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Life in God
- What we SEE …
- 1st – TWO words…
- The word KNOW – comes from TWO different GREEK words…
- KNOW [γινώσκω] 25x in I John – indicates a relation – knowing a person…
- KNOW [εἴδω] 17x in I John – speaks of observing something with our eyes!
- 2nd – To SEE…
- The word KNOW [εἴδω] is used 6x in – I John 5
- We noted last week – we SEE – we have eternal life by FAITH in Jesus – I John 5:13
- We will note today – FIVE additional things we SEE – that define our LIFE in God!
- 1st – TWO words…
- 1st – God HEARS… vs. 14
- 1st – Our CONFIDENCE… vs. 14
- Now this is the confidence that we have in Him:
- The FIRST thing we SEE [εἴδω] – is that God HEARS us – I John 5:15
- Because He HEARS – we have CONFIDENCE [παρρησία] – fearless – boldness!
- Those who are LOST in the WORLD – do NOT know if God is real…
- Even if He is real – they do NOT know if He will LISTEN to them…
- But we are CONFIDENT – Jesus is REAL – and we can go to Him ANYTIME in PRAYER…
- We can BOLDLY walk into His throne room – and find HELP whenever we need it!
- Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us therefore come BOLDLY [παρρησία] to the Throne of Grace…”
- 2nd – His WILL… vs. 14
- If we ask anything according to His will – He hears us!
- There is a CONDITION to God HEARING our prayers…
- IF [subjunctive] we ASK [αἰτέω] for something – that is according to His WILL [θέλημα]!
- James 4:3 – “You ask and do not receive – because you ask amiss…”
- If we ASK God for SELFISH things – SILENCE will be His ONLY reply…
- ONLY as we LIVE for Jesus – can ASK for anything – and God WILL give it…
- Because we are going to be asking for the things that God knows are best!
- John 15:7 – “If you abide in Me – and My words abide in you – you will ask what you desire – and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified – that you bear much fruit.”
- 1st – Our CONFIDENCE… vs. 14
- 2nd – God Answers… vs. 15-17
- 1st – If we ASK…
- SINCE we KNOW that He hears us – whatever we ask [in His will]
- We KNOW that we have the [REQUESTS] we have asked of Him!
- The SECOND thing we SEE [εἴδω] – is God will ANSWER us…
- IF [subjunctive] we ASK [αἰτέω] – we will get whatever we REQUEST [αἴτημα]!
- Life can have a tendency to throw challenges – problems our way…
- We tend to spend a LOT of time WORRYING about these problems…
- The problem is WORRYING about our problems does not help – it makes things worse!
- Proverbs 12:25 – “Worry weighs a person down…”
- WORRY is the opposite of TRUST – we are WORRIED because we are not TRUSTING God…
- Instead of worrying we should come to the LORD who LISTENS…
- Because when we ASK God – we find our WORRIES disappear…
- Our perspective changes – we see our circumstances in a new light…
- We no longer see our problems – instead our God who is greater than ANY problem!
- Philippians 4:6 – “Do not WORRY about anything – instead ASK God about everything… [and] let your REQUESTS [αἴτημα] be made known to Him.” [my translation]
- 2nd – What to ASK for… vs. 16
- If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death…
- He will ask – and [God] will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death!
- Do NOT miss this – we are told WHAT the WILL of God is that we are to ASK [αἰτέω] for…
- If [subjunctive] we see a believer [ἀδελφός] who is LIVING [present] in SIN [ἁμαρτάνω]
- We are to ASK [αἰτέω] God to SAVE them – and He will give that person LIFE…
- So that their SIN [ἁμαρτάνω] – will not LEAD to DEATH!
- There is a tendency in our culture – to avoid confrontation…
- If someone does something wrong – the accepted response it to IGNORE it…
- We can even EXCUSE it and say – God will deal with it – we do NOT need to!
- Ignoring SIN – is NOT the solution for SIN – we are CALLED to HELP…
- When we see a brother or sister caught up in the world – not living for Jesus…
- It is our responsibility to come alongside them to see if we can encourage them…
- If they want to continue in SIN – we pray God CONVICTS them…
- If they are overwhelmed by their SIN – we can help to carry their burden!
- Galatians 6:1-2 – “If a man is overtaken in any trespass – you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness… Bear one another burdens – and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
- 3rd – Unforgivable SIN… vs. 16
- There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that!
- This is where things get HEAVY – there is a SIN that leads to DEATH…
- If someone is committing this SIN – we are NOT [subjunctive] to PRAY [ἐρωτάω] for them…
- The obvious question is – what is the SIN that leads to DEATH!
