so we're going to put one John to bed hopefully he's going to be a friend for life and I think
John has some really important things to say to us as we conclude today but this week a lot of
very significant things happened particularly on Wednesday can anyone tell me one significant
thing that happened on Wednesday the queen the queen became the longest serving British monarch
although I discovered also that she's actually only the 49th longest reigning monarch of all time
pretty exciting there's a guy in Swaziland who ruled for 72 years 279 days so she's got some way to go
about 13 as it happens something else big happened on Wednesday
yeah no that wasn't what I was thinking I was thinking there was an Apple launch event
and we saw the biggest iPad launched the most powerful iPhone launched we saw that television
is going to totally be revolutionized and that the Apple watch is a an accessory that all of us
will be running our lives from very very soon something else big happened on Wednesday
it was the sixth anniversary of me becoming pastor of this church
which is a testimony to your patience and God's grace and I dare say sense of humor
it also this week was the 13th anniversary of me a boy born in the south of England moving to Scotland
it was this week in 2002 that I moved up to Aberdeen so not just Scotland but real real Scotland
and I have to say after 13 years I really like it
Aberdeen was cool literally Glasgow was fun Airdrie was interesting
and Edinburgh is proving quite exciting I like Scotland I even married a Scot that's how much of a fan
I am I thought I'd get one for myself but one thing I didn't get and I still don't get is the
question that Scottish people normally ask third when you meet them what is your name what do you do
and the third question where do you stay I don't understand what you mean by where do you stay
people used to ask me in Aberdeen where do you stay and I'd say things like no I live here permanently
or no I have a room in the hall of residence I don't stay I live I live here
where do you stay and actually as we've gone through 1 John we've seen that staying
remaining abiding keeping on has been a major theme in the book he's trying to say that you can have
real confidence that you're a real Christian if you stay in three places if you stay in the apostolic
gospel if you stay in the truth about Jesus passed down and relayed by the apostles to us if you stay
believing the right things about Jesus he says you can have confidence that you're a real Christian if on top
of that you stay obeying Jesus's commands and he says you can be really confident that you're really
a Christian if you stay loving the brothers and sisters if you stay in those three places
believing the right stuff about Jesus obeying what he says and loving his people you can be very confident
that you really do know God
so even here if you turn to 1 John chapter 5 you'll see in the first three verses they're all put together
everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God and everyone who loves the father loves his
child as well this is how that we know this is how we know that we love the children of God by loving God
and carrying out his commands in fact this is love for God to keep his commands and his commands are not
burdensome for everyone born of God overcomes the world you see they're all three there
believing that Jesus is the Christ obeying Jesus's commands which he says aren't burdensome
and particularly the command to love the brothers he says if you have these three markers you can be really
confident that you really know God but what he's going to go on to say is that if these are the three
things that mark that you're a Christian now is there any way that we can have certainty that that counts
for anything in the end can we have certainty about all the parts of Christianity that we can't see and we
don't necessarily experience the things that Jesus tells us that we have can we have certainty
about things like victory over the world can we have certainty that we really do have eternal life
can we have certainty that when we pray we're not just filling silence but God really hears us
and he really answers our prayers and so I think what John is doing at the end of his letter
he's saying to this group of believers that remain he's giving them confidence and says
no you really do know God those people that have left that have caused uncertainty they don't know
God you know God you're the real deal and then he's finishing with one great crescendo saying you can
actually have certainty that everything Jesus says that you have because of him you really do have
you can have real certainty so look with me at um 1 John chapter 5 verses 4b and 5
John writes this this is the victory that has overcome the world even our faith who is it that
overcomes the world only the one who believes that Jesus is the son of God what he's saying is that
faith in Jesus gives victory in the end the language of overcoming is throughout 1 John
he's constantly telling us that these people through faith have overcome the world so chapter 2 verse 13
I am writing to you fathers because you know him who is from the beginning I am writing to you young men
because you have overcome the evil one or chapter 4 verse 4 you dear children are from God
and have overcome them because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world
he talks about overcoming all the time and here he lays it absolutely explicitly down
this is the victory that overcomes the world what is the victory our faith our faith overcomes the world
our faith in Jesus gives us victory in the end it is faith in Jesus and only faith in Jesus that means
in the end we'll stand long after this world has passed away using John's language how do we know
that to be so well what he says in 6 to 10 is that that Jesus has shown us and God has testified
to it how do we know that's really true because God has told us and Jesus has shown us
