Lesson Digest for Sunday October 10, 2021

Unit Title – No Doubt: Six Things We Can Know For Sure

Lesson Title – Sure of Salvation

Central Truth – We can be sure God saves us when we trust in Christ.

Text – I John 5:1-5, 11-13, 18-21

This is the last lesson in the series of lessons from I John. Chapter 5 repeats many of the teachings from previous chapters. Repetition and summation remind the reader and help drive home the theme of I John – God loved us, so we should obey God and love others giving evidence of our faith in Christ. 



Recall from previous lessons that the claims of false teachers (antichrists) were that Jesus was less than fully divine or that He only appeared to have a body of flesh. He was neither fully divine nor fully human. Verse 1 clearly states that belief that Jesus is the Christ or Messiah is necessary to be born (again) of the Father. When we believe in Jesus and are reborn then we will naturally love God’s children. Verse 2 states that we love God’s children when we first love God and obey His commands. Loving others is a direct command spoken by Jesus in John 13:34 - we are to love one another as Christ has loved us. John moves on with this thought that we demonstrate or show evidence of our love for Him when we keep His commands.

Verses 3 and 4 address an objection we may hear from time to time from those who lack a mature understanding of the faith, even made by some who are in the family of faith. John writes that God’s commands are not burdensome. Jesus said in Matthew 11:30 that His “yoke is easy” and His “burden is light.” Our natural tendency in the flesh is to resist rules even when they are for our good. We see this as a restriction of our freedom rather than recognizing true and full freedom is found in Christ. Fortunately, our ability to keep the commands of God is from a source beyond ourselves. We have been given power by God to overcome temptation that would otherwise prevent obedience. This power is through faith which draws us from the old way of life into a new way as we become new creations and are no longer slaves to sin (See Romans 6). We have been rescued from darkness and are now children of light (I Thess. 5:5-6, Eph. 5:8-9, Col. 1:13). In verse 5 John writes the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God is the one who conquers the world. The powers of this world that oppose God are only temporary and have been overcome. Paul in Romans also wrote that in Christ we are more than conquerors and that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:37-39).

Verses 11-13 John’s “testimony” gives evidence and bears witness to the truth that eternal life is found in God’s Son. Eternal life speaks of everlasting life, but it also speaks of a quality of life we can experience in the here and now. Jesus said in John 10:10 that the thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy but He came so that we may have an abundant life. In verse 13 John sums up the reason for writing this letter. He is providing an assurance. The commentary writer puts it this way: “The truth that Jesus Christ completed the work of salvation inspired John to write about assurance. We can be sure God saves us when we trust in Christ” (BSFL Senior Adult Leader Guide, 75).

Chapter 5 ends with three “We know" statements. First, we know we will not continue in sin if we are saved. Second, we can know we are of God while the rest of the world is under the influence of the evil one. Third, we can know the Son of God has come and He has revealed to us how-to live-in truth.

In verses 18-21 we are led to the truth that we can know we are saved because our lives have changed. Earlier John wrote that those “who abide in Him” and who “are born of God” will not continue in a state of sin (3:6,9). The sin he most often addresses is failing to love or bearing ill will for a fellow believer.

The three “we knows” or truths found above reenforce what we have been learning now for several weeks:

·        As believers we have been rescued from the ways of the flesh.
·        We are born of the Spirit and as a result our attitudes and behaviors will be changed.
·        These outward changes are evidence of a heart that has been transformed.
·        We cannot always love others in our own strength.
·        We can only live a righteous life when we abide/remain in Christ and allow His love to be made complete in us.
·        We can be sure God saves us when we trust in Christ.

I hope you have found the past several weeks we have spent studying I John to be beneficial.

The next several lessons will examine various events from the life of Abraham and see how he walked confidently with God through uncertainty.

Thanks again for reading and blessings to you.

Chris Larsen
Rev Chris Larsen | Email Chris

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