WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:05.339 If you would open up your Bibles to 1 John chapter 5, we're going to be in the first 00:00:05.339 --> 00:00:06.759 five verses. 00:00:08.800 --> 00:00:12.040 We are in the last push of 1 John. 00:00:12.140 --> 00:00:19.900 We'll be wrapping up in the third Sunday of March, just in time for Passion Week. 00:00:22.039 --> 00:00:25.699 But let me read to you 1 John 5, 1 through 5. 00:00:25.699 --> 00:00:28.740 This is the very words of God. 00:00:30.440 --> 00:00:37.140 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. 00:00:38.019 --> 00:00:46.200 And everyone who loves the Father, literally loves the begetter, loves whoever has been 00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:48.439 born of Him, who's been begotten of Him. 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:55.820 By this we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey His commandments. 00:00:55.820 --> 00:01:01.980 For this is the love of God that we keep His commandments and His commandments are not 00:01:01.980 --> 00:01:02.780 burdensome. 00:01:03.520 --> 00:01:07.000 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. 00:01:07.099 --> 00:01:10.219 And this is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith. 00:01:10.719 --> 00:01:18.200 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 00:01:18.200 --> 00:01:22.000 May God bless the reading of His Word and the hearing of His Word. 00:01:24.159 --> 00:01:29.920 Are you overcoming the world or is the world overcoming you? 00:01:29.920 --> 00:01:35.359 Have you heard of the word worldliness before? 00:01:36.980 --> 00:01:40.579 Worldliness gets used in some Christian circles in a variety of different ways. 00:01:40.719 --> 00:01:43.540 Basically, it means when a Christian becomes like the world. 00:01:43.640 --> 00:01:48.820 It doesn't, she doesn't stand out from the world but blends into the world. 00:01:48.819 --> 00:01:54.759 And oftentimes, depending on Christian circles, worldliness gets talked about in terms of the 00:01:54.759 --> 00:01:59.500 TV shows you watch or the movies you watch or the kinds of clothes that you wear or the 00:01:59.500 --> 00:02:04.819 kinds of clothes you don't wear or the music you listen to or where you come down on drinking 00:02:04.819 --> 00:02:05.319 alcohol. 00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:10.500 Now, we've got to be wise, faith-filled in discerning with all these issues. 00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:13.519 We don't want to blend in. 00:02:14.340 --> 00:02:15.840 We want to stand out for Jesus. 00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:20.400 We don't want to kind of deny what we're free to enjoy. 00:02:20.780 --> 00:02:22.240 We've got to exercise discretion. 00:02:22.860 --> 00:02:31.860 But in 1 John, worldliness isn't so much a matter of whether you watch this show or not. 00:02:32.640 --> 00:02:35.560 Worldliness is what you think about Jesus. 00:02:36.939 --> 00:02:38.640 Do you have a diminished view of Him? 00:02:39.240 --> 00:02:40.199 Do you deny Him? 00:02:40.199 --> 00:02:47.299 In 1 John, worldliness is not loving the brothers. 00:02:48.919 --> 00:02:54.459 In 1 John, worldliness is thinking that God's commandments are burdensome. 00:02:55.039 --> 00:02:55.839 That's worldliness. 00:02:58.539 --> 00:03:05.099 Bruce Springsteen, who's been in the press recently, he sang a song, 00:03:05.579 --> 00:03:07.319 Baby, we were born to run. 00:03:07.419 --> 00:03:08.179 You know what I'm talking about? 00:03:08.180 --> 00:03:17.020 This morning, I want to convince you, Christian, baby, you were born to overcome. 00:03:18.640 --> 00:03:23.680 So here's the main claim of 1 John 5, 1 through 5. 00:03:24.500 --> 00:03:27.540 God birthed you, Christian. 00:03:27.539 --> 00:03:31.840 God birthed you to live for Him, not for the world. 00:03:32.939 --> 00:03:34.400 God birthed you. 00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:39.019 He brought spiritual life to you as an act of His sovereign grace. 00:03:39.659 --> 00:03:42.419 God birthed you to live for Him, not for the world. 00:03:43.019 --> 00:03:45.419 Baby, you were born to overcome. 00:03:45.419 --> 00:03:52.659 So these five verses is actually an argument that John is making, inspired by the Holy Spirit, 00:03:53.019 --> 00:03:57.899 to convince you that you, birth of God, live for Him, not for the world. 00:03:58.419 --> 00:04:04.599 And so John makes this argument in two moves, verses 1 through 3 and verses 4 through 5. 00:04:04.639 --> 00:04:05.839 So I've got two points. 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:09.479 And so I'm going to walk you through these two points. 00:04:09.580 --> 00:04:14.860 Now, I am so glad many of our middle school students are in this room right now. 00:04:15.060 --> 00:04:18.019 I want to help you keep track of this sermon. 00:04:18.180 --> 00:04:19.639 So there are two points. 