Living Like Overcomers

1 A FRIEND OF MINE WAS LEAVING CHURCH SERVICE ONE SUNDAY MORNING • HE GOES TO THIS AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL CHURCH IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON • THIS CHURCH HAPPENS TO BE AN AREA OF TOWN • THAT HAS BEEN OVERRUN BY THE HIP COOL YOUNG PEOPLE • AS HE WAS STANDING AT THE STREET WAITING TO CROSS • ONE OF THE HIP COOL PEOPLE STEPPED UP BESIDE HIM • THE YOUNG MAN ASKED MY FRIEND • SO, DO YOU GO TO THAT CHURCH POINTING AT THE BEAUTIFUL CHURCH • MY FRIEND REPLIED THAT YES HE DID GO TO THAT CHURCH • AND THE HIP COOL YOUNG MAN SAID • WITH A RATHER ARROGANT EXPRESSION ON HIS FACE • I DON’T GO TO CHURCH, IT’S FULL OF HYPOCRITES • AS THE LIGHT CHANGED AND MY FRIEND STARTED TO WALK ACROSS THE STREET • HE RESPONDED TO THE YOUNG MAN • IT’S NOT FULL, WE’VE GOT ROOM FOR ONE MORE. • A HYPOCRITE IS SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT WALK LIKE THEY TALK • THEY SAY ONE THING AND ACT A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WAY • AS CHRISTIANS, IF WE SAY WE LOVE GOD • THEN WE NEED TO WALK LIKE WE LOVE GOD • WE NEED TO UNCONDITIONALLY, SACRIFICIALLY SERVE AND CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER • BECAUSE IF WE DON’T, WE’VE JUST PROVEN THAT HIP YOUNG MAN RIGHT • TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT JOHN • TELLING HIS READERS TO WALK LIKE THEY TALK • TO NOT BE HYPOCRITES • TURN TO 1 JOHN 5:1 • JOHN HAD JUST TOLD THEM THAT THE GOAL OF GODS • LOVE IS ACHIEVED IN US WHEN WE ABIDE IN HIS LOVE • HE HAD TOLD THEM THEY COULD HAVE CONFIDENCE • IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT WHEN THEY ABIDE IN LOVE • HE HAD TOLD THEM THEY WERE COMMANDED TO LOVE • GOD AND TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER • NOW HE WILL TELL THEM THEY ARE CHILDREN OF GOD • AND THEY SHOULD LIVE LIKE CHILDREN OF GOD BY LOVING ONE ANOTHER 1 JOHN 5:1–3 WHOEVER BELIEVES THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST IS BORN OF GOD, AND WHOEVER LOVES THE FATHER LOVES THE CHILD BORN OF HIM. BY THIS WE KNOW THAT WE LOVE THE CHILDREN OF GOD, WHEN WE LOVE GOD AND OBSERVE HIS COMMANDMENTS. FOR THIS IS THE LOVE OF GOD, THAT WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS; AND HIS COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT BURDENSOME. THE GOSPEL IN ONE PHRASE • OVER 150 TIMES THE BIBLE SAYS THAT SALVATION IS BY FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE • THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES • JOHN JUST TOLD HIS READERS THE GOSPEL IN ONE PHRASE • WHOEVER BELIEVES THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST IS BORN OF GOD, • JOHN IS EXPLAINING THIS FOR A VERY SPECIFIC PURPOSE • HE HAD JUST TOLD THEM TO LOVE THEIR FELLOW CHRISTIANS • SO NOW HE IS MAKING IT CLEAR WHO THEIR FELLOW CHRISTIANS ARE • OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST ARE ANYONE ANYWHERE • IN THE WORLD WHO HAS BELIEVED THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST • NOT JUST THE FOLKS IN OUR CHURCH • NOT JUST THE FOLKS IN OUR DENOMINATION • NOT JUST THE FOLKS WHO LIVE LIKE WE THINK THEY SHOULD • OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST ARE ANYONE ANYWHERE • WHO HAS BELIEVED THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST • THE DEVOUT BAPTIST MAN WHO REFUSES • TO ASSOCIATE, LET ALONE LOVE • THE CATHOLIC OR THE METHODIST OR THE PENTECOSTAL • NEEDS TO ASK ONE QUESTION • HAS THIS INDIVIDUAL TRUSTED, BELIEVED THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST • THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD • DO THEY UNDERSTAND THEY ARE SINNERS • AND THAT CHRIST DIED TO PAY FOR THEIR SINS • NOT WHAT DOES THEIR DENOMINATION BELIEVE • BUT WHAT HAS THIS PARTICULAR PERSON BELIEVED • IF THEY HAVE BELIEVED THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD • THEN THEY ARE OUR BROTHER OR SISTER IN CHRIST • AND WE SHOULD LOVE, SERVE, CARE FOR THEM • LIKE ANY OTHER BROTHER OR SISTER IN CHRIST • WE SHOULD DO SO BECAUSE WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD AND SO ARE THEY • JOHN IS NOT CALLING US TO LOVE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST • BECAUSE THEY ARE SO AWESOME • OR BECAUSE THEY DESERVE IT • OR BECAUSE THEY AGREE WITH US • HE IS TELLING US TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER • BECAUSE WE LOVE GOD • AND WHOEVER LOVES THE FATHER LOVES THE CHILD BORN OF HIM. • GOD LOVES THEM SO MUCH HE CAME AND DIED TO PAY FOR THEIR SINS • TO NOT LOVE THEM IS TO DISAGREE WITH GOD WHO DOES LOVES THEM • WHEN WE FAIL TO LOVE SOMEONE, WHO HAS BELIEVED THAT JESUS THE CHRIST • IN SOME SENSE COULD IT BE THAT WE ARE ARGUING • THAT CHRIST WAS WRONG TO COME AND DIE FOR THAT PERSON • WHEN WE DO LOVE THEM, EVEN IF WE DON’T AGREE WITH THEM • WE ARE AGREEING WITH GOD WHO LOVES THEM AS HIS CHILDREN • GOD’S LOVE FOR THEM IS MORE IMPORTANT • THAN OUR OPINION OF THEM (PAUSE) • AND THIS IDEA OF LOVING ONE ANOTHER IS PART OF LOVING GOD • JOHN HAD TOLD THEM BACK IN CHAPTER FOUR • THAT IF THEY LOVED ONE ANOTHER THEY COULD KNOW THEY LOVED GOD • NOW HE SAYS • BY THIS WE KNOW THAT WE LOVE THE CHILDREN OF GOD, WHEN WE LOVE GOD AND OBSERVE HIS COMMANDMENTS. • JOHN IS SAYING THESE TWO THINGS ARE INTERCONNECTED • WE KNOW WE LOVE GOD WHEN WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER • AND WE KNOW WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER WHEN WE LOVE GOD • AND OBEY HIS COMMANDS • LOVING GOD AND LOVING THOSE WHO HAVE TRUSTED IN CHRIST • ARE CONNECTED LINKED, EACH ONE REINFORCES • STRENGTHENS THE OTHER • THE MORE WE LOVE GOD THE MORE WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER • THE MORE WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER THE MORE WE LOVE GOD • JESUS HIMSELF LINKED THESE TWO COMMANDS WHEN HE WAS ASKED • WHICH WAS THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT IN THE BOOK OF MATTHEW MATTHEW 22:37–40 AND HE SAID TO HIM, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ “THIS IS THE GREAT AND FOREMOST COMMANDMENT. “THE SECOND IS LIKE IT, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ “ON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS DEPEND THE WHOLE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.” • LOVING GOD AND LOVING ONE ANOTHER ARE TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN • JOHN THEN DEFINES WHAT IT MEANS TO LOVE GOD • FOR THIS IS THE LOVE OF GOD, THAT WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS; • KEEPING MEANS MORE THAN JUST OBEYING • IT MEANS TO GUARD, TO LOVE GOD’S COMMANDMENTS • AND ONE OF HIS COMMANDMENTS IS TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER • AND JOHN TELLS THEM SOMETHING IMPORTANT • ABOUT GOD’S COMMANDMENTS, HE SAYS • AND HIS COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT BURDENSOME. • THIS WORD BURDENSOME IS AN INTERESTING WORD • IT LITERALLY MEANS HEAVY, OR HARD TO CARRY • BUT IN JOHN’S DAY IT HAD COME TO MEAN • DIFFICULT, COMPLEX, HARD TO DEAL WITH • WHEN JOHN