Series: Be Genuine [#11]
JESUS’ VICTORY
1 John 5:1-21
Introduction:
Do you like to win? Of course you do! We all like to win. So why do Christians walk around defeated all the time? Does God want us to be beat down with our heads hanging low? Jesus Christ has won the victory!
1 John 5:1-5
Jesus’ victory…
1. Is our victory.
Who is it that overcomes the world? Christians. Our faith in Jesus Christ is our victory.
* When the world tells you that you can’t survive the circumstances that you are in, your faith gives you the victory.
* When it looks like the devil has completely destroyed your life and anything near you, your faith gives you the victory.
* When it looks like all hope is gone, your faith gives you the victory.
Christ’s victory over sin, death, hell, and Satan is your defeat over sin, death, hell, and Satan.
1 John 5:6-12
Jesus’ victory…
2. Is God’s testimony.
A testimony is someone’s personal proof- Their witness.
God’s testimony of victory is through 3 things:
* Water.
There are several things about Jesus coming by water that I want you to notice.
His coming by water represents:
* His physical birth by Mary.
* His physical death.
To prove that He was really dead, the Roman soldier pierced His side and water flowed out.
* His physical sinless life.
Why would Jesus be baptized? It wasn’t to be saved from sin because He was sinless. Jesus was baptized to show us that He came to represent mankind and to pay the price for our sins. The Father’s voice made it very clear what Jesus was doing and who He was. The witness of the water showed Jesus’ sinless life.
* Blood.
Jesus was baptized in blood in order to atone for our sins. He had to shed His blood in order for there to be remission for sin.
* The Holy Spirit.
We find that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came upon Jesus when He was baptized in the Jordan. As John the Baptist said, “He baptized with water, but Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit”. The 1st 2 witnesses are things we can see with our eyes; but this third witness is not. Jesus explained to His Apostles that God would send another comforter to them after He left this world.
1 John 5:13-15
Jesus’ victory…
3. Is our confidence.
Why do we walk around pouting and making statements like, “I wish that such and such would happen”; when God says, “Ask, and if it is in My will it will happen”? You have not because you ask not. The key here is finding out what is in God’s will. How do you do that? When you pray, ask the Holy Spirit that is within you to reveal to you what the will of the Father is; and then ask the Father for it.
We can have confidence that when we are in God’s will He is listening to every single word we are saying, and He is going to give it to us. Do you want victory over a particular sin? Ask God for it and He will give it to you. I think some of you like to be down and defeated. If you weren’t then you wouldn’t have anything to complain and whine about. Some of us have to always have drama. Just remember who is getting the focus when we do that.
1 John 5:16-21
Jesus’ victory…
4. Is our security.
We have security through Jesus. What is our proof?
We have proof of our security through…
* Satan’s attack.
Satan is trying to destroy his enemy. As Christians, we have what Satan can never have- God’s grace and mercy. Satan wants us destroyed, but because of Christ’s victory over him; he can never destroy us.
We have proof of our security through…
* The Holy Spirit’s convicting.
The reason we pray for a Christian brother or sister when they are in sin is because the Holy Spirit can get through to them a whole lot quicker than we can. When God deals with us, we know it.
We have proof of our security through…
* God’s discipline.
God disciplines those whom He loves. The sin that leads to death here refers to a Christian who has continued to embarrass God through their life and God brings them home.
Conclusion:
As you leave here today, I pray you leave not only knowing that you can have victory through Jesus Christ; but that you can experience that victory today.