00:04:19.740 --> 00:04:22.740 I've just given you the claim right here. 00:04:22.920 --> 00:04:25.579 If you want to jot that down, you'll be able to track with me. 00:04:25.939 --> 00:04:28.780 I'm going to tell you what the first point is in just a second. 00:04:28.779 --> 00:04:32.219 And about 15, 16 minutes in, I'm going to give you the second point. 00:04:32.799 --> 00:04:36.319 Underneath the first point, I'm going to help you see a couple things. 00:04:36.659 --> 00:04:38.199 And the same with the second point as well. 00:04:39.059 --> 00:04:40.959 So now, the first point. 00:04:44.159 --> 00:04:47.619 You were born by God to live for God. 00:04:48.219 --> 00:04:49.859 We see this in verses 1 through 3. 00:04:50.419 --> 00:04:53.279 We were born by God to live for God. 00:04:53.559 --> 00:04:57.819 And what you see in verses 1 through 3 is a cause and effect relationship. 00:04:57.819 --> 00:05:00.339 So if you're taking notes, here's what you do right now. 00:05:00.680 --> 00:05:04.459 You write cause under that first main point. 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:07.779 And then you write down halfway in that space, effect. 00:05:08.439 --> 00:05:09.800 And now I'm going to explain those to you. 00:05:10.939 --> 00:05:11.899 Cause and effect. 00:05:13.459 --> 00:05:18.819 There is this phrase repeated in 1 John 5, 1 through 5. 00:05:19.560 --> 00:05:22.120 It's the phrase, has been born of God. 00:05:22.579 --> 00:05:23.719 We see it in 5.1. 00:05:23.720 --> 00:05:29.760 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, has been begotten by God. 00:05:30.300 --> 00:05:31.200 And it continues. 00:05:31.380 --> 00:05:37.640 And everyone who loves the Father, loves whoever has been born of Him, has been begotten of God. 00:05:37.800 --> 00:05:39.040 And then look at verse 4. 00:05:39.480 --> 00:05:44.400 For everyone who's been born of God overcomes the world. 00:05:44.399 --> 00:05:52.739 And so this phrase, has been born of God, is getting at the cause of our spiritual life. 00:05:53.799 --> 00:05:55.620 Our spiritual birth. 00:05:56.039 --> 00:05:58.179 Every human being gets born once. 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:02.359 And for those of us who've come to believe in Jesus, we're born twice. 00:06:03.819 --> 00:06:05.959 The second is a spiritual birth. 00:06:05.959 --> 00:06:13.659 God is the one who gives spiritual life. 00:06:14.379 --> 00:06:18.339 He is the cause of our second birth. 00:06:19.479 --> 00:06:26.679 Now, if you looked at 1 John, you will see this theme of having been born of God woven through the book. 00:06:26.799 --> 00:06:27.899 You see it in 2.29. 00:06:28.399 --> 00:06:30.279 It shows up twice in 3.9. 00:06:30.659 --> 00:06:32.259 It shows up again in 4.7. 00:06:32.259 --> 00:06:34.699 It shows up three times in our passage for today. 00:06:34.860 --> 00:06:36.439 And it wraps up in 5.18. 00:06:36.860 --> 00:06:41.599 And what it is, is that language, that verb has been born of God. 00:06:41.699 --> 00:06:43.139 It's called a divine passive. 00:06:44.060 --> 00:06:45.620 This is God's act. 00:06:46.899 --> 00:06:50.740 It's God who has given us spiritual life. 00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:55.240 And the theological word for that is to regenerate. 00:06:56.199 --> 00:06:56.759 Regeneration. 00:06:57.300 --> 00:06:58.579 That's the second birth. 00:06:58.579 --> 00:07:03.519 God is the one who gives us spiritual life. 00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:11.360 Now, if you flip back to the Gospel of John, the same guy that wrote 1 John wrote the Gospel of John. 00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:17.639 In John 1, verse 12 and 13, we read this. 00:07:17.639 --> 00:07:27.259 But to all who did receive Him, Jesus, who believe in His name, He, God the Father, gave the right to become children of God, 00:07:27.379 --> 00:07:34.740 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 00:07:36.279 --> 00:07:42.699 And so what we see John saying is, those who believe in Jesus were actually born of God beforehand. 00:07:42.699 --> 00:07:47.620 God gave them spiritual birth in order to believe. 00:07:48.839 --> 00:07:56.459 So when we read that phrase, have been born of God, you need to realize that the cause of our spiritual life is God alone. 00:07:56.599 --> 00:07:58.860 We don't cause our own spiritual birth. 00:07:59.480 --> 00:08:00.300 God alone does. 00:08:01.599 --> 00:08:03.740 But I also told you there's an effect. 00:08:05.139 --> 00:08:07.379 There's a cause, and then there's an effect. 00:08:07.379 --> 00:08:17.180 And the effect of being born of God is to live out the spiritual life that He has started. 00:08:18.839 --> 00:08:24.659 Now, we are experiencing in our church right now a mini baby boom. 00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:27.420 We saw a little bit last week. 00:08:27.579 --> 00:08:30.879 We dedicated Hattie Hitzman and Naomi Wertz. 00:08:31.159 --> 00:08:35.279 Marnie Valentine came on the scene a few months ago, and we got another Nye baby on the way. 