MPC 1st April 2007.April 1 - 1 John 5 - "Confidence in Truth"
Derek Hanna MPC 1st April 2007.
I don’t know if you watch Australian Idol or not – but it’s one of those shows that’s really hard to turn off. As a general rule I don’t have the time or inclination to watch it, but I do enjoy seeing the first few episodes.
And the first few episodes are those where you have thousands upon thousands of people lined up to have their chance at being the next Australian Idol. They queue up for hours just to spend 30 seconds in front of 3 judges who are brutally honest –bordering on cruel- with them. If they aren’t good, they have no hesitation in letting them know.
But I’ll tell you the reason I watch – it’s because I’m fascinated by the confidence of some of the people who often have absolutely no reason to be confident. They camp out overnight to get an audition, stride confidently into the room – but when they open their mouth you cringe. No tune, no pitch – all over the place. It’s a bit like a car crash – it’s a terrible thing, but you can’t look away. They are so confident, but you wonder why?
But alternatively, you get those people who come on and are tentative as can be. They’re intimidated by the lights and the cameras and the judges sitting behind their desk – but when they open their mouth, it’s glorious. For all their ability, they have such little confidence.
It’s a funny relationship isn’t it between reality and confidence. Often those with the greatest reason to be confident are hesitant and unsure, and often those with the least reason to be confident are cocky as can be.
Well let me ask you a question – in your life, are you confident of your standing before God? You may have been a Christian for many years, but you may still wonder and question where it is you stand in relation to God.
Is it cocky and arrogant for sinful people such as us to be confident before the God of the Universe? Well John would say that it is not only possible, it’s expected and desired that God’s people would be confident before Him.
Do you suffer with doubt about where you stand with God? Then take to heart John’s words.
And the first thing John says is that if you are a child of God, then you have overcome the world.
That is, if you are one of those people who genuinely believes that Jesus is God’s promised saviour for mankind – then he’s saying that you are born of God.
Have a look at Verse 1.
And how do you know you are born of God? Well, as John has been saying again and again in this letter, your belief is confirmed by what you do.
See half way through verses 1 onwards. That belief in Christ is really love for God. And those who love God whom you can’t see, John has just said in 4:19-21, must love their fellow believers who they do see. That is God’s command.
For John there is no distinction between believing in Christ, following God’s command and loving fellow believers – or anyone for that matter.
But these are things that John has spoken about before – that to believe in Christ is essential for fellowship with God. And that the reality of calling yourself a Christian is seen in what you do.
But what John really wants to get to, the thing he’s really chomping at the bit to say is that it is through belief in Christ that we overcome the world.
Have a look, he says it 3 times in a couple of verses.
V.4 – everyone born of God overcomes the world
V.4 – the victory that has overcome the world is our faith
V.5 – the ones who overcome the world are those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
So while we might see obedience to God as a hindrance, a rod on our backs, a means by which to make us feel guilty when we inevitably fall short – John sees it as a demonstration of the victory that we already have in Christ, and his work on the cross.
And while we’re going to experience the end result of that victory when we see God face to face, in the mean time, Christ’s victory is seen in the lives of his people on a daily basis.
One of my friends from college, prior to becoming a Christian was involved in some pretty shady dealings. He was involved in things which he is not proud of, and things which would have very quickly landed him in gaol.
But to see the transformation from where he used to be, to where he is now – a man changed by God, with a lovely Godly wife, a child who he’s seeking to raise to know and serve God, and a man who is serving in God’s Church – it’s not hard to look at him and see the victory that he has had over the world through Christ.
But it doesn’t have to be that dramatic. When, with the help of God’s Spirit that’s in you, you make the hard decisions in your life to honour God instead of yourself – you too are living out the victory of Christ.
When you choose to love those in the Church, supporting them when they are struggling, giving self-sacrificially of yourself – counter to what the world will tell you – it is then that you are living out Christ’s victory.
When you seek to be humble instead of over-bearing, gracious instead of arrogant, warm and loving instead of aloof and distant – it is then that you’re living Christ’s victory.
When you seek to hold on to the truth of Christ come in the flesh, as the Son of God to die for the sins of the world – even to the point of being ridiculed and mocked for your weakness and gullibility as the world would see it – it is then that you are living out Christ’s victory.
And that is the reason that John is so protective of the truth about Christ. And it’s the reason that he is so insistent on belief in Christ. Because it is this truth – and no other – that leads to victory over the world, and to eternal life.
Victory over the world comes through belief in Christ, and obedience to God.
And it’s not just John that is so insistent about establishing and believing the truth. John’s insistent about it because God himself is insistent about it.
God’s testimony says John in verses 6-12 is confirmation of the work and person of Christ as well as confirming our eternal life.
Now God’s testimony consists of three things John says: water, blood and Spirit.
