2020 07 19 Morning Service

encourage One another we know that you're saying your word and Hebrew chapter 10 that we shouldn't forsake the assembling of ourselves together, especially as the times are getting worse and worse and most of us would agree that things are precarious. We live in difficult days and we are seeking your wisdom in your guidance in your direction on how to live life how to do so many different things. We need your wisdom and we need the encouragement. They comes from gathering together with one another and so this morning we want to pray for those that are not able to join us father somewhere not feeling well some are battling with the loss of loved one for whatever reason the folks are not here today, or we can meet them into your hands. I said, she would encourage them strengthen them help them to know that we are praying for them. We want to pray for some other folks that are that are ill this morning or at least struggling with ongoing health concerns. I think of Wanda Petrella. I spoke to her this week, and I know that her heart is to be here and be part of our fellowship, but just not able to do so at this time. So we can get her into your hands. We ask that you would bring her to a point where I sometime soon in the very near future. She would be able to join us for fellowship and and just a time of loving one another and encouraging one another and I know she misses being here. So I pray that you would open up that possibility for her. We think of Phyllis this morning as well obviously struggling and coping with the passing the homegoing of Carle. We're so grateful father that Carl is not suffering anymore, but he is now in your presence he is with you and in Lord, we know that Phyllis is sad about that and we're sad about that as well. But we also know that he is in your presence. She's not in any pain. He's not confused. He just is there with you loving you worshiping you and thankful for the privilege of being reunited with his his first grandson and others that he knew that went on before him. So we're grateful father for that truth that we cling to and find a great assurance and great. Hope in We also want to pray for Steve this morning who's struggling with asthma we ask that you would allow his body to cope with the breathing difficulties that comes along with that and that you would just clear those up for him and be able to allow him to join us again, even next Sunday as we worship together. We think of his cousin and second cousin Scott Allen who passed away from a heart attack father very unexpected and we just commitment you had to pray for his family don't know the spiritual influence that he's had in his life or if he knew you as his savior, but we do commit him into his family into your hands. We asked Lord that you would allow Steve and Tom in Evendale to reach out to this family and to encourage them and they communicate your love and blessings upon their lives. So Lord. We we just want to remember them and put them into your hand. There's others father that we are praying for things that are coming up Bobby share with us last week the 40 days of Life campaign that will begin this. Also, we can meet that into your hands ask for wisdom. We certainly want to be a people who represent you well in our communities and speak for life. And so are we we commit that campaign in your hands and pray for the organizers that they would I prepare well and be ready to just put forth a good program that would honor you and glorify you and remind people of the significance the importance of Life father. We are convinced because scripture tells us that all people were created in the image of God and there's a sanctity of human life. That's all life father. We know that there's a terrible plague on our society that takes life before it even has a chance to to begin living outside of the womb and that's primarily the focus of this event. But also Father there's there's the lives of all individuals and you know, we we are living in Difficult days are confusing days and there's people who are claiming or saying and crying out that this particular group of people their lives matter in another counters was well this life matters as well. And we know to you father all lives matter that's not a trait saying because we know that Jesus died for all and that his blood is sufficient to save any who will call upon his name and father were thankful that you called us that you brought us to yourself through the preaching of the gospel and we have the privilege of being in your family. We pray that you'd help us to be a good testimony good witness to others. So others can also come into your family because of the testimony that we have shared and the truth of your word has been proclaimed by the thanks for loving us. Thanks for making it possible for us to be here this morning. We ask your blessing upon a time as we continue our study and the Book of 1st John. I will look forward to hearing more about your love and how it has been demonstrated to us to your son. Jesus Christ. And whose name we pray. Amen. All right. So if you would please take your copy of the scriptures and open it to First John chapter 5 or jumping into a new chapter of this book this morning first John chapter 5 last week. We brought chapter 4 to a conclusion and you might remember that are subject last week was perfect love now. Perfect love sounds like a perhaps maybe a romantic thing or perhaps something that everybody would like to have and everybody would like to demonstrate now. We know obviously that perfect love can only be demonstrated by God in the members of the godhead God the Father God the son God the Holy Spirit, but that shouldn't stop us for striving to have that perfect love in our lives and demonstrating that kind of love to others. I thought last week as we working through the end of the chapter. It was very encouraging to hear and be reminded of a verse 17 where John said that perfect love gives us bold boldness on the day of Boldness when we stand before the Lord not boldness in our own account not bulbous because of things that we have accomplished