so in verses 6 to 10 this is not easy but let me read it
this is the one who came through 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
for there are three that testify the spirit the water and the blood
and the three are in agreement
we accept human testimony but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God
which he has given about his son 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
interesting there are three that testify and they all agree
but John doesn't really tell us what they're testifying about and what they agree about
but I think he he really does help us he's trying to say that these three testify that Jesus is really the son of God
and that by believing in him we can overcome and are welcomed into his victory
so the fact that he came through water speaking about his baptism
and what happens at his baptism well there's really good testimony
from God himself when he says you are my son
whom I love with you I am well pleased
how do we know that Jesus is God's son because God told us
and he is the one who went through blood
he is the one who died on a cross
but that wasn't the end he went through it and raised to life
giving us evidence
giving us verifiable testimony
that he truly is all that he said he is
that he's truly done all that he said he's done
and then the spirit
the spirit in John's gospel is always testifying to who Jesus is
John 15
when the advocate the Holy Spirit comes
whom I will send to you from the Father
the spirit of truth who goes out from the Father
he will testify about me
spirit is the one constantly shining light on Jesus
and so how can we have confidence that we've overcome the world
through our faith in Jesus the son of God
how do we know that Jesus is the son of God
because at his baptism it was said to be so
through his death it was shown to be so
and by his spirit it's relayed to us
that this is the truth about Jesus
and so in verse 9
it talks about the judicial system of the day
where he needed two or three witnesses who agree
and then that was put in to corroborate evidence
and here John is saying these aren't human witnesses
who agree this is God himself testifying
to the truth of who his son is
John ramps up the logic that if we believe human testimony
how much more should we believe God's testimony
about who his son is
and the victory we've got because of who he is
and so he finishes
God is either telling the truth or God is a liar
and because God never lies we can have absolute confidence
because of his unfailing unchanging word
that through faith in his son we have victory
whoever believes in Jesus has victory over the world
whoever does not believe in Jesus does not have victory over the world
and has made God out to be a liar
faith in Jesus gives victory
but in the end
why is John having to say this to these troubled individuals
because they don't feel very victorious
they feel like a very small boat on a very big sea
and they look at the people that have left
and the gathering they have
and they look far more victorious
they look far more impressive
they look like winners
and actually in our own lives
we don't particularly feel like winners
nobody looked at all of us streaming into church this morning
and went there's a bunch of winners
they thought pity them
but that's the truth of faith isn't it
that it's the believing in things is yet unseen
but it's not faith in the dark
it's not mindless faith
it's not leave your brain at the door and come into church
it's actually believing that what Jesus has said about his son is true
and what God has shown us through his son is true
and therefore our faith will lead to victory in the end
the cross didn't look very victorious at all
and yet it's God's profound means of saving people
that they might be welcomed into his victory
so there was a Sunday school teacher
who started their lesson like this
class
what is grey and lives in trees
nobody answered
so the teacher said
it's got a bushy tail and it jumps between branches
still no one answered
the teacher said again
it collects nuts and hibernates in a dray during winter
to which point one boy tentatively put his hand up and goes
I know the answer is Jesus
but it sure sounds like you're talking about a squirrel
how do we ultimately know
that we have victory in the end because of Jesus
that's the answer
that God told us who he is
he showed us what he's done
and therefore we have victory in the end
and if we knew this with certainty
the certainty that John is trying to give us
what a relief
what a relief and what an encouragement to live life differently
that actually because I will win in the end through Jesus
I don't have to spend all my energy winning now
I don't need to get to the top
I can sink right to the bottom
and be a servant of all
I don't have to spend my life making myself look like a winner
because in Jesus I will win
and get that victor's crown
that he's won
and fought
and was victorious in for me
how can we be certain of victory in the end because of Jesus
point number two
faith in Jesus gives life now and forevermore
verse 11
and this is the testimony
God has given us eternal life
and this life is in his son
whoever has the son has life
whoever does not have the son does not have life
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
again see it revolves around what Jesus
what God has said about his son
I have given you eternal life
and this life
is in my son Jesus
he has given it to us
because he's given us his son
the two are inextricably linked
you cannot have eternal life without Jesus
Jesus has an absolute monopoly on eternal life
there's nowhere else you will find it except Jesus
verse 12 is binary isn't it
whoever has the son has life
whoever does not have the son does not have life
you plus faith in Jesus equals eternal life
you minus faith in Jesus does not equal eternal life
how do you know you have eternal life?
