1 John 5:18-20

We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.  We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.  And we know 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, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.  Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Because we are believers, there are certain things that we know.  John concludes this epistle reviewing those things that we know to be true because of our relationship with God through faith in Christ.  The knowledge of these truths should be transformative in our lives.

BELIEVERS DON’T PRACTICE SIN: Clearly all believers continue to sin, but they do not “keep on” sinning.  There is a clear change that take place in the life of a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  We are set free from the power of sin over our lives.  Unbelievers are slaves to sin.  That is not true of us.  We are under the protection of the Spirit of God and nothing good or bad will happen to us without His permission.  We are no longer helpless against the attacks of Satan.  We are able to stand against temptation and have victory over the habitual sins of our lives.  When we do sin, and we will, we repent of the sin, confess it, and move forward with gratitude in our hearts for His mercy and grace. 

BELIEVERS ARE BORN OF GOD: All believers have been born of God.  He gives us new life in Christ and the indwelling of His Spirit identifies us as being members of His family.  This relationship with God gives us a wonderful and glorious position as we are holy and blameless in His sight.  This is a stark contrast to the world that lies in darkness under the power and control of the evil one.  The victory of Christ over sin and death has blessed us with this life-changing relationship with God. 

BELIEVERS KNOW JESUS IS CHRIST: By definition, believers know that Jesus Christ has come into the world.  We believe He has taken on flesh and become a man so He could pay the price for our sin on the cross.  He has given us understanding of this glorious truth so we could be saved from sin.  We are in Him and He is in us.  We know Him and as a result of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have been given eternal life.  Our forgiveness is an amazing blessing and our freedom from sin is a gift that flows from Him to us.  We no longer live to worship false gods like fame, money, comfort, self, or any other idols.

APPLICATION: Identify areas where we struggle with sin, and depend on the power of God’s Spirit to help us walk in obedience.  Thank God for our new birth in Jesus and the freedom we have from slavery to Satan and the system of this world.  Rejoice in the truth that we are in Christ and He has given us eternal life.  Don’t be distracted or attracted to the worship of false gods.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hebrews 10:32-39

But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.     For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.     Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.     For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.     For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”     But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. Endurance...
Read more

James 3:5-12

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!     And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.     For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.     With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.     From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.     Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?     Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. Medications come with warning labels about negative side effects they might cause...
Read more

1 Peter 3:7

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. It is important to remember the general theme of this section is submission.  The previous section was on wives submitting to their husbands.  This section is on husbands submitting to their wives.  Submission has nothing to do with inferiority and leadership has nothing to do with superiority.  According to Scripture, leaders are called to serve.  Service is an act associated with submission. HOW HUSBANDS SUBMIT TO THEIR WIVES: The two words Peter uses to describe how husbands are to submit to their wives are understanding and honor.  There are stark differences between men and women.  We look at the world a little differently and think about things differently.  Men will often have a difficu...
Read more