Firstly, there’s water, which is a recollection of Jesus baptism.
So John recalls the incident where Jesus was baptised in the Jordan river and when he came out of the water a voice came from heaven – “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Mk 1:9-11).
Now I don’t know what the baptism’s you go to are like, but I’ve never seen that before. Now I think Sebastian my son is a perfect child, and so surely if ever there is going to be a voice from heaven saying that they are well pleased with someone, it would have been when he was baptised. But we waited and waited…and nothing. No voice from heaven.
But there was for Jesus. Confirmation from God that there was something very special about Him. That he was in fact God’s Son. That’s testimony 1.
Secondly, there’s blood, which is a reference to Jesus’ death. Now you don’t have to look very hard to find a reference to blood and to Jesus. But lots of people die, so what’s so special about His death then.
Well, there’s lots of ways you could answer that I suppose. How many people does the sun darken for when they die? How many people do gigantic curtains in temples rip for when they die? How many earthquakes are set off by people leaving this life? None that I’ve heard of. But for Jesus, all those things happened.
But the crux of the testimony is this – that Jesus did not stay dead. How do we know that what he spoke in life was true? Well the New Testament says that the confirmation is that God raised him from the dead, which proved he had God’s backing.
Thirdly, there’s the testimony of God’s Spirit in the world.
John has already said earlier in the letter that it’s God’s Spirit that confirms His testimony in our hearts (3:24; 4:13).
And this is what was promised by Jesus in John 15:26 – that the Spirit of God will be given to men to bear witness to Jesus.
Now that’s a little bit harder to see and measure isn’t it? How do I know that the Spirit is witnessing to anyone? Well, I think that John would say that God’s witness to the truth of Christ in this instance is the lives of his people in whom the Spirit exists.
And all these testimonies of God, John says, are the reasons we can be sure about what the truth is. It’s not just John reporting what he saw – he says in v.9 that this is also God’s testimony to the world – and who will ignore the testimony of the creator? Not those who seek eternal life.
Because those who believe in the Son agree with God’s testimony, but those who do not believe in Christ are walking on dangerous ground. Because they are denying the testimony of God John says in v.10.
You see, belief and acceptance of Christ is not just a matter of opinion – it’s a matter of whether you will call God a liar, or accept his testimony.
Because eternal life, is in Christ and no other. That is what God is saying. The truth is important, because only the truth will bring life. Not just any old truth, but God’s truth.
So John puts it as bluntly as he can for us. If John was living today, he would be labelled intolerant, arrogant, simplistic…but this is what he would say:
V.12 – If you have Jesus you have life. If you do not, you don’t and never will have life.
How’s that for offensive.
But John would reply that it is more offensive to ignore the testimony of the creator than it is to be blunt with those who are of the creation.
John wants to leave no margin for error in his closing chapter.
If you believe the truth, and believe in God’s Son then you will have life.
But if you persist in denying Christ, then you are calling God a liar whether you mean to or not, and you don’t have life.
Victory over the world can only come when we know and believe the truth. The truth as John has described it, and the truth that God has declared to the world in His Son and His Spirit.
But while many Christians will admit they believe in Christ, and they accept the testimony of God – there’s a nagging doubt in the back of their mind that maybe God has not accepted them.
You know what you’re like, and I know what I’m like. You might turn up to Church each week and go home feeling depressed because you hear another sermon where you have realised that you still don’t measure up, even after 5-10-20 years of being a Christian.
You feel guilty, inadequate, you doubt that you are saved…and you think that sooner or later God is going to give up on you.
Listen to what the Word of God has to say to you.
V.13 – I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.
It’s not just victory that comes through having the truth – it is confidence before God.
Knowing that you have the truth is the key to confidence.
There are those that are confident without having the truth – but their confidence is misplaced.
But there are those John is writing to who have the truth, and therefore confidence is expected and desired.
Just have a look to see the confidence that John thinks Christians can have.
John makes 3 big claims in v.13-15:
So note carefully here that John’s confidence in us approaching God has nothing to do with performance.
The promise of you being able to approach God; the promise of you being able to speak to God; the promise of him hearing and answering your prayers is not because you are spiritual – but because you have believed God’s testimony about his Son.
He says it again and again – confidence is based on the acknowledgement of God’s truth. Those who believe in the Son have life, but those who do not, don’t have life.
What other religion has a God that promises to listen to those he has made?
Every religion I know of has some kind of catch to it. Either God is interested in those people who are super-spiritual, he’s interested in those who carry out his rituals with perfect precision, he’s interested in those who have their sins absolved by a holy person or who’ve made some spiritual journey.
But our God is interested in those who acknowledge his truth. Those who acknowledge His Son.
And if you were wondering what to use your newfound confidence to do – wonder no longer, because John tells you. Pray for those who are being seduced by things that do not lead to life.
