The Test Of Salvation
Notes
Transcript
August 11, 2021
STUDY NOTES
I JOHN 5:1-2
BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES
THE TEST OF SALVATION
INTRODUCTION
In the first five verses of this chapter, we find ways to test our spiritual life
Are we living a victorious Christian life? We can find out in the beginning of this chapter
We can answer that question by putting our life to the test according to these verses
We have the following tests: The Test of the New Birth (vs 1) The Test of Love (vs 2)
The Test of Obedience (vs 3) The Test of Victory (vs 4) The Test of Faith (vs 5)
Each test is identified in one verse and then expounded upon in the next verse
John begins verse one by identifying the evidence of the “New Birth” experience
We have “The Test of the New Birth” in verse one, John says, “everyone that loveth him”
Then in verse two we have the “Test of Love,” John says, “keep his commandments”
Then in verse three we have the “Test of Obedience”
John says, “His commandments are not grievous”
In verse four we have the “Test of Victory”
John says, “this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith”
In verse five we have the “Test of Faith,” believing that “Jesus is the Son of God”
The victorious Christian Life begins with the New Birth experience
The evidence of being “Born Again” is the love of God, obeying God, and living by faith
John reveals to us the victorious life of those who overcome through faith, love, and obedience
TEST OF THE NEW BIRTH
1Jn 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that
loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
The first test of a victorious life is the “New Birth,” the experience of salvation
The victorious life begins with salvation and God offers a “whosoever will” salvation
John says, “whosoever believeth” which includes all who will believe and excludes none
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a “whosoever” Gospel, no sinner is excluded, Joh 3:16 For God so
loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.
Any and-all sinners can put their faith in Jesus and be saved, Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call
upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
But “believeth” must be understood as “Biblical Belief” and not merely mental intellectual assent
Even demons affirm the fact of God’s existence, Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God;
thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
There are people today who evidently believe in a “magical messiah” (Read Acts 8:9-25)
Evidently, they think that there is magic in the things that identify with Christianity
They buy a Bible but never read it, they wear a cross but have never personally been to the cross
They memorize a prayer, but prayer is not a way of life for them
They say they love God but do not praise Him, instead they use His name in cursing
“Biblical Belief” means that you are convinced of truths related to sin and salvation
You are convinced that you are a sinner and need to be forgiven of your sins
You believe that Jesus is the only one who can forgive you of your sins and give you a new life
So, you become the “believing one” and entrust your life unto Jesus Christ, Rom 10:9 That if
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thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath
raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
In 1 John 5:1 when John says, “whosoever believeth” he is referring to the one who has believed
The person who has believed and experienced the new birth continues to be the “believing one”
Continuing to believe in Jesus is not the means of eternal salvation, but the evidence of salvation
John is going to show us that once we have believed, we can now live as a believer, 1Jn 5:13
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may
know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
“Biblical Belief” is a heart acceptance of everything that the Bible says about Jesus Christ
Beginning with the belief that “Jesus is the Christ”
that Jesus is the Christ
Believing that “Jesus is the Christ” is a most important Biblical Truth
The purpose of the writing of the gospel of John is to believe “that Jesus is the Christ”
Much more about Jesus could have been written in the Gospel of John, Joh 20:30 And many
other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
But there was enough written so that the purpose of the gospel account could be fulfilled,
Joh 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;
and that believing ye might have life through his name.
John established two facts that must be believed: Jesus is the Christ and Jesus is the Son of God
In John’s day and in our day, there are those who deny that the man named Jesus was the “Christ”
John calls them “antichrist,” 1Jn 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?
He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
If God is the Father, there is no doubt that “Jesus is the Christ”
“Jesus” is the human name of the Christ, the name that directs our attention to His humanity
Jesus is “the Christ” who became 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.
He was named Jesus because He came to be our savior, Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son,
and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
John has already revealed how important it is to believe that Jesus is the Christ, 1Jn 4:2 Hereby
know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of
God:
“CHRIST” is His official title and identifies Jesus as the “Promised Messiah”
The early church taught that Jesus was the Christ, Act 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every
house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
The only way to be “Born Again” is to accept Jesus as the Christ
The Ethiopian eunuch was qualified to be baptized when he confessed that Jesus was the Christ,
Act 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and
said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
To believe that “Jesus is the Christ” is to be “born of God”
is born of God:
John speaks of the truth of the spiritual birth which Jesus said is a “must,” Joh 3:7 Marvel not
that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Jesus had told Nicodemus why, Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say
unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Satan has sought to destroy the true meaning of “born again, it is now used with many meanings
The advertising world and the entertainment world use born again in different ways
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It is now used in reference to a comeback from a bad experience, resulting in a fresh start
The Biblical meaning refers to the spiritual birth of one who receives Jesus Christ as their Savior
The spiritual birth is as real as the physical birth, Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say
unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
God.
Jesus explained the meaning of “born of water” in the next verse, Joh 3:6 That which is born of
the flesh is flesh; (born of water is flesh birth) and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
The meaning of “born of God” assures the saved of an eternal salvation
Jesus had answered the question of Nicodemus, can I be unborn physically and then born again,
Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the
second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
No one can be unborn physically and no one can be unborn spiritually, or lose their salvation
To be “born of God” means that you have become a “child of God,” Joh 1:12 But as many as
received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his
name:
John has already taught us that God dwells in those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, 1Jn 4:15
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
The spiritual birth is the basis for all that John has to say in 1 John 5:1-5
The New Birth is the basis of faith, love, obedience, and spiritual victory
The evidence of being “born of God” is a life of righteousness, 1Jn 2:29 If ye know that he is
righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
Another evidence of being “born of God” is love, God’s love in the believer
and every one that loveth him that begat
The first test of a victorious life is the “New Birth”
The second test of a victorious life is the “Love of God”
“Everyone,” is the same word translated “whosoever” in the beginning of the verse
The thought is that “everyone” who loves is the same as “whosoever believeth”
The “Love of God” comes with the “New Birth,” the believing one is also the loving one
We are born into the love of God at the time of our salvation
There is no limit placed upon the one who believes, or no limit placed upon the one who loves
One sure sign of the new birth experience is the love of God within us
We love “Him that begat,” which is God the Father who loved us
Having received God’s love within we now love God who so loved us, 1Jn 4:19 We love him,
because he first loved us.
Evidence of the New Birth is love for God and love for those who have also been born-again
loveth him also that is begotten of him.
John presents to us another true test of a genuine salvation experience
He says the one who becomes a child of God becomes a loving child of God
Which is identified by loving the other children of God, your spiritual family
True genuine love for God will grow and mature into love for all of God’s children.
Which you cannot do unless you have been born of God, 1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one
another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
John is not talking about a natural human love, but that which is natural to the spiritual nature
The emphasis is upon a family relationship, His children are our brothers and sisters in Christ
To love the Heavenly Father is to love His children, every born gain believer is a child of God
The practice of today is to love those who agree with us, to love those in the same denomination
And many times, it is not even practiced within the same denomination
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John has already explained the meaning of love for one another, 1Jn 3:18 My little children, let
us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
The next verse shows us how to test the love of God that is within us
TEST OF LOVE
1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his
commandments.
How do we know that our love is genuine and of God?
How do we know that we love the children of God?
John says, this is how we know, we know from a personal experience
We know that we love God when “we love the children of God”
We don’t just say we love them, we show our love for them, notice how John identifies that
The evidence of our love for others is our love for God that keeps His commandments
Through our love for God we can obey the commandment to love one another, Joh 13:34 A new
commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love
one another.
Love for one another is a powerful witness of our salvation, Joh 13:35 By this shall all men
know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
The test of our love for God is our love for one another
that we love the children of God,
To live daily for Christ is to love the brethren, 1Jn 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the
light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
To not love the brethren is to live daily in unrighteousness, 1Jn 3:10 In this the children of God
are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God,
neither he that loveth not his brother.
From the beginning of our salvation experience we learn to love the brethren, 1Jn 3:11 For this is
the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
To love the brethren is a sure sign of salvation, 1Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from
death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
The goal of God’s love is to love others through us, 1Jn 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time.
If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
John identifies our love for the children of God in a very powerful way
He says that we know that “we love God” when we love the children of God
Paul thanked God for the Ephesians love for one another, Eph 1:15 Wherefore I also, after I
heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
Paul thanked God for the Colossians love for one another, Col 1:4 Since we heard of your faith in
Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
John is telling us that you cannot separate love for God and love for one another
One gives evidence of the truth of the other
when we love God,
John speaks of a constant love for God, we continue to love God regardless of anything else
He means a faith relationship with Christ that becomes a love relationship with God
The more you trust Christ, the more you love God
The conclusion of the classic chapter on the subject of the love of God in our life is, 1Co 13:13
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
The world has what it calls love, it is an affection for others and a concern for the needs of others
The world knows a love that acts in a good will effort to help others
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But The world does not understand love for God
There is a difference in the love for God and loving concern of the world
Just as there is a difference between friendship and fellowship
To love God is to keep His commandments
and keep his commandments.
We love God because He first loved us, we love others because we love God
We show our love for God and others by keeping the commandments of God
The third test of a victorious life is obedience which is the result of love
John explains the “Test of Obedience” in verse 3
Love desires to obey, love tells us that we must obey, love rejoices in obeying
Love for God continues to keep His commandments, 1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we
know him, if we keep his commandments.
Love fulfills its purpose by keeping His commandments, 1Jn 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in
him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
You cannot separate love for God and obedience to His commandments
That is a sermon that John likes to preach, it is a sermon of assurance, 1Jn 3:22 And whatsoever
we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are
pleasing in his sight.
A single commandment, 1Jn 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the
name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
An assurance of salvation, 1Jn 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and
he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
Faith and love cannot be separated, and love and obedience cannot be separated
The faith that believes that Jesus is the Christ loves God
To love God is to obey God and to obey God is to love God’s children
Faith, love, and obedience cannot be separated
How long has it been since you took time to meditate upon the love of God
Put everything aside, get everything else out of your mind, think about God’s love
Watch the screen, listen to the song, and meditate upon how great God’s love is
JUNE 9, 2021
STUDY NOTES
I JOHN 5:3
BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES
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THE TEST OF OBEDIENCE
INTRODUCTION
1 John 5:3 is the last time we find John using the word “love” in 1 John
This is a good place for us to look at what John has said about “love” in this letter
We wonder what more could be said about the love of God than he has already said
To review is always a good means of study, we often find repetition in scripture
There will be a repetition of verses because of more than one truth found in a verse
GOD IS LOVE
1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of
God, and knoweth God.
1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that
dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
GOD LOVES US
1Jn 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be
called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1Jn 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we
ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
1Jn 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only
begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1Jn 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the
propitiation for our sins.
1Jn 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1Jn 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
OUR LOVE FOR GOD
1Jn 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know
we that we are in him.
