God’s Testimony for Us
1 John Bible Study, Part 12
1 John 5:1-12
Introduction
- v19 … We love because He first loved us: especially when we were unlovable
-- It is God who made our relationship with Him possible
-- We had absolutely nothing to do with it – we weren’t even consulted
-- He knew we had a void that needed filling …. And He provided the way
- If we claim to love – yet live with hatred ... what we are is … liars!
-- It’s the most vivid word picture we can see reflected in life today
-- Say “I love you” to your face; “I hate him/her” to someone else about them
- It’s difficult to prove our love for God based solely on our actions
-- Primarily because … we cannot see Him and see His reaction
-- But, our love for God IS reflected in how we treat those He loves (Jn 3:16)
-- IMP: Whoever loves God must love unconditionally those that He loves
- Read 1 John 5:1-12 / Pray
∆ Point 1 – Keep God’s Commands
- John begins to close his epistle by once again reminding us of who we are
-- One who believes in Jesus as their Lord is born of God; but there’s an add on
-- Everyone who belongs to God also loves His child as well (v1)
- Each of us may love someone; and that love could be of another Christian
-- But here Paul reminds that we will love all who are God’s child
- Genesis 1:27, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
-- If all are created in the image of God, then all created belong to Him
-- Therefore, all are considered His children, worthy of our love for them as well
-- This does not mean all are saved; but that all deserve to receive love as well
- This is why his view has been so strong throughout this letter about love
-- We are to love those who are God’s but also those refuse God’s love as well
- V3, “In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.”
-- APP: How do we love God? We do what He says we should do, period
- Love God, Love People is perfectly demonstrated here
-- If we will love God (first), then we can love His people as He loves them
-- FACT: We may not love perfectly … but can certainly try to love all!
-- This reminder of love is critical in not only loving others
- TRANS: It also holds true in how we love ourselves – re-read v4-5
∆ Point 2 – Christ has overcome
- Some see their weakness and sin to mean their victory is incomplete
-- As if, because they have struggles, Jesus’ death must have not been enough
-- Most, if honest, will think they are the only ones who suffer with “x” sin
- This could not be farthest from the truth, and it’s where John lands here
- First, what God has said for us to do is not burdensome
-- Following God is often not the easy road in life; but what is ever easy?
-- Most would rather disobey God and ignore the consequences of sin
-- APP: But John encourages us to understand who we are in Christ!
- Second, many see since they haven’t overcome the world, now what?
-- They try to manipulate their salvation into something that it is not
-- The early churches had this same issue with false teachings about God
-- And today, many will feel that Jesus + nothing is not enough for them
- The truth is – God has already provided everything that we will ever need
-- John 4:4, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
- Our victory is based in the faith of what Jesus has already done!
-- It is His victory that we claim; it is His victory we shall praise in eternity
-- We can sing, “We shall overcome” today … but He has already OVERCAME!
- FACT: When we place our faith in Jesus nothing separates us from God!
- Turn to Romans 8 …
- Romans 8:37-39, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
- We need this kind of reminder everyday; maybe memorize this verse?
-- John is encouraging us to live because of what has already been done!
-- Even in the face of our struggles with sin; Jesus has still overcome that for us
-- Our salvation is secure in Jesus … and we must remember that daily
- TRANS:
∆ Point 3 – God’s Testimony
- Jesus Baptism and His Crucifixion should always be our reminder of how to live
-- The water and blood (v6) is a direct reminder of this for us; show His life
- First, Christ was revealed to the world when He was baptized by John
-- Then, He finished all that was required to redeem us to the Father in His death
-- This is the water and the blood which serves as a reminder for us today
- We may accept human testimony (v9), but The Spirit is the final confirmation
-- FACT: Divine testimony will always supersede man’s testimony
-- This is why the mention of the Holy Spirit is so critical here
-- The confirmation and testimony of God’s Spirit ties these things together
- Therefore, whoever believes in God accepts this testimony
-- But, why is this so important to note in John’s letter and for us to study?
- If you accept God’s testimony and believe on it for yourself:
-- You have internal assurance of what God has done and consider it true
-- You cannot believe something without knowing and accepting it as fact
-- Therefore, your belief gives you comfort and assurance of God’s word (v10)
- APP: If you reject what someone is telling you, you would say they lied
-- Therefore, if you reject God’s testimony; you are calling God a liar (v10)
-- John is straight to the point in this … and we must be as well
- IMP: If someone flat out rejects this testimony, there is no grey area here
-- While it may be painful to admit and more so to tell others, we can’t waiver
- HUGE: You are either for God … or you are against Him.
- He never once played a game with the life of His Son; so why would we?
-- This is why the testimony is so valuable (read v11-12)
∆ Big Ideas
- For those who doubt the assurance of eternal life, these two sentences cover it
-- John was most likely reminding the church of this due to false doctrine
-- Therefore, if any would say that eternal life is not possible, they’ve missed it
- The testimony of God is simple:
• God has given us eternal life
• This life is in his Son.
- Whoever has the Son has life;
- Whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
- Pray