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:42.139 When these children are born, that's not the final move. 00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:44.720 That's just the start. 00:08:46.100 --> 00:08:49.319 When babies are born, they are born to live. 00:08:50.839 --> 00:08:52.799 And babies show signs of life. 00:08:53.240 --> 00:08:56.579 They eat, they sleep, they cry, repeat. 00:08:57.639 --> 00:09:00.379 They eat, they sleep, they cry, repeat. 00:09:01.839 --> 00:09:02.839 Signs of life. 00:09:02.840 --> 00:09:05.519 It's similar to what God does in our lives. 00:09:05.740 --> 00:09:11.820 See, God, the Father, He births us in this miraculous work of the Holy Spirit called regeneration. 00:09:12.780 --> 00:09:20.660 And then there are these signs of Christian life that soon follow, that evidence what God has done in us. 00:09:22.280 --> 00:09:26.860 In 1 John 5, 1 through 3, we see all three of them. 00:09:26.860 --> 00:09:32.000 And what you need to understand is the signs of life, they're a package deal. 00:09:32.379 --> 00:09:35.259 It's not just one of the three, it's all three. 00:09:37.820 --> 00:09:44.860 John shows us the evidence of being born of God, and it shows up in a life that is being transformed. 00:09:45.200 --> 00:09:52.740 So these are three essential transforming effects of being born of God. 00:09:53.000 --> 00:09:54.000 It's going to happen. 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:56.700 The first one is this. 00:09:57.639 --> 00:10:01.240 If you've been born of God, you will believe in Jesus. 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:05.500 Look at verse 1. 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:13.960 Everyone who believes, that's a present tense verb, that Jesus is the Christ, has been born of God. 00:10:14.059 --> 00:10:15.039 That's a perfect tense. 00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:18.059 It's happened in the past with present effects. 00:10:18.059 --> 00:10:23.859 So the idea here is you're born of God, and one of the results is that you believe in Jesus. 00:10:24.319 --> 00:10:26.539 And so the belief isn't just a general belief. 00:10:26.619 --> 00:10:27.459 Yeah, I believe. 00:10:28.259 --> 00:10:40.859 It's a belief in Jesus, who is the Christ, verse 1, and verse 5, who's also the Son of God, who, chapter 4, verse 2, came into flesh. 00:10:40.860 --> 00:10:46.019 This past week, I dropped into King's Place on Wednesday. 00:10:46.620 --> 00:10:53.600 I wanted to see our intern deliver the goods to the volunteers and children at King's Place. 00:10:53.600 --> 00:11:04.100 And I got there just in time for Jasmine Aldrich to lead this wonderful group of people in the singing of Totally God, Totally Man, a song by Bob Coughlin. 00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:09.860 And what it's talking about is this beautiful doctrine of who Jesus is. 00:11:10.920 --> 00:11:11.779 Listen to this. 00:11:12.920 --> 00:11:16.060 The song starts off, Jesus, he's fully God and fully man. 00:11:16.139 --> 00:11:17.879 That's really hard to understand, so let me explain. 00:11:17.879 --> 00:11:26.519 Verse 1, Jesus, his word upholds the galaxies, but he babbled like a baby in his mother's arms. 00:11:27.139 --> 00:11:28.480 Totally God, totally man. 00:11:30.200 --> 00:11:34.039 Jesus understands the universe, but he had to go to school to learn how to write his name. 00:11:35.700 --> 00:11:36.840 Totally God, totally man. 00:11:37.320 --> 00:11:42.080 Verse 2, Jesus walked upon the ocean blue, but his feet got tired and dirty too on the dusty roads. 00:11:42.080 --> 00:11:48.820 Jesus cried when his friend Lazarus died, but his power brought him back to life when he called his name. 00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:49.860 Chorus. 00:11:50.780 --> 00:11:52.540 He's totally God and totally man. 00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:57.240 Both in one, he's the great I am. 00:11:57.920 --> 00:12:01.720 To save the world, fulfill God's plan, he had to be totally God, totally man. 00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:11.340 When the Spirit of God births you, you will believe Jesus is totally God, totally man. 00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:17.680 It's a lovely, lovely truth essential to salvation. 00:12:17.680 --> 00:12:29.620 And so if you're hearing me right, you're hearing me say, we are so sinful that God had to do an initial work of giving us spiritual life so that we would believe in Jesus. 00:12:30.020 --> 00:12:31.100 That's how sinful we were. 00:12:33.259 --> 00:12:37.940 What mercy and grace, what love of our great God, that he would do that for us. 00:12:37.980 --> 00:12:39.140 That's the first sign. 00:12:39.139 --> 00:12:43.379 That's the first sign that we've been born of God. 00:12:43.460 --> 00:12:45.159 The second sign is love. 00:12:46.699 --> 00:12:51.019 The word love shows up five times in verses 1 through 3. 