1Jn 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that
dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment:
because as he is, so are we in this world.
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.
1Jn 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
1Jn 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his
brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
1Jn 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother
also.
1Jn 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth
him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his
commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are
not grievous.
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DON’T LOVE THE WORLD
1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world,
the love of the Father is not in him.
LOVE ONE ANOTHER
1Jn 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling
in him.
1Jn 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth
not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
1Jn 3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one
another.
1Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He
that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
1Jn 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his
bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
1Jn 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus
Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of
God, and knoweth God.
1Jn 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1Jn 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his
love is perfected in us.
1Jn 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his
brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
1Jn 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother
also.
1Jn 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth
him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his
commandments.
John has not described for us the natural love of man, love that is of the human nature
There is a natural affection that all humans have to some degree, but John speaks of God’s love
Jesus spoke some great truths to the Jews in John 5, Joh 5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye
might have life.
Without Christ in our life the love of God is not in us, Joh 5:42 But I know you, that ye have not
the love of God in you.
That is the same message of love that John has presented to us in 1 John
Through God’s love we can receive Christ, when we receive Christ, we receive the life of Christ
Christ in us is the love of God in us, God’s love in us is why we live the life that John describes
When we have the love of God within us, we will obey His commands, love for God obeys God
THE TEST OF LOVE
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his
commandments are not grievous.
John begins the verse with “For,” taking us back to the previous verse, 1Jn 5:2 By this we know
that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments
John gives us two ways to identify the love of God within our life, 2 ways to test our love for God
When we love the children of God and when we keep God’s commandments
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A good test of love for God is, do we love God’s children, our brothers and sisters in Christ?
The evidence of our love for others is our love for God that keeps His commandments
Through our love for God, we can obey the commandment to love one another, Joh 13:34 A new
commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love
one another.
Love for one another is a powerful witness of our salvation, Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know
that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
When John says, For this is the love of God, he is referring to our love for God
Which is also identified in verse 2, “when we love God,” it is easy to say, “I love God”
But John speaks of a constant love for God, we continue to love God regardless of anything else
John tells us how we can know for sure that we love God, that we keep his commandments:
It is also important to understand who John speaks of when he says “we”
John’s favorite way to identify those he refers to as “we” is the term “little children”
Seven times in his letter he calls his readers, “little children,” a very affectionate term
“Little children” identifies those that God loves, those who love God, those who love one another
Understand the point that John makes, “we” that keep His commandments
“That” is a word “that” you should never overlook in scripture
“That” indicates the purpose or result of what is being said, which is important to us
To love God is to “keep His commandments,” we must also understand the word “keep”
“We keep” has the idea of keeping watch over something and closely guarding it
The meaning is, “you will keep my commandments,” why, because you love me
Love is an impelling force, our love for God motivates our obedience to God
The more you love God, the stronger the desire is to obey his commandments
Love has a strong desire to keep them, Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Keeping His commandments identifies you as a Christian, 1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that
we know him, if we keep his commandments.
We continue to keep His commandments because we continue to love God, Joh 15:10 If ye keep
my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments,
and abide in his love.
There is a great promise to the Christian found in, Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments,
and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I
will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
A promise that is often overlooked and not emphasized but we can claim it and experience it
This verse is not teaching that our love for God is the way of salvation, 1Jn 4:10 Herein is love,
not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
It is teaching that because we are saved, we are to love God and keep His commandments
Scripture often speaks of the rewards of salvation, which we receive because we are saved
Only the saved can receive the rewards of salvation, we receive them through obedience to God
Jesus tells us of the rewards of loving God and keeping His commandments
In some special way God will show His love to us as we show our love to Him
Which is an experience of God’s love beyond the love we received when we were saved
We will also be rewarded with a special love from Jesus, He will “manifest” Himself to us
To love God and obey His commandments opens the door of our heart for spiritual understanding
Allowing Jesus to show us how great our salvation really is and how much He really loves us
Paul explains it to us in, 1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither
have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
This verse is often applied to our future experience in heaven, but it refers to our present life
Which is explained in the next verse, 1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit:
for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
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We must look at the context, that which has been “written” is known as the “Bible”
It is true that when we get to Heaven, we will see that which we have never seen before
It is true that when we get to Heaven, we will hear that which we have never heard before
It is true that when we get to Heaven, we will experience that which is only of Heaven
In Heaven we will experience that which we have never experienced in our life upon earth
But Paul speaks of life today, a personal experience of life that can be ours today
God has prepared a way for us to see, hear, and receive what the love of God has prepared for us
It is not emphasized that they have been prepared for those that God loves, He loves the world
What God has prepared for us is experienced in our love for God, “for them that love God”
There are many promises made in scripture to those who will live their daily life loving God
The “crown of life” is a present earthly experience, Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth
temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised
to them that love him.
We experience the wisdom of God through faith toward God and love for God, Jas 2:5 Hearken,
my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the
kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
Life is good when we love God, Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to
them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
What God has prepared for our life today has been revealed to us through the Holy Spirit
God reveals through the Spirit the things that God has prepared for those who love Him
Jude tells us that we must remain in the realm of loving God, Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the
love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
“Keep yourselves” presents to us a responsibility, we are to be sure that we are loving God
The Christian who is loving God will be obeying God, Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto
him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come
unto him, and make our abode with him.
Christians are always richly rewarded when we love God and obey God
We will experience a rich relationship of God’s love toward us
All of which cannot be explained in words but can be experienced as we love God
Now is the time to keep His commandments and experience what God has for us, Rev 1:3
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things
which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
We must be hearing God’s Word and doing what we have learned to do in order to be blessed
Which is always true concerning all of God’s Word, Luk 11:28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed
are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
Listen to John, and his commandments are not grievous.
“Grievous” has the meaning of difficult or hard to deal with, burdensome or oppressive
John says, “no way,” God’s commandments are not a burden but a delight to those that love Him
How many times have you bought something that needed to be put together
How many times have you bought something that you needed to learn how to use it
And what you bought came with a handbook, a book of instructions on “how to”
And you put the book aside and attempted to do it all your way, then you looked for the book
Our handbook for life is the Bible, the Bible instructs us, protects us, and will bless us, Rom 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye
may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Obeying the commandments of God will prove that God’s will for us is “good”
“Good” means that which is the best for us, that which is profitable for us and our family
“Acceptable” means that you will be glad that you have obeyed God, you will be well pleased
“Perfect” has the thought of attaining a goal, fulfilling a purpose, bringing to completion
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To keep the commandments of God is to experience the fulness of life, the abundant life,
Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they
might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
The “abundant life” is loving God, loving God’s Word, obeying God’s Word, resting in Jesus,
Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
John said, keeping God’s commandments is not grievous, Jesus said it is restful
You can “rest” in Jesus by obeying Jesus, Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;
for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
“Rest” is like a relaxing breathe, a sigh of relief, an inward tranquility
Jesus tells us exactly what John does when He says, Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my
burden is light.
A “yoke” is that which binds or unites together, obeying Jesus is uniting with God’s will
The yoke of Jesus is “easy,” again what John said, it is not grievous, it is not harsh but easy
“Light” means not heavy or easy to bear, all which means obeying God is a delight
The Psalmist describes the one who is blessed as the one who “delights” in obeying God’s Word,
Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
“His delight” describes the pleasure of a Godly Man, the innermost desires of his heart
God’s Word is not troublesome, it is a delight to read, it is a joy to learn, to obey it is happiness
To be blessed we must read the Word of God in-order to learn and live the Word of God,
Psa 40:8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
Psa 119:35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
Love for the Word of God will keep our minds upon God and His commandments, Psa 119:47
And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
John does not mean that obeying God’s commands will be the easiest thing that you will ever do
Because we love God, obeying His commands is not burdensome
Many things we do for others, especially our family, is not easy
Yet we do them day by day because we love them, and those tasks are not burdensome
There are some steps of life we don’t really want to take
There are some daily loads of life we don’t want to carry
There are some places we don’t want to go, but we go, and things we don’t want to do, but we do
Because we love those that we go for and do for
There is joy in serving Jesus because we love God, 1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we
keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
JUNE 30, 2021
STUDY NOTES
I JOHN 5:4-5
BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES
OVERCOMING THE WORLD
INTRODUCTION
In your daily walk of life are you the overcomer or is Satan and sin overcoming you?
The spiritual life is a continual battle, every day we face the temptations of Satan and sin
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Paul had a strong desire to love and obey the commands of God, Rom 7:22 For I delight in the
law of God after the inward man: (The “inward man” is our new nature “In-Christ”)
But there was an opposing force that must be overcome, Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my
members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin
which is in my members.
Paul refers to the old nature, the sin nature, which still exists within the life of a Christian
Paul knew that he must be delivered from such a powerful force of opposition, Rom 7:24
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
“This death” is not the physical death of the body, but the loss of life within the body
For sin to overcome the Christian is a “wretched” state, as if the purpose of life is lost
Paul answered his question, Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with
the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Paul preached that Christians must overcome sin and live a victorious life “In Christ,”
There are times that we all lose a battle with Satan and take a step into sin
There will be those days that we will stumble and fall, but we are not to give up
We are to “get up” because as Christians we are to be and can be “overcomers”
John likes that word “overcome,” it is found 28 times in the NT
We can call John the “Overcoming Preacher” because 24 of those times are in his writings
(1 in the Gospel of John; 6 in 1 John; 17 in Revelation)
Our mind must be set upon loving God and obeying His commands which John just stated,
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are
not grievous.
Which John now explains, 1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and
this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
“For” states the reason why His commandments are not grievous or burdensome
An interesting point is that John said “whatsoever” instead of “whosoever”
“Whatsoever” has the thought of “whosoever,” but “whatsoever” is a stronger statement
“Whatsoever” represents not just who we are but all that our life consist of
John speaks of “whosoever” is a Christian, regardless of “whatsoever” a Christian faces
His point is you are still a Christian and can be an overcomer, you can be victorious
It presents the total being of the Christian life and whatever difficulties that life may face
If you are a Christian, you are “born of God,” you became a Christian by spiritual birth,
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to
them that believe on his name: Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the
flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Christians can live a victorious life because we are “born of God”
We not only have a new life we have a new way of life, 2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in
Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
It is through our new nature that we overcome the world:
The word “overcome” means to conquer, to be victorious, to prevail over the enemy
“Overcome” presents to us several truths, it presents to us the fact of a conflict in life
As a Christian we face a daily battle, we live in a world system that is opposed to God
“The world” is the spiritual system of evil which is opposed to God
Satan is the “god of this world,” 2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of
them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God,
should shine unto them.
To be a friend of the world is to be an enemy of God, Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses,
know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a
friend of the world is the enemy of God.
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The world lives according to the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes, 1Jn 2:16 For all that is
in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the
Father, but is of the world.
