The Truth Of The Savior And Satan

JANUARY 6, 2021 STUDY NOTES I JOHN 3:7-8 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES THE TRUTH OF THE SAVIOR AND SATAN INTRODUCTION How much difference is there between a person who is saved and one who is lost? There is a world of difference, there is an eternal difference, and there must be a daily difference Is there some way to identify the difference between a person who is lost and one who is saved? In-order to identify the difference, you must learn the difference between sin and righteousness We must learn the truth of Satan and sin? We must learn the truth of the Savior and righteousness? John wants us to know the truth of both and he explains why it is so important John tells us that Satan uses false teachers to lead people astray concerning sin and righteousness But God through John is telling us the truth of sin in a person’s life We find the truth of sin in the life of the one who is spiritually lost We find the truth of righteousness in the life of the born-again believer We learn that Christians can defeat Satan’s temptation to sin and live a righteous life in Christ THE RIGHTEOUS SAVIOR 1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. “Little children” is the term that John often uses (7 times in 1 John) to identify a true child of God Christians are identified as “little children” because of their spiritual birth There is no other way to enter-into the Family of God than through the spiritual birth (John 3:3, 5-7) All Christians have been born spiritually and have a personal relationship with God John writes to warn all Christians of the deceiving works of Satan All Christians face the forces of Satan daily, Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. In-order to stand against the deceitful works of the Devil we must, Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. let no man deceive you: “Let no man” is a strong emphasis, it does not matter who that man says he is It does not matter who he appears to be or whatever he claims to be Do not allow anyone to “deceive you,” to lead you astray, to guide you down the wrong path Christians must constantly be on guard because it is possible for Satan to influence your decisions Christian, it is possible for you to step out of line and be influenced by a wrong judgment It is possible for a Christian to be deceived about sin in their daily life Satan works through his people to do that, they are known as false teachers and false prophets Satan wants to lead you astray theologically through his false teachers Satan’s people are also those who are lost, and they will lead you astray Satan wants to lead you astray morally through those who are lost, the world advertises their way of life John has warned us, 1Jn 2:26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. Satan does not want Christians to believe that they are “righteous, even as he is righteous” And because Christians are made righteous in Christ, we can now live righteous 1 Satan does not want Christians to live a righteous life So, Satan desires to deceive us concerning the truth of sin and righteousness in our daily life he that doeth righteousness is righteous, “He that doeth righteousness” describes the Christian who is living a daily righteous life “Righteousness” is the pattern of their life and refers to a habitual practice of righteousness But we must understand the true meaning of “righteousness,” according to God To live a righteous life means that you are living according to the standards of God That means, according to the standard of life that is taught in the Word of God “Righteousness” is a natural way of life for those who have been born spiritually The proof of one who has been born again is the practice of righteousness John has already told us that, 1Jn 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. Christians are “righteous,” we did not become righteous by living righteous or practicing righteousness It is impossible to be saved by our own acts of righteousness, Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: We can only become righteous through Jesus Christ, Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Righteousness is of God by faith, Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: Any sinner can become righteous by believing in Jesus Christ, Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: So, no one can do that which is righteous unless he has been made righteous in Christ Having been made righteous through Christ we can now practice righteousness To practice righteousness is to be Christ-like in our daily life (1 Peter 1:15-16) We all know that we are less than we should be as a Christians And many Christians use that as an excuse to allow them to continue to be what they are But we should realize that we can be more like Christ tomorrow than we are today There should be a strong desire in the heart of a Christian for righteousness, Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. A deep desire for personal righteousness is living proof of the spiritual birth A daily spiritual appetite is as real as a physical appetite Spiritual hunger and thirst must be satisfied every day through a life of righteousness And that is what John is motivating us to do, to be righteous as “He is righteous” even as he is righteous. Peter told the men of Israel that they had denied the “righteous,” Act 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; John said that “Jesus Christ” is “the righteous,” 1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: We are made righteous “In-Christ” and we can live righteous “through Christ” We are told to pattern our life after the life of Christ, 1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. Satan wants to mold your life after the ways of the world so that you will be an example of evil It is the righteousness of Christ in us that will defeat the devil 2 THE SINFUL DEVIL 1Jn 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Verse 8 states that which is the very opposite of verse 7, we have a direct contrast “He that commits” in verse 8 is the same original wording as “he that doeth” in verse 7 A habitual life of righteousness reveals those who are of God (vs. 7) A habitual life of sin reveals those who are of the devil (vs. 8) “Of the devil” means that the devil is their spiritual father, Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. There are those who teach that everyone is a child of God and all will go to Heaven when they die Scripture does teach the “Fatherhood of God,” but it does not teach a universal salvation As Creator of all things God is the Father of all through creation, Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. In the physical sense God is the creator of all, we all receive life and breath from God But in the spiritual sense He is not the Father of all, everyone is not a child of God spiritually Spiritually God is the Father of all true believers, those who have been spiritually born of God All who have not been born again are children of the devil and they are not a child of God “Of the devil” does not tell us that the sinner is “born of the devil,” but he is “of the devil” Meaning the sinner is of the person and character of the devil, he is as the devil is Which is true until a sinner receives Christ into their life, Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Those who are lost have only one nature, all are physically born with the sin nature, Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: The sin nature is known as the old nature of the Christian, the nature inherited from Adam The sin nature is filled with the desires of the flesh, that which is contrary to the will and pleasure of God Satan will feed the sinful nature all that it desires, that which is pleasing to the flesh, all that it likes Paul called those “of the devil” the “children of wrath,” which is in-contrast to the “Children of God” Children of wrath are subject to the wrath of God, something that we naturally deserve “Wrath” is