00:12:51.019 --> 00:13:00.220 Those who have been spiritually born by God, the result is a transformed life of love. 00:13:01.939 --> 00:13:03.039 Love for God. 00:13:03.500 --> 00:13:04.879 See that in verses 1, 2, and 3. 00:13:05.419 --> 00:13:06.720 And love for one another. 00:13:06.840 --> 00:13:08.899 We see that in verse 1 and verse 2. 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:11.740 Love, of course, is a major theme throughout 1 John. 00:13:13.179 --> 00:13:14.500 It's not an option. 00:13:15.059 --> 00:13:15.879 It's essential. 00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:20.080 God's love for us puts the must in our love for one another. 00:13:20.439 --> 00:13:22.000 Remember the sequence of 419. 00:13:22.460 --> 00:13:25.080 We love because God first loved us. 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:26.860 He took the initiative. 00:13:28.200 --> 00:13:34.179 This is an essential transformative effect of being born of God. 00:13:34.379 --> 00:13:37.259 Not only will you believe in Jesus, you will love like Jesus. 00:13:37.259 --> 00:13:42.220 Now look at verse 2, because verse 2 strikes me a little curious. 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:44.960 Did it do that to you? 00:13:46.939 --> 00:13:51.460 By this we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments. 00:13:51.819 --> 00:13:55.580 Does that, anybody else think that's kind of like, kind of sounds kind of backwards. 00:13:55.580 --> 00:14:01.960 Like, I would think he would have said, by this we know that we love God and obey his commandments 00:14:01.960 --> 00:14:04.179 when we love the children of God. 00:14:04.980 --> 00:14:05.240 Hmm. 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:06.559 What's going on here? 00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:09.139 Well, the answer is simple. 00:14:10.200 --> 00:14:11.539 This is a package deal. 00:14:12.819 --> 00:14:14.039 It's not sequential. 00:14:15.460 --> 00:14:16.580 God loves us. 00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:19.399 He births us by the Spirit. 00:14:20.220 --> 00:14:24.819 And as a result, we will obey Jesus or believe in Jesus. 00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:27.740 We will love like Jesus and we will obey all of his commands. 00:14:28.539 --> 00:14:29.480 It's a package deal. 00:14:30.019 --> 00:14:35.379 No one is born of God and just believes in Jesus and doesn't love and obey his commandments. 00:14:35.379 --> 00:14:35.819 Okay. 00:14:37.259 --> 00:14:46.720 Anyone who's born of God will believe in who Jesus is, love those who belong to Jesus, and obey his commandments. 00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:47.939 It's a package deal. 00:14:47.940 --> 00:14:53.980 And this is no kind of like, rub your back kind of love all the time. 00:14:53.980 --> 00:14:55.320 Look at 316. 00:14:55.320 --> 00:15:02.240 By this we know love, that Jesus laid down his life for us and we ought to lay our lives down for the brothers. 00:15:03.880 --> 00:15:06.920 Ours is a gritty, sacrificial love. 00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:15.819 So we are called here to love any blood-bought believer of Jesus. 00:15:15.820 --> 00:15:22.980 But especially those gathering together and calling Christ the King Church their home. 00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:24.980 We love one another. 00:15:25.100 --> 00:15:26.440 We must love one another. 00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:27.440 Regardless of one another. 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:28.900 Regardless of one's mental health. 00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:33.480 Regardless of one's race or age or gender or marital status. 00:15:33.780 --> 00:15:35.340 The spiritual condition of your children. 00:15:35.900 --> 00:15:37.320 Your personality type. 00:15:37.420 --> 00:15:38.300 Your social maturity. 00:15:38.700 --> 00:15:39.680 Regardless of any of that. 00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:44.340 If you're blood-bought and you're in this building, we must love one another sacrificially. 00:15:44.980 --> 00:15:45.440 Period. 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:45.640 Period. 00:15:47.760 --> 00:15:50.940 That's the result of the birth of God in us. 00:15:51.080 --> 00:15:51.920 Being born of him. 00:15:53.920 --> 00:15:55.400 Or in the words of verse 1. 00:15:55.580 --> 00:16:00.300 If we love the begetter, we will love those whom he's begotten. 00:16:02.920 --> 00:16:06.620 The third sign of spiritual life. 00:16:06.740 --> 00:16:11.320 The third essential transforming effect is obedience. 00:16:13.260 --> 00:16:14.700 Look at verses 2 and 3. 00:16:14.700 --> 00:16:16.120 You're going to see a repeated word. 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:17.560 It's the word commandment. 00:16:18.040 --> 00:16:22.160 By this we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments. 00:16:22.660 --> 00:16:25.080 For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments. 