Lake Region Bible Church | Sermons
OVERCOMING THE LOVELESSNESS OF THE WORLD AND LIVING WITH THE ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE (1Jn 5:1-13 * Message 11/14) 01-17-10
Review of 1 John 4:13-21 ● True love is Gospel-Centered: To say that the Gospel is about love is true, but incomplete. John addresses this issue in the reverse order. Love is defined, revealed, and experienced thru the Gospel, which itself is God-centered (revealing and proclaiming God’s being, God’s character, and God’s actions). ● Perfect love casts out fear: We fear the Lord in godly living, but as God’s children we do not fear the final judgment. Therefore, as God’s love transforms us and because we do not fear judgment, we are empowered and set free to love one another, which we will do if we truly believe. THE POWER IN OUR CHRIST-CENTERED FAITH 1. We live Victoriously in this Life (vs1-5) ● thru Faith in Jesus: He is the Christ and the Son of God (vs1&5) ● thru Spiritual Birth: which empowers us to Love God & others and to obey His commandments (vs1-3) ● by Overcoming the World: thru Spiritual Birth & Faith in Jesus. (vs4-5) 2. Summary Highlights of vs1-5: ● The God-centeredness of Love (1 John 4:7 – 5:5) We love ← (because) we are born of God and we know God: 1Jn 4:7 Some people do not love ← they do not know God: 1Jn 4:8 We know love ← God sent His Son and loved us: 1Jn 4:9-10 We love ← God abides in us/His love is perfected in us: 1Jn 4:11-13 We confess Jesus as Son of God ← God abides in us/we in Him: 1Jn 4:14f We love ← we abide in God & He first loved us: 1Jn 4:16-19 Some people hate ← they do not love God: 1Jn 4:20 We believe in Jesus as the Christ ← we are born of God: 1Jn 5:1 We love each other ← we love the Father/obey His commands: 1Jn 5:1-3 We overcome the world ← we are born of God: 1Jn 5:4 We overcome world ← we believe Jesus is the Son of God: 1Jn 5:5 ● We overcome the Lovelessness of the World thru Christ’s Victory. THE THEOLOGY OF CHRIST-CENTERED FAITH 1. We know the Truth about God (vs6-13) ● Jesus Christ is the God-Man who died on the Cross (vs6-8). ● God reveals Himself in the Person of Jesus Christ and by the Spirit (vs9-10). ● God’s Testimony assures us of our Eternal Life (vs11-13). 2. Summary Highlights of vs6-13: ● Be well-versed in Gospel-centered Christology. ● Live with the assurance of eternal life thru fellowship with Christ.