Having the ear of God does not mean that we build a list of the desires of our own heart and rattle them off to God each morning.
Our access to God is used for his purposes – to bring people back to Christ. So when you pray John says – pray for those who do not know or who are slipping away from the truth.
V.16 – Just as John has stated – when you approach God in prayer and pray for others – God hears and responds – and God will give them life.
The confusing question I suppose as you read these verses though is, “What is the sin that leads to death?”
Well, I’ll give you my quick theory, and you can come and chat to me afterwards about why I think that…
What I think John has an eye on, and what he has referred to in this letter already is those who would actively, wilfully create lies about God and about Jesus – for their own self-gain.
So John has already referred back in 1 Jn 2:22 about those liars who deny the Father and the Son and who John labels as the Anti-Christ.
These are the type of people that we have had down through the ages, and even in the present, who set themselves up with a new truth, a new way of understanding God, a new way of living life.
So an example I think would be someone like Joseph Smith, who started the Mormon sect. History tells us what his life was like – immoral. History shows us what his actions have done – lead initially a few, but over the years and into the present, millions astray and away from Christ and away from God. He is someone who I think John would say had the Spirit of the Anti-Christ.
Another example would be those cult figures you hear about who distort the truth of God for their own sexual gratification and self-importance. They set themselves up as having a special word from God – but it always seems to be that this special word from God entails them justifying child abuse. They are people John would say who have the Spirit of the Anti-Christ.
So the sin that leads to death I’m saying is that which intentionally and for the purposes of self-interest distort the truth and deny both God and his Son.
Now note that John doesn’t forbid praying for such people – he only says that he’s not speaking about such people. He’s speaking about those who are straying off course and being tempted by the world. It’s these people he encourages us to pray for.
John’s emphasis is on the fact that you have God’s ear, and therefore have a great privilege and opportunity for bringing things before the Almighty about those you love and care about. Have confidence that God will hear you, because you know that you are a child of God because you have believed his testimony.
And that’s how John finishes…that we know.
See there in v.18, v.19 and v.20.
V.18 – We know that those born of God don’t keep on sinning…
V.19 – We know that we are children of God…
V.20 – We know that Christ has come so that we may have the confidence in knowing and coming before God.
It is what John knows, not how he feels that gives him confidence of his standing before God.
And his conclusion is at the end of v.20 – we are in Him who is true, and in his Son Jesus Christ. God is truth and in Him alone is eternal life.
And I think there are 2 dangers with confidence…
The first is to be confident that you have eternal life and are right with God – and yet have no such thing.
It’s not hard to find people in this situation really, we’re surrounded by them in the world.
I remember going to a Mormon Church about 10 years ago, because I’d met some young mormon missionaries and we had an exchange program going – I’d go to their church if they came to my church.
These people were sincere, loving, friendly, welcoming and absolutely confident that they had good standing before God. The problem was their confidence was not based on truth, and so it would crumble when they came face to face with the living God.
Or again, it seems like we hear daily on the news of people in the middle east who think they know the will of God, and so blow themselves up for his glory.
What a shock they will get when they experience the wrath of God for the crimes they have committed.
Confidence needs to be founded on truth. Without truth, there can be no confidence.
But it is the second danger that I think is the situation that most Christians are in. That is that they have the truth, and yet have no confidence.
And it’s just this situation the great accuser, the devil, wants Christians to be in – but it’s exactly the opposite of what John expects his readers to feel like, but more importantly, what God desires of his people.
So when it is the accuser whispers in your ear, saying that you do not deserve to be right with God, that you are making the same mistakes again and again, that you are falling short of the mark that God expects of his people – then make sure you know the answer.
He is right in every respect. We fail again and again. We fall short of the mark. We are not the finished product…but the accusers trick is to only give you half the truth – and it is the most depressing half.
Because God’s truth is that Christ stands in your place before Him, so there is no accusation that can be levelled at you that can stand up. It’s like mud sliding off glass. Christ is our perfection, and Christ is our confidence. Those who have the Son have life.
So while you may feel like life as a Christian is an ongoing battle (which it is) – the truth is that you have overcome the world, because you are in Christ. That’s what Jesus himself says in the Gospel of John:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33)
It is believing the truth which gives eternal life, and it is knowing that you have the truth which gives confidence.
So do you suffer with doubt about where you stand before God?
Then this is the measure and the grounds for assurance. Do you believe God’s testimony about His Son?
If so, then know, with God’s blessing, that you are assured of eternal life, that you have God’s ear, and that he will answer you – for you are one of His children.
Keep yourselves from idols, from the deceptions of the world, and the lies of the devil who will tell you that you can not be right with God.
It is God’s truth that will save you, and in knowing that you have His truth that will give you confidence.