but boldness because the Redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. Jesus died in our place saved us from our sins and has made it possible for us to be reunited and reconciled to him. We will stand before him and not have to give an account for the sins that we have committed. Why because Jesus has already dealt and paid with paid the penalty for those sins and we're so thankful for the fact that God's Grace has made it possible for us to stand before God and not give an account for those sins. That's what makes us bold because Jesus has already dealt with the same penalty. We've also looked at last week. I saw the perfect love banishes fear. Now, the fear that were talking about here again has to do and in relation to judgment, aren't you glad that you and I will not stand before God and have to give pay a penalty for the sin or endure the wrath of God that God will pour out on those who do not know him John told us that perfect love banishes all fear. We have the great. Hope of knowing that when we get to heaven. God will welcome us into his presence and when we see Jesus will become like him because we'll know him as he is. We will see him face-to-face. What a great reminder that Jesus our savior willingly paid the price was willingly separated from his father so that we would not have to be separated from him for all. Eternity, we also song verse 19 and perfect love begins with God. If God didn't love us first, we'd have no capacity to love others. We wouldn't be capable of loving him or anyone else and then finally done reminded us a perfect the fact that perfect love requires that we love others. We love our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. And we love our Brothers and Sisters in Christ because God loves them and God has commanded us he's compelled us to love them as well. In fact John told us in chapter 4 that the love that we expressed towards others is a demonstration that we indeed have this perfect love that John is talking about if we don't demonstrate that love to others then there could be question as to whether or not we really have that love abiding in us. So those are some great reminders and encouragement from chapter for this morning. We're turning onto chapter 5, if you would stand with me together, we will read First John chapter 5 verses 1 through 5. It's up there on the screen. So read along together with me. If you will first John chapter 5 verses 1 through 5. 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 by this. We know that we love the children of God when we love God and keep his Commandments for this is the love of God that we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not burdensome for whatever is born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory that has overcome the world our face. Who is He Who overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the son of God. Heavenly Father we thank you again for this passage of scripture in the richness that we find in a we ask your blessing upon our time together as we look into it. We study it we try to figure it out and make application of your words to Our Lives that we might become more like our Savior Jesus Christ. And whose name we pray. Amen. Thank you. You may be seated. Now as we read first John chapter 5 verses 1 through 5, there's some things that kind of jump out of the text at us some things that I notice is that John is showing us the proof of love the proof of love that love actually exist Love Actually accomplishes what God desires for it to accomplish as I was thinking about this and and and thinking through and and studying us out something else then popped into my mind. Now, you're you're going to probably struggle to get the connection here at first, but I'll but you bear with me and I'll help you understand the connection the thing that popped into my mind was Fellowship dinners. Guy and fellowship dinners. We have some pretty good Cooks in our church. And whenever we have Fellowship dinners, everybody is satisfied with the food that has been brought in the food has been consumed. And of course, we always start our fellowship dinners with the meal the food right? But I remember I think it was the first or second Fellowship dinner that Harvest dinner that we had after we got here and Jim Murphy member Jim he wasn't at the first table chosen to go through the line and get their food. In fact, he was probably towards the end of where they were going to go through and get their food. So what did Jim do Jim snuck over to the dessert table and helped himself to dessert first? I didn't see him do it, but then I looked over and dear old Hilda. What is over there at the dessert table loading up on the deserts? And I kind of jokingly called around I said, he'll know what are you doing over there? That's for later. And she said with the straightest face, like only Hilda can do she look at me. She said pastor. I'm just following Jim's example. And everybody cracked up desert. Okay, you come for the while maybe some of you don't like I come from the main before the main meal because that's what I like. I like meat and potatoes all I kind of stuff but maybe some of you come for the deserts in Mill wouldn't be complete without the desert right now in South Africa. We had to learn some new English when we got there. One of the new English things that we had to learn was that they don't use the word desert. I use the word pudding. Everything is pudding not to us putting his that soft stuff that you eat after you had dental surgery or something like tonsils out as only got you can't eat hard stuff. So you eat pudding right? Every dessert to them is putting maybe it's because I put custard on everything. I don't know. But anyway pudding so, you know, the pudding is what people really enjoy and we had some people that would say, let's skip the meal and let's just start with pudding. Okay, that's what you want to do start with the pudding. But then that oh, you know that old saying the proof of the pudding is in the Eating right the proof of the pudding is in the eating so I brought some pudding with me this morning.