00:16:25.560 --> 00:16:27.220 And his commandments are not burdensome. 00:16:27.280 --> 00:16:30.120 Now what's interesting is in verse 2 when you read it. 00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:31.879 When we love God and obey his commandments. 00:16:32.060 --> 00:16:36.180 It sounds like loving God and obeying commandments are two different things. 00:16:36.860 --> 00:16:38.220 But then when you look at verse 3. 00:16:39.040 --> 00:16:40.960 John clarifies what he means by that. 00:16:41.940 --> 00:16:43.840 For this is the love of God. 00:16:44.700 --> 00:16:47.500 That we keep his commandments. 00:16:48.740 --> 00:16:50.120 They're not two different things. 00:16:50.200 --> 00:16:51.000 They're one and the same. 00:16:51.879 --> 00:16:53.940 For me to love God is to obey him. 00:16:54.660 --> 00:16:58.640 Has anybody heard of Gary Chapman and the five love languages? 00:16:58.639 --> 00:17:04.119 He wrote this book. 00:17:05.339 --> 00:17:14.019 And the five love languages that he unpacks are physical touch, works of service, gift giving, quality time, and words of affirmation. 00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:21.779 And the idea here is for you to love someone else is to know how they receive love most meaningfully. 00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:23.259 One of these languages. 00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:30.859 And so a wise person learns and communicates love in ways most meaningful to the people in their life. 00:17:30.859 --> 00:17:36.379 And so for example, I've come to learn what Jenny's love language is. 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:39.500 And Jenny's love language is different than my love language. 00:17:39.659 --> 00:17:46.379 I can't love her in the way that I am loved in her sense that I'm meaningfully committed to her for life. 00:17:47.659 --> 00:17:49.039 I've learned her love language. 00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:51.180 She's learning mine. 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:54.099 But what about God? 00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:58.559 Does God have a love language? 00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:03.299 If he does, it's in verse 3. 00:18:04.879 --> 00:18:06.559 For this is the love of God. 00:18:07.659 --> 00:18:11.740 This is how we express our love for God. 00:18:11.740 --> 00:18:18.559 How we communicate our love for our God who begot us. 00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:21.299 That we keep his commandments. 00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:28.859 We express our love to our Father by obeying him and all that he commands. 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:33.079 Loving God and obeying God are not two different things. 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:34.120 They're one and the same. 00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:36.460 We express our love. 00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:39.960 Or do you find his commandments burdensome? 00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:44.799 That word burdensome means heavy. 00:18:47.460 --> 00:18:48.019 Oppressive. 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:51.400 Distasteful. 00:18:52.680 --> 00:18:53.240 Inconvenient. 00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:54.220 Not worth it. 00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:55.720 In the way. 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:57.400 No thank you. 00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:02.599 But if you've been born of God. 00:19:04.099 --> 00:19:08.200 You don't see God's commandments as burdensome, as in the way, as oppressive. 00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:11.940 You see God's commands as life. 00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:14.620 You see God's commands as liberty. 00:19:15.180 --> 00:19:21.380 You see God's commands as a way of joyfully expressing your devotion to him. 00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:22.720 Not to earn his love. 00:19:24.340 --> 00:19:26.759 But in response to his great love for you. 00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:31.819 Did you ever see the movie Princess Bride? 00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:37.259 Farm boy Wesley expresses his love for Princess Buttercup. 00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:38.900 She says, go do this. 00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:40.180 And he does it. 00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:43.019 And says, as you wish. 00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:46.519 Which turns out is code for I love you. 00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:50.220 Princess Buttercup, go do this. 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:51.559 As you wish. 00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:52.400 I love you. 