INTRODUCTION
• I have enjoyed our journey through the book of John. I hope this book both challenged and encouraged you in your walk with Jesus.
• I believe there are times when we can get overwhelmed by all the things we should and need to know concerning our faith.
• We can get so overwhelmed that we sometimes do not know where to begin.
• I believe many people struggle in their walk with Jesus because they do think they know enough to get started.
• As we finish our series in 1 John I want to give you some encouragement.
• You do not have to be a biblical scholar to be able to live for Jesus. You need to start somewhere.
• It is my belief that as a person starts to develop a relationship with Jesus; they will want to get to know Him better. It is like when you meet a person that you think you like, you want to get to know them on a deeper level than just thinking they are hot.
• As I started, you do not need to be a scholar to walk with Jesus.
• SLIDE #1
• The title to the message this morning is “WHAT DO YOU KNOW!”
• I want us to see that we indeed know enough to begin our journey with Jesus. We know more than we think we know. WE know enough to start to develop the relationship with Jesus that deep down we all want.
• Today I am going to share with you three things John gives to us that if we know, we will be able to develop a great relationship with Jesus.
• I do not want to minimize the importance of Biblical knowledge.
• Biblical illiteracy is a BIG problem in the church today. There is a lot people do not know and the reason for that is because of a lack of effort on our part to take the time to read and study God’s word.
• Once again if you want to really start to grow in your relationship with Jesus, getting to know Him is one of the keys to seeing that happen. Bible Fellowship is a great place to start!
• When we feel like we do not know much about a subject we can feel overwhelmed to the point of not even wanting to try.
• Today I want you to see that you know more than you think. If you know the three things John shares with us today, you will well on your way to developing a great rewarding relationship with Jesus! SLIDE #2-3
• Let’s look at 1 John 5:18-20 together this morning. READ
SLIDE #4
SERMON
We know that:
I. CHRISTIANS ARE NOT TO PRACTICE SIN (18)
CLICK #4
1. Practicing sin is not what God’s family is about.
• WE do not have to have a Bible College degree to understand this simple principle.
• When you are a part of God’s family, we need to understand that practicing sin is not what being in God’s family is about.
• I have stated on numerous occasions that as long as we live on this earth we will struggle with sin. Each of us have battles we fight whether they are sins that can be seen such as immorality or the inward sins of jealousy and pride.
• What we must be careful of just excusing our sin because we are “only human.”
• In each family we have expectation for one another. My children have always known that certain things are not acceptable things to do for a person who is in our family.
• If you understand that Christians are not to practice sin you will find yourself being more aware of the sin around you and you will get start to fight it off more and more.
• I see too many people who excuse their sin. I have dealt with people who have made conscious decisions to sin. They refused to change. I have made those choices also.
• When we start to be aware that God does not want us to sin it will help us to resist.
• Sin literally means to “miss the mark.” God sets a standard for us and when we fall short of that standard it is sin.
• We also need to understand something concerning being in God’s family.
CLICK #4
2. The God Father provides protection for His family.
• Since we are in God’s family, God our father offers us protection.
• I could not resist the God Father thing based on my heritage.
• Verse 18 tells us that He who was born of God keeps him and the evil one does not touch him. This speaks of Jesus. God sent us a protector Jesus!
• The Christian does not continue to practice sin because Jesus keeps us. Another way to read this verse which the King James suggests is that the one who is born of God protects himself. I do believe there is something to be said about that, but we know that Jesus protects those who are His.
• As a father I try to do what I can to protect my children. God has given is the ultimate protector in Jesus.
• This verse says the evil one does not touch him.
• Each moment of each day, the evil one is trying to attach himself to you. One commentator translates the end of verse 18 this way, “the evil one does not fasten himself on him.
• Satan is always looking for ways to attach himself to you; he is always looking for that opening, the chink in the armor. He will get a foothold in your marriage and other important relationships if we let him.
• We NEVER have to fall into sin, Jesus protects us from Satan attaching himself to you.
• Another way we are protected is by knowing God’s word. Applying God’s word in your life is a great way to keep yourself pure. We must play a part in our purity. SLIDE #5
• 1 John 3:3
• James 1:27
• What we receive from God through His word is meant to protect us from evil.