by continuing to believe
that Jesus is who he says he is
has done what he says he's done
and we are because of all that he's done for us
Jesus is the dividing line of eternal life
it separates all of humanity
it separates children from parents
siblings from each other
it separates couples
it separates neighbours
and it separates eternally
whoever has Jesus has life
whoever does not have Jesus does not have life
it is that stark and that serious
I've done a few funerals
in the last six months
all of them for really marvellous godly women
and every time I go to a funeral
do a funeral
I'm reminded of one thing
there is nothing more important than eternal life
if what John says is true
and John is saying what God says is true
then death is the terminus of all life
and Jesus is the only antidote to that death
those who have the son have life
those who do not have the son
do not have eternal life
but see this is not just pie in the sky
when you die
it is steak on the plate
well you wait
because see it's not
when you die
God will give you eternal life
it's not
if you have the son
you will have
eternal life
it's a reality for right now
whoever has the son
has life
has life now
John 17
and this is eternal life
that they know you
the only true God
and Jesus Christ
whom you have sent
that you experientially know God
that eternal life
is not just a
quantity of life
that goes on forever
it is a quality of life
lived in a relationship with God
as his adopted children
through the good news of Jesus Christ
who makes it all possible
living a life
in relationship with God
knowing his love
his forgiveness
his closeness
his care
his protection
as an adopted child
all by his grace
now and forever
and again
if we had certainty about that
how differently we would live
we would risk more
we would be a lot less anxious
if God
you really have taken care of eternity
I think I can trust you with tomorrow
I can even trust you
with that really difficult meeting
we would be far more generous
knowing that it's not about
what I make of my life
and accumulate for myself
in this life
because in Jesus
I've already got everything
and it would make us
far more bold
in our evangelism
if it is that stark
that those who have
the son have life
and those that don't have the son
do not have life
how can we be certain
we have eternal life
because God has said we do
and shown us that we do
in his son
and then lastly
verses 14 to 17
again this is not easy
but we will get it
or at least try
this is the confidence
we have in approaching God
that if we ask anything
according to his will
he hears us
and if we know
that he hears us
whatever we ask
we know that we have
what we asked of him
if you see any brother
or sister commit a sin
that does not lead to death
you should pray
and God will give them life
I refer to those
whose sin does not lead to death
there is a sin
that leads to death
I am not saying
that you should pray
about that
all wrongdoing is sin
and there is a sin
that does not lead to death
I read so many commentaries
this week
trying to work out
what that was saying
but again
John is basing his confidence
not on how he feels
not on what he sees
but on what God has said
and in the positive
he said great things
he says that
if we ask
according to his will
he hears and answers
what a great encouragement
to pray
that if we his children
ask
and our request
is in accordance
with his will
then he hears
and he answers
I don't know
if you're ever like me
that you pray
and you pray
and God answers
and what an encouragement
it is
because you think
I just spoke
to God
I am so small
so insignificant
I am one of over
six billion people
in the world
and God heard
what I said
and he answered
if we ask
and our request
is in accordance
with his will
he answers
but the question
behind the question
how do we know
if it's in accordance
with God's will
that's what we all
want to know
and the beautiful thing
is that God
has told us
this week
I went through
quite a lot
of my Bible
looking up
all the prayers
that God promises
to answer
and instructs us
to pray
here's a list
God wants us
to pray
that he would be
glorified above
all things
he tells us
to pray for wisdom
when we don't have any
he tells us
to pray for our enemies
he tells us
to pray to the
Lord of the harvest
for more laborers
he tells us
to pray for governments
and authorities
he prays
he tells us
to pray
that people
would know
him better
he tells us
to pray
for healing
when we see
sickness and illness
he tells us
to pray
for opportunities
to witness
to pray
for boldness
in witness
to pray
for right
motivations
in service
for strength
and persecution
that we would
not fall
into temptation
he tells us
to pray
that people
would be
conformed
to his image
more
he tells us
to pray
with thanksgiving
he tells us
to pray
for greater faith
for more
fruitfulness
and to come
to him
for grace
in times
of need
and there
are countless
countless
others
that God
has told us
what his will
is
and he says
if you pray
in accordance
to what I've
revealed
I will hear
and I will
answer
what a
privilege
we've got a
week of prayer
starting a week
on Monday
and an opportunity
for all of us
together
to pray
together
in accordance
with God's
will
trusting that
he can do
impossible things
in our lives
in our church
amongst our
friends
in our city
in our world
that was an
encouragement
to pray
if that wasn't
an encouragement
to pray
I don't know
what
will
now this whole