Before we were saved, we lived according to the ways of the world, Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past
ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air,
the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
And now we must live according to the will of God, Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this
world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good,
and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Satan’s desire is to defeat the Christian, to ruin his Christian testimony, and even destroy his life
As Christians we must be victorious, Paul tells us we can be victorious over Satan and the world
and this is the victory that overcometh the world,
The word “victory” comes from the Greek word “Nike,” meaning the power that confers victory
The Greeks had a goddess named “Nike,” the goddess of victory
“Nike” is the name of a sportswear company today, a word now used for sports shoes
Wearing the right sportswear might help, but there is no guarantee of victory every time
Victory should be normal for the Christian, that which is natural and not something unusual
“Victory” is another word which means “to overcome,” as Christians we must be “overcomers
Read the 7 letters to the churches in Revelation 2 and 3, every letter concludes with “overcomers”
(Revelation 2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:26; 3:5; 3:12; 3:21)
Because we are “born of God” we can overcome the conflicts we face in life
Christians can be victorious in the struggles of life because of Christ in our life, 1Jn 4:4 Ye are of
God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is
in the world.
Only through Christ can we overcome “them,” which not only refers to false prophets or teachers
We can also overcome Satan, sin, the flesh, the old nature, and the world that opposes God
As an “overcomer” we are becoming more and more like Christ who has “overcome” the world,
Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye
shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
We often talk about how important the Bible is to our daily life, we must hear what John tells us
Through faith in Christ and obedience to His Word we can overcome Satan, 1Jn 2:14 I have
written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written
unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have
overcome the wicked one.
As Christians we must overcome evil with good, Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but
overcome evil with good.
We must obey God’s Word and remain faithful to Christ as we face an ungodly world
Love for God cannot be shared with love for the world that draws your heart away from God,
1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world,
the love of the Father is not in him.
The word translated “world” is often used to identify “Satan’s World”
“Satan’s world” is an invisible evil system which is opposed to God and God’s people
Yet it is a visible evil system which can be seen in the daily lifestyle of those who love it
John says, “stop loving Satan’s world,” stop loving that which is of Satan
Christians must stand against the devil every day, Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that
ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Every day we are in a war zone, we are in a war against Satan and his evil forces, 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.
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Demons are the agents of Satan, and his goal is the destruction of the human soul
The will of Satan is to capture Christians, 2Ti 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of
the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Satan seeks to destroy the Christian testimony by taking one bite at a time from their life, 1Pe 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking
whom he may devour:
Satan uses one bite of sin at a time to eventually swallow you up
As Christians we do have a guarantee of victory over Satan and the world, even our faith.
“Our faith” is none other than the Christian faith that we find throughout the Bible
It is the faith that the OT saints had in the promises of God (Hebrews 11)
We learn from them that without faith it is impossible to please God, Heb 11:6 But without faith
it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Those heroes of faith found in Hebrews 11 are to us a great witness, Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing
we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before
us,
We must learn to run the “Race of Life” just as they did, they lived by faith
The O.T. saints of chapter 11 are the cloud of witnesses that we are to look at
We are to look to them because they are examples, they are the “Heroes of Faith”
They are a source of inspiration because of their personal testimony of faith
We are to look at their witness, their testimony, their life of faith, and run the race like they did
We have a witness of faith that has been passed on from one generation to another, Jud 1:3
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for
me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was
once delivered unto the saints.
NT faith is the belief that Jesus is the Christ, that Jesus is the Son of God
Christians believe the truth about Jesus and live according to the life of Jesus
Faith in Jesus does not teach that we will escape the conflicts, trials and temptations of life
Faith in Jesus does not teach that the battles with Satan and sin are over
The war with Satan is not over but we continue to win battles through our faith in Jesus
We believe that He is, we believe that He can, and we believe that He will
And that is the victory that overcomes the world
We sing the song that says, “Faith is the victory that overcomes the world”
The daily path of life is a continual battle against our faith
Satan wants to turn us away from our faith through the sorrows we face
He wants to turn us from faith through the undesirable things that happen to us from time to time
Which are beyond our control and beyond our understanding and we want to ask, “why God?”
There are even the times that we sincerely wanted to do what was right and we failed
Satan wants to tell us that it is not worth the effort and will try our faith, but we can overcome
1Jn 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of
God?
John has in mind the Christian who is constantly overcoming the world through faith
Christians who continue to live by faith are the ones who continue to conquer the world
Faith keeps on overcoming, faith will constantly conquer, faith always comes out victorious
Christians must conquer the ways of the world and the world of Satan’s system by believing
Believing here is not the original belief unto salvation, but the belief as a result of salvation
It is your faith in Jesus because you have personally experienced the truth of who He is-Page 13 of 43
that Jesus is the Son of God?
Since Jesus is the Son of God you can trust Him for everything in this life and the life to come
Paul said, “I know in whom I have believed,” 2Ti 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these
things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that
he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Jesus who gave us our beginning will provide for the end, Php 1:6 Being confident of this very
thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Because Jesus is alive, we have a living hope, 1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
We have a reservation in heaven, 1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and
that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
By faith we believe that Jesus has provided for our eternal future
By faith we have victory for today, 1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto
salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
As a Christian we are to walk by faith day by day,2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
REVIEW OF 1 JOHN 5:1-5
We have the following tests:
The Test of the New Birth (vs. 1)
The Test of Love (vs. 2)
The Test of Obedience (vs. 3)
The Test of Victory (vs. 4)
The Test of Faith (vs. 5)
The life of victory begins with salvation, the New Birth experience, the experience of a New Life
When you are born of God, you are born into the love of God
Salvation is the beginning of your love for God and the beginning of your love for God’s family
Your love for God and for others is proved through your obedience to the commands of God
We put our faith in the One we love
And through our faith, love, and obedience, we overcome Satan, sin, and the world
We will all waver in faith from time to time, when we do, we must confess and claim, 1Jn 1:9 If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.
Yes, Jesus is the Son of God, and we can overcome the world through Jesus
JULY 7, 2021
STUDY NOTES
I JOHN 5:6-8
BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES
THE WITNESS: JESUS IS THE CHRIST
INTRODUCTION
There are theologians who say that these 3 verses are the most difficult verses to interpret
Some say they are the most difficult to interpret in 1 John and some say in the entire Bible
It is considered difficult due to the reference of “the water and the blood”
Especially concerning the meaning of “water” which is found 3 times in verse 6 and 1 in verse 8
Also, because of the reference to “the Spirit and the water and the blood” in verse 8
There are four main views of interpretation:
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(1) The water and blood refer to the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper
Water signifies Baptism and Blood signifies the Lord’s Supper
(2) The Death of Jesus, according to Joh 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced
his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
(3) Water refers to the Word of God, Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the
washing of water by the word,
(4) Water refers to Jesus’ baptism and blood refers to His death on the cross
According to the context of 1 John 5, the 4th view is probably the correct interpretation
The purpose of John is to present the evidence that Jesus is the Christ, the Promised Messiah
The word “witness” is the key word in this passage and will help us to understand what is said
Two Greek words are translated with the meaning of a “witness” in 1 John 5:6-11
One is found 5 times: “That beareth witness” (6) “That bear record” (7) “That bear witness (8)
“He hath testified” (9) and God “gave” (10)
The other word is found 6 times: “Witness” 3 times in verse 9 “Witness” and “record” (10)
and “Record” (11)
The words which identify with “witness” are found 11 times in 1 John 5:6-11
So, what “witness” does John present?
The purpose of the “Witness” is to identify Jesus as the Christ
“Jesus is the Christ” is witnessed by the water and witnessed by the blood
“Jesus is the Christ” is also witnessed by the Holy Spirit
In verse six we have those three witnesses--1Jn 5:6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but
by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
“This is he” refers-back to Jesus, the Son of God, according to verse 5, 1Jn 5:5 Who is he
that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
John is telling us that the eternal Son of God is the one known as Jesus of Nazareth
The one “that came” means that Jesus entered into humanity, a definite historical event
Something that they all should know, as Peter identified on the Day of Pentecost, Act 2:22 Ye
men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by
miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also
know:
John is telling us that it is important to know who this Jesus is “that came”
John is telling us that we can know for sure who He is and know for sure why He came
We know that He was sent by the Father, Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to
condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
We know why He came, 1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
John begins chapter 5 with believing that Jesus is the Christ, 1Jn 5:1 Whosoever believeth that
Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is
begotten of him.
Now John wants us to know that we have a witness to the truth that Jesus is the Christ
What witness do we have concerning His coming that will identify who He was?
What witness do we have concerning His coming that identifies why He came?
The first witness is that Jesus “came by water” which refers to the baptism of Jesus
The baptism of Jesus is presented as an important truth related to the life of Jesus
All four gospels present the account of the baptism of Jesus
Jesus came to John the Baptist to be baptized of him, Mat 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee
to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
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John the Baptist was the one sent by God to prepare the way for Jesus and His ministry
John the Baptist was preaching “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin,” Mar 1:4
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of
sins.
John the Baptist knew that Jesus needed no repentance of sin, so he said, Mat 3:14 But John
forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
Jesus explained to John the Baptist that His baptism was an outward manifestation, Mat 3:15
And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all
righteousness. Then he suffered him.
The message that John was preaching pointed to the coming Messiah
The coming Messiah would be righteous Himself and bring forth righteousness to man
Jesus identifying with righteousness through baptism presented Him as the Messiah
Jesus identified with sinners He was the Messiah who would take upon Himself sin
The Spirit of God confirmed that Jesus was the Christ, Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was
baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and
he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
The voice of God the Father confirmed that Jesus was the Christ, Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from
heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
The baptism of Jesus is considered to be the inauguration of His earthly ministry
His baptism was the beginning of His public ministry, He was set apart for His Messianic work
Jesus is the One who “came by water” which identified Him as the Christ
But it was not by water only that Jesus came, He came by “water and blood”
and blood,
Many times in scripture “blood” is used as a symbol of the death of Jesus on the cross
Referring to the sacrificial blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross for the sins of the world
God manifested in many ways that the person on the cross was His Son
In the middle of the day there was a supernatural darknes, Mat 27:45 Now from the sixth hour
there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
The darkness revealed that Jesus had taken upon Himself the sins of the world
That truth is confirmed by the words of Jesus, Mat 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried
with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast
thou forsaken me?
The inner veil between the Most Holy Place and the rest of the temple was torn, Mat 27:51 And,
behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did
quake, and the rocks rent;
Which revealed that believers now have direct access to God the Father through Jesus
The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross opened for us “a living way” to God, Heb 10:20 By a new and
living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
The torn veil confirmed that God had accepted the sacrifice of Jesus
Also, graves were opened and there were some who were resurrected from among the dead
Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
They are of the “first fruits” of those who will be resurrected from among the dead, 1Co 15:20
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
At the time of the earthquake and the resurrection of those Jerusalem saints, a Roman centurion
realized the truth of the cross, Mat 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him,
watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying,
Truly this was the Son of God.