cookies while at least one

Who wants to eat the pudding?

Any volunteers, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have touched it. I guess that's spoiled it for everybody right now. Nobody's going to eat that cookie, cuz I touched it. So you won't know if the proof of the pudding if the pudding is good. You won't know if it's as we stay over there was like her. All right. I'm sorry to disappoint you you know that if we were in normal circumstances. Normal circumstances, I would have made cookies for everybody just so you could tell if the proof of the pudding was really in the eating. I can't do that. But my wife did for me, so she's going to bring out some pudding so you can see if the proof of the pudding is in the eating anybody interested. These are by the way molasses cookies. I was out of pastors meeting one time and the pastor's wife made those molasses cookies and they were so good. I was like, oh, these are amazing cookies. Can you give me the recipe sure enough? She gave me the recipe. I've made them enough times myself that they usually come out pretty good. So this morning you get to find out if the proof of the pudding is really in the eating are they really worth eating and if they are you can tell me afterwards. Alright first John chapter 5, as you are testing the proof of the pudding we're going to continue our study in first John chapter 5, but I think you will find these if you like molasses if you don't like molasses, Sorry, can't help you. All right, if you like molasses, I think you'll agree that these are really really good cookies, but you be the judge. So this morning are text. The proof of Love is in the living like the proof of the pudding is in the eating. The proof of Love is in the living as we work our way through our texts this morning. We're going to see for proofs that perfect love is ours or is in us for proof that perfect love is ours or in us the first proof that we see is that saving faith is proof of perfect love saving faith is proof of perfect love stuff we've described and we've defined this word face many times. We believe that faith is absolutely essential in the Christian life and in our walk with God if we don't have faith in our life if we're not living by faith, then we can't really honor God with the light. That we live. In fact faith is so important that we read in habakkuk that wonderful Old Testament book of habakkuk chapter 2 verse 4. It says the just the just shall live by his faith or the just man shall live by his faith and that such an important statement that it's quoted three times in the New Testament. Paul quotes it over in Romans chapter 1. It's up there on the screen for you Romans chapter 1 verse 17, he writes this and relation to the gospel because of her 16th. He said that he wasn't ashamed of the gospel and he goes out of her 17. He says for in it for in the gospel. The righteousness of God is revealed from Faith to Faith as it is written. This is a quote from habakkuk the just shall live by faith. Paul was a fan of that verse because they're that quote from her back and because that again over and Galatians chapter 3 verse 11, he wrote this but that no one is Judge. Certified by the law in the sight of God is evident. Why is it that nobody can live out worked and become Justified before God because Paul says the just man shall live by faith. The only way to do to demonstrate your justification is to live by faith. And then the writer of Hebrews over the Hebrews chapter 10 verse 38 mentions it again. He says now the just shall live by faith. How does the just man demonstrate his righteousness. He lives by faith. So now is a good time for us to stop and pause and remind ourselves what the definition of faith is who can help me out with that definition. What is it? What do we use as a definition for face here at Calvary Baptist Church?

