John uses the term "born of God," seven times in this book. To be born again means that we are born spiritually, becoming spiritually alive to God and a personal love relationship with Him. But what is required of me if I am to be "born again?" READ Verse 1a
It's been said that there are three kinds of people in every church:
1. Believers 2. Non-Believers 3. Make Believers
Let's should spend some time at the start of this message to think of what it means to believe in Jesus as one's Savior. I mean, if I believe the Jesus is born of God, the same way one might believe Barack Obama is the president of the United States, have I fulfilled the conditions necessary to be born again? The obvious answer is "no." Why? Because that does not result in a relationship.
To be born of God means that I am now a member of His family, that I now have a relationship with God. The kind of belief we just described regarding the president doesn't result in a relationship, it is simply an acknowledgement of a fact. Belief in Jesus involves acknowledging facts about Jesus, but it is more than that.
"We know that (acknowledgement of the fact that Jesus is the Christ) doesn't fulfill the conditions, because the devil believes it. And we know that the devil believes it because when Jesus came into the world and began to confront the demonic powers of the Devil, they said out loud, 'We know who you are. You are the holy one of God. You are the Son of God.' So the Devil is absolutely orthodox in his belief in the incarnation of the Son of God in Jesus Christ. To believe in orthodox Christology is not to be saved. The Devil is very orthodox when it comes to his understanding of Christ.
So what is missing is not believing in the fact that Jesus is the Son of God but delighting in that fact, embracing that fact, and making Christ the treasure and the Lord of your life by surrendering to him.
In other words, 'belief' is seeing him for who he really is, seeing him as infinitely valuable as the Son of God. It's not just acknowledging the fact that he is the Son but also seeing him as infinitely precious and valuable. Satan, on the other hand, does not view God as precious and valuable. He hates Christ and Christ is a threat to his own value.
But when the Holy Spirit begins to work in our lives we're not deceived like that anymore. We recognize that our value is nothing compared to Jesus' value. Instead, we just want to know him, be with him, enjoy him, follow him, and celebrate him. That transition—that change of heart, so that we are now looking away from ourselves to Christ and embracing all that God is for us in him—that is what faith is. That is what belief is. That is what saves." - John Piper
"Everyone who believes [with a deep, abiding trust in the fact] that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) is born of God [that is, reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose]." - 1 John 5:1a (Amplified)
Do you have a deep, abiding trust in the fact that Jesus is the Messiah and Savior of the world? Have you been reborn from above - spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for God's purpose? John tells us what characteristics should mark the life of one who is truly born of God. One who is born of God . . .
1. Loves God's People - v. 1b
John says one evidence a person is born again is they love the people of God. Now, sitting in church doesn't make me a Christian any more than sitting in a garage makes me a car. However, one's relationship with the church is an indication of their relationship with God!
"We know that we have passed out of death into Life, because we love the brothers and sisters. He who does not love remains in [spiritual] death." - 1 John 3:14 (Amplified)
Loving fellow Christians comes naturally to the believer. If you're truly saved, this doesn't mean your love is perfect, but love will be there.
"Regarding life together and getting along with each other, you don’t need me to tell you what to do. You’re God-taught in these matters. Just love one another! You’re already good at it; your friends all over the province of Macedonia are the evidence. Keep it up; get better and better at it." - 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 (The Message)
"If absence makes the heart grow fonder, then oh, how some people must love the church!" - Anonymous
"They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However,
they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us." - 1 John 2:19 (HCSB)
Now, none of us know the heart of another. It is possible for believers to backslide and wander away from God, which results in their
wandering away from God's people. After all, if I am pursuing a life of sin, why would I want to be around others who are pursuing God?
The bottom line: if I have no use for the people of God, then I am either a backslidden believer or lost without Christ!
2. Lives By God's Precepts - vs. 2-3
One who is born again desires to obey the commands of the Father because he has a love for God and wants to please Him. And delight in obeying, because the commands of the Father are not burdensome.
After God had finished His work of creation, all the newly-made animals were walking around discovering what it was like to be alive. Except the birds. They were complaining because God had given them a heavy burden that he's given no other animal: those awkward appendages on their shoulders. God must be punishing them somehow. Why did they have to carry these things around, making it hard to walk? "Why?" they asked. "Why us?" Finally, two or three of the more adventurous birds began to move their appendages. They began to flutter them, and soon they discovered that the very thing they had regarded as a burden actually made it possible for them to fly. And no other animals could fly. The "Heavy Burden" turned out to be a beautiful gift.
Many of us act like those silly birds. We regard God's call to obedience as an awkward appendage to our lives - weighing us down. But in
reality, God's Law is really the wind of the Spirit, enabling us to fly as no other creature can fly. And notice specifically what John promises will be true of us if we seek to live by God's precepts. We will learn how to better love the people of God.
The bottom line: if I have no desire to obey the commands of the Father, then I am either a backslidden believer or lost without Christ!
3. Leans On God's Power - vs. 4-5
One of the evidences that one is truly born again is that they are an overcomer. Now, this doesn't mean that they do not have struggles. The Bible is quite clear about that.
"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33b (NIV)
A. We are overcomers by birth - v. 4a
We are overcomers by our position in Christ. We are in Him.
"It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone." - Ephesians 1:11-12 (The Message)
B. We are overcomers by belief - v. 4b-5
We can be overcomers by our experience with Christ. He is in us.
By the power of the person within us, we can rise above the difficulties of this world and live in the reality of the overcoming life Christ has given us!
"But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." - Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)
Christ within me can enable me to overcome regardless of whatever season or challenge of life I find myself in: and as I trust in Him, as I order my life around Him, as I live for Him, I can find whatever I need to overcome.
The bottom line: if I am not experiencing of victory over this world, then either I am a backslidden believer or lost without Christ.
Conclusion: Which are you?
A believer, a non-believer, or a make Believer?
