The Christian Life
Victory • Sermon • Submitted
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· 20 viewsThe Christian life is not necessarily an easy road, but it is the best! We are blessed with the Holy Spirit Who teaches us and gives us understanding. We experience and share the love of Christ as we reflect Him to those around us - saved and unsaved. We live our lives committed and devoted to Him - nothing and no one comes before Him!
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When a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ, He begins to make changes in our lives. He lovingly works His changes from the inside out. Sometimes, the changes that we experience are amazing and exciting! Sometimes, the changes are a little more difficult for us.
One of the hardest realizations for a new believer is that we still have the capacity to sin - even though we are saved. This can be discouraging to a new believer. I think of the apostle Paul (known as Saul at the time of his conversion) who was told right after his conversion that Jesus had chosen him to suffer many things for the name of Christ. Now, how would you have reacted if that was what we told you when you trusted Christ as your Savior?
“____________, you have been specially and specifically chosen by God to suffer persecution, affliction, and eventually death for your faith in Jesus Christ!”
That would not be exciting news for anyone. It was not surprising to Saul who had been a persecutor of Christians. He knew full well the possibilities that now faced him as a follower of Jesus Christ.
Peter, another follower of Jesus said,
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
1 Peter 4:12
Knowing the reality of cruel and even brutal spiritual and human opposition, Paul said to the believers in Colosse,
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
He also told his young protege, Timothy:
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
It is important for us also to remember,
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
but also, remember:
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Keep in mind
Ephesians 6:12
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
While we do not always understand exactly what God is doing or why He is allowing certain situations in our lives, we do have the Holy Spirit Who teaches us and strengthens us as we grow.
Throughout this first epistle that John wrote to the believers in his day, John speaks of three benefits and blessings we enjoy as believers: Light, Love, and Life. As we conclude our study of 1 John, we see a basic summary of these given to us in very practical applications so that we may live this life in the way that Christ has called us.
First, we see the
Light
Light
In the dark, we do not see nor understand what is happening around us. Many have grown so accustomed to the spiritual darkness they are in that they do not know the possibility of knowing and understanding what is real. Jesus has sent His Holy Spirit into this world to shine the Light of truth into our lives and show us the way to eternal life.
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
What a blessing to KNOW that we HAVE eternal life! When the Bible speaks of eternal life, It means that you have a relationship with Jesus Christ, and He has given you a place in Heaven with Him. You will receive it in its fullness when this life is over, but it is yours even now! It is a present possession!
If you cannot honestly say that you know that you have eternal life, You can know today.
The Bible says,
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
That simply means
God loves you even though you are a sinner.
God loves you even though you are a sinner.
for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Your sin has an ultimate consequence - Death.
Your sin has an ultimate consequence - Death.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sin.
Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sin.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
He offers you a gift - freedom from sin and eternal life.
He offers you a gift - freedom from sin and eternal life.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Receive that gift by trusting Him.
Receive that gift by trusting Him.
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
1 John 5
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
Love
Love
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
2 Corinthians
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Let all your things be done with charity.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter
Life
Life
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.