Okay, believing that God is able to do what he says he will do and then I order my life accordingly that's living by faith living by faith isn't isn't an existential leap in the dark. Our faith has a basis. Our faith has a resting place. We sing that I want those old hymns my faith has found a resting place not in device or Creed, but what do you know the rest of that verse but in the ever-living word the word of God is our bases for Faith Jesus Christ is our bases for Faith because he is the Living Word we have the written word and the Living Word that we live by faith. We let the word of God tell us how to live and we order our lives accordingly. What is the Nevada is Faith than what is saving Faith. Well saving faith is very similar saving faith is believing the way that I am redeemed. I am reconciled. I am brought back into a right relationship with God Is by putting my trust my believe my face if you will in the work of Christ on the cross of Calvary saving faith is believing that God will Redeem Me God will reconcile me. God will give me a right standing before him because of what Christ accomplished and why do I believe that? Why is that true? Because God said, so in his word in the basis for which we live the word of God. God says if you trust me if you trust the work of Christ on the cross of Calvary, if you believe that remember, we three first Acts chapter 4 verse 12 last week, or maybe it was the week before neither. Is there salvation in any other for their there is no other name under Heaven given among men. Whereby we must be saved. The only way to be saved is believing in the name and the work of Jesus Christ. God said, he will save us if we believe that then we have saving Faith John gives us a little extra on that definition of Saving Face in verse 1 when he says whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. If you want a scripture verse to go along with the definition of saving faith, if you're from Missouri, you know the show me state you say Pastor show me where it says that in the word of God. Well, whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. It doesn't get any clearer than that. If you want to be saved you have to believe that Jesus is the Christ So based on that phrase that statement in verse 1 Chapter 5. We see a couple of things we see first of all that I believe is what we would say trust based I believe is trust based the word believe means to keep on trusting or keep relying upon it. So the face that were talking about goes Beyond Simple Head knowledge about Jesus Christ. A lot of people know about Jesus Christ. They know that he was he claimed to be the Son of God. They know that he was a good man a good teacher and some will even agreed that yeah. Maybe he was God In the Flesh, but do they believe that do they order life accordingly? Do they change the way they do live based on that fact. Our belief is trust based amazing. We continue to trust in Jesus Christ. We continue to trust the relationship that we have started on the day of salvation and continues until our knowledge is completed John's already told us when that knowledge is complete, right John Frusciante chapter 3. It is complete when we see him face-to-face. So it's a trust based knowledge. I believe is also truth based. Trust-based and its truth based the basis for our belief is Jesus who said by the way, I am the way the truth and the life no man comes to the father except through me. So the truth that we believe is that Jesus is the Christ and other words Jesus is that long-awaited Messiah Jesus is the one that was promised all the way back in Genesis chapter 3, that would come and crush the head of Satan. It's truth base. Nothing is going to change that. Jesus is the Christ Jesus meets every requirement of the prophets. As having been sent by the father to be the Messiah to be the long-awaited one Jesus and flat. In fact claims to be the Messiah. He says I am the Messiah I am the one that you have been longing for remember the conversation he had with the woman at the well, and she said we know teacher that there's one coming who will do all of these things in Jesus said to her what woman I am chi I am the one it's truth based in order to be born of God's in order to be a true child of God. You must accept this fact that Jesus is the Christ. Let me share with you a summary from the MacArthur Study Bible on this verse. He says the sons of God will manifest the reality that they had been born again by continuing to believe in God Son the Savior the new birth brings us into And this is going to make you happy a permanent face relationship with God and Christ permanent. It's not a come-and-go kind of a sink. It's a permanent face based relationship. That's the first proof that we see that saving faith is proof of perfect love. Also inverse one. We see that love that is seen or love that is visible love that is seen as proof of perfect love now the phrase here in and chapter 5 verse one gets a little bit tricky. It's one of those phrases that we might be tempted to read over quickly and not taken all that is here. So we're going to slow things down and we're going to take a look at the second phrase in the verse where it says and everyone who loves him who begot also loves him who is begotten of him. So, Let's break it down into two phrases for small everyone who loves him who begot this tells us that the new birth in Powers love the new births that we have this this being born again. Empowers love the word begot. Can I ask you a question this morning the word begot when you hear that word what comes to mind? with that word begat

