March 11, 2012
Morning Service

In Chapter 4 John gave us some guidelines to “test” the spirits to see if what is being spoken is from God or not.  He taught us that anyone who confesses Jesus’ deity and incarnation are from God and we are free to worship with them.

John also spoke how true believers would hear what the apostles taught, which is our new testament.  All who follow the Bible as the inspired Word of God are encouraged to fellowship together in unity.

1Jo 4:8 The one who does not love has not known God. For God is love.

 

 

1Jo 5:1-2 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. And everyone who loves Him who begets also loves him who has been born of Him.  (2)  By this we know that we love the children of God, whenever we love God and keep His commandments.

 

            John has been very clear in hi teaching that the love of God and the love of man are inseparable.  This love is a result of His first loving us. (I John 4:19)

 

1Jo 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome.

 

            John is also quite clear that to love God means that we are to keep His commands; His nature becomes ours.  This occurs as an act of self sacrifice (yielding of ourselves) that is not burdensome to us.  We are to obey with a willing and joyful heart using love as our motivation.

 

 Mat 11:28-30 Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  (29)  Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls.  (30)  For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.

 

            The Jewish religious leaders had made serving God one of tasks and duties.  One would easily feel in bondage to all the rules and regulations.  Jesus came to make “all things new.”  Serving God is no longer to be viewed as a burden but as a privilege and an opportunity to display our love for Him, it becomes who we are.

 

            Does that mean our journey towards God is easy?  Not at all, it is extremely hard to love and pray for those who despitefully use us.  We are in a daily spiritual battle, but the war has already been won.  Jesus has removed all the pressure of following the traditions of man and made us free to worship Him. 

 

Joh 8:34-36 Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Whoever practices sin is the slave of sin.  (35)  And the slave does not abide in the house forever, but the Son abides forever.  (36)  Therefore if the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.

 

Joh 4:24 God is a spirit, and they who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.

 

Heb 8:10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My Laws into their mind and write them in their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

 

 

 

1Jo 5:4-5 For everything that has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith.  (5)  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

 

            By believing that Jesus is the Son of God (according to God’s Word), we build up our faith.  Our faith then gives us the power to be an over comer and have victory over this world.

 

1Jo 5:6-8 This is He who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ, not by water only, but by the water and blood. And the Spirit is He who bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth.  (7)  For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one.  (8)  And there are three that bear witness on the earth: the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and the three are into the one.

 

            In the Old Testament times, no truth would be accepted on a single testimony.  It needed to be affirmed by two or three witnesses.  John here speaks of three areas that testify of Jesus’ divinity. 

            The water stands for His baptism where the Spirit descended upon Him like a dove and God spoke, “This is my beloved Son.” (Matt 2:16-17)

            The blood stands for the cross He was the perfect sacrifice. His blood atoned for our sins once and for all and fulfills His role as our advocate and the propitiation for our all our sins.

            The Spirit speaks of the Holy Spirit which is given to every believer.  It is God dwelling in us that transforms us into His image.

 

            These three continue to testify of Jesus’ divinity in the church today; through baptism, the communion service, and the giving of the Spirit.

 

1Jo 5:9-10 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater. For this is the witness of God which He has testified about His Son.  (10)  He who believes on the Son of God has the witness in himself. He who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he does not believe the record that God gave of His Son.

           

            To believe in Jesus Christ is not simply to accept that it is true (the demons also believe); but it for us to commit ourselves to Him now and for eternity (Go all in).

 

1Jo 5:11-13 And this is the record, that God has given to us everlasting life, and this life is in His Son.  (12)  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.  (13)  I have written these things to you who believe on the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have everlasting life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God.

 

Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

            The only thing that is truly eternal is God.  Eternal life can be defined then as “the life of God Himself.”  What is promised here then is if we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and give Him our lives (creating a relationship), we are offered a share in the very life of God.   

 

Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me.

 

Mat 11:28 Come unto Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.