Three days later the resurrection confirmed that it was the Son of God who died on the cross,
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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:
The “blood” that was shed on the cross confirmed that Jesus was the Christ
It was His death on the cross that fulfilled the purpose of His coming to earth
The many truths related to the cross of Jesus witness to the fact that He was the Son of God
The “Church” was bought with the blood of Jesus, Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto
yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed
the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Scripture presents the results of the sacrificial death of Jesus for the believer
Our “Justification,” Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved
from wrath through him.
Our “Redemption,” Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of
sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Our “Reconciliation,” Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to
reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in
heaven.
Our “Sanctification,” Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his
own blood, suffered without the gate.
Our “Purification,” 1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship
one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Our “Remission” of sin, Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and
without shedding of blood is no remission.
Our sins have been “Washed away,” Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,
and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us,
and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
All by the precious blood of Jesus the Christ, 1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as
of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
If Jesus was not “The Christ” on the cross, none of the above would be true
We have a witness that Jesus is the Christ, He came “by blood”
The “One” who came by blood is none other than “Jesus Christ”
even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood.
He is the One, He is the unique One, He is the One and only Christ
Literally it reads not by “the” water only, but by “the” water and “the” blood
“The” water of His baptism and “the” blood of His death on the cross
His baptism was the beginning of His earthly ministry
His death on the cross was the reason He came to the earth, His mission was fulfilled,
Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed
his head, and gave up the ghost.
The earthly ministry of Jesus would be without meaning if He had not gone to the cross
Without the shed blood of Jesus on the cross there is no reason for His earthly ministry
There is a third witness to the truth that Jesus is the Christ
And it is the Spirit that beareth witness,
Literally it reads that the Spirit is constantly bearing witness
According to scripture the testimony of the Spirit is truth, He is the Spirit of truth, Joh 14:17
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither
knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
The Spirit came to bear witness of the truth of Jesus, Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come,
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whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the
Father, he shall testify of me:
The disciples would learn the truth of Jesus from the Spirit and then also bear witness, Joh 15:27
And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
The Spirit of truth guides believers into the truth of Jesus, Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit
of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever
he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
The Spirit’s witness came through the prophets, Act 3:18 But those things, which God before had
shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
The virgin birth of Jesus was a witness of the Spirit, Mat 1:20 But while he thought on these
things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of
David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy
Ghost.
There was a witness of the Spirit at the time of His Baptism, Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was
baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and
he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
The Spirit’s witness came through John the Baptist, Joh 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I
saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
At that time, John the Baptist knew that Jesus was the Son of God, Joh 1:33 And I knew him not:
but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the
Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
John the Baptist was now a witness of the Person of Jesus, Joh 1:34 And I saw, and bare record
that this is the Son of God.
The Spirit was in Jesus as He ministered upon the earth, Luk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon
me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the
brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set
at liberty them that are bruised,
The Holy Spirit teaches that which Jesus taught, Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy
Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things
to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
And we can believe all that we are taught by the Holy Spirit because the Spirit is truth.
1Jn 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy
Ghost: and these three are one.
Part of verse 7 and the first of verse 8 are not considered by many Bible versions to be original
Most of verse 7 and the first part of verse 8 did not appear in the original Greek manuscripts
You will not find them in many modern versions
Usually there will be a marginal note in your reference Bible confirming this
But the truth of what is stated in these verses is proclaimed throughout the NT
The three witnesses that bear record in heaven are known in scripture as “The Trinity”
The Father is God the Father, the First Person of the Trinity
The Word is the Second Person of the Trinity, He is the Son of God
And the Holy Ghost: The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity
and these three are one.
Trinity is the theological term used to teach that there is but “One God”
It teaches that this One God has eternally existed in “Three Distinct Persons”
Teaching that the Three Persons are united in One
The Three are equal in Divine Nature or essence
God is One in nature and Three in Person
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Each member of the Trinity is God and each One is a Person
The Three cooperate in all things of God, because all Three are God
John is telling us that the witness from the Trinity is that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God
1Jn 5:8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the
blood: and these three agree in one.
There are three witnesses in Heaven and three witnesses on earth
The three witnesses on earth are the Spirit, the water, and the blood
The Mosaic law required that evidence be confirmed by two or three witnesses, Deu 19:15 One
witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth:
at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
Jesus said that truth should be established by two or three witnesses, Mat 18:16 But if he will not
hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every
word may be established.
If the testimony of two is true, Joh 8:17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two
men is true.
Then we certainly have the truth from the testimony of three
John now brings them all together and declares that they all bear witness
The Spirit is the living witness from Heaven
The active witness who continues to witness to the truth that Jesus is the Christ
And the water, the Spirit gave that testimony through the baptism of Jesus
And the blood: The Spirit gave that testimony through the cross of Jesus
And these three agree in one.
The meaning is actually very simple, the three “AGREE”
The thought being that the three are united in their thinking, they agree on one thing
The thing that is agreed upon is that the baptized Jesus is the Christ
And that the crucified Jesus is the Son of God
The Trinity stands on that truth, as Christians we must stand on the same truth
JULY 14, 2021
STUDY NOTES
I JOHN 5:9-12
BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES
THE TESTIMONY OF A BELIEVER
INTRODUCTION
Babies begin their life by believing the witness of their parents
They grow up and go to school believing the witness of their school teachers
As adults we are continually accepting the witness of other people
Many daily decisions of life are based upon the witness of others
We accept the words of the doctor concerning our health and we do what he says
We will even listen to the weatherman and plan the day according to his testimony
Some of man’s testimony is good, and we need it, and some is good, but we don’t really need it
Some is not good, and we don’t even need to hear it, so we ignore a lot of man’s testimony
Before we give our full attention to the testimony of others we want to be fully convinced
We will listen to the testimony of others when we are concerned about our physical well-being
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We listen to the doctor because we desire a better quality of life, we want to live longer and better
John wants us to be fully convinced of God’s testimony and give Him our full attention
John wants us to be spiritually concerned about our life and accept the testimony of God’s Word
The testimony of God is greatly needed, and we greatly need to hear it, it is a “Great Testimony”
GOD’S GREAT TESTIMONY
1Jn 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness
of God which he hath testified of his Son.
“If” is not a suggestion, or doubt, the thought is “since’ or “in view of the fact that”
“If” is a fulfilled condition, it is a known fact, it is an undeniable fact
We do receive the witness of men every day and follow their instructions
We are in the habit of receiving and following the testimony of man
We know that to believe some people’s testimony can be very difficult today
We hear the testimony of politicians, and we vote according to their testimony
We hear talk show commentators and base our decisions on what we hear them say
We can hear Bible teachers on the radio and T.V., but can we always accept their testimony?
Especially when we hear that we will be blessed by giving to their ministry
John’s point is that we often accept “the witness of men” and live our life according to it
John contrasts the testimony of people and the testimony of God
His point is, in view of the fact that we receive the witness of men to be a fact
How much more should we receive the testimony of God?
The word “Witness” has the meaning of a “testimony” giving evidence of a proven fact
The testimony that must be heard and must be accepted as fact is what God says about His Son
The testimony that God has given us is that Jesus is the “Son of God”
The testimony that must be believed, received, and lived, our faith must be in Jesus, God’s Son
Believe that testimony and you will receive eternal life, live it and you will be abundantly blessed
When you have received eternal life, you must give testimony to the truth of Jesus
The testimony of man concerning Jesus is the testimony from God
In the Bible we have many testimonies presenting the truth of Jesus
They were all in agreement presenting the same testimony
We have a man named John the Baptist who testified, Joh 1:15 John bare witness of him, and
cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for
he was before me.
John the Baptist was born six months before the virgin birth of Jesus
John gave witness of the eternal preexistence of Jesus, Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Jesus gave witness of Himself in His appearance at the synagogue, Luk 4:16 And he came to
Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on
the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
Jesus read from Isaiah, Luk 4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet
Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
Jesus read from a passage presenting the coming Messiah, Luk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is
upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal
the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to
set at liberty them that are bruised,
Which presented the favorable year of the Lord, Luk 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the
Lord. (Representing the Kingdom of God through Jesus)
Jesus applied the prophecy to Himself, Luk 4:21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this
scripture fulfilled in your ears.
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The question of man was, “could the son of Joseph be the Messiah?” Luk 4:22 And all bare him
witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is
not this Joseph's son?
And they rejected the testimony of Jesus, Luk 4:28 And all they in the synagogue, when they
heard these things, were filled with wrath,
Jesus knew that the Jewish authorities would not accept His witness of Himself, Joh 5:31 If I
bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. (According to man)
So, in 1 John 5, John calls many witnesses forth to verify the truth of Jesus’ personal witness
Which also reveals that the witness is of God and therefore is the “greater witness”
the witness of God is greater:
Jesus calls forth the witness of God the Father, Joh 5:32 There is another that beareth witness of
me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
All of the following that Jesus calls upon as a witness came from the witness of God
The witness of John the Baptist, Joh 5:33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
The witness of the works of Jesus, Joh 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the
works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that
the Father hath sent me.
The witness of God the Father, Joh 5:37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne
witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
The witness of the Scriptures, Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal
life: and they are they which testify of me.
Because He is God, His testimony “is greater”
for this is the witness of God
We need no explanation of why God’s testimony is greater
We only need to receive His testimony, Joh 3:33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to
his seal that God is true.
To receive Jesus is to testify to the truth of God’s testimony concerning Jesus
God’s testimony concerning Jesus is that Jesus is the “Son of God”
which he hath testified of his Son.
We have a record of God’s testimony concerning His Son at the time of His baptism, Mat 3:17
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
All three persons of the Trinity were present to give testimony of the Person of Jesus
God the Father spoke of His Son who was being baptized and the Spirit descended on the Son
We find the testimony of God again on the Mount of Transfiguration, Mat 17:5 While he yet
spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which
said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
Peter gave witness of the witness of the Father in his sermon on the day of Pentecost, Act 2:22
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by
miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also
know:
The Spirit came from heaven to give testimony of the truth of Jesus, Joh 15:26 But when the
Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which
proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
We must believe the testimony of God and be a testimony to the truth of what we believe
1Jn 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth
not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
The doctrine of the Security of the believer is debated among theologians
Here is one of the most plain and simple verses that is a witness of our assurance of salvation
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Many verses teach that we are saved by believing in and receiving Jesus
Here John says that when you believe you receive a witness within yourself
First look at “He that believeth,” over and over again we find that witness
We have the assurance of receiving Him, Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he
power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
And the assurance of believing Him, Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
We have the assurance of everlasting life, Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting
life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
We have the assurance of no condemnation, Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that
heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
The assuring belief is the accepting of the truth that Jesus is the Son of God
The title that expresses the “Deity” of Jesus Christ, it means that the man Jesus is the God-man
When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary he said, 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.