- Matthew 12:31 – “Every sin… will be forgiven men – but the blasphemy against the Spirit will NOT be forgiven men.”
- When we SIN – it is the SPIRIT who tugs at our heart to REPENT – John 16:8
- At which point we have a CHOICE – if we CONTINUE to sin – we start to HARDEN…
- We AVOID anything that reminds us of God – CHURCH – BIBLE – FELLOWSHIP – PRAYER…
- The danger is we can end up preferring to live in SIN – and REJECT God – Hebrews 3:12
- For that PERSON – who has so HARDENED their heart – they do NOT want God…
- There is NO HOPE of salvation – because there is only ONE way to heaven…
- The unforgivable sin is to die having REJECTED Jesus as our Savior!
- Hebrews 10:26 – “If we sin [present] willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth – there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.”
- When should we STOP asking…
- ONLY God sees the heart – He is the ONLY one who knows – I Samuel 16:7
- Meaning we NEVER stop asking for God to SAVE someone from their SIN!
- Have we COMMITTED the SIN…
- The simple answer is NO – not if we are ASKING…
- Because the person who ASKS – is still thinking about the LORD…
- Someone who has COMMITTED the SIN that leads to DEATH – does not CARE…
- They are so hardened to God – they no longer even think about Him!
- There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that!
- 4th – All other SIN… vs. 17
- All unrighteousness is sin – and there is sin not leading to death!
- ALL [πᾶς] – every KIND of UNRIGHTEOUSNESS [ἀδικία] – to BREAK the LAW of God…
- Is SIN [ἁμαρτάνω] – to wander away from God…
- Every time we BREAK the LAW of God – we have SINNED and wandered away from God!
- There are no LEVELS of SIN when it comes to God – venial or moral…
- It is no different if we tell a white LIE – or if we murder…
- How many SINS does it take to make us a SINNER – just one!
- James 2:10 – “For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of Gods law.” [NLT]
- We can agree the LAW of God is good – and even desire LIVE it – Romans 7:12
- But it is NOT possible for us to live a HOLY life on our own…
- No matter how hard we try – we are doomed to FAIL – we will WANDER…
- We are not SINNERS because we SIN – we SIN because we are SINNERS…
- But that is why Jesus came to DIE – so we could be FORGIVEN…
- And all we have to do is REPENT – and our SIN will NOT lead to DEATH!
- I John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins [ἁμαρτάνω] – He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [ἀδικία].”
- 1st – If we ASK…
- 3rd – No SIN… vs. 18
- 1st – Born of God…
- We know that whoever is born of God does not sin!
- The THIRD thing we SEE [εἴδω] – is we STOP sinning…
- This is NOT talking about theology – this is practical – what we actually SEE…
- We SEE [perfect] – ANYONE [πᾶς] who is BORN again – does not LIVE [present] in sin!
- I John 3:9 – “Whoever has been born of God does not sin – for [Jesus abides] in him – and he cannot sin because he has been born of God.”
- When by FAITH we receive the LOVE of the Father – and Jesus comes to ABIDE in us…
- We are BORN again – giving us a NEW life – that is free from SIN…
- Not only do we have no SIN [noun]– we are forgiven through Jesus – Hebrews 10:17
- Being BORN again – means we no longer have the POWER [δύναμαι] to LIVE in SIN [verb]
- Because we have Jesus LIVING in us – and He will NOT let us LIVE [present] in sin!
- 2nd – Untouchable…
- He who has been born of God GUARDS himself – and the wicked one does not touch him!
- Those who are BORN again – constantly [present] are on GUARD…
- Because they do not want to give an OPPORTUNITY for the WICKED one…
- THE [definite article] WICKED [πονηρός] – a reference to our enemy – Satan…
- Who wants to TOUCH [ἅπτομαι] – to CLING to someone!
- Genesis 4:7 – “If you do not do well – sin lies at the door…”
- When the offering of Cain was rejected by God – the Lord encouraged him…
- He needed to do GOOD – be on GUARD – because SIN was at his DOOR…
- And it wanted to CLING to him – RULE over him!
- Satan would love nothing more than CLING to us – RULE over us…
- But with God on our side – he cannot TOUCH us – Romans 8:31
- Yet Satan is smart – he knows we are SAFE so long as we ABIDE in Jesus…
- So he tries to get us to COMPROMISE our walk with the Lord…
- If satan can trip us up with SIN – he can get us to walk AWAY from the protection of God!
- 1st – Born of God…
- 4th – Two teams… vs. 19
- 1st – Team God…
- We know that we are of God!
