-confidence.
False assurance begets spiritual pride.
False assurance leads to lazy self-indulgence in sin.
False assurance leads the individual to be satisfied with outward appearances and legalism.
True assurance
True Biblical assurance begets humility.
True assurance will always lead to increased diligence in practical daily holiness.
True assurance will always lead to candid self-examination and correction by the Holy Spirit.
True assurance will always lead the believer to constant aspirations and a more intimate fellowship with God.
The special object of justifying faith is the favor of God toward us for Christ’s sake. To believe is to be assured of our own personal salvation.
1 John 5:6-21 NLT:
6And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross£—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit also gives us the testimony that this is true. 7So we have these three witnesses£—8the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree. 9Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. 10All who believe in the Son of God know that this is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son.
11And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12So whoever has God’s Son has life; whoever does not have his Son does not have life.
13I write this to you who believe in the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. 14And we can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. 15And if we know he is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that he will give us what we ask for.
16If you see a Christian brother or sister£ sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it. 17Every wrong is sin, but not all sin leads to death.
18We know that those who have become part of God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot get his hands on them. 19We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the power and control of the evil one. 20And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we are in God because we are in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.
21Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.£