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:53.420 He does it. 00:19:56.600 --> 00:19:59.180 When God commands us to do something. 00:19:59.340 --> 00:20:00.220 As you wish. 00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:01.840 You do it. 00:20:02.080 --> 00:20:02.620 I love you. 00:20:03.460 --> 00:20:04.900 His commandments are not burdensome. 00:20:05.840 --> 00:20:12.540 These are the three essential transforming effects of spiritual life. 00:20:12.620 --> 00:20:13.680 Of being born of God. 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:14.900 You will believe in Jesus. 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:17.920 You will love those whom God loves. 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:22.000 And you will want to obey his commandments. 00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:23.200 Because they're not burdensome. 00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:34.840 You were born by God in order to live for God. 00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:42.400 God birthed you to live for him and not the world. 00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:44.519 That's the first move. 00:20:45.560 --> 00:20:46.519 You see it from the text? 00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:46.639 Next. 00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:48.859 Let's go to the second move. 00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:49.700 The second point. 00:20:50.639 --> 00:20:54.500 You were born by God to overcome the world. 00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:56.460 Now if you're taking notes. 00:20:56.519 --> 00:21:01.420 I'm going to have you write three words underneath that second main point. 00:21:01.779 --> 00:21:02.879 It's the word for. 00:21:03.379 --> 00:21:04.720 And the word world. 00:21:05.059 --> 00:21:06.160 And the word overcome. 00:21:06.639 --> 00:21:08.539 And I'm going to unpack these things for you. 00:21:08.599 --> 00:21:11.099 So you understand the point he's making in verses 4 and 5. 00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:16.619 Here's what's coming into verses 4 and 5. 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:25.240 Try to make the case that being born of God is going to show up in three essential life-giving, life-demonstrated ways. 00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:28.279 We're going to believe in Jesus. 00:21:28.599 --> 00:21:29.099 Totally God. 00:21:29.159 --> 00:21:29.519 Totally man. 00:21:29.799 --> 00:21:31.740 We're going to love those whom God loves. 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:33.659 And we are going to obey his commandments. 00:21:34.159 --> 00:21:37.279 And that is moving into verses 4 and 5. 00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:43.980 So the first word for in verse 4, it's picking up where John just left off. 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:46.799 For everyone who's been born of God. 00:21:47.139 --> 00:21:50.920 Everyone who is believing that Jesus is totally God, totally man. 00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:54.119 Everyone who's seeking to love God's own. 00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:56.940 Everyone who is seeking to obey God's commands. 00:21:56.940 --> 00:22:03.480 Everyone, for everyone who's been born of God, is overcoming the world. 00:22:05.059 --> 00:22:13.980 So what we're seeing here is another necessary result, an essential result of being born of God is that you will be overcoming the world. 00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:19.880 With your believing and your loving and your obeying. 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:32.839 What's happening now is our living out Christ, being born of God is now being cast in relationship to the world. 00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:35.680 Baby, you were born to overcome. 00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:40.079 Now, let's talk about what the world is, what that means. 00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:47.279 We've encountered that word world before in 1 John and in clusters. 00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:52.399 There's the first concentrated cluster is in 1 John 2, 15 through 17. 00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:58.419 We're told not to love the world because of the things of the world are not from God, but from the world. 00:22:58.619 --> 00:22:59.599 The world is passing away. 00:22:59.879 --> 00:23:00.379 Don't do it. 00:23:00.419 --> 00:23:01.179 It's not who you are. 00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:07.340 And then the second cluster of worlds shows up in 1 John 4, 1 through 6. 00:23:07.860 --> 00:23:12.100 And what John's telling us, hey, be careful, there are false prophets out there. 00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:14.580 They are from the world. 