September 15, 2019

1 John 5:13-21

1. We talked about 5 certainties that John gives to the Christian. The first is found in 1 John 5:13 & is eternal life. One of the most interesting parts of this verse is that it says that this is a present possession of the Christian… “that you have eternal life…” What’s the difference between believing that eternal life is given & received versus believing that eternal life is achieved & awarded?

2. Pastor Nate also applied this verse to say that this is why we read our mission statement weekly…to be reminded that people need to hear the good news of the gospel as they won’t experience eternal life apart from Christ. What does it look like for us to be urgent or intentional in our relationships in order to share the good news of the gospel?

3. The next certainty is found in 1 John 5:14-15 & is answered prayer. It was said that to pray “according to his will” is to pray in the power of the Spirit of God, in the name of the Son of God, according to the Word of God, for the glory of God. Which of these elements of prayer as described is most often overlooked in our prayer lives?

4. Pastor Nate then went to 1 John 5:16-17. Pastor Nate acknowledged that there are several plausible explanations for these verses…but landed on exhorting us to not gossip or slander a fellow believer in sin, but to pray fervently for them. Why is gossip or slander such a temptation for us?

5. The third certainty is victory over sin as seen in 1 John 5:18. This theme is seen throughout 1 John…look at 1 John 2:3-4. Why is it important to remind believers over & over again that in light of the person & work of Jesus Christ, they are no longer characterized by sin?

6. The fourth certainty is in 1 John 5:19 & is permanent belonging to God. This belonging is because of the redemption found in Christ. Pastor Nate said, “Once bought by the blood of Christ, there are none who are returned by God.” How does this verse & this truth of belonging give security & confidence to us as believers in Christ?

7. The final certainty is a knowledge of reality or the truth as found in 1 John 5:20. This is a big statement by John: true understanding is only found in Christ in order to know Christ. How does this statement give us compassion & concern for the world at large?

8. The final challenge by John is found in 1 John 5:21 concerning idols. Idols were defined as anything we love, enjoy, & pursue more than Christ…and they crush Christian certainty. What are some of the idols in our own lives or in our own context?