1 John 5:18-19 – The
Lessons of John - July 6, 2008
Intro: We are almost
near the end of this book. Today we are
looking at verses 18-19 and will learn five lessons this morning. John as we know was called the apostle of
love. He had the clearest vision of all
the original apostles of the divinity, humanity and deity of Jesus Christ. John had the clearest vision of the work of
the Holy Spirit.
We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one born
of God keeps him safe, and the evil one does not touch him.
1. There are three
things we learn from this verse. First, anyone
born of God does not
Not continue in sin. A true believer does not knowingly sin. They don’t make sin a
Habit. David wrote in Ps 66:18, that if we regard or
cherish sin or iniquity the Lord
Will not hear
us.
a. John is revealing
here that this is spiritual knowledge.
When one is regenerated, born
Again. He is trying to stay connected with God. His relationship with God is so
Important that he
does not want to do anything that will hinder or harm this
relationship. Cherishing sin, habitually or knowingly
sinning hinders, harms and can
Even destroy our
relationship with God.
b. Christian conduct
is a direct result of Christian character.
Action follows priorities,
Plans and
purposes. You are what you think, say
and do. John says, those who are
Born of God
knowingly do not cherish, regard or habitually sin. John understands
that people sin
from time to time but he here is talking about actually loving sin.
There are a lot
of people in the world that love sin.
But the believer should not be one
Of them.
2. The
one who is born of God is keep safe. The
phrase has a two fold meaning. First,
It
talks about the divine protection of God.
God does promise to be with His people.
Matt 28:20,
tells us this. Ps 91, reminds us of
angelic protection. There are many
Examples of this
in scripture. Daniel in the lion’s den,
the three Hebrew boys,
Peter in prison
to name a few. We have the shield of
faith found in Eph 6. All this
To assure of
God’s continuous protection.
a.. The second aspect is choosing not put ourselves in a place where we walk out
From under God’s protection.
We will knowingly like Joseph flee temptation and sin.
This protects
us. When you know something is bad or
dangerous you need not go
There.
b. This helps keep
us. God promises to protect us but let
us not put him to a foolish test.
Satan tried this
with Jesus in the temptation in the wilderness.
We
Have our
responsibility, some think that they can live as close to the world as possible
And not be
affected, you will and this will hinder your effectiveness. Live as far as
You can from the
world and its standards. Live as close
to God as you can and God
Will be able to
keep you better.
3. John then tells
his readers and audience that the evil one cannot touch the child of
God. When John wrote this book it was just after
him being boiled in oil and being
Extensively
persecuted. John knew personally this
truth. No matter what the evil one
Tried John saw
first hand God’s power and satan’s ineffectiveness. I wish this was
The testimony of
more of us. Remember 1 John 4:4, James
4:7, 1 John 3:8. John had
A clear
understanding of how satan is defeated.
He has no power or ability over the
Child of God. We are not subject to his world, power,
devices or authority. We are
Under God’s
power, authority and will.
a. I believe it is
time we starting living this way. Satan is
defeated.
b. Watchman Nee said,
“As believers we are seated in heavenly places.
Satan has to
Come up to us
not we having to go down to him.” John
when he wrote this book was
Writing to
believers who had forgotten their first love.
John wanted them to come
Back and return
to that place of victory. This is a
message to the church in
And
We know that we are children of God, and the whole world is under the
control of the evil one.
4. John reaffirms and
reminds his audience that they know they are the children of
God. He wants them as they finish the letter to
know they are children, joint heirs of
A great
inheritance in God. Spiritual knowledge
is a powerful tool. You know that
You have been
bought with a price and you are to glorify God with your body and
Life. 1 Cor 6:19-20
a. You know your sins are forgiven, You have eternal and
abundant life. You have
Access to the
throne of God in prayer. (Heb 4:15) You have dreams and a destiny.
b. Your know you are
protected. In Christ we will reach self actualization and
become
Well
adjusted. You know that your physical,
spiritual, emotional and intellectual
Needs will be
met by a personal God.
1 You
know God will meet your physical needs.
(Matt 6:33)
2. God has met your needs today
and He will meet them tomorrow. Matt
6:34,
Phil 4:6, 19.
3. God will meet our need for
security and love. Rom 8:35, 39
& 5:8
4. God has and will meet our
need for significance. Phil
1:21, Eph 2:10, Ps 103:4
c. John wants his
audience and the readers to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they
Are children of
God. Being a child of God has
privileges, rights, authority, power and
Victory all in
Christ.
5. John understood
the world he live in. He
states that the whole world is under the
Control of the evil one John
understood, the lust of the flesh, (pleasure), lust of the
Eyes,
(materialism), the pride of life, (man’s arrogance, self fulfillment.) were
Under the control of the evil one.
a. This world system,
religions and philosophies are all under the control of the evil one.
John knew that
satan offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world.
Paul called satan the
God of this
world. He rules this world and the
people who and not Christians are
Under his
control. John is simple, direct and black
and white on this matter. The
Early church did
not allow grey areas to appear. You were
saved or not. You were
God’s or
not. They made no allowance for status,
position, upbringing, genealogy,
Or sexual
orientation. You were a child of God or
not.
b. The church today
has muddy the waters, we have made allowances for things and this
Has made us
ineffective.
c. The early church
leaders fought long and hard to keep the world, satan and the flesh
From coming in
and diluting the church.
d. Remember satan is
a fallen angel, his principle sin was pride.
He wanted to become
God. He was cast out of heaven, became totally
corrupt, is the father of all lies an
Accuser who robs,
kills and destroys. Pretty clear. The world is under his control.
e. But we are
not. We are children of God. Like the writer of Hebrews 11 states. We
Are pilgrims
passing through. The world is not worthy
of us. We are in this world
But not of
it. That is our message today as we get
ready for communion. Remember
This.
No comments:
Post a Comment