Jesus walked on the water toward his disciples who were in a ship, Mat 14:33 Then they that
were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
Unclean spirits cried out when they saw Jesus, Mar 3:11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him,
fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
Nathanael saw Jesus and said, Joh 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art
the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
The centurion who witnessed the death of Jesus and the things that were done said, Mat 27:54
Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and
those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
The resurrection of Jesus 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:
It will be the voice of the Son of God that will resurrect the dead when He returns, Joh 5:25
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice
of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Philip preached Jesus and the Ethiopian testified, Act 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with
all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of
God.
The testimony of Paul’s preaching, Act 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the
synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
To believe in Jesus is more than an intellectual acceptance that Jesus was a real person
To believe in Jesus is to accept Him as the “Son of God”
When we accept Jesus as the Son of God, we become a personal witness of the truth of Jesus
hath the witness in himself:
We have a constant witness within our own heart, a positive inward testimony
We are fully convinced that Jesus is the Son of God by the presence of the Spirit within us
Jesus promised that the Spirit would come to dwell within the believer, Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit
of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye
know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
We learn that the believer lives in Christ and Christ lives in the believer, Joh 14:20 At that day ye
shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
The Spirit indwells the believer and bears witness with our spirit, Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself
beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
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We have the assurance of the Holy Spirit within us, 1Jn 3:24 And he that keepeth his
commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the
Spirit which he hath given us.
When we confess that Jesus is the Son of God, 1Jn 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the
Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
The Holy Spirit within us assures us that Jesus is the Son of God
he that believeth not God hath made him a liar;
John presents the truth concerning the one who believes and the one who does not believe
And there is no other to consider, there is no one in between belief and unbelief
There is no one almost saved, you are either a believer in Christ or you are a non-believer
Every person is in one of those two categories
God does not make any sinner an unbeliever, they have made the choice not to believe
The emphasis of the verse is on receiving the testimony of God
God is the one who gave the testimony about His Son
If you do not receive the testimony of God, you do not believe that the testimony is true
If you do not believe that it is true, you have said that God’s testimony is a lie
The truth of God is truth, Heb 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible
for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the
hope set before us:
The two things that cannot be changed are God’s promise and God’s oath
There is no possibility of change, there will be no variation from either
God will not break a promise and God will not give a false oath
Both would be a great contradiction of His Person, a denial of who He is
Lying does not come forth from God, it is not of His nature, lies come from the devil, 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.
Satan is the father of lies and there is no truth in him
God is truth and His Word is truth, Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
So, the truth is, it is “impossible for God to lie,” Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that
cannot lie, promised before the world began;
So, the witness of God is greater than the witness of man, Rom 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be
true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and
mightest overcome when thou art judged.
because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
“Because” explains why the previous statement is true
“The Record” of God is the “Word of God,” which believers have received within themselves
We have a living testimony that lives forever, 1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed,
but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
GOD’S GIFT
1Jn 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his
Son.
The “record” is the testimony that God gave and lives within the believer
God gave us eternal life and that life is in His Son
The testimony that Jesus came to give, Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth,
and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The witness is that God gave all believers eternal life through His Son
“That God hath given to us” is the story of the Bible, it is the “Good News”
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God gave us His Son, Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Jesus gave His life for us on the cross, Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us
from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Through the cross of Jesus, we have been given eternal life, Joh 10:28 And I give unto them
eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
With the assurance that our life in Christ is eternal, Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me,
is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
It is God that gave us the greatest gift, the gift of “Eternal Life”
“Eternal Life” is more than a life that will last forever, if it is not, it may not be life at all
Those in hell will experience an eternal state of existence
An existence forever can be a curse instead of a blessing
An eternal existence in this present body would be a burden and not a blessing
We don’t want to live in a body like this earthly body forever, a corruptible body
“Eternal Life” is the very life of God Himself which now lives in us, Gal 2:20 I am crucified
with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in
the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
“Eternal Life” is now present as we continue to live in this present body
“Eternal Life” in this body means that we have victory over all circumstances of life
“Eternal Life” in this body means the defeat of Satan and sin
“Eternal Life” in this body means that we experience the love of God, 1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us
love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
and this life is in his Son.
“Eternal Life” can only come through Jesus, Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for
there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
God gave His Son in order to give us His life, He could not give us His life in any other way
The gift of His Son is life, to receive the Person of Jesus is to receive the gift of “Eternal Life”
TESTIMONY OF LIFE
1Jn 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
“He that hath” is a present possession
Believers are the ones, and they are the only ones who have eternal life
The believer knows that Jesus is the Son of God and has received Jesus as God’s Son
You must receive the “Son of God,” or you will not receive “Eternal Life”
“Eternal Life” is God’s Life and God’s Life is only received through His Son
The possession of God’s life is only in Jesus
Ask someone, “Are you a Christian” and you will probably hear “I think I am,” “I hope I am”
You will hear many different reasons why they believe that they are a Christian
Many believe that they have eternal life because they joined the church and were baptized
Many believe that they have eternal life because of their good works and being good to others
Because they are faithful as a community worker of good deeds, helping others, giving to charity
There are many different answers that you will receive concerning salvation
The best way to ask the question is, “Do you have Jesus Christ in your life?”
The answer should be either “yes” or “no,” only “yes” can verify the truth of eternal life
and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
This is as clear as it can be explained
John has already established that Jesus was the Son of God
And that to receive Jesus Christ as the Son of God is to receive eternal life
But because they refuse to believe and accept Jesus as the Son of God, they do not have life
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You do not have life if you do not have the Son of God
You do not have the Son of God if you do not believe in and receive Him as the Son of God
Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son
shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
If you have eternal life, you will not perish, Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have eternal life.
John wrote the Gospel account to present Jesus as the Son of God, Joh 20:31 But these are
written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might
have life through his name.
Believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and you will have Eternal Life
In 1 John he writes that the believer might know that he is a believer, 1Jn 5:13 These things have
I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have
eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
JULY 21, 2021
STUDY NOTES
I JOHN 5:13
BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES
ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE
INTRODUCTION
We live in a world of uncertainty we have been uncertain about many things in recent days
It is difficult to be certain about many things that we hear through the news today
It is difficult to be certain about many things that come through modern technology today
We are not even sure of some written contracts or guarantees of today
Therefore, we have many questions and many doubts about the life that we face every day
We are not even certain about another day of physical life
Today we are able to learn of natural disasters throughout the world which cause death
We are told of the physical diseases that take away life every second of every day
Because we live in a world of such uncertainty, we buy insurance
We spend a lot of money on auto, home, liability, health, and life insurance
All because we are not certain about the next step of life
John tells us one thing that is certain, truly born-again believers are saved and eternally saved
But not all believers live with the assurance of an eternal salvation
Not all Bible teachers teach an eternal salvation and not all believers believe the truth of it
Many teach that the salvation of a believer can be lost and many accept their teaching
But 1 John 5:13 plainly teaches the “Assurance of an Eternal Salvation”
John wants all believers to have the full assurance of salvation and live with that assurance
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Christians can take the next step of life with full assurance and confidence of “Eternal Life”
Our confidence is in what God has revealed through His Word, 2Pe 1:19 We have also a more
sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a
dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Christians have something that is certain, fixed, and stable, you can trust your life to it
God’s Word is a solid foundation, Peter calls it the “word of prophecy”
We have trusted our life to Jesus who knows all thing, Joh 21:17 He saith unto him the third
time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third
time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I
love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
We know that God knows us, 2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having
this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of
Christ depart from iniquity.
We have daily assurance regardless of what happens, Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
We have an assurance of the future, 1Jn 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when
he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
John tells us that we have the “Assurance of Eternal Life,” and John gives us the---ASSURANCE OF THE WORD
1Jn 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God;
that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son
of God.
“These things,” John has in mind all of that which he has written in this letter
John is giving us a purpose for writing the letter of 1 John
We can compare it with his purpose of the Gospel of John
John stated that there were many things that he could have added to his Gospel account,
Joh 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not
written in this book:
But there was enough written to fulfill the purpose of the Gospel account, Joh 20:31 But these
are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye
might have life through his name.
The purpose of the Gospel account was that you may come to know the person of Jesus
That you would come to know the Person and Work of Jesus through His earthly life
That you would then believe in Him and call upon Him to save you from your sins
And that by believing in Him and calling upon Him as the Son of God you would be saved
In the Gospel of John, we learn that salvation is receiving life through the name of Jesus
Now in 1 John, John writes to those who have already believed in Jesus
He writes that believers might have the “Assurance of Eternal Life”
That was the main purpose for the writing of 1 John, he writes to believers
John has made mention of other reasons for writing 1 John
He writes so that we would experience full joy, 1Jn 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that
your joy may be full.
He writes so that we would not sin, 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:
He writes to assure those who are spiritually young, 1Jn 2:12 I write unto you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
He writes that we might understand spiritual growth and spiritual maturity, 1Jn 2:14 I have
written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written
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unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have
overcome the wicked one.
He writes to warn us of false teachers, 1Jn 2:26 These things have I written unto you concerning
them that seduce you.
Now he writes to believers so that we may know that we have eternal life
First, he identifies who a true believer is, he speaks to the ones that believe on the name of
the Son of God;
The purpose of this verse is not that the unbeliever might come to believe in Jesus Christ
That was the purpose of the Gospel of John
John is writing to those “that believe,” they have already received eternal life by believing
He is not writing to unbelievers, those who have never accepted Jesus as their Savior
He is writing to believers who have hope, believers live in hope, Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope
fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the
Holy Ghost.
Unbelievers are living “without hope,” Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being
aliens from the comonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no
hope, and without God in the world:
The most tragic life that a person can live in this world is a life without God, “having no hope”
The “Assurance of Eternal Life” is a life filled with hope for today and for eternity
The unbeliever will not understand what John says, 1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not
the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned.
The mind of the natural man cannot understand spiritual truth
When John says those “that believe,” he literally says, “the believing ones”
In the Bible, “the believing ones” are those who have put their faith in God and Christ
Believers are convinced that God’s Word speaks the truth concerning sin and salvation
They believe in Jesus, and they receive Jesus into their life, Joh 1:12 But as many as received
him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
So “believers” are those who have trusted their present life and their eternity to Christ
Believers are a “new creation” in Christ, 2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
When you believe in Jesus, He comes to dwell in your heart, Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in
your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
A believer receives the mind of Christ, 1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that
he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
We receive a spiritual mind that allows us to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, 2Pe 3:18
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory
both now and for ever. Amen.