She passed it's not a word we use very much. Well, that's true. Not a word we use very much today. But anything come to mind.

received

Okay, Paul got that I think Cindy said that do you say born? Okay.

Okay. Yeah, that's what comes to my mind the Old Testament genealogy come to mind and often we say why I was even in the Bible those those things that we read named after named after named after name. Is there really any benefit in that? Well just as a little side note go ahead Sunday.

Okay.

Unique? Yep. Okay, very good. So what we think about those genealogies were tempted to just kind of you know, if you read your Bible through in a year and you get to those genealogies you're tempted to just say well, let me just turn the page on that because I mean after all I can't even pronounce those names. How can I really be that important? Well, they are important because it shows us that we Trace our Lenny Lenny is back to one person and also very important because it helps us understand that Jesus is the one who descended from the right people to be the Messiah to be the king of Israel. He has the legal right and he has the genealogical right without those genealogies that would be difficult for us to prove but we're going to read some of the genealogies not too many. Just just one verse Matthew chapter 1 verse 2 says Abraham begat Isaac Isaac begat, Jacob and Jacob begat Judah and his brothers not we could read on and see the generation from Judah all the way to This word b got it means as has been said to give birth or to bring to life vine says that he says it's used metaphorically in the writings of the Apostle John of the Glorious Act of God in conferring upon those who believe the nature and disposition of children and parting to them spiritual life. In other words, when it says that we have been begotten of God, you know what it means. It means that we are children of God. God is our father Hallelujah. We can call god father Abba Father in 1st Peter chapter 1 verse 3 Peter tells us that we have been begotten of God. He says in verse 3 blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His abundant Mercy has begotten us again to a Living Hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dad God. The father has brought. Upon a new life because of what Christ did in defeating death on the cross and then being resurrected John says everyone who loves him who we got or another words him who has given us life. God has given us a life God is the one true his son Jesus Christ that provided life for us and by providing life. What is he showed to us that he definitely loves it was done on our behalf. The proof that we have perfect love that John describes inverse for is because we have been begotten by the father. Only does it Empower but this new birth also energizes love among the Brethren members the Energizer Bunny. He just keeps going and going and going just keeps beating that drum beating that drum. You know, what as Christians were supposed to beat the same drum Jesus died for your sins. Jesus Loves You Jesus is the only way to have everlasting life. Jesus is the one who reconciles YouTube. That's the same drum. What is that drum? We can call it the gospel drum if you will and as we go through That's the drum. We keep beating. We keep repeating it. We keep teaching it to everyone we come in contact with it energizes. Love among the Brethren now John says Whoever has everyone who loves him who begot also loves him who is begotten of him down goes back to that lifestyle. He's promoted a number of times already in his epistle that being the true child of God is going that means that God is going to love other children through them if I want to demonstrate to others that I am a child of God. What's the best way to do that? I love them. To love them the way Jesus would love them to demonstrate the love of God to others this idea of loving our Brothers and Sisters in Christ must be important. How do we know that it's important? Because John says it again and again and again, I remember when we were in Bible College one of our profs told us if I say something once it's important. He didn't waste his breath and say useless things. You've heard me refer to. Carter before a very brilliant man. Who love God and His probably very true and saying he's forgot more than I would ever know guy. But. Carter said if I say something once it's important. If I say something again, it's even more important. And if I say something a third time, you better believe you'll see it again. On a Friday morning when you take that test every other week if he said something three times you knew for sure. It was going to be on a test John's repeated it several times. So, you know what we know that is important for us to grasp. We know this important for us to understand. We want to show others our love how do we do that? We love them if we are a child of God, we will love them. So I have a question for you pretend it's Friday morning at the second week in World Civ class and you're taking a test. The question on the test is how can you tell if someone really loves the Lord?

