Following the Son

Introduction

In our passage last week there were two key verses that prepare us for our section today.

The first verse that I want to remind you of is 1 John 4:18 which says,

1 John 4:18 NIV84

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

The second verse is the very last verse of chapter 4. In 1 John 4:21 we read,

1 John 4:21 NIV84

And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

As we begin our passage today, I want to encourage us to keep these two verses in our mind!

Born of God

As we begin the 5th chapter of 1 John, John opens by reminding his readers that the ONLY way a person can be born of God is through Jesus. If you have your Bibles, and I hope that you do, turn with me to 1 John chapter 5.

1 John 5:1 NIV84

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.

John reminds the reader that everyone who believes that Jesus is the “Christ” the promised Messiah—or Anointed One is born of God. I can’t help but think that John is remembering back to the words of Jesus in John 14:6 when He said,

John 14:6 NIV84

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

You cannot have a relationship with God any other way. The ONLY way to be placed into a right relationship with God is by putting your faith and trust in Jesus alone! For Jesus is the way, He is the truth, and He is the life!

Obedience is Key!

John has been teaching his readers that without obedience to God we lack love for God! Look at the next verses.

1 John 5:2–4 NIV84

This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

Loving the children of God

Loving the children of God boils down to this: love God and carry out His commands! We cannot love the children of God without loving God, Himself! And John says loving God means that we have to obey God.

Love for God equals Obeying His Commands

1 John 5:3 NIV84

This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

1. Obeying His commands demonstrates our love for God!

2. His commands are not a burden!

The idea of the word translated “burdensome” has the meaning of not being heavy, troublesome, weighty, difficult, or oppressive.

Don’t run past this too quickly! There are a lot of people in the world that would argue this point. Many believe the commands of Scripture are overbearing, too hard, and may would say God’s commands are restrictive or even oppressive! But John says that is simply not true! In verse 4 John explains why God’s commands are not a burden!

1 John 5:4 NIV84

for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

3. Being born of God we overcome the world!

John says that everyone who is born of God overcomes the world—this word means the world’s system or world’s standards.

Every Christian frees themselves from the world’s system by his or her initial faith in Jesus. That is because faith in Jesus gives us VICTORY over the world and its trappings!

Overcoming the World is NOT Automatic!

1 John 5:5 NIV84

Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

I want us to focus on one word! Believes is the Greek word pisteuō it means to put your confidence in, to put your faith in, or to be confident in. In order to overcome the world we have to constantly work to keep our faith in Jesus.

Jesus Is Trustworthy

In John’s day, a court required the testimony of three witnesses to agree—when it did the testimony was considered valid or true! Look at verse 6.

1 John 5:6 NIV84

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.

John gives three testimonies that Jesus is the “Christ” the Messiah.

1. The Water

Most scholars believe the water represents Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. There a voice from heaven stated, This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).

2. The Blood

Jesus’ shed blood pays the penalty of our sin, while testifying to the coming resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

3. The Spirit of God

From the time of the prophets of God, they foretold of a coming Messiah. One who would once again rescue, and redeem Israel and point the people back to YHWH.

There was a teacher in John’s day that taught the deity of Jesus came and went. It came at His baptism, but left before His crucifixion. If that were true, the second part of the trinity—God the Son—did not die on the cross, rather simply the human part of Jesus was crucified. This teaching, to John, was heresy. John wants us to look at the entire life of Jesus and see that from birth to death, burial, and resurrection He was God incarnate, Emmanuel—God with us!

John is going to build on this idea in verses 7-9.

1 John 5:7–9 NIV84

For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son.

When we come to verse 10, John reinforces the importance of a faithful holding to the testimony about Jesus.

1 John 5:10 NIV84

Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.

When we put our faith and trust (belief) in Jesus we receive God’s testimony written in our hearts.

By contrast, anyone who does not believe God’s testimony—the testimony of the Holy Spirit, the water, and the blood—says God is a liar.

Life comes through our belief in God’s testimony! That is what the last two verses of our passage today are all about! These two verses hold the key to our assurance of our salvation. It comes through a simple question. Look at verses 11 and 12.

1 John 5:11–12 NIV84

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

John says this is the testimony—the evidence, proof, or demonstration that God has given us eternal life!

This life, comes through Jesus—God’s Son! So whoever has the Son of God as part of his or her life has eternal life. But whoever doesn’t have the Son of God in his or her life—does NOT have eternal life.

So the question today that each of us must answer is simply this:

QUESTION: Do you have the Son of God in your life?

YES—If your answer is, “Yes” then you have eternal life.

NO—But if your answer is “No” then you do not have eternal life, but rather will face eternal condemnation.

QUESTION: So, what is your answer to this question?

If you don’t have Jesus—God’s Son, our Messiah in your life, then I implore you to ask Him to be a part of your life today.

If you’re not sure how to do that it is really simple—it’s not mystical, nor is there any specific words or formula to say.

All you have to do is talk to God. Tell Him you know you are a sinner—you’ve sinned, and admit that you need His forgiveness, tell Him that you are putting your faith and trust in Jesus today!