“Assurance of Eternal Life” is given to those who “believe on the name of the Son of God”
“The name” refers to the full revelation of the Son of God
“The name” identifies with His Person and His Work as the “Son of God”
Revealing “Who He is,” What He has done, and what He will yet do
“The name” acknowledges His attributes, authority, dominion, power, and “Lordship”
His name is above every name, Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and
dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Because His name is above every name, Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,
and given him a name which is above every name:
One day every knee will bow to “The Name” of Jesus, Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every
knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
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One day every tongue will confess “The Name” of Jesus, Php 2:11 And that every tongue should
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
John writes to those who have life because they believe that Jesus is the “Son of God”
That is what John said in the previous verse, 1Jn 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that
hath not the Son of God hath not life.
We often ask people, “What do you believe?” Our question should be, “Who do you believe?”
With the thought of, “Do you believe God?” “Do you believe Jesus Christ?”
If you believe that Jesus is the “Son of God,” you believe God and God’s Word, Joh 3:16 For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.
You believe that Jesus is eternal life, 1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and
hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true,
even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
John writes that ye may know that ye have eternal life,
That “you may know” refers to an absolute knowledge, to that which is positive
Knowledge that is beyond the shadow of any doubt, knowledge filled with all certainty
Christians are convinced by the facts which prove that Jesus is the “Son of God”
Many scholars say that you should not discuss “feelings” when speaking of salvation
But salvation is not only a “know-so” experience, it is also a “feel-so” experience
The reason you “feel-so,” is because you “know-so”
Once you believe in and receive Jesus as the Son of God you have an inward assurance
When you are saved you have an immediate perception of “eternal life”
An experiential knowledge that comes with your experience of salvation
As Christians we can receive a daily assurance of our “eternal life”
Each step of faith that we take in our daily walk of life is a fresh reminder of salvation
As we live by faith, we experience an inward realization of “eternal life”
As we follow Christ through the circumstances of daily life, we have the assurance of salvation
Something that God wants you to know and be sure of and there should be no doubts about it
Salvation is not that which is certain because of self, but certain because of Christ
“Eternal Life” is a gift of Grace, Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and
that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Sinners cannot earn “Eternal Life,” Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Salvation is something that Jesus has already paid for, 1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price:
therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
The purchase price of our eternal life was the blood of Jesus, Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto
yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed
the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Salvation is what you received when you accepted Jesus as the Son of God
When you received Jesus, you received “eternal life”
“Eternal life” means a life that is permanent, a never-ending relationship of life
It is more than a quantity of life, it is also a quality of life
The joy of “eternal life” is knowing and living the life that you have received in Jesus
John has shared many characteristics of eternal life in 1 John
Those who have eternal life “Walk in the light, 1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the
light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us
from all sin.
They confess sins, 1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (Praise God for this verse)
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They keep the Word of God, 1Jn 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God
perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
They obey His commandments, 1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his
commandments.
They practice righteousness, 1Jn 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that
doeth righteousness is born of him.
They do not practice sin, 1Jn 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed
remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
They love the brethren, 1Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we
love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
They are overcomers, 1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is
the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Many modern versions do not have the last part of 1 John 5:13 found in the KJV
But since it is written in the KJV we will consider it--and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
The repetition of a word in a single verse places an emphasis upon the truth of that word
Here “believe” is a word of “Divine Importance,” God has something special to say to us
John wants you to know that you received eternal life when you first believed in Jesus
Now John is telling you to believe in the eternal life that you have already received
John writes that we may continue to “believe on the name of the Son of God”
He is telling us to believe in what we have believed and that we can believe in what we believed
John has written so that “you may know that you have eternal life”
The security of the believer is a debated doctrine among theologians
Let me share many “Biblical Truths” related to the security of the believer
Scripture assures believers that we can know that we are saved and possess an eternal life
“Biblical Terms” that refer to our salvation reveal the “Security of the Believer”
We can believe it when the Bible says “eternal” or “everlasting”
The word “everlasting” is used to refer to the “eternity of God,” Rom 16:26 But now is made
manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting
God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
The “everlasting” God gives His “everlasting” life to those who believe in Jesus, Joh 5:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath
everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
The word eternal speaks of “endless duration,” it expresses salvation as “Life Eternal”
Our salvation is eternal according to God, our salvation is nothing short of eternal, Eph 3:11
According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Our salvation is secure because salvation is “Life” according to God’s Word
When God says that He has given us “Life,” we can believe it
Jesus is the “Word of Life,” 1Jn 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard,
which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of
the Word of life;
“Life” is in Jesus, Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I
am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
The life that we receive from Jesus is “Eternal Life,” 1Jn 2:25 And this is the promise that he
hath promised us, even eternal life.
There are many plain “Biblical statements” that assure us of an “Eternal Salvation”
We can know that our salvation is secure by the plain statements of God's Word
As believers we have an eternal inheritance, Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God,
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and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified
together.
The believer “will never perish,” Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall
never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
The believer is “not condemned,” Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he
that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only
begotten Son of God.
The believer will not be “cast out,” Joh 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and
him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
The believer is “passed from death unto life,” Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that
heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Our salvation is eternal because it is secured by God’s eternal purpose, Eph 2:7 That in the ages
to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ
Jesus.
Only an eternal salvation will glorify God forever, Jud 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be
glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
The sacrifice for our salvation was a “once and for all” sacrifice, Heb 10:10 By the which will we
are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Jesus is the “author of eternal salvation,” Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author
of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Jesus obtained an “eternal redemption” for us, Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and
calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal
redemption for us.
In Jesus we receive “the promise of eternal inheritance,” Heb 9:15 And for this cause he is the
mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions
that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal
inheritance.
Believers are protected by “the Shepherd,” Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they
shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Believers are protected by “the prayer” of Jesus, Joh 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom
thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given
me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
Believers are “preserved in Jesus Christ,” Jud 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother
of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and
called:
The Holy Spirit is the “assurance to our spirit” that we are a child of God, Rom 8:16 The Spirit
itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
God “gave us” the Holy Spirit for our security, 1Jn 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him,
and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is “our seal of assurance,” Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard
the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were
sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
The security of the believer teaches that we can now “Live In Christ,” Gal 2:20 I am crucified
with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in
the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
The guarantee of our salvation is not based upon what we do as Christians
The guarantee of our salvation is based upon what God has already accomplished for us
We have the security of salvation because the works of God cannot be canceled or reversed
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Our salvation comes with a “Written Guarantee,” the Word of God is our Written Guarantee
Our salvation is secure because of the “Work of the Trinity”
Our security is found in God’s Word, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit
JULY 28, 2021
STUDY NOTES
I JOHN 5:14-17
BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES
WHEN TO PRAY AND WHAT TO PRAY
INTRODUCTION
This passage is described by many Bible scholars as being very difficult to interpret
One great Bible scholar who wrote in the early 1940’s and 50’s said this:
He confesses his utter inability to understand this verse (v. 16)
I will not attempt to offer even a suggestion as to its possible interpretation
But if we keep in mind verse 13, this passage is not as difficult as it may seem to be, 1Jn 5:13
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may
know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
A key word in these verses is the word “know”
The first thing that we must know, is that we know that we have been saved
We must know that we have believed in and received Jesus Christ as our Savior
And then we need to know beyond any doubt that Jesus saved us when we called upon Him,
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
We know that because we are saved we have a personal relationship with God, Eph 1:13
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in
whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Because of our relationship with God, Christians know not to continue to live a life of sin,
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 know that when we sin, we are to confess our sins unto Christ, 1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
John now has a warning to Christians who do not confess sin and continue to live in sin
But the question among theologians is, is John really speaking to Christians?
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If he is speaking to Christians, what is the meaning of the word “death” in this passage?
John says, there is a sin unto death and there is sin which is not unto death
Is it spiritual death? Is it physical death? Is it the second death which is eternal death?
Also, what is the meaning of the term “life?” John says, “he shall give him life”
Is it spiritual life? Is it physical life? Is it eternal life?
Throughout 1 John we have seen many comparisons, ever since chapter one
Comparisons must correspond with one another, here the death and the life must correspond
If John speaks of spiritual death, that which corresponds must be spiritual life
If John speaks of physical death, that which corresponds must be physical life
If John speaks of eternal death, that which corresponds must be eternal life
John does not speak of spiritual death and physical life, or of spiritual life and physical death
John gave us the assurance of eternal life in verse 13
In verse 14, we have the assurance of prayer, and in verse 15 we have the assurance of an answer
In verse 16, we have the need of intercessory prayer (which is too often neglected today)
In verse 17, we find the results of intercessory prayer
1Jn 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according
to his will, he heareth us:
Because we have an assurance of salvation, we can have confidence in our prayers
Assurance of salvation in verse 13 allows us the assurance of prayer in verse 14
The assurance of prayer is only natural in the life of those who have assurance of salvation
Because we have the assurance of eternal life, we have the assurance of prayer
Because we know that we belong to God we have the freedom to pray to God
We are free to pray at anytime, anywhere, and about anything
The word “confidence” means a boldness to speak, a freedom to speak
In prayer, Christians have the right to speak out what is in their heart and on their mind
The reason is, we have confidence “in Him”
“In Him” presents a great truth, Christians have the right to approach God
Christians are allowed into the presence of God without the assistance of an earthly priest
Christ is our High Priest, Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
We come before God in full assurance of faith, Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in
full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies
washed with pure water.
Our faith is not in self or what we can personally accomplish, our faith is in Christ, Eph 3:12
In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
Christians are invited into the throne room of God’s Grace, Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come
boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
By the Grace of God, we can ask anything
Our “asking” God is based upon who we are “In-Christ”
Because we are saved, we have a freedom of speech before God
Because we are free to speak to God, we have a freedom to ask of God
Our freedom of speech before God is an influence upon our prayer request
The word “ask” places an emphasis upon our attitude as we come before God “to ask”
The word was used to describe the seeking by the inferior from the superior
As we freely speak, we must speak with respect toward God and His superiority
Our prayers to God should always be presented as a petition and never a demand
We must realize that prayer is not an emergency exit, it is a personal privilege
We have the privilege of asking for that which is of personal interest to us
We can ask of that which concerns our health, our wealth, our physical and spiritual needs
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We are to ask of that which concerns us or someone that we are concerned about
So how important is it to ask of God?
The next part of the verse answers that question for us
What is more important to our daily walk of life than the “Will of God?”
