THE CHARACTERISTIC MARKS OF THE BELIEVERS

THE CHARACTERISTIC MARKS OF THE BELIEVERS- 1 John 5:18-21

We come to our last sermon of 1 John. To me, it is like reaching the last episode of a show. You have become attached to the characters and their lives. You know that an end is coming, but when it arrives there is always a hint of sadness.But our end of this study of 1 John should not bring sadness. In fact, I hope it does the opposite (and not just because you are tired of 1 John!!). I hope that it has inspired us to return Back to the Basics. John addresses the fundamental issues involved with being a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ. These can be boiled down to two primary points: doctrine and practice.Throughout John’s epistle, his letter to believers, he has repeated incredibly deep and practical concepts. We will not rehash them here, at least not in the chapter and verse fashion that has repeatedly appeared in our study.Rather, we are going to summarize the entire letter with these remaining four verses. In fact, I think these last verses provide an excellent “season ending” episode. We started this letter on the 5th of January, when there was no COVID-19, when Clemson was scheduled to play in the championship game on the 13th of January, and everything seemed so different.We have canceled on campus services, worshipped with Ora ARP in the parking lot, and have slowly returned back to the inside, though certainly not back to normal. Yet, I find that the encouragement, commands, and exhortations offered by the aged apostle John have been remarkably pertinent. It has been a solid rock that has brought me personally through this odd and uncertain time. And I hope it has some the same for you.As we turn our attention to this “season ender,” I think John provides us with the Distinguishing Characteristics of the Believer.

I. BELIEVERS ENJOY A CONTINUAL VICTORY OVER SIN- 1 John 5:18

One characteristic of the believer is an enjoyment of continual victory over sin. This is what John discusses in verse 18. Notice his wording, “does not keep on sinning.” They do sin, unfortunately. We sin, equally as appalling. John wrote the letter that we may not sin, but if we sin we have an advocate.

The difference between a believer and an unbeliever is not that one sins and one does not sin. To borrow an analogy from football, it is not that the New England Patriots do not lose and other teams do. The Patriots lose as well, just not nearly as much.

Christians do not keep on sinning. They fall, they are tempted and give into that temptation, but they do not keep on sinning. They experience sorrow, godly sorry (2 Cor. 7:10), and eventually they repent. Now, there is no telling how much time passes in between the sin and repentance. John does not offer any additional clarification, and I am glad for that. Because we all respond differently.

The connecting point, though, is that believers will eventually respond. They will eventually go to their Advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous. They will not keep on sinning.

But John provides us with a wonderful and humbling insight: it is only by God that we do not keep on sinning. He remarks, “he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.” He is providentially protected by God, both from sin and Satan. That is why believers are characterized by a continual victory over sin. Sin and Satan cannot overcome the believer because God protects him!

II. BELIEVERS ARE DIFFERENT THAN UNBELIEVERS- 1 John 5:19

A second characteristic of the believer is that they are inherently different from unbelievers. Believers are from God, a point that John reiterates repeatedly in this letter. This knowledge comes on multiple fronts, but it is all based on the believer’s origin from God (most evidently seen in 3:1-10).

There is a marked difference between believers and unbelievers. Think about the difference between a jock and a nerd. A nerdy will have glasses, may wear bow ties, has a smaller, less-muscular frame, and always has a book. A jock is bulky, wears tighter shirts to display the muscles, and is always carrying a ball.

There are stark differences, visible differences, between nerds and jocks. The differences between the believer and unbeliever are even starker. We come from God, God graciously saved us and changed us. When we were dead in trespasses and sins, God brought us to life in Jesus Christ. When we lay under the power of the devil, God gave us victory through the devil-destroying victory of Jesus Christ. When we were sinners, God made Him who knew no sin to be made sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God.

Unbelievers lie under the power of the evil one.

III. BELIEVERS DISPLAY BY A GROWING INTIMACY WITH GOD- 1 John 5:20

IV. BELIEVERS ENGAGE IN TRUE WORSHIP- 1 John 5:21