WRITES THAT GOD’S COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT BURDENSOME • HE MAY HAVE IN MIND WHAT JESUS HAD SAID IN MATTHEW 11:30 “FOR MY YOKE IS EASY AND MY BURDEN IS LIGHT.” • THE COMMAND TO LOVE GOD AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER • IS NOT A COMPLEX COMMAND • IT IS NOT A CONFUSING COMMAND TO FOLLOW • SOMETIMES IT MAY FEEL DIFFICULT OR CHALLENGING TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER • BUT THAT IS JUST OUR EGO GETTING IN THE WAY OF GOD’S LOVE EVERY SINGLE SPRING LIKE CLOCKWORK • I WOULD GET AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE COUNTY • THAT MY PROPERTY TAXES HAD GONE UP • THEY WOULD TELL ME THAT I COULD COME IN • AND CONTEST THIS RAISING OF MY PROPERTY TAXES • BUT I KNEW WHAT THAT WAS GOING TO BE LIKE, • I HAD DONE ALMOST EVERY YEAR MORE THAN 2 DECADES • SHOW UP BRIGHTEN EARLY WAIT IN LINE OUTSIDE • WHEN THE DOORS OPENED COME INSIDE • WITH THREE OR FOUR HUNDRED OTHER PEOPLE • AND WAIT FOR HOURS AND HOURS • THEN THEY TAKE INTO A LITTLE ROOM SHOW • YOU THEM YOUR PICTURES FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK, • GO THROUGH ALL THE RED TAPE, • AND THEY WOULD LOWER YOUR PROPERTY TAXES. • I KNEW THEY WOULD LOWER THEM, THEY KNEW THEY WOULD LOWER THEM, • THEY LOWERED THEM EVERY TIME. • AND YET IT WAS THIS BURDENSOME TIRESOME, • UNNECESSARILY COMPLEX PROCESS. • WE CAN BE SO THANKFUL THAT GOD’S COMMANDS • ARE NOT AS BURDENSOME TIRESOME • NOT AS COMPLEX HAS THE RED TAPE BUREAUCRACY • INVOLVED IN GETTING YOUR PROPERTY TAXES LOWERED • IT IS RATHER SIMPLE, RATHER STRAIGHT FORWARD • WE ARE TO UNCONDITIONALLY, SACRIFICIALLY, CARE • FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BELIEVED THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST • AND YET, WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO DO THIS THROUGH OUR FAITH IN CHRIST 1 JOHN 5:4–5 FOR WHATEVER IS BORN OF GOD OVERCOMES THE WORLD; AND THIS IS THE VICTORY THAT HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD—OUR FAITH. WHO IS THE ONE WHO OVERCOMES THE WORLD, BUT HE WHO BELIEVES THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD? VICTORY IN SALVATION • JOHN TOLD THEM THAT EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES • THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST IS BORN OF GOD • AND NOW HE SAYS • FOR WHATEVER IS BORN OF GOD OVERCOMES THE WORLD; • WHEN JOHN SAYS OVERCOMES THE WORLD • HE USES A WORD THAT MEANS WE ARE VICTORIOUS • AND THE WAY HE WRITES IT MEANS WE ARE CONTINUALLY VICTORIOUS • EVERY DAY WE ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING THE VICTORY • JOHN PLACES THIS RIGHT AFTER TELL US • GOD’S COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT BURDENSOME • HE IS TELLING US WHY GOD’S COMMANDMENT • TO LOVE GOD AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER IS NOT A BURDEN • IS NOT TIRESOME, IT IS NOT BURDENSOME • BECAUSE WE ARE CONSTANTLY VICTORIOUS OVER THE WORLD • THIS VICTORY ENABLES US TO LOVE GOD AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER (PAUSE) • IF WE KNOW WE HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD • LOVING GOD AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER BECOMES MUCH EASIER • BUT TO MAKE SURE THIS VICTORY DOES NOT GO TO OUR HEADS • JOHN TELLS US IT IS A VICTORY BY FAITH • WE DO NOT OVERCOME BY OUR WITS • WE DO NOT OVER COME BY OUR STRENGTH • WE DO NOT OVER COME BY LUCK • JOHN SAYS • AND THIS IS THE VICTORY THAT HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD— OUR