Five Truths God Wants Every Child of God to Know 1 John 5 ...

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Five Truths God Wants Every Child of God to Know 1 John 5:13-21

Introduction: 1) In a letter to a man named George Ticknor (dated Nov. 25, 1817), Thomas Jefferson was critical of state legislatures for not "perceiv[ing] the important truths that knowledge is power, that knowledge is safety, and that knowledge is happiness." One might challenge particulars of Jefferson's statement, but there is certainly a ring of truth in it to be sure. 2) The apostle John certainly thought knowledge was important. In fact he was vitally concerned that his "little children" (5:21) know a number of things because they had come to believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. In fact a quick survey of this 5 chapter letter reveals at least the following things we can know:

1) We can know that we know God (2:3, 13, 14; 4:7). 2) We can know that we are in God (2:5). 3) We can know that it is the last hour (2:18). 4) We can know the truth (2:21; 3:19). 5) We can know that Jesus is righteous (2:29). 6) We can know that we will be like Jesus (3:2). 7) We can know Jesus appeared to take away sins (3:5). 8) We can know that Jesus is sinless (3:5).

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9) We can know that we have passed out of death into life (3:14). 10) We can know no murderer has eternal life (3:15). 11) We can know love (3:16; 4:16). 12) We can know that God abides in us (3:24; 4:13). 13) We can know the Spirit of God (4:2). 14) We can know the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error (4:6). 15) We can know that we love God's children (5:2). 16) We can know that we have eternal life (5:13). 17) We can know that God answers prayer (5:15). 18) We can know that we will not practice sin (5:18). 19) We can know that we belong to God (5:19). 20) We can know that the Son of God has come (5:20). 21) We can know that the Son of God has given us understanding (5:20). 22) We can know Him who is true (5:20). 3) In this final section of 1 John (5:13-21), things we can know dominate the conversation. Seven times the word know appears. Christianity is not an "I hope so" or "I think so" faith. It is an "I know so" faith because what has been revealed in the Bible was given to us by God, a God who speaks and a God who speaks only truth. As he brings his letter to close, what is it, in particular, that John wants, that God wants, every child of His to know?

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I. We can know we have eternal life 5:13 1) In a real sense the entire letter of 1 John has been pointing to this verse. On five prior occasions, John has given his reasons for writing. I like the way John Piper lists and summarizes all six occurrences: "1) 1 John 1:4: "We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete." John is an unashamed Christian Hedonist. The joy of their assurance will be his joy. And he wants it. It is good to want that kind of joy. 2) 1 John 2:1: "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteousness." He hopes his book will give them fresh power to overcome sin. And part of his method in helping them overcome sin is to assure them that failures do not have to prove fatal to your eternal life. 3) 1 John 2:12-13: "I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one." In other words, he is filled with hope that the ones he is writing to are truly

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believers. They are forgiven. They do know God. They have triumphed over the evil one. 4) 1 John 2:21: "I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth." Same thing: My letter is not to get you started in the Christian life, but to confirm you in it. 5) 1 John 2:26: "I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you." He is concerned with false teaching. This letter is meant to protect them from those who would lead them astray. In other words, the fact that we are born again does not mean we no longer need warnings. 6) 1 John 5:13: "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life." This is the one that dominates in this letter. Most of what is here is designed to provide tests of life: "I write these things...that you may know that you have eternal life." That is, that you may know you are born again from death to life. Summing up all these reasons for writing 1 John goes like this: I am writing because you are true believers, but there are deceivers in your midst, and I want you to be rock-solid confident in your present possession of eternal life

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as regenerate children of God, so that you are not drawn away after sin. And if this letter has that effect my joy will be complete. So at the heart of his reason for writing is the desire to help them know they are born again-- that they now have new spiritual life. Eternal Life." ("Everyone Who Has Been Born of God Overcomes The World", 2-24-08). 2) John tells us it is possible to have eternal life, the very life of God, and yet have doubts. And, he does not want us to have doubts. He wants us to have assurance. Therefore he provides multiple tests throughout the book ("These things" in verse 13 refers specifically to 5:1-12, but in general they refer to the entire book) revolving around the three themes of belief, obedience and love. Those who believe Jesus is the Son of God, pursue obedience, and love others can be assured they have eternal life right now. Today! Forever! Don't doubt because of an ignorance of God's Word and His promises. Don't doubt because of a faulty theology (eternal life is something I can lose or forfeit). Don't doubt because of disobedience. Don't doubt because of hate. Flee to Jesus. He is the Word of Life (1:1). He is eternal life (1:2). 3) And remember: Feelings come and go and feelings can be deceiving. My confidence is in the Son of God, none else is worth believing. Jesus said in John 10:28-29, "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me,

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