October 1, 2014
THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF PEOPLE: THOSE WHO OVERCOME AND THOSE WHO DON'T.
1 John 5:1–8
John Jarrett
Central Truth
"A very hell of corruption lies within the best saint; and if the grace of God did not restrain it, he would soon be found among the chief of sinners." --Charles Spurgeon
Key Verse | 1 John 5:4
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith. (1 John 5:4)
1 John 5:1–8
Overcoming the World
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Testimony Concerning the Son of God
6 This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.
Dive Deeper | 1 John 5:1–8
Have you ever found yourself wanting to be close to God? Or to have a flowing heart toward Him? We all want to feel at peace and to have His presence around us. We pray and constantly ask to be closer to Him. We ask Him to give us a hunger for His Word, etc. But we often feel discouragement when He doesn't answer our requests immediately. Have you ever realized that when you pray for these things, God's reply is often to reveal the sin in your heart? He reveals the hidden depravity of our hearts and the things He wants us to surrender. Yes, God's dealings with us can often be unexpected and produce the exact opposite of our requests.
We easily forget the true colors of our heart. We should be concerned if we ever reach a point in our spiritual lives in which we feel like we've got all our sin struggles under control. The prophet Isaiah says that our righteousness is like "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6, NIV).
So, how do we overcome this world? We overcome it by the perfect work of Jesus Christ on the cross. The truth is we are absolutely depraved, and we're doomed to be the chief of all sinners apart from the grace of God pursuing us. God is calling to you today. He's beckoning you to come and abide with Him. He wants to show you the grand and wondrous things He is doing. He can't get through to us if we hide our sin in shame. He wants you to own up to your sins and accept that you have nothing to contribute to Him. Confess to Him and confess openly before your brothers and sisters in Christ. And in that place of surrender, you'll begin to have ears to hear the still, small voice of our Savior, beckoning to you to come abide and be with Him. From this place of faith and surrender, God begins to kindle the desire to obey His commandments and expect His reward.
Discussion Questions
1. Which guilty pleasures or destructive habits are you holding onto that you believe aren't affecting anyone but yourself?
2. When's the last time you've truly felt God's presence and abided with Him?
3. Try to remember some of the factors surrounding a time of closeness with Him.
4. As God begins to make Himself known to you and kindles a fire in your heart for Him, learn to protect those embers. Don't leave them unprotected to be blown out by the busyness of life.