00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:17.279 They are using the material of the world. 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.900 They are speaking to the world. 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:21.519 And the world is loving it and patting them on the back. 00:23:26.860 --> 00:23:29.299 I think I picked up this definition from John Stott. 00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:30.380 I think I did. 00:23:30.380 --> 00:23:30.700 I think I did. 00:23:31.180 --> 00:23:32.720 Here's a definition of the world. 00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:37.140 All of unregenerate humanity. 00:23:37.259 --> 00:23:41.060 Remember, regeneration, it is describing those people who have been born of God. 00:23:42.060 --> 00:23:44.460 Unregenerate means those who have not been born of God. 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:45.380 Non-Christians. 00:23:45.820 --> 00:23:52.380 All of unregenerate humanity and organized disobedience to God under the power of the devil. 00:23:53.120 --> 00:23:54.120 That's the world. 00:23:55.400 --> 00:24:00.200 All of unregenerate humanity and organized disobedience to God under the power of the devil. 00:24:00.200 --> 00:24:05.660 John actually used a shorter phrase in 1 John 3, 10. 00:24:05.660 --> 00:24:10.420 By this it is evident who are the children of God and who are the children of the devil. 00:24:10.420 --> 00:24:17.100 Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God nor is the one who does not love his brother. 00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:22.819 So, I thought we could do this. 00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:30.439 What does the world think about Jesus, love, and obeying his commands? 00:24:30.440 --> 00:24:42.380 The world, when it comes to Jesus, unregenerate humanity in organized disobedience to God, the world will deny who Jesus is. 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.519 Totally God, totally man. 00:24:44.019 --> 00:24:44.759 Savior of the world. 00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:47.519 They will diminish who Jesus is. 00:24:48.420 --> 00:24:49.359 He's just a teacher. 00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:50.079 He's a good guy. 00:24:50.220 --> 00:24:50.920 Follow his example. 00:24:51.079 --> 00:24:51.440 That's it. 00:24:52.819 --> 00:24:55.519 They will disdain him for what he taught. 00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:56.799 I'll come back to that in a second. 00:24:56.920 --> 00:24:57.920 They disregard him. 00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:58.859 He's not that important. 00:24:59.400 --> 00:25:06.299 But what we know is Jesus is totally God, totally man, both in one, the great I am, to save the word and fulfill God's plan. 00:25:06.460 --> 00:25:07.960 That's who Jesus is. 00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:15.259 So, when Jesus makes this statement in John 14, 6, I'm the way, the truth, and life. 00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:17.640 No one comes to the Father but through me. 00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:20.480 He makes an exclusive claim like that. 00:25:20.940 --> 00:25:21.860 You know what the world thinks? 00:25:22.360 --> 00:25:22.980 That's ridiculous. 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:26.079 It's distasteful. 00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:28.220 It's arrogant. 00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:31.400 It's a burden. 00:25:31.640 --> 00:25:32.279 That's oppressive. 00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:39.759 The world will use nice words to disregard Jesus, typically. 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:43.819 What about in terms of love? 00:25:45.160 --> 00:25:50.579 Well, if you look at 1 John 3, 13, John says, 00:25:50.879 --> 00:25:56.240 Do not be surprised, brothers, regenerate of God, that the world hates you. 00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:59.059 That's really strong language. 00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:01.079 Let me cast it in this light. 00:26:01.079 --> 00:26:07.720 The world is not eager to lay its life down for your greatest good, brothers and sisters. 00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:15.279 The world isn't sacrificially loving us who belong to Jesus. 00:26:15.639 --> 00:26:25.480 I mean, we see it in the secular academy where it seems like everybody's perspective is valid and accepted except a Bible-believing Christian. 00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:32.700 The world is saying, typically, love those who look like you. 00:26:33.160 --> 00:26:35.079 Love those who are in your tribe. 