Faith Matters (11 of 12)
Series: Living in the Light
Keith Krell
1 John 5:1-13
Do you have a birthmark? (If so, don't say where!) A birthmark is an unusual and typically permanent brown or red mark on someone's body from birth. About one in every three infants has a birthmark. Twice as many girls as boys have birthmarks. For some, it's something to hide. For others, it's a cute little thing. Scientists explain a variety of reasons these marks appear, but there still seems to be some mystery around it. Whether you like your mark or not, most will apparently see their birthmark fade between age five and ten.
While not every person has a birthmark, every Christian has two spiritual birthmarks. These won't be related to skin pigmentation or blood vessels. Instead, these are truths that mark one is born again. Physical birthmarks may fade over time, but spiritual birthmarks will continue to identify those in Christ as God's children.
In 1 John 5:1-13 we'll study two spiritual birthmarks: victory and assurance. While not every believer will manifest these birthmarks consistently or to the same degree, they are readily available to every believer. In this section John imparts two important truths.
1. Victory is found in Christ (5:1-5). John begins our passage with these very important words: ''Whoever [or ''Everyone''] believes that Jesus is the Christ is [has been] born of God'' (5:1a). This is one of the clearest statements in Scripture of what is required for a person to have a relationship with God. We must believe that Jesus of Nazareth is ''the Christ'' (i.e., the Anointed One whom God promised to provide as a substitute sacrifice for the sins of the world). To believe that Jesus is the Christ means that you entrust your eternal destiny and your right standing before God not to anything in yourself, but entirely to Jesus' death on the cross for your sins. If your faith rests completely upon the person and work of Christ, John states that you're ...
Series: Living in the Light
Keith Krell
1 John 5:1-13
Do you have a birthmark? (If so, don't say where!) A birthmark is an unusual and typically permanent brown or red mark on someone's body from birth. About one in every three infants has a birthmark. Twice as many girls as boys have birthmarks. For some, it's something to hide. For others, it's a cute little thing. Scientists explain a variety of reasons these marks appear, but there still seems to be some mystery around it. Whether you like your mark or not, most will apparently see their birthmark fade between age five and ten.
While not every person has a birthmark, every Christian has two spiritual birthmarks. These won't be related to skin pigmentation or blood vessels. Instead, these are truths that mark one is born again. Physical birthmarks may fade over time, but spiritual birthmarks will continue to identify those in Christ as God's children.
In 1 John 5:1-13 we'll study two spiritual birthmarks: victory and assurance. While not every believer will manifest these birthmarks consistently or to the same degree, they are readily available to every believer. In this section John imparts two important truths.
1. Victory is found in Christ (5:1-5). John begins our passage with these very important words: ''Whoever [or ''Everyone''] believes that Jesus is the Christ is [has been] born of God'' (5:1a). This is one of the clearest statements in Scripture of what is required for a person to have a relationship with God. We must believe that Jesus of Nazareth is ''the Christ'' (i.e., the Anointed One whom God promised to provide as a substitute sacrifice for the sins of the world). To believe that Jesus is the Christ means that you entrust your eternal destiny and your right standing before God not to anything in yourself, but entirely to Jesus' death on the cross for your sins. If your faith rests completely upon the person and work of Christ, John states that you're ...
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