Bible Study - No Doubt (6) - Sure of Salvation - 1 John 5:1-5m 11-13, 18-21 - October 10, 2021

 

Bible Study – No Doubt (6) – Sure of Salvation – October 10, 2021

This is our sixth and final lesson in our series entitled, “No Doubt: Six Things We Can Know for Sure.”

Our focus scripture is 1 John 5:1-5, 11-13, 18-21. (Focus scripture address is in Bold letters and underlined.) Make sure you read to the end of the lesson.

We can be sure GOD saves us when we trust in CHRIST.

What does it mean to trust CHRIST? When we cross a bridge, we trust that the engineers and construction company have followed the engineering specifications and that those who have made the concrete, steel and other structural materials have correctly applied them according to the plan and specification. We trust an elevator every time we use it. There are many things in life that we trust when we use them. The more we use them, the more we trust them. Trusting GOD through faith in JESUS works the same way.

When we place our faith in JESUS, we place our full being as a human, destined for eternity, upon HIM and trust what HE has done for us. There is no other way to be happy in JESUS but to trust and obey.

The lyrics to a Bill Gather song that states:

The Longer I Serve Him, written by

Bill Gaither

Since I started for the Kingdom,

Since my life He controls,

Since I gave my heart to Jesus,

The longer I serve Him,

The sweeter He grows.

The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows,

 

Some may say, “I trusted GOD and HE let me down.” Have you asked JESUS into your heart by faith?

 

JESUS addressed this in Matthew 7:7-11:

⁷ “Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door^[a] will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. ⁹ Who among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.

 

GOD will not give you something that will harm you. We, as HIS Children, must trust HIM. There are times when HE says yes, no or wait. Our human nature is that we want something NOW! When we ask and do not get it, we pout, and sometimes we get mad with GOD.

 

What does Dr. Vance Hefner say about such times? Practice in the dark what you learn in the light.

 

I recall when I wanted something and the LORD told me that I was not Spiritually mature enough, as a Christian, to receive it. When I was, HE would give it to me. I said, FATHER, make me Spiritually mature. My naive thinking in those days was that GOD would sprinkle Holy Dust over me and Walla, I would become Spiritually mature. Sorry, I learned that GOD does not work that way. HE cleaned my table, so to speak, or the Spiritual foundation upon which I had been building upon, down to the foundation of CHRIST in me. Upon that foundation, HE began building a new relationship based upon Biblical truth, not assumptions. HE has been building upon the foundation of the truth of CHRIST in me for many years. The more I learn to trust HIM and put that trust into action, the sweeter and more personal HE becomes.

 

The Holy Dust, so-to-speak, is building our relationship with JESUS through faith in HIM. It is building trust based upon Biblical fact and not assumption or what I want truth to be. The victory has been won by GOD through the passion of JESUS. We who have been Spirit-born are no longer shackled by unbelief. Our faith in JESUS allows us to enter into the very presence of GOD, 24/7, and call HIM, Daddy.

 

Then why aren’t we, who have experienced the miracle of Spiritual birth, still fighting and struggling in this world? Let’s explore!

 

For me, it has been a journey of walking with JESUS to learn truth and the application of truth as HE guides us by the indwelling Holy Spirit. There have been hills, valleys and mountain tops. All are necessary.

 

Let’s read 1 John 5:1-5:

5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father^[a] also loves the one born of him. ² This is how we know that we love God’s children: when we love God and obey^[b] his commands. ³ For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands. And his commands are not a burden, ⁴ because everyone who has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.

The Certainty of God’s Testimony

⁵ Who is the one who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is ground zero! It is a package deal. When you have the FATHER, you have the SON. When you have the SON, you have the FATHER. The central truth is and the key is, JESUS is the only way to the FATHER. You cannot have ONE without the Other. Why? JESUS opened the path to GOD, The FATHER by breaking the sin barrier. JESUS opened the path but we must accept JESUS as our Savior to be Spiritually born into HIS Kingdom.

5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father^[a] also loves the one born of him. 

Do you believe that JESUS is the CHRIST? If so, then you have been Spiritually born of GOD! If so, do you love GOD, the Father? If so, then you will love JESUS and fellow Spirit-born people.

If you truly answered, yes, then you have been Spiritually born into GOD’S Family. What is next ---

² This is how we know that we love God’s children: when we love God and obey^[b] his commands. 

To “know” is to know without any doubt. What we know is absolute truth. This is a measure of our true relationship with GOD through our faith in JESUS, “when we love GOD’S Children”. What is our love quotient toward Spirit-born people? How we, who are Spirit-born, love GOD and obey HIS commands is a measure of our relationship with GOD. This is NOT following “commandments” but “commands.”

The only way, Spirit-born people follow GOD’S commands, is by being in right relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS and being led by the Holy Spirit. Satan was defeated when JESUS gave HIS sinless life upon the cross to pay, in full, the penalty for sin; eternal death. JESUS won the victory and to prove it, GOD physically resurrected JESUS from physical death.

GOD’S Word, the Bible, confirms this as well as the indwelling Holy Spirit. So, if the victory has been won, why do we, who have been Spirit-born struggle upon earth? Simply, we do not believe that the victory has been won. We believe in Satan’s lies, e.g. you have to do more or surely salvation is more than placing your faith in JESUS.

What did the Apostle John write in 1 John 4:4?

⁴ You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one who is in you (JESUS confirms by the indwelling Holy Spirit) is greater than the one (Satan) who is in the world.

Do you recall what the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:6-8?

