1st John 5:1-10 A Child of God Loves
1Jn 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 6 This is the one who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 We accept human testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe, God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son
Discussion
The Bible is clear that all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved (Acts 2:21). Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ, that He is the one and only Son of God, born of God, that person is also a Child of God. This means believing that Jesus is the Messiah, and having experienced the love of God that faith in Christ gives, That person will also love every other brother and sister in Christ. Those who love God will also love His Child as well. One cannot Love God and not love all His children.
If then we love God we will keep his commands. They are gifts from Him to show us the best and most fulfilling life possible. God’s commands are not given to bind us or to pain us, but to release in us the Godly potential that is given with our new birth in Christ. The law of God has been written on the heart of every believer (Jeremiah, 31:33-34).
If then we believe these things, and have been born again by our faith, and our baptism We can overcome the worlds attachments to us. We can do this because of what Christ has done for us. This is the one who came by water and blood: When Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan river, He was not baptized in repentance for His sins, as he is sinless, it was as He said at that time, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." He proved that although He is the Son of God, He is also one of us as well.
Concerning Jesus' baptism, and the transfiguration, and in both instances, the voice of God coming out of the heavens, (Mat 3: 17, & 17: 5) The very words from the mouth of God are greater than any human testimony, and therefore to be received. Who then could doubt that he was the Son of God? Whoever saw his death on the cross, and witnessed the amazing scenes which occurred there, could fail to join with the Roman centurion in saying that this was the Son of God? When Jesus died on the cross, He came by blood to stand in our place as a guilty sinner, and to take the punishment that our sin deserved. Who is it then who has felt the influences of the Eternal Spirit on his heart, ever doubted that Jesus was the Son of God? Any one of these is sufficient to convince the soul of this. All combined bear on the same point, and confirm it from age to age. Jesus our Savior is The Son Of God, We indeed should listen to Him.
Questions
1. In verse 2 there is reference to God's commands, What are they? ….Exodus 20: 7-17 2. What is the most difficult one of these commands to keep? 3. Don't we actually like most of what the world offers What is meant by overcoming the world? 4. What is God's testimony about Jesus?
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1st John 5: 11-21, Who Has Life
11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him. 16 If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. 18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols
Discussion
The first three of the above verses testify to the gospel message given to us throughout the new testament, It is the truest form of stating the gospel message God has given us eternal life, and that comes to us through His Son Jesus Christ, the One given by God so that the world may know the Love of God. And these words are spoken so that we know that eternal life is God's gift to those who are the true believers, true followers of the way... Christians.
Today there are many who think they have life, but in denying the biblical testimony about Jesus they reveal they do not have it. All those who will receive the testimony of God recorded in sacred Scripture, all those who will trust in Jesus alone, all those who will place their destiny in the hands of the Son of God, will have eternal life. Then John says in vs. 16“There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that”. (Mark 3:28-29)
The primary purpose for John in these verses was to impart to certain of the believers in his church who had been troubled by Gnosticism’s false teaching, and had developed doubts about their salvation, even though they were still believers, their faith was wavering. The presence of doubt as with sin,will always be with us, until we are Glorified. As a faithful pastor, John wrote to reassure them that although they may have doubt, their faith must remain strong and the way to remove that doubt is to pray to Almighty God to strengthen our faith.
God wants us to know that through our faith in the belief that His Son our Lord Jesus Christ came into this world to bring his righteousness to all those who will call upon the name of Jesus for their salvation, will have eternal life. And if we, love the brethren, obey God, and confess the incarnation, we can be sure we are born of God’s Spirit. We are indeed God's Children.
Questions
1. Why did John say that he was writing these things to us? vs. 11-13 2. Having confidence in God, If we ask anything of God, How does John say it is to be asked ? 3. Is John telling us that all sins can be forgiven but for one. How is that possible? 4. Then John calls attention to the unforgivable sin, and says not to pray about it. Why? 5. What is our only recourse from condemnation? 6. What is the last verse in this letter all abou
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Opening Prayer; Be with us Holy God as we take in Your word, given to us that we may know without doubt that we are Your Children. Help us in our weakness to show our faith and love for You and for our fellow man. Help us in our understanding of Johns words to us that we might truly share this testimony through our daily living in this fallen world, A world of constant temptation which Your commandments help us to overcome. Be with those of our group who cannot be here tonight, we ask that you share our blessing with them. Lead us now as we study Your word as given to us by Your apostle John, In Jesus name we pray Amen.
Scripture References
Jeremiah 31:33-34 "This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."
Matthew 3:17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
Matthew 17:5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"
Exodus 20:7-17 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. 12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 13 Thou shalt not kill. 14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 15 Thou shalt not steal. 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s.
Mark 3:28-29 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter,
29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin."
Closing Prayer
Father God, be with us now as we leave this place, bless us with your watchcare over us. We pray that you would make us ever mindful of our Saviors love for us as we go about the daily task of living in this fallen world. Lead us each day that we may not be taken with this worlds temptations Help us to be Christian witnesses wherever we may go. We pray now for our brothers and sisters ___________Those named, and those who are in our hearts desire all who may be in need of your healing touch , that you would bring to them confidence in your word and trust in the care you have for them, and peace that you will ease their suffering. Dismiss us now with your blessing, In Jesus name we pray, Amen
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Meditation
Our faith is the victory that overcomes the World. We are of a Holy faith in God, and we are Christian in our belief. We believe in the incarnation, the lord Jesus Christ is the Lord of our life. We are righteous in God's eyes. As difficult as that may seem to believe, because we know that we sin, and thus feel we fall short in our attempt to be a holy and righteous person, it is none the less true, Christ Jesus paid the debt of our sin, both past present and future, because God called us and we answered, we then were chosen of God. We have been justified, it was predestined that way. Christ did not die for you or me alone, Christ died for every lost soul the world over. It was God's plan, and God calls us out. If we answer in the affirmative, repent of our sins, and accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, then it is God's predestined plan. We are His Children.
Jesus' baptism and crucifixion (the water and the blood) testify to the fact The Father, the Holy Spirit, and we also, testify that God has given us eternal life in Christ. God deemed it so when he Spoke the words at the transfiguration, "This is my Son with whom I am well pleased, listen to Him". Jesus is our Savior, God ordained it. His counsels of old are faithfulness and truth: When we remember the greatness and permanence of God’s Word, it makes us what to praise Him. What is more reliable, more everlasting, more enduring than the Word of God? Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.
The true believer's prayers are answered in God's time, on God's terms, and in his will on the basis of their justifiable need. Nothing happens in this world outside the scope of God's soverign will, even the answers to our prayers are under the soverign will of God. We must make our prayers "in His will". God ansewrs the prayers of all His Children, according to His will. Seek His will and it will be found.
There is one sin however that is death, there is no need for prayer in such matters, What is that You ask? look in Acts 5: 1-11 there is also an unforgivable sin. John3:18 &3:36, Matthew 12:31. There is no precise way of knowing which John was writing about, but he was refering to “a brother” which gives one pause to think it might be a non believer.
As to the matter of sin in this world. Anyone born of God does not go on purposely sinning. Satan however does not relent, as long as we are in this world, there will be temptations, and no one is immune. The Christian is protected by Jesus from the power of Satan over their soul. We however do not reach a glorified state (sinless) until we have been taken into the Heavenly realm. The rest of the World is in the power of the Evil One, and Christians in their natural state are vulnerable.
Now to make this epistle complete there is this one final simple statemment. Dear children keep yourselves from idols. Why do you think John wrote that with no further explanation? Think about this world's idols. Does Your life reflect any such thing?.... Amen.
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