A Confident Faith that Overcomes

A Confident Faith that Overcomes

Series: 1 John – That You May Know
Text: 1 John 5:1–21
Main Idea: We can have great confidence in a great God who loves us, keeps us, and empowers us.

I. We Overcome the World Through Belief in Jesus

1 John 5:1

“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.”

• Belief precedes obedience and love.

• Romans 10:9–11 – Faith in Christ brings salvation and assurance.

• 1 John 5:2–3 – Loving God means obeying His commands, which are not burdensome.

• Romans 6:16–18 – We are slaves to what we obey—righteousness or sin.

• Matthew 22:37–40 – The two greatest commandments center on love.

• 1 John 2:15–17 – We are called to reject worldly desires and love God.

II. Our Faith in Christ Is Well-Founded

1 John 5:6–12

“And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”

• “Water and blood” refer to Jesus’ baptism and crucifixion.

• Matthew 3:16–17 – The Spirit testifies at Jesus' baptism.

• Acts 4:11–12 – Salvation is found in no one else but Jesus.

• Rejecting this testimony makes God out to be a liar.

III. We Can Confidently Know That We Are in Christ

1 John 5:13–15

“I write these things… that you may know that you have eternal life.”

• 1 Corinthians 15:53–58 – Death is swallowed up in victory.

• We pray boldly when our lives align with God’s will.

• 1 John 5:16–17 – We pray for fellow believers to turn from sin.

• Acts 5: Ananias and Sapphira – God takes sin seriously.

IV. Live Differently Because You Belong to God

1 John 5:18–21

“He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”

• We are protected by Christ.

• We do not keep on sinning.

• We must remain distinct from the world.