A prayerful heart is a heart continually set upon the will of God
That is why Paul said, 1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
Praying without ceasing will keep our mind and heart upon the will of God for our life
We know that we don’t always do things according to the will of God
The Christian who understands his salvation, also understands “according to his will”
We must believe that God’s will is always the best for us
Prayer therefore is not according to our self-interest unless our interest is in God’s will
We do not always know the will of God about certain events of our life
We don’t have to know the will of God concerning a certain issue before we pray
Because prayer is not a request for God to change His mind, but for God to direct our mind
Prayer is asking God to change our mind if our mind is not according to His will
Prayer is an adjustment of our will and not the will of God
We are not to ask anything that we know is unscriptural, or sinful according to God’s Word
Prayer is seeking the “will” of the “Omniscient God,” the all-knowing God
Prayer is seeking the “will” of the “Holy God,” the God who always does that which is right
He is the “Omnipotent God,” the God who has the power and authority to do what is right
Jesus taught us that our prayer should always be, “Thy will be done,” Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom
come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Jesus prayed for the Father’s will to be done, Mat 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on
his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me:
nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
A verse of scripture that we like to quote is, Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together
for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
But within the context of that verse is praying in the will of God, Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit
also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit
itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
We are to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit when we don’t know how we should pray,
Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he
maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Then we have verse 28, which in context means that which is good for us is the will of God
The evidence of loving God is the desire to live in the will of God
His will is that we keep His commandments, when we keep His commandments, He will hear us
1Jn 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do
those things that are pleasing in his sight.
The Christian life is a constant learning process of knowing what the will of God is for us
We learn “His Will” as we study the Bible and learn the Scriptures
We need to pray and ask God to help us learn and live the Scriptures
Our prayers should always be, “Lord, let me learn the Bible, so that I can live the Bible”
We pray and ask according to the promises of the Bible and the promise is, he heareth us:
So, why should we pray? Because God is listening, God is always listening
We should be as eager to pray as God is to listen, God never turns His ear away from us
There is no problem with the hearing of God, God is waiting to hear, God is always ready to hear
God does not tell us to take a number and wait our turn to pray, or put us in alphabetical order
The problem is that we are not always ready to pray
This does not say that God grants every request that we bring before Him
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His answer will always be according to His Will for our life
The promise is that God always hears our prayers
And God always answers our prayers that are according to His will
God’s answer comes as a result of His will
We should be thankful that God doesn’t always give us what we ask for
Prayer is not begging for our worldly wants prayer is a request for our desires to be of God
Consider the prayer life of Jesus, Jesus prayed in the morning, Mar 1:35 And in the morning,
rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there
prayed.
There were all night prayers, Luk 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a
mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Jesus prayed when facing difficulty, Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up
prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from
death, and was heard in that he feared;
God the Father answered the prayers of Jesus, we have the assurance of answered prayer
1Jn 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the
petitions that we desired of him.
You cannot pull verse 15 out and claim it as a promise apart from verse 14
Verse 15 continues the thoughts of verse 14, we know that He hears us when we ask
So, we have the freedom to ask anything that we want to ask
Because we know who we are that is asking, and know who we are asking, we are careful to ask
The emphasis is upon the attitude and interest of the one who is asking and what is being asked
We carefully examine every request, our request always comes with a very special request
We want our request to be according to the “Will of God” and when it is--we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
We have the assurance of receiving the very thing that we asked God for
God gives to us the very best for us through our asking
Our asking is the channel through which God gives to us
But our asking must be according to the “Will of God”
Scripture gives us other guidelines concerning prayer:
A life of obedience to God, 1Jn 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep
his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
We must “Abide in Christ,” Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask
what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
We are to ask, “In faith,” Jas 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth
is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
From a life of righteousness, Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for
another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
With unselfish motives, Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may
consume it upon your lusts.
We are to ask in the name of Jesus, Joh 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Asking in the “name” of Jesus represents complete trust in who He is and all that He will do
A hindrance to prayer is a sinful heart, Psa 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will
not hear me:
Another hindrance to prayer is a wrong relationship with your mate, 1Pe 3:7 Likewise, ye
husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the
weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
“Heirs together” speaks to husband and wife
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God hears our prayer when we pray according to His Will and according to His Word
Therefore, it is important that Christians pray
And today there is a great need for Christians to pray for one another (intercessory prayer)
1Jn 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he
shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say
that he shall pray for it.
Verse 16 is an illustration of what was identified in the previous verses as answered prayer
John’s example is not that of a personal prayer request
Such as praying for things to be better in our life whether physically or materially
His example is the Christian duty of intercessory prayer
“See his brother” refers to a brother “in the Lord”
The one who is praying is a Christian and the one he is praying for is a Christian
Some interpret “brother” as a “neighbor” and some say it refers to a “professed believer”
Meaning that it refers to one who claims to be saved but is really lost
Scripture does not identify a brotherhood of the lost
So, the one who has sinned is a believer, he is a Christian, he is not one who is spiritually dead
John speaks of a “brother” as one who has passed from death unto life, 1Jn 3:14 We know that
we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother
abideth in death.
The “brother” who is being prayed for is a Christian who has sinned
“Sin a sin” does not refer to a single act of sin but living in a state of sin
Living a daily life in a sinful way and not repenting of their sins
Christians can identify sin in the life of others because we understand the truth of sin
Christians know what sin is, we have the experience of sin in our own life
Continuing in certain sins long enough can bring about a premature physical death
In this case it is that which is not unto death,
John refers to sin “not unto death” three times in this passage
Twice in verse 16 and once in verse 17
A “sin unto death” is mentioned only once and is found in verse 16
Since it is a brother who is sinning, death cannot refer to “spiritual death”
Before John began to speak of this death, he assured the Christian of an eternal life (13)
A Christian cannot and will not experience the “second death”
Therefore, “sin not unto death” and the “sin unto death” must refer to physical death
But what is John telling us? All sin ultimately leads to death, 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:
We will all die physically because of sin, Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of
God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Physical death will come to the believer, but eternal death will never come
John speaks of a premature physical death because of a Christian continuing to live in sin
But don’t miss the emphasis of what John is saying to us
Christians are to pray for Christians who are living in sin
The emphasis is praying for a brother whose sin does not lead unto death
Listen to what John tells us to do, he shall ask,
The one who is to ask is the one who sees the brother sin, the first thing to do is “Pray”
Christians are to pray for Christians who are living in sin
They must be prayed for and not forsaken and not condemned
Too often the first thing that people do is criticize and gossip
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Prayer comes from a loving spirit and gossip comes from a critical spirit
Before you do anything else you should pray, use the tongue for praying and not criticism
Christians are always concerned about the physical health of another Christian
We must also be concerned about the spiritual health of another Christian
If God calls upon us to do more than pray, it will be prayer that prepares us for what God wants
Praying for a Christian who is living in a known sin may lead us to talk to that Christian, Gal 6:1
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit
of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
One important part of our spiritual preparation is prayer, first for self and then others
What is the meaning of and he shall give him life
Remember that comparisons must correspond with one another
Here the death is physical, and the life must correspond, “life” refers to physical life
Avoiding sin and living for God can add years to one’s physical life, Pro 10:27 The fear of the
LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
An excessive sinful life can shorten the physical life
Keeping the commandments of God is a keeper of life, Pro 19:16 He that keepeth the
commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
Careless and sinful living will lead to a premature physical death by the hand of God
John explains who will gain the life, for them that sin not unto death.
For certain, sin that does not lead to a premature death is sin that is confessed
Christians who pray for and talk to a Christian in sin will encourage confession
A Christian in sin needs to be reminded that God still loves them
And that God will still use them in His service, God still has life for them
They need to know that the Church loves them and cares for them
John makes a strong point, something that is rarely taught today, There is a sin unto death:
There are some states that have a death penalty for the conviction of certain crimes
God has a death penalty for a Christian who will not confess sin but continues to live in sin
That death penalty is not the loss of eternal life, it is the loss of a continued earthly life
The sentence of death that comes from God is a premature physical death
A premature physical death results in falling short of God’s purpose for that life
Moses and Aaron fell short of the Promised Land, Num 20:12 And the LORD spake unto Moses
and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel,
therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
They were disqualified from the work that God had given them to do
There are other O. T. examples, such as Nadab and Abihu (Lev 10:1-2)
The two sons of Aaron the priest died because they deliberately disobeyed God
They were guilty of offering profane fire before the Lord in the Wilderness of Sinai
Fire came down from the Lord and devoured them, Lev 10:2 And there went out fire from the
LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
Korah led a revolt against the leadership of Moses and Aaron
The ground opened-up and swallowed Korah and a rebellious people who opposed God,
Num 16:32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all
the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
Achan disobeyed Joshua’s orders from God at Jericho and was put to death, Jos 7:25 And Joshua
said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him
with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.
Uzzah touched the Ark of The Covenant and was struck dead 2Sa 6:7 And the anger of the LORD
was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark
of God.
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These O. T. references do not present the thought of spiritual death or the loss of salvation
They refer to the premature physical deaths as a result of sin, there are also N.T. examples
Ananias and Sapphira lied to God, Act 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine
heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Ananias was struck dead, Act 5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the
ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
His wife Sapphira was also struck dead, Act 5:10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and
yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth,
buried her by her husband.
Unconfessed sin brought judgment upon those who came to the Lord’s Table, 1Co 11:30 For this
cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
The judgment for some was a premature physical death
The discipline of death was pronounced upon a Corinthian Christian involved in a sex sin
1Co 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be
saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Our thoughts are not to be centered upon the question of, “Which sin leads to death?”
What sin is it that God punishes with a premature physical death?
No one specific sin is identified as the sin unto death
Therefore, probably any one sin that you continue to be involved in could be a sin unto death
Again, the thought is that all prayer should be submitted according to the “Will of God”
I do not say that he shall pray for it.
John is not absolutely forbidding prayer for one whose sin will lead to a premature death
It is not that John forbids our prayer but there may not be the assurance of an answered prayer
One reason is that we do not know who that one may be that faces the sin unto death
And we have no right to question God’s decision concerning such a person
The time will come when you may not have a burden on your heart for a sinful Christian
There can come a time when intercession for a person’s sin can cease, Jer 7:16 Therefore pray
not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me:
for I will not hear thee.
There comes the time when the only thing that unconfessed sin can look for is chastisement,
Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour
the adversaries.
1Jn 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
“Unrighteousness” refers to all that is wrong in the sight of God
All that is out of harmony with God, all sin is contrary to what is right according to God
All sin is the transgression of God’s Law, 1Jn 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also
the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
But not all sin within the life of a believer will be judged with a premature physical death
John is reminding us of the most important truth of this passage
More important than the understanding of the “sin unto death” is understanding prayer
John wants us to learn the importance of praying for one another
According to what John has said, more often than not, it is important to pray
Especially praying for those that we know are living in sin
The wrong act of others should lead us to pray
CONCLUSION
Christians must immediately confess their sins and they will be cleansed, 1Jn 1:9 If we confess
our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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Christians who refuse to repent of their sins and confess theirs sins will be chastised, Heb 12:6
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Christians are chastised because they are a child of God, Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God
dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Refusing to obey God after His chastisement has come upon us is a refusal of life, Heb 12:9
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence:
shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Refusing to repent and confess sin after the chastisement of God may result in the sin unto death
God will not allow a disobedient Christian who continues to live in their sin lead others astray
Christians are the light of the world and the salt of the earth, and not to be a disgrace to Christ
AUGUST 4, 2021
STUDY NOTES
I JOHN 5:18-21
BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES
WE KNOW
INTRODUCTION
Notice that verses 18, 19, and 20 begin with “we know”
John states that which the Apostles knew and wrote this letter that we “might know”
John wants all Christians to identify with the truths that he states in this letter
Only Christians can identify with these truths, those who are lost will not understand them
They are “spiritual truths” that come with the experience of being “Born-Again”
Those who are born-again have assurance, 1Jn 5:13 These things have I written unto you that
believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye
may believe on the name of the Son of God.