Spiritual Wisdom

⁶ We do, however, speak a wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷ On the contrary, we speak God’s hidden wisdom in a mystery, a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory. ⁸ None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, because if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

GOD sends a zinger to those who think they have GOD figured out!

GOD’S redemptive plan was completed by JESUS on the cross and confirmed by the events that followed. GOD/JESUS won the victory and defeated Satan. When we do not believe that fact, we show unbelief and such unbelief opens up a path for Satan to keep defeating us. Faith in JESUS and HIS passion is the solid rock upon which we build our faith and victory over Satan.

Spirit-born people are living on the other side of the cross in the light of the resurrection of JESUS and secured and assured by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within us who are Spirit-born. And most of all, the total defeat of Satan. Spirit-born people are to live and walk in the light of GOD’S victory for all who place their faith in JESUS. Our faith in JESUS means eternal victory.

Let’s read on ----

³ For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands. And his commands are not a burden, ⁴ because everyone who has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.

A Spirit-born person loves GOD and his or her desire is to “keep HIS commands.” HIS commands are not a burden. Why? It is “because everyone who has been born of God conquers the world.”

How can that be? “This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.” Our faith in GOD through faith in JESUS. It is vital that Christians know that. Do you recall what JESUS taught HIS disciples about faith in Matthew 17:20: “Because of your little faith,” he told them. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Faith spells victory. Satan does NOT want Christians to live in the victory of what GOD has accomplished through HIS redemptive plan. Faith in JESUS is an absolute must to experience victory.

⁵ Who is the one who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Do you believe JESUS is the Son of GOD? If so, then you are a conqueror, therefore live like it and walk in the light of victory.

Now, Satan will attempt to make you think differently but dig in your heels and stand firm because JESUS has won the victory. In Ephesians 6: - ¹⁴ Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, ¹⁵ and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. The Roman soldier wore sandals which had nails protruding through the bottom. These nails gave the soldier traction to forge ahead. That is what we are to do. Advance, not in fear but knowing that we are victors because the battle has already been won by JESUS.

Let’s read 1 John 5:11-13:

¹¹ And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² The one who has the Son has life. The one who does not have the Son of God does not have life. ¹³ I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

All Spirit-born people have eternal life through faith in JESUS. A conception has taken place in your body. Your human spirit has been united with GOD’S Spirit the instant you believe in JESUS. You believe that JESUS came in the flesh, born by Virgin Mary, lived as a human, gave his sinless physical life by the shedding of his blood to atone for sin. GOD required that a perfect sacrifice be given to atone for sin. JESUS left HIS home in Heaven to do that just for you. How do we know that?

JESUS was preparing to go to the cross and was praying to GOD as recorded in John 17:1-5:

Jesus Prays for Himself

17 Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, ² since you gave him authority over all people,^[a] so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him. ³ This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent —Jesus Christ. ⁴ I have glorified you on the earth by completing the work you gave me to do. ⁵ Now, Father, glorify me in your presence with that glory I had with you before the world existed.

Yes, JESUS left HIS home in Heaven to come to earth and give HIS sinless life just for you and for me. Why? Because HE loved us!

Let’s read 1 John 5:18-21: Conclusion

¹⁸ We know that everyone who has been born of God does not sin, but the one who is born of God keeps him (JESUS),^[f] and the evil one does not touch him. ¹⁹ We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one. ²⁰ And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true one.^[g] We are in the true one—that is, in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

²¹ Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

Notice the number of times the Apostle John used the word “know.” The word “know” carries the idea of knowing something with absolute certainty.

Have you asked JESUS to forgive you for your sins and for HIM to come into your heart? Do you believe that HE left HIS home in Glory and came to earth to be born and live upon earth as 100% human subject to sinning and physical death? Did HE give HIS sinless life as the atoning sacrifice for your sins? Did GOD raise JESUS from the physically dead to reveal to all that HE conquered physical death? Did HE ascend into Heaven to sit at the right-hand of GOD to intercede in behalf of all who place their faith in HIM?

How do we know that JESUS paid in full for our sins? It was GOD’S plan!

JESUS paid in full for all of our sins, past, present and future. That is why - ¹⁸ We know that everyone who has been born of God does not sin, but the one who is born of God keeps him (JESUS),^[f] and the evil one (Satan) does not touch him. 

Let’s consider 2 Corinthians 5:21 - ²¹ He (GOD) made the one who did not know sin (JESUS) to be sin^[e] for us, so that in him (JESUS) we might become the righteousness of God.

What does salvation through faith in JESUS mean to a Spirit-born person? When Spirit-born people sin, they KNOW they are secure in JESUS because their faith in JESUS is eternal. JESUS stands in the presence of GOD and intercedes for the Spirit-born person. The Spirit-born person will confess his or her sin. Why, if we are already GOD’S Son or Daughter? It is because, Spirit-born people know they will never, ever lose their salvation because their faith in JESUS is eternal. So, why confess sin? When we confess our, we do not give a foothold to Satan to use it to divert our attention away from serving GOD.

All Christians are sinners saved by GOD’S grace. Grace is unmerited favor. Grace is a gift from GOD. Grace is something we cannot earn. It is not a license to sin but an opportunity to always be in fellowship with GOD. We can ask the Holy Spirit to examine us daily. When we take the LORD’S Supper is another good time to ask GOD to examine us to reveal any wicked way in us.

So, what have we learned? ³ For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands. And his commands are not a burden, ⁴ because everyone who has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.

Faith in JESUS means victory! Live accordingly! Satan will attempt to make you think differently. Blessings!!!