the divine judgment to be inflicted upon the wicked at the time of the return of Christ Paul rebuked a false prophet and called him a child of the devil, Act 13:10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? As a child of the devil, he was an enemy of righteousness or everything that is right Without Christ in your life, you are under the power and authority of Satan and sin The proof that a person is not a child of God is the practice of sin He who keeps on living a life of sin, sin is the desire of their heart because they are of the devil It is not the degree of sin that identifies them but the fact of their sinful nature Regardless of the nature or degree of sin, it is all of Satan, all sin is satanic in nature Sin originated with the devil, sin is the nature of Satan, Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. To continually take part in a life of sin is to live according to the person and work of the devil for the devil sinneth from the beginning. This does not refer to the beginning of his existence Satan was first known as Lucifer, who was among God’s angelic created beings 3 God did not create sin or evil, so Lucifer was not created evil “From the beginning” refers to the beginning of his career as the devil From the very moment of his rebellion against God, the beginning of his devilish career The “fall of Lucifer” was the beginning of sin in the universe (Isa. 14:12-14; Ezek 28:12-17) He was the first one to rebel and sin against God, study the “I will’s” in Isaiah 14:12-14 He is the one who is responsible for sin Since the beginning of his sinful state, he has not ceased to sin or influence others to sin Satan was already the devil when he tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden The beginning of sin upon the earth was the “Fall of Man” in the Garden of Eden Man had the freedom of choice and Adam chose to follow Satan The fallen nature of man is because he made the choice to follow Satan The character of Satan is that he constantly is causing sin through those who follow him Jesus came to the earth because of man’s sinful state, his sinful nature as-a result of Satan’s work For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, The “Son of God” is an important title to John, it is found 7 times in this letter “Son of God” emphasizes the deity of Christ, it means that the man Jesus is the God-Man, Luk 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. His resurrection declared Him to be the Son of God, Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: John said, “the Son of God was manifested,” referring to His Incarnation, His coming in the flesh It was the “Son of God” who came to the earth in human flesh, Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Why did Jesus come to the earth in human flesh, which is known as the first coming of Jesus? John has already stated one purpose of the manifestation of Jesus Christ, 1Jn 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Now in verse 8 John gives us another purpose, that he might destroy the works of the devil. “Destroy” does not mean “to abolish” or “to annihilate,” Christ has not yet destroyed the devil We know that Satan is alive and well upon planet earth, but one day Christ will destroy him Here the meaning is to “loose,” or “release,” it means to break up or to give deliverance from Christians have been delivered from the power and authority of Satan It is not that we defeat the devil, it is Christ “in us” that defeats Satan The defeat of the devil in the individual life of the believer depends upon individual commitment Victory over the devil is determined by our personal commitment to the Person and Work of Jesus We do not defeat the devil, we allow Jesus to work in our life and defeat the devil, Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Christians are free from the power of Satan but not free from his presence or his temptations “The works” refer to the specific deeds of the devil The “works of the devil” oppose the “works of Jesus” and is known as “The conflict of the ages” Christians are delivered from the power of Satan’s evil work and given the power of good works, Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Satan’s works are the unfruitful works of darkness, Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. It is the “good works” of a Christian that will “reprove” the works of the devil 4 To “reprove” the works of the devil is to expose them or to reveal them as they truly are The good works of a Christian life bring to light the evil works of the devil Christians who consistently live a righteous life will convict those living in sin Christians living in sin oppose the purpose of Jesus coming to earth and going to the cross The “Law of God” was not given as the way of salvation, it was our teacher, it reveals our sin Through the law man becomes conscious of sin and guilt Then under the conviction of the law the sinner sees that he must turn to the Grace of God Which is why Jesus died on the cross, Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Three things are observed about the law in this verse, the law was the handwriting of ordinances, The law was against us, and the law was contrary to us The “handwriting of ordinances” was a legal document, the written and moral Law of God The law written by God declares the debt of sinful man to God So, the law stood “against us,” we were obligated to fulfill what was written against us But there was no way, we had a debt that we could not pay, the debt of sin was against us We had nothing that would allow us to stand before God justified, to stand in His Presence Sin was our opponent, in no way could we defeat sin, we were condemned by the law of sin There was no hope, no encouragement could be found within the law The law demanded judgment without mercy, our sin debt must be paid, only Jesus could pay it Paul now tells us how that our sins have been “blotted out,“ literally “wiped out” The law of sin that was against us has been taken out of the way, it no longer stands against us How can that be possible? Because Jesus “nailed it to his cross,” Col 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. This verse refers to Satan and the evil angels who followed him in his rebellion against God The powers of Satan and sin have been “stripped away,” removed from us by the blood of Jesus “Spoiled” is the same word used to describe our stripping off old and dirty clothes, to get rid of them We do that so we can put on new, fresh, and clean garments, sin is filthy and dirty Satan is the power and authority of sin, but he has been “spoiled,” stripped of his authority, Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the “That through death” refers to the death of Jesus on the cross Through His death on the cross, He conquered death and defeated the devil Jesus brought an end to the power of Satan over those who are saved The dominion of Satan is the realm of death, the dominion of Christ is the realm of life Death is the absence of life, death is when life is missing, the lost are living in the realm of death, Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Because the devil has been defeated there is now freedom to live The “fear of death” is a failure to understand the “Truth” of life, the fear of death is the opposite of faith The answer to the fear of death is our faith in Christ and His promises The greatest fear that many people have is death, they do not want to face death The fear of physical death can hold people in bondage, the fear of death can be slavery to some The slavery of fear is the work of Satan, the freedom from fear is the love of God, 1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. Jesus came to be man that He might defeat the devil and deliver us from the fear of death Think about what John has told us in the two verses we have studied When we think of what He has done we must think of what we are to do There is a song that expresses what must be done and it needs to be done today, listen to the song 5