That you love others. That's the answer if you want to set it again and again and again, and now the question how do I show others that I have the love of God in Me by loving others by loving others? Well, let's move to the third proof of this love. The third proof is sustained obedience is proof of perfect love sustained obedience is proof of perfect. Love. Let me ask you a question where the cookies okay. Valgus big thumbs up really good. Would you like another one? Sorry, I didn't bring enough. But you know what? You know why the cookies were so good? Cuz we obey the instructions. We didn't just go willy-nilly and start dumping stuff into a bowl and mix it all up and hope they came out. All right. We didn't act upon our own I don't think there's enough sugar in it, but I don't think there's enough molasses. Believe me. If you put too much molasses in it. It's not going to be so nice as molasses is overpowering right? I remember the first time I opened a jar of molasses cuz I knew my grandpa made molasses cookies in the molasses cookies were so good. And I thought well it must be good just by itself. So I stuck my finger in how can anything that awful make such good cookies. You got to follow the directions yet to follow the instruction. You got to do what you told if you wanted to come out good. Sustained obedience in the life of the child of God is proof of perfect love over in the Gospel of John Chapter 14 verse 15. Jesus said if you love me keep my Commandments keeping my Commandments is not just a once-off thing but it is a lifestyle of doing what is right. It's a lifestyle of obeying what God has commanded us to obey so as we get the first John chapter 5 verse 3 John says for this is the love of God that we keep his Commandments verse 2 says that keeping God's commandment is a way to show that we love the children of God So what we have here in forestry is the Assurance of love. We know that we love the children of God when we love God and keep his Commandments John's logical nature comes shining through here. He has the answer for those who struggle and say how do I love my brothers and sisters we talked about this that's sometimes difficult isn't it? Loving our Brothers and Sisters in Christ? It's not always easy. It's sometimes very much a challenge to us, but John boils it down to just the essentials here. First of all, he says love God.

Love God right there and verse 3. He says for this is the love of God that we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not burdensome. We love God. You sure I don't have any problems loving God. I love God. And then he says live by my Commandments to show that you love me. You must live by my Commandments. We live by his Commandments. We keep his Commandments and by doing that we will be loving our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. He said in chapter 4 verse 21, he said and this is the commandant we have had we have from him that he who loves God must love his brother. Also. That's a Commandment that we keep that commandment. We keep on keeping that command as Christians we should be able to love one another even though it's difficult. Even though it's a challenging task. We should be able to love our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Why because we have a common Bond like no other and that common bond is the Life of Christ given on our behalf. Shall we love God and we love people who the song might have heard it on the radio. The lyrics at least the first couple of parts of the song. Song by Danny Gokey goes like this. I've been running in circles jumping the hurdles getting caught in that Rush of doing so much. I'm feeling kind of worn out all this checking the boxes trying to be Flawless has me had me spinning my head catching my breath too afraid to slow down ever felt like that ever felt. Like I just I'm doing so much. I'm trying to I'm trying to do this. I'm trying to do that and do it so much. I'm not really doing anything. Well, that's kind of what he's saying. I tell myself to keep this up the God wants more than just my love, but I've been complicating things. It's just like me to overthink and then the chorus goes like this got to keep it real simple. Keep it real simple bringing everything right back to Ground Zero just the essentials. What are the essentials? Cuz it all comes down to this love God and love. people love God and love people. We're living in a world that keeps breaking you feel like that. Our world is broken. And why is it broken broken? Because of sin we're living in a world that keeps breaking. But if we want to find a way to change it it all comes down to this love God and love people. That's really what John is telling us here. We must love God and we must love people. There's more to the song. If you want to hear it. You can obviously YouTube it and find it and listen to his it's a reminder that we we don't need to get caught up in all the extras of life, but we need to get caught up in loving God and loving people not loving God loving people is demonstrated in lots of different ways. And so we want to make sure we're doing those things that demonstrate we love God and we love people so we have this assurance of love and we also have an admonition to obey again. We could say John challenges us Vapor second time is Manny versus he says for this is the love of God that we keep his Commandments. Have you noticed that John has a tendency to repeat himself.