- The FOURTH thing we SEE [εἴδω] – is that we BELONG [ἐκ] to God…
- I LOVE football – where I was raised it was the main SPORT…
- Unfortunately – the TEAM from the area I grew up – has NEVER been very good…
- So because I have the wrong TEAM – I never seem to WIN…
- You would think I would just CHOSE a better team – but it is HARD to CHANGE!
- There are only TWO teams we can belong to – TEAM God – and TEAM satan…
- We came into this world belonging to the LOSING team…
- Before we received the LOVE of God – we were the CHILDREN of Satan – I John 3:10
- But now we SEE – since we are BORN again – that we have CHANGED…
- We have been ADOPTED into TEAM God – and have VICTORY over our ENEMY!
- I John 2:13 – “You have overcome the wicked one.”
- 2nd – Team satan…
- The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one!
- We also SEE [εἴδω] – the ENTIRE world [κόσμος] – STANDS [κεῖμαι] with satan…
- The words – under the sway – are in italics meaning they are not in the original text…
- But it is a GOOD addition – because everyone who is not on TEAM God – is still on TEAM satan…
- He is the god of this AGE who blinds the minds of those who do not believe – II Corinthians 4:4
- He is the prince of the power of the AIR – who deceives the world – Ephesians 2:2
- It is no accident that TV and WIFI are transmitted through the AIR…
- Because satan certainly is the power behind the MEDIA…
- We turn on the TV and see advertising showing all the things you NEED to buy…
- We see add of people in scantily clad clothing – telling us how to look – what to look at…
- Satan uses it all to twist and pervert minds – keep them in bondage to his TEAM!
- 1st – Team God…
Which is why we can say with John – GUARD against anything but the TRUTH – AMEN!
5th – The Truth… vs. 20-21
1st – We have Understanding… vs. 20
We know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding!
The FIFTH thing we SEE [εἴδω] – is the TRUTH…
We SEE [perfect] that Jesus – the SON of God – became a MAN – Isaiah 7:14
So that He could give [perfect] us UNDERSTANDING [διάνοια]!
People have had ALL kinds of ideas about WHO God is – and WHAT He wants…
But the ONLY one who actually KNOWS God – and KNOWS His desires – is Jesus…
Therefore Jesus came to so we could SEE – WHO God is – and WHAT God wants!
Ephesians 1:18 – “The eyes of our understanding [διάνοια] being [opened] – that we may know what is the hope of His calling – what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”
2nd – The Truth… vs. 20
We may know [THE truth] – and we are in [THE truth] – in His Son Jesus Christ.
This is THE true God and eternal life!
What does God want us to UNDERSTAND – He wants to KNOW the TRUTH…
KNOW [γινώσκω] – to have a RELATIONSHIP [subjunctive] with…
THE [definite article] – TRUTH [ἀληθινός]
Because TRUTH is NOT an idea – it is a PERSON – it is Jesus Christ!
John 14:6 – “Jesus said… I am the way – the truth [ἀληθινός] – and the life.”
When we have a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus – we also KNOW the TRUTH…
The TRUTH is that Jesus Christ is the TRUE God…
And only when we are in Jesus – who is God – do we have eternal LIFE!
John 17:3 – “This is eternal life – that they may know You – the only true [ἀληθινός] God – and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
3rd – False gods… vs. 21
Little children – keep yourselves from idols. Amen!
Since Jesus is the TRUE God – and the only way to have eternal LIFE…
Little CHILDREN – [τεκνίον] – 7x in I John – a term used by teachers for their disciples…
GUARD yourself from putting our TRUST in IDOLS [εἴδωλον] – FALSE gods!
IDOLS have NO power – they are neither harmful nor helpful…
Therefore it is foolish to TRUST in them or PRAY to them!
Jeremiah 5:10 – “Do not be afraid of them – they cannot do evil of good…”
CANNOT save…
Isaiah 44:19-20 – “The person who made the idol never stops to reflect – Why it is just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to… roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god. Should I bow down to worship a chunk of wood!” [NLT]
We might LAUGH at the idea of putting our TRUST in an IDOL…
But we tend to forget what our money is made of – paper is a WOOD product…
We look to Roxas [P100] – Aquino [P500] – Santos [P1000] – to SAVE us!
Make us DUMB…
Psalms 115:8 – “Those who make them – [become] like them.”
If we are trusting in something FALSE – then we are not looking to the TRUTH…
Where God has the power to save us – this WORLD can do nothing…
So if we are trusting in IDOLS rather than Jesus – we do NOT have LIFE..
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