FAITH. • OUR FAITH IS THE MECHANISM, • THE MEANS BY WHICH WE TAKE PART IN OVERCOMING THE WORLD • TO HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD MEANS TO NO LONGER BE A SLAVE TO SIN • PRIOR TO FAITH WE WERE OWNED BY THE WORLD • WE WERE SLAVES TO SIN, NOT SINNING WAS NOT AN OPTION • BUT NOW THROUGH FAITH WE HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD • WE NOW HAVE THE OPTION TO CHOOSE TO OBEY GOD’S COMMANDS EPHESIANS 2:8–9 FOR BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD; NOT AS A RESULT OF WORKS, SO THAT NO ONE MAY BOAST. • THIS VICTORY, THIS OVERCOMING OF THE WORLD • IS THROUGH FAITH, BUT NOT JUST ANY FAITH • IT IS ONLY THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS, IT IS A VICTORY IN JESUS • THE FALSE TEACHERS HAD TOLD THESE PEOPLE • THAT YOU OVERCAME THE WORLD WITH THEIR SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE • THAT YOU HAD TO KNOW THE STUFF THAT ONLY THE FALSE TEACHERS KNEW • THAT YOU HAD TO LOVE ACCORDING TO THE RULES OF THE FALSE TEACHERS • BUT JOHN SAYS • WHO IS THE ONE WHO OVERCOMES THE WORLD, BUT HE WHO BELIEVES THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD? • IT IS OUR FAITH IN CHRIST, OUR BELIEF THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD • THAT GIVES US ACCESS TO OVERCOMING THE WORLD • IT IS THIS BELIEF THAT GOD CAME IN THE FORM OF A MAN • LIVED A SINLESS LIFE, DIED ON THE CROSS TO PAY FOR OUR SINS • ROSE AGAIN AFTER THREE DAYS ASCENDED TO HEAVEN AND HE IS COMING BACK • FAITH IN THESE THINGS IS WHAT ALLOWS US TO BE PART OF CHRIST’S VICTORY SO, SOME FELLA IS STRUGGLING WITH AN ADDICTION • FIGHTING EVERY DAY TO NOT GET HIGH • HE FEELS LIKE THIS IS A FIGHT HE CANNOT WIN • BUT THE BIBLE ASSURES HIM THAT IF HE HAS TRUSTED IN CHRIST • IF HE BELIEVES THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SAVIOR • HE HAS ALREADY OVER COME THE WORLD • UNDERSTANDING THIS VICTORY OVER THE WORLD IS HARD • WE CERTAINLY DO NOT FEEL LIKE WE HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD • SOMETIMES WE FEEL LIKE THE WORLD JUST RAN US OVER • BUT THIS VICTORY IS REAL IT IS SOMETHING WE CAN EXPERIENCE • EVERY DAY, DAY AFTER DAY, WHEN WE LEAN ON GOD • MORE AND MORE AND LISTEN TO THE WORLD LESS AND LESS…… • KNOWING WHO IT IS WE HAVE BELIEVED IN • CAN HELP THIS VICTORY TO BE MORE REAL TO US 1 JOHN 5:6–8 THIS IS THE ONE WHO CAME BY WATER AND BLOOD, JESUS CHRIST; NOT WITH THE WATER ONLY, BUT WITH THE WATER AND WITH THE BLOOD. IT IS THE SPIRIT WHO TESTIFIES, BECAUSE THE SPIRIT IS THE TRUTH. FOR THERE ARE THREE THAT TESTIFY: THE SPIRIT AND THE WATER AND THE BLOOD; AND THE THREE ARE IN AGREEMENT. KNOW WHO WE HAVE BELIEVED IN • THE FALSE TEACHERS HAD NEVER MET JESUS • THEY HAD ALL KINDA STRANGE IDEAS ABOUT HIM • JESUS JUST APPEARED TO BE HUMAN • HE DID NOT BECOME THE CHRIST UNTIL HIS BAPTISM • THE PART THAT WAS GOD LEFT BEFORE HE WAS CRUCIFIED • THE POINT OF THIS LETTER IS TO CORRECT THESE FALSE TEACHERS • SO JOHN SAYS; • THIS IS THE ONE WHO CAME BY WATER AND BLOOD, JESUS CHRIST; • WHEN IT SAYS THE ONE WHO CAME BY WATER THAT IS HIS BAPTISM • AND NOTICE IT WAS JESUS THE CHRIST WHO CAME BY BAPTISM • HE WAS ALREADY THE CHRIST THE SAVIOR WHEN HE CAME BY BAPTISM • AND HE WAS THE CHRIST WHEN HE CAME BY BLOOD AS WELL • JOHN MAKES THAT VERY CLEAR WHEN HE SAYS • NOT WITH THE WATER ONLY, BUT WITH THE WATER AND WITH THE BLOOD. • THE BLOOD IS TALKING ABOUT HIS CRUCIFIXION • HE WAS FULLY CHRIST THE SAVIOR AS HE DIED ON THE CROSS • BOTH OF THESE