You know what? He's not the only gospel writer that repeats himself Paul does the same thing. He has the same habit memo. Paul said, he said them Flippy's chapter 3 verse 1 finally my brethren rejoice in the Lord for me to write the same thing is not tedious or not grevious, but it is safe for you. So why do John why does John repeat herself? Why does Paul repeat himself because it's safe to say the same thing again and again and again for our benefit so we get it. And we live it. I probably told you this when I talk Bible egg class and table you high one girl asked me one time. I was sharing the gospel with this public high school class again. She said pastor you told us that last time why you telling that is why you telling us that again and I said well because you haven't gotten it yet. And you're going to hear it every class. You're going to hear about the fact that Jesus died to pay the penalty for your sins. John is saying to us you need to understand if you going to show the love of God, you have to love others. You have to love people.

You might be thinking those have you ever read the Commandments of God, even in the New Testament? Have you read them? Have you tried to do them? They're like crazy hard to do is like impossible to do that stuff. Jesus knew that it would be impossible for us to do it on our own thing in our own strength remember his conversations with the Pharisees the Pharisees were like always telling other people what they had to do but not really doing them themselves. John reminded us to God's commands were not meant to be difficult. They were not meant to be grevious. They're not meant to be a burden listen to the words of Jesus. What are you talking about? The scribes and the Pharisees? He says this therefore whatever they tell you to observe that observe and do but do not do according to their works for they say and do not do for they bind heavy burdens hard to bear and lay them on men's shoulders but they themselves will not remove one of their fate will not move one of their fingers Jesus knew the Pharisees were all about show God doesn't want show from us. He wants genuine love for our brothers and sisters in the Lord. He wants us to love them to love them. We have to go the extra mile to love them. But that's what Jesus did right? More than just a mild. Jesus came all the way from heaven. Lived a perfect life on this Earth. And then died on the cross. That's a lot of extra miles to show his love. Cute God wants us to do not just talk. Joey we have to remind remind ourselves a sustained obedience is proof of perfect. Love.

We also see that his Commandments are not are Jewish or they're not difficult. They're not they're not hard to do. Let me back up and save for the one who doesn't know. God doesn't know Jesus as their Savior and yeah, they're hard to do. In fact, they're impossible to do but when the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in US those Commandments, they're not seen as difficult. They're not seen as burdensome. They're seen as ways of. Yes God. I love you because I love you. I want to do this becomes the desire of our hearts his Commandments are not burdensome. Well before is proof is this secured Victory is the result of perfect love. I don't know very many people that don't like to win. Now here's some good news. Totally not spiritual, but it's good news baseball is back.

I watch a live baseball game last night. Mark did you watch it? You did not know you're probably better off taking another chance tonight. The Mets are playing the Yankees again tonight. The Yankees, let's just say they won last night. They won't go into the details. They won. Why did why do they even play the game of baseball they play because they want to go out and they want to win. Nobody plays to lose. Right doesn't matter who you are doesn't matter how good you are you go out there every time with the hope to win. So you have Victory the Christian Life is no different. We want to have victory in the Christian Life. We want to win in the Christian Life John says if you want Victory, here's how to have Victory and Verses 4 and 5 secured Victory is the result of perfect love. I got to tell you these versus chapter 5 verses 4 and 5 and 1st John. There's some very exciting versus here. It says this for whatever is born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory that has overcome the world. Our face, who is He Who overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the son of God. Can you give me the main thought of Verses 4 and 5? What is it?

