1Jn5:1-5,12 Faith is the Victory

# Faith is the Victory
## 1 John 5:1-5,12

---

# What is the **heart** of a mature **child** of God?

[###](#/outline "secret")

>>>
+ smoker's lung
+ training, aspirations, goals:
  + not just academics/career
  + not just family
  + train up our heart
+ 1Jn: response to **Gnosticism**
  + **mystical** gnosis only to initiates
  + body/spirit **dualism**
  + ⇒ earthly life **unimportant**

---
[1](# "ref")
Everyone who believes that Jesus 
is the Christ has been born of God,

and everyone who loves the Father 
loves whoever has been born of him.

[1 John 5:1 (ESV) (p.1/4)](# "ref")

---
[2](# "ref")
By this we know that we love 
the children of God,

when we love God 
and obey his commandments.

[3](# "ref")
For this is the love of God, 
that we keep his commandments.

And his commandments are not burdensome.

[1 John 5:2-3 (ESV) (p.2/4)](# "ref")

---
[4](# "ref")
For everyone who has been born of God 
overcomes the world.

And this is the victory 
that has overcome the world — our faith.

[5](# "ref")
Who is it that overcomes the world 
except the one who believes 
that Jesus is the Son of God?

[1 John 5:4-5 (ESV) (p.3/4)](# "ref")

---
[12](# "ref")
Whoever has the Son has life;

whoever does not have the Son of God 
does not have life.

[1 John 5:12 (ESV) (p.4/4)](# "ref")

---

## Faith is the Victory [(1Jn5a)](# "ref")
1. Showing God's **Love** [(v1)](# "ref")
2. Keeping God's **Word** [(v2-3)](# "ref")
3. Trusting in God's **Victory** [(v4-5)](# "ref")

>>>
+ 1Jn themes: **love**, **child**/Father, **faith**, **command**
+ ch4b-5a: why **love** e.o in Christ?

---
## Reasons to **Love** God's Children
+ To be more **godly** [(4:7)](# "ref")
+ Because God **first** loved us [(4:11,19)](# "ref")
+ It is **easier** than loving the unseen God [(4:20)](# "ref")
+ It is God's **command** [(4:21)](# "ref")
+ They are **born** of God [(5:1)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **bad** reasons (e.g., to son):
  + you're **cute** (makes me happy)
  + I'm your father, I **have to** (oblig)
  + if I don't, I **look bad** (shame)
  + so you'll love me **back** (strings)
  + so you'll **respect** me when old (fear)

---

Everyone who **believes** 
that Jesus is the **Christ**

has been *born* of God,

[1 John 5:1a (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **believe** (faith, trust):
  + not intellec **assent**
  + trust ⇒ **action**
+ not just that God **exists**
+ Christ: "**I am**" claims in gospel of John

---

Jesus said to them, 
“Truly, truly, I say to you, 
before Abraham was, **I am**.”

[59](# "ref")
So they picked up **stones** to throw at him

[John 8:58-59 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ 1 of 3 **absolute** "I AM" statements
+ plus 7 **metaphorical** declarations
+ why worthy of **stoning**?

---

"If [...] they ask me, ‘What is his **name**?’ 
what shall I say to them?"

[14](# "ref")
God said to Moses, “**I AM** who **I AM**.”

And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: 
‘**I AM** has sent me to you.’”

[Exodus 3:13-14 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Jesus claimed to be **Yahweh** / Jehovah (LORD)
+ **cannot** believe Jesus to be a **good** person
  + without believing He is **God**
+ else making Him out to be a **liar**

---

Everyone who *believes* 
that Jesus is the *Christ*

has been **born** of God,

[1 John 5:1a (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **born**: Nicodemus (Jn3), Rom8
+ not **predicate** (i.e. born is **consequence** of faith)
  + cannot **cause** self to be born
+ but an indicative **observation**:
  + {those who believe} == {those who are born}
+ **work** of salvation done by Christ, not our faith:

---

God sent forth his **Son**, [...] 
[5](# "ref")
to **redeem** those who were under the law,

so that we might receive **adoption** as sons.

[6](# "ref")
And because you are sons, God has sent 
the **Spirit** of his Son into our hearts, 
crying, “**Abba! Father!**”

[Galatians 4:4-6 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Father **sent** (plan of salvation)
  + Son **redeemed** (work of salvation)
  + Spirit **testifies** (seal of salvation)
+ point of 1Jn5:1 is that this seal is on **all** believers
  + not just the ones I'm **friends** with:

---

Everyone who *believes* 
that Jesus is the *Christ* 
has been *born* of God,

and everyone who loves the **Father** 
loves whoever has been **born** of him.

[1 John 5:1 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ greatest 2 **commandments** (Mt22, Mk12):
  + love **God**, love **neighbour**
+ if I don't love **children** of God,
  + I'm **not** truly loving their Father!
+ e.g., as **youth** worker: thankful parents
  + now as **parent**: find those who truly care for my kid

---

Whoever receives **you** receives **me**, 
and whoever receives me 
receives him who **sent** me.

[42](# "ref")
Whoever gives one of these **little ones** 
even a cup of **cold water** 
because he is a **disciple**,

truly, I say to you, 
he will by no means lose his **reward**.

[Matthew 10:40,42 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ now turn it **around**:
  + I welcome other **children** of God
+ in so doing, welcoming **Christ**, and the **Father**

---

# Why should I **love** the children of God?

>>>
+ makes me **happy**?
  + bc I **have to**?
  + so they will **help** me later?
+ ⇒ bc God **chose**, loved, and saved them too
  + part of meaning of **loving** God

---

## Faith is the Victory [(1Jn5a)](# "ref")
1. Showing God's Love [(v1)](# "ref")
2. **Keeping God's Word** [(v2-3)](# "ref")
3. Trusting in God's Victory [(v4-5)](# "ref")

>>>
+ so I know I **need** to love
+ what does love **look** like?

---

By this we **know** that 
we love the children of God,

when we **love** God 
and **obey** his commandments.

[1 John 5:2 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **iff** bi-dir equivalence
  + love **children** == love **Father**
+ e.g., as **youth** worker: love **families**
  + not **distance** kids from parents
+ as dad: love kid by loving his **mom**
+ love others: not by own feelings
  + nor by pleasing others
+ but acc **God's** defn + example

---

For this is the **love** of God, 
that we **keep** his commandments.

And his commandments 
are not burdensome.

[1 John 5:3 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ love of God: not our love of God
  + nor simply God's love to us (passive):
+ 4:12 God **remains** in us
  + His love **completed** in us
+ **keep**: jailer, preserve, hold fast
+ what does love have to do with
  + keeping God's **commandments**?

---

[Love] does not rejoice at **wrongdoing**, 
but rejoices with the **truth**.

[1 Corinthians 13:6](# "ref")

>>>
+ e.g.appendicitis
+ to truly love another ⇒ keep God's Word
+ Christ to disciples **iff**:

---

If anyone **loves** me, he will **keep** my word, 
and my Father will love him,

and we will come to him 
and make our **home** with him.

[24](# "ref")
Whoever does **not** love me 
does not keep my words.

[John 14:23-24 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ to love **Father**, and **Jesus**, and his **children**:
  + must keep his **commands**

---

For this is the *love* of God, 
that we *keep* his commandments.

And his commandments 
are not **burdensome**.

[1 John 5:3 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>

---

And this is his **commandment**,

that we **believe** in the name 
of his Son Jesus Christ

and **love** one another

[1 John 3:23 (ESV)](# "ref")

---

# In my **love** for others, do I treasure God's **Word**?

---

## Faith is the Victory [(1Jn5a)](# "ref")
1. Showing God's Love [(v1)](# "ref")
2. Keeping God's Word [(v2-3)](# "ref")
3. **Trusting in God's Victory** [(v4-5)](# "ref")

---

And his commandments are not *burdensome*.

[4](# "ref")
For everyone who has been **born** of God 
**overcomes** the **world**.

[1 John 5:3b-4a (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ burden || world?
  + struggle w/sin
  + world: ch1:16
+ internal struggle: Ro7
+ born ⇒ victorious

---

For all that is in the **world** —

the desires of the **flesh** 
and the desires of the **eyes** 
and **pride** of life —

is not from the Father but is from the **world**.

[1 John 2:16 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ 17 passing away w/desires

---

For I have the **desire** to do what is right, 
but not the **ability** to carry it out.

[19](# "ref")
For I do not do the **good** I want, 
but the **evil** I do not want 
is what I keep on doing.

[Romans 7:18-19 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ role of the **Law**:
  + make sin utterly **sinful**
  + **tutor** leading to faith

---

**Wretched** man that I am! 
Who will **deliver** me from this body of death?

[25](# "ref")
Thanks be to God -- 
through Jesus **Christ** our Lord!

[Romans 7:24-25 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ solution to internal struggle

---

And this is the **victory** 
that has overcome the world — our **faith**.

[5](# "ref")
Who is it that **overcomes** the world 
except the one who **believes** 
that Jesus is the **Son of God**?

[1 John 5:4b-5 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ faith: not power of conviction
+ believe ⇒ victorious
  + bc **Christ** has won victory
+ over legalism, fear of punishment
  + despair / resignation to sin
+ even over **death** itself:

---

“O **death**, where is your victory? 
O death, where is your **sting**?”

[56](# "ref")
The sting of death is **sin**, 
and the power of sin is the **law**.

[57](# "ref")
But thanks be to God, 
who gives us the **victory** 
through our Lord **Jesus Christ**.

[1 Corinthians 15:56-57 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+

---

[11](# "ref")
This is the **testimony**,

that God gave us **eternal life**, 
and this life is in his **Son**.

[12](# "ref")
Whoever **has** the Son has life;

whoever does **not** have the Son of God 
does not have life.

[1 John 5:11-12 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>

---

# Do I **struggle** with worldly passions?
# Do I **believe** in Christ's victory?

---

“O **death**, where is your victory? 
O death, where is your **sting**?”

[56](# "ref")
The sting of death is **sin**, 
and the power of sin is the **law**.

[57](# "ref")
But thanks be to God, 
who gives us the **victory** 
through our Lord **Jesus Christ**.

[1 Corinthians 15:56-57 (ESV)](# "ref")

---