EVENTS, HIS BAPTISM AND HIS CRUCIFIXION PROVIDE • TESTIMONY, PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF WHO IT IS WE HAVE BELIEVED IN • AT HIS BAPTISM THE HOLY SPIRIT DESCENDED AS A DOVE AND THEN IT SAYS MATTHEW 3:17 AND BEHOLD, A VOICE OUT OF THE HEAVENS SAID, “THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL-PLEASED.” • AND AT HIS CRUCIFIXION THE SKY WENT DARK, THE VEIL IN THE TEMPLE WAS TORN • THE DEAD CAME OUT OF THEIR TOMBS • THIS IS WHO WE HAVE BELIEVED IN JESUS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD • BUT IT IS NOT JUST HIS BAPTISM AND HIS DEATH WHICH TESTIFY ABOUT HIM • JOHN TELLS US • IT IS THE SPIRIT WHO TESTIFIES, BECAUSE THE SPIRIT IS THE TRUTH. FOR THERE ARE THREE THAT TESTIFY: THE SPIRIT AND THE WATER AND THE BLOOD; AND THE THREE ARE IN AGREEMENT • I JUST DON’T HAVE TIME TO TELL YOU • ALL THE WAYS THAT THE SPIRIT TESTIFIES ABOUT CHRIST • SO, I WILL FOCUS ON TWO • FIRST, THE SPIRIT TESTIFIED ABOUT THE COMING OF CHRIST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT • THE SPIRIT IS THE ONE WHO INSPIRED THOSE WHO WROTE • THE HUNDREDS OF PROPHECIES ABOUT THE CHRIST • WHERE HE WOULD BE BORN, WHEN HE WOULD BE BORN, • HOW HE WOULD BE REJECTED, HOW HE WOULD SUFFER AND DIE • AND IN THIS WAY THE SPIRIT TESTIFIES ABOUT JESUS AS THE CHRIST • SECOND, THE SPIRIT TESTIFIED THAT JESUS WAS THE CHRIST • IN THE MIRACLES HE DID AS HE WALKED THIS EARTH • I COULD GO ON ABOUT HOW THE SPIRIT TESTIFIES ABOUT CHRIST • IN THE TRANSFORMED LIVES OF EVERY BELIEVER • OR HOW THE SPIRIT TESTIFIED ABOUT CHRIST IN THE ACT OF THE RESURRECTION • OR HOW THE SPIRIT TESTIFIES ABOUT CHRIST WHEN IT CONVICTS SINNERS…… • IT IS THROUGH HIS BAPTISM, HIS LIFE, • HIS MIRACLES, HIS DEATH BURIAL AND RESURRECTION • THAT WE COME TO KNOW WHO IT IS WE HAVE BELIEVED IN • AND WHEN REALLY UNDERSTAND WHO WE HAVE BELIEVED IN • WE CAN LIVE AS THOSE WHO HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD • WHO ARE VICTORIOUS OVER SIN DAILY • AND THIS IS HOW WE CAN OBEY GOD’S COMMAND TO • LOVE GOD AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER • THIS IS HOW WE WALK THE WAY WE TALK, HOW WE AVOID BEING HYPOCRITES. THAT YOUNG MAN • WHO DID NOT GO TO CHURCH BECAUSE • IT WAS FULLY OF HYPOCRITES IS NOT UNIQUE • IN SURVEYS ABOUT WHY THEY DO NOT GO TO CHURCH • MANY PEOPLE RESPOND WITH THIS ANSWER • MUCH OF THE WORLD VIEWS CHRISTIANS AS HYPOCRITES • THEY HEAR US SAY ONE THING AND THEN SEE US DO SOMETHING ELSE • ONE OF THE KEY AREAS THEY SEE THIS HAPPEN IN • IS HOW WE TREAT ONE ANOTHER • WE SAY WE LOVE GOD AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER • BUT THEN WE SAY, OR DO SOMETHING • OR DON’T SAY OR DON’T DO SOMETHING • AND THEY SEE US NOT LOVING ONE ANOTHER • AND SADLY THIS AFFECTS THEIR VIEW OF CHURCH • OF RELIGION AND MANY TIMES OF GOD • ANYONE WHO HAS BELIEVED THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST • IS A CHILD OF GOD • AND GOD HAS CALLED US TO UNCONDITIONALLY, SACRIFICIALLY CARE, SERVE THEM • NOT JUST THE FOLKS IN OUR CHURCH • NOT JUST THE ONES WE LIKE • NOT JUST THE ONES WHO LIVE LIKE WE THINK THEY SHOULD LIVE…. • PART OF LOVING GOD IS LOVING ALL HIS CHILDREN • NOT JUST THE ONES THAT ARE EASY TO LOVE • WE CAN DO THIS, WE CAN LOVE ONE ANOTHER • BECAUSE WE HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD • BY FAITH IN JESUS…. • THE ONE WHO CAME BY WATER AND BLOOD • AND THE TESTIMONY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT • A TESTIMONY THAT SAYS HE CAME IN THE FORM OF A MAN…. 93