John gave us the assurance of eternal life in verse 13
In verse 14, we have the assurance of prayer
In verse 15 we have the assurance of answered prayer
In verse 16, we have the need of intercessory prayer (which is too often neglected today)
In verse 17, we find the results of intercessory prayer
Now, in verse 18 we have the assurance of “Holiness”
1Jn 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of
God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
“We know” refers to anyone who has an inward knowledge of salvation
John has already presented to us that we can know that we are saved
He now refers to the knowledge that is imparted to us through the Holy Spirit, 1Co 2:12
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might
know the things that are freely given to us of God.
This is the knowledge that is imparted to us through God’s Word, 1Jn 5:13 These things have I
written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have
eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Since our knowledge is a “Divinely Imparted” knowledge, it is a matter-of fact knowledge
John presents to us the fullness of knowledge, which is positive, absolute, and “know-so”
Because of spiritual truths we know for certain, there are truths we can come to know
John now presents to us one of those spiritual truths, that whosoever is born of God
John has referred to those who are born-again several times in this letter
Looking back at what John has said will help to understand what he now says
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Those who are born-again practice righteousness, 1Jn 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye
know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
Everyone who practices righteousness does so because they have been “Born-Again”
We are not born-again because we practice righteousness
We practice righteousness because we have been born-again
A righteous life is the evidence of being born-again
Sin is out of character for those who are born-again, 1Jn 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not
commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
God’s love is the character of those who are born-again, 1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another:
for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
Everyone who is “born of God” shares the nature of God and the love of God
Everyone that has been born physically does not personally experience salvations love
But everyone who has been spiritually born again loves with the love of God
God’s Love is the results and the evidence of the New Birth, God’s love is the proof of salvation
John speaks of the love that can only come from the new nature
The new nature can only come by believing that Jesus is the Christ, 1Jn 5:1 Whosoever believeth
that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also
that is begotten of him.
Christians can live a victorious life because we are “born of God,” 1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is
born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our
faith.
The last time that John uses the term “born of God” is in 1 John 5:18
Remember what John has said about those who are “born of God:”
They practice righteousness and sin is not the character of their life
That is because of their new nature which is the nature of God’s love
Faith in God is the new nature of life which overcomes sin
John says the Christian sinneth not
John is not teaching that Christians no longer commit an act of sin or fall into sin
He would be contradicting what he has already taught, Christian you can sin, but don’t sin,
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:
John is teaching that the Christian does not continue to live in habitual sin
John does not have in mind an occasional act of sin but a daily practice of sin
The daily lifestyle of a Christian is not a daily life of sin
Sin is not the way of life for the born-again Christian
When a Christian sins, he goes against his new nature, 2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in
Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
A “New Creation” means a life of “New Behavior”
God expects His children to behave, and if they don’t, God will chastise them (1 John 5:16-17)
If they continue to live in sin after the chastisement of God, they face the sin unto death
The sin unto death is a premature physical death, death before God’s will is fulfilled
God has a purpose for every Christian life, and it is not to live a life of sin
Sin does not follow the purpose of being born again
The purpose of being born-again is to no longer live-in sin but to practice righteousness
God has provided the way for us to forsake sin and live righteous, “Abide In Christ”
It is the Christian who continues to abide in Christ that does not sin, 1Jn 3:6 Whosoever abideth
in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
“Abiding in Christ” is the normal place for a Christian to live, it is home for the Christian
To abide in Christ is to stay at home, to be where you belong
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John now turns our attention to Christ in 1 John 5:18
John speaks of Christ when he says, but he that is begotten of God
“He that is begotten” is the same in the original as “is born” in the first part of this verse
Here it is probably a reference to Jesus as God’s Son
Most modern translations present it as a reference to the birth of Jesus
Scripture presents Jesus as the unique Son of God, Psa 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD
hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Scripture puts an emphasis upon the divine relationship between the Father and the Son
Heb 1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I
begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
The life that the Christian lives can only be lived through God’s only begotten Son, 1Jn 4:9
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son
into the world, that we might live through him.
Not only does Jesus us give us life, He keeps us in the life that He gives us
The KJV says, keepeth himself,
But most translations present that Jesus is the One who is keeping the believer
Jesus keeps the life of those who have been born-again
Which means that because of Jesus, Satan cannot “keep” those who are born-again
and that wicked one toucheth him not.
“That wicked one” is Satan, Mat 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and
understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his
heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
Satan, the “wicked one” desires to harm you, he is like a lion seeking his prey
A lion who will devour you, 1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as
a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
But the destructive powers of Satan are limited as we see in the life of Peter
Satan wanted Peter, Luk 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to
have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Jesus prayed for Peter, Luk 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when
thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Jesus restored Peter, Joh 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou
me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto
him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my
sheep. (What Jesus had said he would do “strengthen thy brethren”)
God will intervene when Satan comes, 1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as
is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are
able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
John said, “that wicked one toucheth him not”
The word “toucheth” means “to take hold of” and not turn loose, to cling to
The touch of Satan upon the one who is born-again is not an eternal grip
The touch of Satan cannot remove us from the hand of Christ, Joh 10:28 And I give unto them
eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Christians cannot be removed from the Father’s hand, Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them
me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
Christ’s hand is upon us to limit the harm that Satan desires to bring upon us
But Christians also have the responsibility of keeping themselves safe from Satan’s works
We must know that we cannot depend upon ourselves to defeat Satan
We must realize that what we can do to protect ourselves can only be done through Christ
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Even those who are “spiritually young” can overcome Satan, 1Jn 2:13 I write unto you, fathers,
because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye
have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the
Father.
All Christians can overcome Satan as-long as we “Abide in the Word of God,” 1Jn 2:14
I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have
written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye
have overcome the wicked one.
The sword that defeats Satan is the Word of God, Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and
the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
As we daily come to the Word of God, we daily put on the New Man, Eph 4:24 And that ye put
on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
The new man is the new life that we receive in Christ, 2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in
Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The character of that new life in Christ is righteousness and true holiness
John says that we have the assurance of a new nature--1Jn 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
Verse 19 begins the same way as verse 18, verse 19 is based upon what was said in verse 18
We know the truth of verse 19 because we know the truth of verse 18
We know that there is a difference between those who are saved and those who are lost
We know that we are of God,
“We are of God” because we have been born of God, 1Jn 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is
the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is
begotten of him.
Those who are born of God live righteous, 1Jn 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that
every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
The righteous life of the Christian is in-contrast to the world’s life of wickedness
John says, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
“Wickedness” is the power and influence of Satan over the world
“The whole world” is in his grip and under the control of the evil one
Satan is the “god of this world,” 2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of
them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God,
should shine unto them.
Satan is the “prince of this world,” Joh 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the
prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
The course of this world is according to the prince of the power of the air, Eph 2:2 Wherein in
time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of
the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
The Devil is that old serpent who deceives the whole world, Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was
cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was
cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Satan is a dragon which means, “the sharp-seeing one,” the one who is looking for a prey
Satan cannot spiritually destroy those who have been born-again, we have assurance in Christ
1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding,
that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus
Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
Verse 20 begins just like verse 18 and 19, beginning with a fact that “we know”
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We know for a fact that the Son of God is come
We know that Jesus who came to the earth has always been “the Son of God”
We know that the “Son of God” came to destroy the works of the 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.
“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,” 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 a personal commitment to the Person and Work of Jesus
We must have an understanding of the truth of Jesus, and hath given us an understanding,
Christians have an ability to know the will of God, 2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light
to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory
of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
In the dark mind of sin there is no knowledge of God, Eph 4:18 Having the understanding
darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of
the blindness of their heart:
Only through Christ can we know Him that is true--that we may know him that is true,
This spiritual knowledge is a continual process, it is a knowledge gained by experience
And the more we know the better it gets, life gets better and better, the more the better
Our knowledge is of Him who “Is true,” we know that God and Christ are truth
God is the genuine, the real and not the counterfeit; God is not that which is false
God is the original as opposed to an imitation, He is the authentic and not an imitation
Which is the truth that we learned in our salvation experience, Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal,
that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
We know that Jesus is the True “Light,” Joh 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every
man that cometh into the world.
We know that Jesus is the “True Bread,” Joh 6:32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say
unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread
from heaven.
Jesus is “Truth,” Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man
cometh unto the Father, but by me.
And the truth that John reveals to us is, and we are in him that is true
Our personal union with the true God is because of our personal relationship in Christ, 1Co 1:30
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and
sanctification, and redemption:
The reason our knowledge of God continues to increase is because we are “in Him”
In God is a real living experience which is also identified as being in Christ
even in his Son Jesus Christ.
God the Father and “His Son Jesus Christ” cannot be separated
What is true of One is true of the Other
In Christ is how we are united to God, to be in Christ is to be in God
This is the true God, and eternal life.
This is the truth that John presented in the beginning of the Gospel of John, Joh 1:1 In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Christ has always existed as God, Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
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Christ was the Word which was made 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.
“Eternal Life” sums it all up, the life which was with the Father, 1Jn 1:2 (For the life was
manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was
with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
The life that was promised in Christ, 1Jn 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us,
even eternal life.
The life that God gave us through His Son, 1Jn 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given
to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
In Jesus Christ we know the truth, in Jesus we have the Truth, in Jesus we have the assurance
1 John closes with the assurance of purity
1Jn 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Seven times in this letter John specifically mentions those he calls, “Little children”
Little children, sin not, 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:
Little children, your sins are forgiven, 1Jn 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins
are forgiven you for his name's sake.
Little children, abide in Him, 1Jn 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall
appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
Little children, do not be deceived, 1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth
righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
Little children, love in deed and in truth, 1Jn 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word,
neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Little children, you have overcome, 1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome
them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
And now for the final time in this letter, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Little children, don’t let anything take the place of God in your life
An idol is anything that takes you away from what God has for you
“Keep yourselves” means be on guard, never allow yourself to be off guard
You must be like a soldier standing guard to protect against an enemy attack
Satan continually attempts to offer you a substitute for God in your life
And there is no substitute for God, 1Co 8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things
that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that
there is none other God but one.
You keep yourselves from idols by turning to God and serving Him, 1Th 1:9 For they themselves
shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to
serve the living and true God;
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