Say it say it like you are one of them. What are we?

overcomer We're Overcomers. The main thought is God has overcome and because we are children of God we have also overcome because of the work of Christ. We are Overcomers this word Overcomer is a great word that comes from the word that means to conquer it comes from the word that means to have Victory to be superior in Minnesota have conquering power. The word has the idea of genuine superiority that leads to overwhelming success. It involves overthrowing an enemy so that Victory is seen by all. Wow. When John says that we are Overcomers that's almost or is actually enough to make you shout. Thank you Lord. We sing a little chorus from time to time. I think sometimes we fall into the Trap of just using it as a Time filler, but the chorus is thank you Lord. How does it go? Thank you Lord for saving my soul. Thank you Lord for making me whole. How to remember to hit with this hand, by the way, yes, we are Overcomers because of Jesus Christ and his work in our life. So if we are Overcomers what if we overcome Why you see it there, right we have overcome the world and when John says we've overcome the world. He's not talking about the planet that we live on he's talking about the world system that Satan has woven together to deceive and corrupt Mankind and to lead us captive until to send mankind Straight to Hell. That's what John is saying. We have overcome because of the work of Christ on the cross of Calvary. You understand this right Satan and I had a conversation if you followed it on Facebook. I don't know I maybe you did maybe you didn't but I made a statement last week on I just on my page and said Beware Church Satan is on the prowl. K & A friend of mine then commented saying that Satan is bound and what would you have badass? Ketologie? You're going to end up with bad? Interpretation of other scriptures, so that's why when people say why is eschatology so important it impacts the rest of your doctrinal beliefs. Okay, so sound eschatology is important thing is not bound Satan is on the prowl Peter said Beware your adversary is walking about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He wasn't telling stories. He wasn't fooling around when he said that and that is true for us today. Satan is on the prowl, but you know what, we don't have to give in to Satan because Jesus has overcome Satan's system. Jesus has overcome sayings desire to take everybody to hell with him. He knows that's where he's going. He just doesn't want to be there alone. Well guess what those of us will put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. We are going there or or let's say it this way. We ain't going there.

Because Jesus has secured the Victory and Jesus has made us Overcomers. The final thing that John wants us to understand of in this idea of being Overcomers is this is he's God has brought it full circle in our lives. The Overcomer is one who believes that Jesus is the son of God. That's where we started this section this morning. Right? Jesus is the son of God verse 1 John said, whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God and verse 5. He says, who is He Who overcomes the world? But he who believes that Jesus is the son of God, he repeats himself, but with good reason the only way to be an overcomer is to have the concrete power cord that overwhelming success that God brings to us through Jesus Christ. And as we submit to Jesus Christ his leadership his direction for us in our life. We remind ourselves that he is indeed the Son of God he paid for my sins. To God be the glory praise you God for taking care of sin. Cuz I know I can't take care of Son Of My Life. I still struggle with sin. And so do you if we're honest with ourselves, but the more we submit to Jesus Christ. In the work that he's accomplished the more Victorious. We're going to be in living out our Christian Life. This brings us to two final things. Alicia brings two final things to my mind. If you're here this morning, you've never trusted Jesus Christ as your lord and savior, then you will never overcome Satan or the world. You're listening to us online and you've never put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ and his work on the cross of Calvary and you're struggling and you're not having victory in your your your wondering. Why can't I be victorious in my life? Well, maybe because you haven't put your face and Trust in the work of Christ on the cross of Calvary. If you haven't done that then today's the day for you to do that. Don't put it off don't keep fooling around. We we we say we've set it now for 4 months. We live in precarious times. We don't know. What tomorrow is going to bring. Did you hear on the news that in a Bible study and a church in Virginia? Somebody came in the pastor's teaching a Bible study and stab the pastor.