September 9, 2007

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 Scripture KJV

Reverend David S. Huffer

Westwood Baptist Church - 2124 Davis Road
 Waynesboro, VA

1 John
5:1    Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
5:2    By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
5:3    For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
5:4    For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5:5    Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

 

God Is Life: The Overcoming Life

1 John 5:1-5

 

Purpose Statement: Live in the Assurance and Confidence of Christ’s Victory

 

Problems, trials, hard times, and tribulations are all part of the life we know.

·           How do we gain the victory over such times and circumstances?

 

STORY – Perhaps we are like “The Little Engine That Could” as it was faced with what looked like an insurmountable task of delivering the toys and other good things to the children on the other side of the mountain.

·           The little engine had never been to the other side of the mountain and had only been used as a switch engine.

·           It had never attempted such a feat as going up the mountain with a load of cargo to pull.

·           But nevertheless the “Little Engine” wanted to try.

·           And as it began its journey, it said “I think I can – I think I can – I think I can”

·           Puff, puff, chug, chug went the Little Blue Engine

·           Up, Up, Up it went. Faster, Faster, and Faster the little engine climbed, until at last it had reached the top of the mountain.

·           And the Little Blue Engine smiled and seemed to say as it puffed steadily down the mountain, “I Thought I could – I thought I could – I Thought I could.”

 

FRIENDS – Is the Christian life one of positive thinking, mind-over matter thinking of “I think I can” and when all is said and done you can boast “I thought I could – I thought I could”?

 

The Christian life has always – and WILL ALWAYS – be predicated on, not the assumption of self and what I can do, but on:

  1. The Assurance of believing in Christ
  2. The Confidence place in the work of Christ
  3. The Victory obtained by Christ

It is the assurance and confidence in Christ that leads us to victory through Christ.

It is Christ who allows the children of God to overcome the mountains of adversity that are faced in this life.

 

John writes to us about this “Overcoming Life” we have in Christ – 1 John 5:1-5

 

OVERCOME WITH ASSURANCE – V.1

Assurance = freedom from doubt; certainty. A statement or indication that inspires confidence

A. Assured By Belief

What do you believe?

·           What you believe impacts your life

Jesus often explored the thoughts and intents of those following Him.

·           In one of those moments of exploration Jesus asks His disciples – those learning to walk as He walked – Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?

·           The answers were all based upon what this one or that one’s assumption of who they thought Christ was.

·           Jesus seeing a moment of greater exploration digs deeper by asking: “But who do you say that I am?”

FRIENDS – WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ABOUT JESUS?

What you believe about Jesus does impact your life now – not just eternity!

·           Is He born of God as divine – or merely birthed by man?

·           Is He eternal with God – or mortal like you and me?

·           Is He God in the flesh – or masquerading to be God?

·           Is He Savior of men’s souls – or one who could not save Himself?

·           Is He Lord to be followed – or a lunatic to be laughed at?

Matthew16:16 – “Simon Peter answered and said: “You are Christ, the Son of the living God!”

 

IS THAT WHAT YOU BELIEVE THIS MORNING?

·           If that is what you believe this morning – then believe that is what will impact your life.

·           In Galatians 2:20 we see the impact of Jesus in the life and words of the apostle Paul: “I have been crucified with Christ; It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

FRIENDS – Be assured by your belief.

·           Gain victory over the pressure and problems of this life by belief in Jesus Christ.

OVERCOME WITH CONFIDENCE – V.2-3

Confidence = a trust or faith in a person or thing; a feeling of assurance; a trusting relationship

Assurance leads to Confidence – our trusting relationship with God through Jesus Christ and to the family of God

 

A. Confident in Knowledge

·           “By this” – refers to our identifying marks of believing in Jesus Christ and loving God’s children

·           The “we know” refers to an understanding and affirmation of who we are to love – children of God – that leads us to love God and Keep His Word

FRIENDS - Confidence comes from knowing who we know

·           2 Timothy 1:12 – “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”

The assurance that we are children of God gives us the confidence to love and obey Him.

B. Confident in Keeping The Burden

The Burden:

·           Keep watch over what we do for Christ and why we do for Christ

FRIENDS – It is the pressures of life that can make God’s commandments look burdensome

·           It is the immature Christian who considers the demands of the Bible to be burdensome

·           Mary Maye Thompson said: “Pleasing God and keeping God’s commands cannot be measured statistically.”

BURDENS COME WHEN WE LOSE FOCUS!

 

The Burden Carrier

It is God’s work in us – the new birth – begotten of God – born-again – that helps us keep God’s commands

·           As God gives us the command – He also enables us to keep the command

·           Our love for God makes keeping the commands easy

Genesis 29:20 – “Jacob worked for 7 years to gain the woman he loved (Rachael) – and it seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.”

FRIENDS – God’s commands are not demands to be imposed upon us as slaves – but as children obeying their Father.

·           We have the confidence we are no longer afraid of the will of God.

With the assurance of belief and the confidence of our relationship with God – we can move on to the victory in Christ.

 

OVERCOME WITH VICTORY – V. 4-5

Victory = defeat of an enemy or opponent; success in a struggle against difficulties or an obstacle; the state of having triumph.

 

John identifies those who will “overcome” – it is those who are born –again of God in confession and belief in Jesus Christ.

·           John is not describing an “Olympic” style of elitist Christian

·           But rather he uses “overcomes” as the name of the true Christian

FRIENDS – Our overcoming is because we are born of God!

 

A. Victory In Defeat

The victory we have and hold is not in the defeat of ourselves – but in Christ defeating the world – its power over us – by overcoming it.

·           John 16:33 – “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.”

 

The state of victory is not within ourselves – but in the One we call Savior and follow as Lord – Christ Himself is our victory!

·           1 Corinthians 15:57-58 – “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

FRIENDS – With the Victor living within us – we can stand strong and go on with the work of victory!

·           The victory in Christ is not merely a lingering memory that holds significance in the past

·           But it is  present with continual action in our lives

·           The battle continues as the world strives to overcome – as it strives to get the victory over us

·           But through Christ we have victory each day!

·           2 Corinthians 2:14 – “Now thanks be to God who leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”

Christ is our victory! Let us place our faith in Him.

 

B. Victory In Faith

Living the victorious life is a “faith” issue.

·           Our faith is to be placed – located – in the finished work of the Son of God – Jesus Christ

Faith plays an important role in the “Overcoming Life”

1. Romans 1:17 – “The Just shall live by faith”

2. Romans 5:1 – “We are justified by faith”

3. Romans 5:2 – “We have access into grace by faith”

4. 2 Corinthians 5:7 – “We walk by faith not by sight”

5. Hebrews 11:3 – “By faith we understand”

 

FRIENDS – Faith is not simply “agreeing” what God says is true – faith is “acting” on what God says because it is true!

·           Phil.4:13 - “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

CLOSE

It is the Life within you that makes the difference.

·           It is He who wins

·           It is He who overcomes

Your victory is your dependence on HIS activity in you.

 

In the mystic of “Notre Dame” football and the heritage of victory past:

·           as the team leaves the locker room they are encouraged to “take the victory out with them today”

·           In doing so – as they leave there is a sign that each player touches that states: “Play Like A Champion Today”

 

Play like a champion today – in the Assurance and Confidence of the Victory in Christ!        AMEN!

 

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