sin that leads
to death
thing
here's my
take on it
and I think
it's right
but we can
chat at the
door afterwards
and fight
if we need
to
he then
gives us
a worked
example
he says
if you see
a brother
or sister
commit a sin
you should
pray
and I will
give them
life
if you see
a brother
or sister
sin
you should
pray
and I will
give them
life
a sin
that doesn't
lead to
death
a sin
that can
be forgiven
what is
the only
sin
that cannot
be forgiven
it is
apostasy
it is
rejecting
the truth
about Jesus
which is
the only
means by
which we
can be
forgiven
so
if we
see a
brother
or sister
commit a
sin
we can
pray for
them
and it is
according to
God's will
that he will
forgive them
and give
them life
the only
prayer that's
not worth
praying is
for somebody
who's rejected
Jesus
because they've
forsaken
the only
means by
which they
can be
forgiven
the forgiveness
is in
Jesus
and if
they've
rejected
Jesus
there's
no hope
of
forgiveness
there's
lots of
other
things we
can pray
for them
that God
would open
their eyes
to the
gospel
that he
would bring
them to
faith in
the Lord
Jesus
that he
would surround
them with
Christians
that he
would bring
dissatisfaction
to their
life so
like the
prodigal son
they would
turn around
and come
to him
but forgiveness
is only
available in
Jesus
so if we
see a
brother or
sister
sin
who knows
and loves
the Lord
Jesus
we can pray
and they
will be
forgiven
I've never
really thought
of this
before
of praying
for forgiveness
for others
but I think
Jesus gives us
an example
as he's nailed
to a cross
father forgive
them
for they do
not know
what they do
Job at the
beginning of
the story
gives sacrifices
and praise
for forgiveness
for his
children in
case they
might have
sinned
what a thing
it would be
as if we
saw people
stumble and
fall and we
prayed for
them instead
of saying
oh do you
know what I
saw them
do
you'll never
guess what
they've gone
and done
now but we
prayed
and took it
to the Lord
sin that leads
to death
the sin of
apostasy
but anything
else let's
pray for each
other that
God would
forgive
what John
has been
telling us
in this part
of the letter
he's giving
us real
certainty about
things even
though they're
unseen
certain of
victory that
we have in
Jesus
certain we
have eternal
life through
Jesus
and certainty
we can come
before God
because of
Jesus
because God
has said it
and he
always tells
the truth
I'll tell you
a true story
of Jimmy
James
what he was
born he's
remarkably
unremarkable
true story
he lived in
Kokodi
he didn't
finish school
and he lived
at home until
he was 40
years old
he was a
very small
man
the only job
he ever had
was to be a
street cleaner
in Kokodi
which if you've
ever been to
Kokodi is a
really big job
he lived at
home with his
mum but
when he was
40 his mum
died and
his world
fell apart
and in fact
he took to
drink and
became homeless
on the streets
of Edinburgh
his life started
falling apart
dramatically
until one day
he was met
by a street
team from
YWAM
who gave him
time
who gave him
attention
who shared
the gospel
of the Lord
Jesus with
him and
he was
wonderfully
converted
following that
he started
putting his
life back
together
slowly
although
until the
day he
died
he never
kicked
the drink
eventually
he was
rehoused
back in
Kokodi
and as my
friend Neil
was doing
visitation
around the
local area
of Kokodi
Free Church
they knocked
on Jimmy's
house
and he said
he believed
in Jesus
but he'd
never been
to church
he'd never
been discipled
and so
he started
attending
Kokodi
and he was
pretty rough
and pretty
small
he didn't
really speak
by this
point
he more
just grunted
and yet
he was
loved
by them
a few
years
after attending
Kokodi
Free Church
he was
diagnosed
with terminal
throat
and mouth
cancer
and Neil
went to see
him the day
after the
diagnosis
and said
Jimmy
how do you
feel
the other
side of
that
diagnosis
and Jimmy
in his
own way
said
I am a
conqueror
I'm in
Jesus'
hands
he attended
church
all the time
until he
finally died
of cancer
in fact
he was at
church
the day
before he
died
and as the
cancer
grew and
took hold
of his
life
he could
no longer
speak
at all
and so
all people
would say
to him
is Jimmy
how are
you
and he
would just
do this
I'm a
conqueror
I'm in
Jesus'
hands
here's the
truth
you looked
at Jimmy
you did
not think
he was
a conqueror
you thought
he had
absolutely
nothing
to be
confident
about
but the
reason that
he had
certainty
that he
was a
conqueror
and that
his life
was in
Jesus'
hands
because he
believed
what God
had said
and what
God had
shown
in his
son
Jesus
Christ
1 John
is written
to give
us real
confidence
and it
gives us
real confidence
that what
God says
God means
what Jesus
has done
is for
us
and we
can have
absolute
certainty
about all
of these
things
and live
life
differently
through our
faith
in Jesus
there's some
interesting bits
at the end
of that
chapter
we can always
speak about
them at the
door
if you're
interested
let's
pray
father help
those who
know you
to trust
you
live for
you
and have
certainty
about all
they have
in your
son
that they
really do
have victory
that they
do really
have life
that they
have access
to you
and confidence
before you
father God
help those
who don't
know you
father may
they meet
you
know you
trust your
son and
receive from
him everything
that you've
said you've
done and
everything that
you know you've
done because
you've said it
and you always
tell the truth
father we pray
this in Jesus
name
amen
he
i
10
know you
good
22
VO
you