that you may know!! 1 John 5

2 Great Questions 1) How do you know that you are a Christian? 2) If you were to die tonight, where would you spend eternity?

John states his purpose I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31

That You May Know “Can some-one know that they are going to heaven?” “Yes… …No… …Yes… …No.”

That You May KNOW… my early testimony

What are the Facts? 1) v1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God… v 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 2) v 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

What “believing” is NOT!! NOT just intellectual assent James 2: In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

What “believing” is NOT!! It’s not Faith AND Works But Faith THAT Works!! Good works are not the means of salvation but the evidence of salvation

What “Belief” Is… 12 But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name— 13 Who owe their birth neither to bloods nor to the will of the flesh [that of physical impulse] nor to the will of man [that of a natural father], but to God. [They are born of God!] John 1:12,13 Amplified Bible

He who Has the Son and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life John 14:20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you

The Evidence of Real Faith 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, This is the reverse message from chapter 4!!

Whose Testimony Supports the Facts? Or Whose Word Are You Believing? 6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

Come by Water = ?? John 3:5,6 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. Water = breaking of the waters = flesh gives birth to flesh

Come by water = ?? John 19:34,35 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came (flowed) out. 35 And he who saw it (the eyewitness) gives this evidence, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he tells the truth, that you may believe also.

Come by water = ?? So, when Jesus told Nicodemus that he must “be born of water and the Spirit,” He was not referring to literal water (i.e. baptism or the amniotic fluid in the womb), but was referring to the need for spiritual cleansing or renewal. Throughout the Old Testament (Psalm 51:2,7; Ezekiel 36:25) and the New Testament (John 13:10; 15:3; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Hebrews 10:22), water is often used figuratively of spiritual cleansing or regeneration that is brought forth by the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, at the moment of salvation (Ephesians 5:26; Titus 3:5).Psalm 51:27Ezekiel 36:25John 13:1015:31 Corinthians 6:11Hebrews 10:22Ephesians 5:26Titus 3:5 Water and the Spirit stand for the cleansing and the strengthening power of Christ, which wipes out the past and gives victory in the future.”

God’s Testimony 9 We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.

God’s Testimony Heb 6: When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. See Genesis 22:16 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD….,

God’s Testimony Heb 6: People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

God’s Testimony Numbers 23:19 God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill it?

Ticket To Ride/ Enter Heaven? The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Rev 3:5 Invitation to the wedding banquet!

Pilgrim’s Progress

How does that make you Feel? 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God… (not fear or uncertainty like Esther) ….that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. (Salvation / eternal life is just the first of many gifts from our loving Father)

How does that make you Feel? 18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God (Jesus) keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them

How does that make you Feel? 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. Hosea 6:3 (NIV, KJV) Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. 3 Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD.