1 John 5:1-12

By Faith, We Are Victorious in Christ

I. The Identity of the Victors (vv. 1-5)

a. Those who are born of God - they are people who believed that Jesus is the Christ (v.1)

1 John 5:1 NASB95

1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.

Born of God - Adoption into the Family of God

John 1:12 NASB95

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

John 1:13 NASB95

13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Romans 8:15 NASB95

15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

b. Characteristics of those who are born of God (vv. 1-5)

(evidences of genuine conversion)

1 John 5:1–2 NASB95

1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments.

a. They love the Father (vv.1-2)

(not the World)

A genuine believer loves to fellowship with the Father

and cultivates intimacy with the Father.

b. They love their fellow believers (v.2)

they treat them with care and respect.

1 John 5:2–3 NASB95

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

c. They gladly obey God’s commandments (v.2-3)

Because Christians have been born of God and given new power, we are able to keep God’s commandments joyfully, whereas the unbeliever has no such ability for they are dead to sin.

1 John 5:4 NASB95

4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

d. They have rejected the false teachings and the system of the world (v.4)

In this context, the world here is not the world that God created. The world that Christians have overcome refers to the evil system opposing to God - this evil system is ruled by Satan.

1 John 2:15–16 NASB95

15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

to overcome the world is to defeat the world’s system of evil, lust, pride....

We are not slaved by sin anymore because Jesus has defeated sin and death

However, continuing to overcome is not automatic for the Christian because we still have the sinful nature in us...

Not all Christians continue to be victorious over sin - for many still loved the world, many have not given importance to the Word of God and the fellowship of the believers, many have stopped sharing the Gospel...

So, Only those who continue to live by faith (i.e., trust and obey God) are able to be victorious over sin.

1 John 5:4–5 NASB95

4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

e. They are faithful to Jesus (vv.4-5)

Saving Faith - trusting their whole being to Christ, for their salvation.

Faith is that alive - Faith that is at work and can be seen in loving JESUS and other people.

Saving faith is not dead.

II. The Christ Who Made Us Victors (vv.6-10)

a. Jesus is the Christ who became human and sacrificed himself for our salvation (v.6-8)

1 John 5:6–8 NASB95

6 This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

3 That Testifies - Holy Spirit, Water, and Blood -

The blood and water that flowed from the side of Jesus is the validity of His death and HUMANITY

The Holy Spirit testifies the reality of Incarnation and Resurrection of Jesus (Divinity)

In contrast to those who deny the bodily death of Christ (Docetism):

1 John 2:18 NASB95

18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.

1 John 2:22-23

1 John 2:22–23 NASB95

22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.

1 John 2:26 NASB95

26 These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you.

1 John 4:1–3 NASB95

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.

This is the Gospel that we preach - 1 Cor. 15:1-6

1 Corinthians 15:1–6 NASB95

1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;

b. Those who don’t believe that Jesus is the Christ made God a LIAR (vv. 9-10)

1 John 5:9–10 NASB95

9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son. 10 The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son.

God Testifies the Jesus is the Christ who came in this World and died, and was resurrected on the 3rd day. (v.9)

The Holy Spirit in us testifies about Jesus as the Christ (v.10)

Those who deny Christ - They are anti-christ.

We may not fall into this category.

III. The Victor’s Reward - Eternal Life (vv. 11-12)

a. Eternal Life is given only to those who are in Jesus Christ (v.11)

1 John 5:11 NASB95

11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

Salvation is exclusive in Christ

The word “in” is significant

it is not the religion/denomination you belong to

it is not the good works you have done

it is not what you have done for Jesus

It is faith in a person, and his name is Jesus!

We are assured already of our salvation.

given us - in the past tense / it is done

has the life - in the past tense / it is done.

Therefore, we don’t have to wait to die for us to know of our salvation - 1 John 5:13

Our bodies may die, but our spirit will continue to live.

b. Those who did not believe in Jesus as the Christ will not receive Eternal Life (v.12)

1 John 5:12 NASB95

12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

c. We share with the victory of Christ

John 11:25 NASB95

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,

We share with His resurrection

Revelation 17:14 NASB95

14 “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”

We share with his victory

PROPER RESPONSE:

For Christians, come to Jesus for a daily refreshment of grace. He will sustain us in the battle against evil and sin.

If you are not yet a believer of Christ, come to Jesus and believe that He died to save you so that you can receive the gift of eternal life and the assurance of salvation

Conclusion:

Christians may suffer in this world, but we are not supposed to live a defeated life, for our suffering is only temporary. Christians are supposed to be the most HOPEFUL of all people. For in God’s appointed time, we will share with the glory of our savior Jesus Christ!

Illustration:

The documents of surrender officially ending World War II were signed by the Japanese and designated representatives of allied nations on September 2, 1945.

General Douglas MacArthur, officiating the ceremony aboard the USS Missouri, was the last to sign on behalf of the United States.MacArthur took his Parker fountain pen and simply signed his first name, “Douglas.” He then passed the pen to General Wainwright, who signed “Mac.” MacArthur then handed the pen to General Percival, who signed “Arthur.”

This unusual procedure was MacArthur’s way of honoring the two U.S. generals who had suffered severe persecution as prisoners of war. They had persevered, and now they were allowed to share in the glory of victory.

Likewise, those who share in the sufferings of Christ will also share in his glory.