Faith is the Victory
#10 of 11 Lessons from 1 John
I. Introduction
A. Valvano and Victory
1. Former NC State coach’s first college coaching job.
a) He was 23 years old and coaching at a small school.
b) He was known for his overwhelming desire to be victorious.
c) A player finally got the nerve to talk to him about it.
2. A Loaded Question
a) “Coach, why is winning so important to you,” asked the player.
b) The young Valvano said, “Because the final score defines you. You lose and you are a loser. You win and you’re a winner.”
c) The player said, “I think what defines you is character. How you play the game and how you relate to teammates defines you; regardless if you win or lose.”
3. A reflective coach.
a) Twenty four years later Valvano was in a life struggle with terminal spinal cancer.
b) Just before his death the now famous coach stated, “The kid was right twenty four years ago. It’s attitude and effort. It’s trying and launching out that is really important. I can’t help think what a great human being I could have been, if I would have had this awareness years ago.”
B. Jesus and Victory
1. The right approach.
a) The player was certainly correct in his thinking.
b) Attitude and effort will produce good results.
c) The same is true in Christianity.
2. The Victory is Assured
a) Through Jesus the victory is already won – Revelation 1:18
b) Our attitude and actions will determine if we are own the winning team.
c) In I John 5:1-13 we are assured of victory in Jesus.
d) In these verse we find FIVE KEYS to VICTORY in JESUS
II. Victory in Jesus
A. Comrades in Christ (1-2)
1. Brothers and Sisters by Choice
a) Choosing to believe – John 8:24
b) Choosing to receive – John 1:12
c) Choosing to love – Mark 12:30-31
d) Choosing to obey – Revelation 22:14
e) Chosen by God is Christ – Ephesians 1:4
2. Benefits of Choosing Wisely
a) Born again – 2 Corinthians 5:17
b) Begotten by Hope – 1 Peter 1:3
c) Bound together in love – Colossians 3:14
d) Body that shares – Romans 12:15, 1 Corinthians 12:12, 26
B. Commandments of God (3)
1. Description of the Commandments
a) They are God’s and not men’s – Matthew 15:8-9
b) They are liberating and not confining – John 8:31-36, Galatians 5:1
c) They are light and not heavy – Matthew 11:28-30
d) They are clear and not confusing – Psalm 119:9-10, 1 Corinthians 14:33
2. How They Help Us
a) They identify our purpose – Ecclesiastes 12:13
b) They make us wise unto salvation – 2 Timothy 3:15
c) They equip us for God’s work – 2 Timothy 3:16-17
d) They lead us to life – John 6:68
e) They bring us delight – Psalm 119:174
C. Conviction (4-5)
1. The key element of conviction.
a) We have faith – Hebrews 11:6
b) Faith in the promises of God – Psalm 34:17-19
c) Faith in the words of Jesus – John 16:33
d) Faith in the people of God – Philemon 21
e) Faith that works – Galatians 5:6, James 2:14-18
2. The identity of the convicted.
a) Those that believe in the Lordship of Jesus – John 20:30-31
b) Those that follow the Lamb – Revelation 14:4
c) Those that hold fast to the word of God – 2 Timothy 1:13
d) Those that are willing to confess that belief - Revelation 14:4
e) Those that are not ashamed of their belief – 2 Timothy 1:8
D. Confirmation (6-10)
1. The Messianic Confirmation (6)
a) The baptism of Jesus – Matthew 3:16-17
b) The crucifixion of Jesus – Mark 15:39
c) The resurrection of Jesus – Acts 2:30-36
2. The Heavenly Confirmation (7)
a) The reality of the Godhead – Genesis 1, John 1, Matthew 28:18-20
b) The fullness of the Godhead – Colossians 2:9
c) The dwelling place of the Godhead
d) The unity of the Godhead – John 17:21
3. The Earthly Confirmation (8-10)
a) The work of the Spirit – John 14:25, 16:13
b) The practice of Christian baptism – Acts 2:38, 8:39
c) The observance of the Lord’s Supper – 1 Corinthians 11:23ff
d) The acceptance of God’s truth – John 17:17
E. Confidence (11-13)
1. The Source of Confidence (11)
a) The gift of eternal life – Romans 6:23
b) Through the gift of Jesus – 2 Corinthians 9:15
c) In Jesus is life and the light of men – John 1:4
2. The Conditions of Confidence (12)
a) Jesus is the life – John 14:6
b) Without Jesus there is no real life.
c) To have Jesus means an obedient faith – John 3:15
d) To have Jesus means to be in Him – Galatians 3:26-27
e) To have Jesus is to walk in His light – 1 John 1:7
3. The Assurance Accompany Confidence (13)
a) We can know that we know Him – 1 John 2:3-4
b) We can know that are of His truth – 1 John 3:19
c) We can know that we have eternal life – 1 John 5:13
III. Conclusion
A. What Victory in Jesus is All About
1. Not about earthly treasure – Matthew 6:19-21
2. Not about powerful positions –
3. Not about being served – Matthew 23:11
4. It is about overcoming and coming over – Revelation 3:20-21
B. Invitation
