1 John 5:1-12
Proofs of Love
Introduction
1. We live in a show me world
2. I know that Missouri is the show me state, I had a roommate from Missouri and he was a show me person
3. When someone tells us they love us, are initial reaction is show me.
4. You could be telling a fish story and all you would the person would say show me a picture of the fish.
5. Show me show me show me
6. You know what, God did that with his love
7. He gave us proofs of His love
8. Today we are going to talk about three of them
a. Obedience
b. Overcoming
c. Open Hearts
I. Obedience (1-3)
A. Explanation
1. O-b-e-d-I-e-n-c-e Obedience. I know how to spell that word but what exactly are we talking about here
2. Notice the first word in this sentence. “Everyone” WOW, that means this love this salivation, this eternal life, is available to only the rich strong and powerful…NO Everyone. That is a point we should never forget
3. There have been many attempts to break up the trinity. Well the trinity is 3 distinct persons it is still ONE GOD. I admit it is a tricky concept to get straight in your head but that is how it works
a) Any turn from that standard is called sin
4. Vs 2 is were this whole obedience things comes into play
a) Read 2
b) This is done as a result of love
c) Obedience rarely (If ever) comes without love.
d) You cannot be obedient to some one you do not love. Think about it.
5. How do we show God Love?
a) There probably have been 32141234 books written on how to Love God.
b) I like John. I like his way of making things simple. Being simple minded that I am I like simple things
c) John tells us in real simple 4 word phrase how to love God
(1) To Obey His commands
d) This commands are not that difficult
e) These commands are not a never ending list of commands
f) These commands are not some huge manual that you will never understand
g) They are mostly common human decency
h) Because of the Love God showed us we should do that same and show love by obeying His commands
B. Application
1. What does this mean to us 2000 years later?
2. First of all we need to understand that God love us no matter what
a) I have talked to too many people who have no self esteem and will say stuff like God would never love me
b) That is totally wrong
c) Everyone!
3. To love Jesus is to love God to love God is to love Jesus. Those are things that cannot be separated. If you here anyone trying to separate them tell them there wrong
4. We are to show love for God
5. We have just found out how to show love for God, by obeying his commands do it.
C. Illustration
1. A couple I know has been married for about 10 years now. They are having many problems. Just separated this week. You want to know were it all stems from? Neither of them is showing each other love
2. Why would anyone ever want to be separated from the love of God?
3. Do what he commands. Show some Obedience
4. These commands are not that difficult, just do it
II. Overcoming (4-5)
A. Explanation
1. Everyone who is born of God has overcome the world
a) What a great thought
b) That means that no matter what happens
c) Not matter how bad we are beaten
d) No matter how bad things get we still have the victory
e) We still get to go to Glory
2. In the Greek victory and faith are synonymous terms
a) Notice that is does not say victor
b) Rather then faith is the victory
c) Faith has overcome the world
(1) Obviously that is faith is Christ
(2) Our faith is Christ overcomes the world
3. This overcome the world is found in one place
a) Christ
b) Without Christ there is not victory
c) You could all the faith you wanted to in this Church, but without Christ there would be no eternal life
B. Application
1. How do we apply this to our lives today?
2. We have to understand something here
3. We get fired from our job, we still have the victory
4. We get rejected by our date, we still have the victory
5. We get yelled at for no good reason, we still have to victory
6. Our company runs out of money, we still have the victory
7. Our spouse leaves us, we still have the victory
8. Faith is the victory, Faith is the victory
C. Illustration
1. Try to apply this concept to sports this is fun to do. Imagine you are in a soccer match. The opposition has just scored 6 goals and it is not even half time. They are running all over you. Yet sure enough every time you win. Wouldn’t that be amazing?
2. Faith is the victory, Faith is the Victory! O glorious victory that over comes the world
III. Open Heart (6-12)
A. Explanation
1. Vs 6 we can start to get confused. In most cases it is best to use the simplest explanation
a) In this case that would be that the Water is Jesus’ baptism and the blood is the death on the cross
2. Testify, Testimony appears 10 times between vs. 6 and 11. Obviously we need to look at it
a) Testify means a solemn declaration to establish some fact
b) Ok now we just need to understand what that fact is
c) That fact is Jesus. That fact is Christ the living word
3. Everything is in agreement with that
4. John is doing something funny here. (Vs. 9) Ok maybe it is not that funny
a) What John is doing is comparing mans testimony to God’s
b) Obviously we accept mans testimony
c) But think about how much greater God’s is!
5. If we believer this testimony that God has given we have Christ is our heart
6. But the one that does not accept this testimony is a liar
a) There is no liar’s in heaven
b) Lying is sin
c) Sin is separation from God
d) God is in Heaven
e) God did not sin
f) Heaven has no sin
g) Heaven has not liars
7. Rejecting the Testimony of God makes us out to be liar
8. Read Vs 12
B. Application
1. Lets apply this to our lives
2. WE have more evidence that Christ was a live then we do that George Washington was our first president
3. We accept man’s testimony everyday even though all have sinned, meaning all have lied
4. We have testimony from God, who has not lied, who has a remarkable record, who is truth
5. We just have to have an open heart to accept it.
6. We have to understand that God is truth and all truth comes from God
7. WE have to believe God’s testimony
8. If we do not we are a liar
C. Illustration
1. I could show you about 700 pages of information testifying to Christ existence and resurrection. I could show you everything that has been discovered about the Bible. I could show you as much information as you could want but here is the thing
2. You have to the open heart
3. You have to be willing to accept the testimony of Christ
4. I can not do that for you
5. Open your heart
Conclusion
1. These are proofs that God loves us
2. This passage of scripture should prove to you that God loves you
3. Now the question is what are you going to do with it?
4. Challengers Dinner. We were down to 3 or 4 people average. WE suspended the program.
a. The idea was always a good one. Providing a hot meal for needy families and a time that they could enjoy each other’s fellowship.
b. However it was not working there needed to be a change
c. I was able to make that change
d. We switch a few things around and now instead of feeding three or four people we are feeding 123 or 124 people.
5. Our lives often need switching
a. Maybe you are not living in obedience with God, Maybe you are not showing your love for God by not following His commands
b. Maybe you need to apply the victory in your life
i. We walk around sometimes feel bad for ourselves. But we need to walk around like champions because we have the victory.
ii. Do we need to change our attitude and proclaim the victory?
c. Maybe we need to open our hearts
i. Maybe we have heard this before but have never accepted God’s Testimony
ii. Do it today. Do not waste anymore time
6. Please consider these Ideas
7. If you would like to come to the alter feel free. Or if you want to talk to someone, find someone
8. There is no getting around the proof of Love God has shown us.
