Three facts (assurances) of Christian faith
Light, Love and the Love of God Series • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 40:40
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Wrapping up the Epistle
Wrapping up the Epistle
Our final passage before us tonight we have some facts, certainties, assurances we should have as children of God.
18 We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.
Each of these facts starts off with “we know.” These facts as they relate to sin, as they relate to the evil one and about truth fellowship with God and with Jesus Christ.
So, this is exciting as we wrap up this Epistle with three facts surrounding:
For “we know” the:
Relationship between those born of God and sin (v.18)
Difference between us and the world (v.19)
Basis of fellowship with God and eternal life (v.20)
“We know” relationship between
“We know” relationship between
“We know” means we have knowledge, we have previously received the knowledge in the epistle. These are reminders and encouragements, assurances, certainties for the Christian faith.
18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
Whoever is born of God does not sin (1Jn5:18, 3:9, 1:8-10)
Does not sin, do you think this is talking about sinless perfection?
Consider similar verse
9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
When we look at the (ESV) version of these verses it seems it is more than just “a sin” but what does it make it appear like?
Practice, dwelling in sin
This would line up with how John started the Epistle
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
John has already told us we sin, and if we say we do not sin we make God a liar and His word is not in us.
So this is the continual practice of sin
“A child of God may sin; but his normal condition is one of resistance to sin” - (Epistles of St. John - Plummer)
The one born of God keeps him (1Jn5:18; 3:9, 1Pt1:5; 1Jn5:21 and Jude21)
Look at your version of (v.18) does it say “keeps him” or “keeps himself?”
Let me give you a thought I read on this, that “he who is born of God” is a reference to Jesus so it would be Jesus keeps him.
There is also the belief that “born of God” as seen in the epistle is a child of God , the Christian.
If that is true than we, the person, the individual bears some responsibility in keeping himself, ourselves from sinning.
Now, we don’t do it alone, we have help from God.
9 People conceived and brought into life by God don’t make a practice of sin. How could they? God’s seed is deep within them, making them who they are. It’s not in the nature of the God-begotten to practice and parade sin.
Because His seed is deep within!
Our part is to cooperate with God’s power within
5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
So now that seems to make sense to “keep himself.” And now consider
21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.
Who is to guard? YOU ARE
one more
21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
Who is to do the keeping in the love of God? YOU ARE!
We know the wicked one does not touch him (1Jn5:18; Jm4:7; 1Jn4:4, 2:14; Mt4:4)
When we do our part, cooperate with God as mentioned before, well, Satan does not have a chance. Think of this
7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
This is not you fleeing, this is the devil fleeing from you!
What is your part here?
Submit, resist!
That unleashes the power within
4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
In our cooperation is our allowing too, check this out
14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
The word of God abides in you, and what was the result?
It was used by Jesus to over come too you can look at (Mt4:4) on your own.
(Transition) So our first fact, assurance, certainty is that the Christian faith that is born of God does not treat sin lightly, and will cooperating, allowing God’s help is able to win, have victory over the “wicked one.” This leads us to our next “We know.”
“We know”
The difference between us and the world
The difference between us and the world
World being spiritual world that is contrary, opposed to God and to Jesus. As compared to creation (cosmos) and created (mankind). Remember that John is addressing the called out (Ekklesia) the believers. So he gives these words to them.
19 We know that we belong to God even though the whole world is under the rule of the Evil One.
We are of God (1Jn5:1; 1Jn3:1-2)
The Christian is born of God
1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.
The Christian is called “child of God”
1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
Have to pause for just a moment
What did the Father bestow on us (v.1)?
What is the results of the bestowing (v.1)?
what is the hope we can have (v.2)?
What a great blessing, assurance in those facts, assurances right there!
(Transition) This is what the Christians have but we need to be careful for the world is:
The whole world is under rule of Evil One (Jn8:42-47; 1Jn3:8-10; 2Cor4:3-4)
These are the ones who are not born again, not a child of God; they are of their father the devil as noted in Jn8:42-47.
Without sins being washed away they are still under the sway, the rulership of the evil one, of Satan.
8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
So, whose child are we? Of the world, of Satan, or of God? Those who are in Christ Jesus know the fact, have the assurance that God is their Father. Those not of Christ, well, they are blinded by the world.
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
(Transition) Some great facts we have, some great assurances as a child of God, as little children, beloved we have seen already. That as a child of God we do not dwell, live in sin and we keep ourselves by the power of God from sin, for the wicked one cannot touch us. WE have the assurance that there is a difference between us, we who are of God and the world, those who are of the wicked one, evil one, satan. And now this leads us to our next fact, assurance we can have.
“We know” the basis
“We know” the basis
Jesus said “and the truth shall set you (make you) free (Jn8:32) and here John is going to emphasis that we can not only know the truth, but understand it and by doing such have the assurance of eternal life.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
The Son has come to give us understanding (1Jn5:20; and consider (1Jn1-2, 14, 18)
That we may know Him who is true (1Jn5:20; Jn14:7-99, 21, 23)
And that He is the true God and by knowing Him you can know eternal life. (1Jn5:20; 1Jn1:2-3, Jn17:1-3)
The true God proclaimed is the real God whom we come to know and have fellowship with, who gives eternal life.
Eternal life truly is knowing Him who is true.
And to be in Him who is true, His Son, Jesus Christ
This brings to an end the passage but drives us back to the beginning too.
2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
And since we have time, look at part of Jesus prayer to the Father who gives eternal life through the Son for the Apostles.
1 Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, 2 even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life.
3 “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
and add one more verse not on your outline
20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word;
That is us, those who believe, believe in the One true God through the words of the Apostles.
This has been a great journey through 1John, and look forward to looking at 2John next week but we need to draw a conclusion to this first.
Our three facts, assurances of the Christian faith we covered tonight.
We know the relationship between the one born of God and sin.
We know the difference between us, those born of God, and the world
We know the basis of our fellowship is with the true, real God who through knowing Him we have eternal life.
Our passage finished with this, and it should be our challenge each day.
21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.
If this was not something that could happen, John would not have instructed it, Jesus would not have taught on it and we would not have it before us. Let me close with a great passage
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. 13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
(encouragement) (Prayer) (Exit)