• Are you free to sin? Yes, but is that sin good for you?
• Remember that God loves you and wants what is best for you. When you know that sin is not what the Christian is about it will help you to live out you faith in a much better way!
SLIDE #6
We know that:
II. CHRISTIANS BELONG TO GOD (19)
We belong to one of two families.
SLIDE #7
1. Jesus is the source of and purpose for the life of the Christian.
• When we give our lives to Jesus we belong to Him. God is our father Jesus is our savoir and the Holy Spirit is in us.
• Verse 19 says we ARE OF GOD. This literally means that we are OUT OF HIM. This would mean that He is the source of our life since we came from out of Him.
• Since we came out of Him, He is our purpose. SLIDE #8
• Paul said in Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
• Paul understood that he belonged to Jesus and he was to draw his purpose for life from Jesus.
• When I got married I gave myself to Robyn. I belong to her, she belongs to me. I do not say that as if I were a possession or a trophy (which I am ). I am saying that my life is no longer all about me my life is also about Robyn and doing what I need to do to please her and her life is about pleasing me.
• If you not want to belong to another you need to stay single.
• When we belong to God, we should want to do what pleases Him.
• The reason I pretty well know what pleases and displeases Robyn is by getting to know her over the past twenty plus years of being together.
• The way we get to know what pleases God is by knowing Him also.
• When we start to grasp the fact that we belong to Jesus it will change how we live and how we want to live.
• As we grow to love Jesus more and more, we will want to please Him more and more.
• The longer you are a Christian, the more you should want to please Him.
SLIDE #9
2. Those who do not belong to Jesus are under the influence of the evil one.
• I stated in the beginning of this point that you belong to one of two families. There is no option 3.
• One group belongs to Jesus the other to the evil one.
• The saved have a special relationship with God, the lost do not.
• Their lives are under the influence or power of the evil one.
• This doesn’t mean that lost people are Satan worshippers in the sense we would think.
• They are under His influence.
• Since I belong to Robyn, I am under her influence. I am not under the influence of other women because I do not belong to them.
• The Life Application Bible states:
• Believers can know their position with God and in eternity. They know they are children of God, and because of that, they have been freed from Satan’s power. While the rest of the whole world is under the control of the evil one, Christians stand apart, separate from the world (non-Christian society) and from Satan, united together with God. Even those the world considers wise, great, and respectable are under Satan’s domain.
SLIDE #10
We know that:
III. THE SON OF GOD HAS COME (20)
SLIDE # 11
1. There is enough evidence for us to understand who Jesus is.
• When we KNOW the Son of God has come it will help us to grow.
• When you look at how the Apostles ran and hid in fear when Jesus was crucified and then compare that to days later when they were boldly proclaiming Him in the streets of Jerusalem, you can see what happens when we realize that the Son of God has come!
• When the Apostles had a complete understanding of who Jesus was, they were fearless!
• The Apostles had full assurance they had been in the presence of God when they walked with Jesus.
• Verse 20 tells us that we have enough evidence from John and the other biblical writers to know who Jesus is. SLIDE #12
• John 20:30-31
SLIDE #13
2. Understanding who He is allows us to have fellowship with Him.
• When we accept Jesus as the Son of God, we are ready in our hearts to accept all else that is said and proven by credible evidence. Those who reject Him will not want to have fellowship with one they do not believe in.
• The word “know” in the last part of verse 20 means to acquire knowledge, a continual acquisition.
• As we continue to know Him more and more we will develop a closer relationship with Him.
• That relationship will give us confidence in Him.
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3. Our eternal life is in Jesus.
• Our eternal life is found in Jesus. SLIDE #14
• John 17:3 John 6:68
• Jesus came so that we could have life, He did not come to ruin our life but to enrich it.
• When you know your eternal life comes from Jesus, it will give you the strength to carry on.
CONCLUSION
• You know more than you think, you know enough to start toy have a great relationship with Jesus. RECAP
• SLIDE # 15
• When you know these things, you have plenty to get started. Then once you are started, you can grow by learning more about Him. Start in the gospel of John and then read other books in the bible.
• Do not live a defeated life because you do know think you know enough. You know plenty to get started!