00:26:35.539 --> 00:26:37.559 Love those who are easy to love. 00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:49.119 But Jesus says to us, love those whom I have purchased with my blood, regardless of what they look like, regardless of what tribe they're in, regardless of how easy it is to love them. 00:26:49.179 --> 00:26:49.859 You love them. 00:26:50.159 --> 00:26:50.980 Because I love you. 00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:56.460 What does the world have to say about obedience? 00:26:58.940 --> 00:27:00.720 In 3.10, I've already pointed to you there. 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:08.039 By this it is evident who are the children of God, those who are regenerated by God, and who are the children of the devil, those who are unregenerate. 00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:15.440 Whoever does not practice righteousness, who does not obey God's commands, is of the devil. 00:27:16.759 --> 00:27:19.480 Nor is the one who doesn't love his brother. 00:27:22.639 --> 00:27:27.259 Those who do not practice righteousness walk in darkness. 00:27:28.639 --> 00:27:31.659 They're not walking in the same way that Jesus walked. 00:27:32.879 --> 00:27:37.019 The world thinks God's commands are burdensome. 00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:40.599 The world thinks that God's commands are irrelevant. 00:27:41.259 --> 00:27:42.079 They're inconvenient. 00:27:42.379 --> 00:27:43.299 They're outdated. 00:27:43.579 --> 00:27:44.700 They're old-fashioned. 00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:45.759 They're uninformed. 00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:48.319 They're ignorant, chauvinistic, and oppressive. 00:27:48.579 --> 00:27:52.779 When in reality, God's command is life to us. 00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:55.240 It's not burdensome. 00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:57.220 It's joy to obey him. 00:27:58.139 --> 00:28:04.220 It's liberating to live in God's good ways, in God's good design. 00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:07.759 Let's just take the example of sexuality. 00:28:07.940 --> 00:28:08.539 Don't worry, parents. 00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:10.220 I'm not going to get into the nitty-gritties. 00:28:11.660 --> 00:28:19.700 Our world is saying, especially in our culture, is saying when it comes to sexuality, love is love. 00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:24.019 You can love without limits. 00:28:25.140 --> 00:28:27.340 Anyone, anytime, anyway. 00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:36.360 So to speak of sexual lust as disobedience to God gets a snicker from the world. 00:28:36.359 --> 00:28:44.919 To speak of sleeping with someone who is not your spouse as disobedience, the world rolls its eyes. 00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:54.839 To say that homosexuality and bisexuality is sinful in God's sight is to incur the wrath of the world. 00:28:56.039 --> 00:28:57.339 That's burdensome. 00:28:58.099 --> 00:28:59.719 That's putting a limit on love. 00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:02.039 How dare you? 00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:16.440 The world rejects God's good design of one chromosomal man married to one chromosomal woman exclusively for life under God. 00:29:16.680 --> 00:29:23.420 That is the only place that God has designed for human sexuality to flourish. 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:25.079 It's good. 00:29:25.079 --> 00:29:42.699 When the world hears obey His commandments, the world hears oppression, burden, one born of God hears, oh, I get to speak your love language. 00:29:42.700 --> 00:30:05.660 Now before you get on your anti-world Facebook tour, don't forget, it was only by God's grace that He called you out of the world. 00:30:05.660 --> 00:30:12.740 You were a card-carrying member of the world. 00:30:14.420 --> 00:30:15.180 You were. 00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:16.140 I was. 00:30:17.800 --> 00:30:22.340 If you told me I was a child of the devil before I became a Christian, I would have been like, who are you? 00:30:23.160 --> 00:30:24.080 But it was true. 00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:36.359 Don't forget, brothers and sisters, don't forget where God birthed you out of, called you out of. 00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:47.859 God in His love sent Jesus as a propitiation for our sins in order to pull us out of the world, only to send us back to the world for the glory of Jesus. 00:30:48.779 --> 00:30:50.740 Our battle's not against flesh and blood. 00:30:51.659 --> 00:30:53.019 Not against flesh and blood. 00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:56.720 Don't forget, don't forget you were numbered with them. 00:30:57.980 --> 00:31:01.639 You were called out from them by God's grace, by His love. 00:31:01.900 --> 00:31:02.779 And don't forget this. 00:31:04.119 --> 00:31:15.460 You've been commissioned by Jesus Himself, the Christ, the Son of God, to call as many of your friends and family who are in darkness under the domain of the devil, 00:31:15.460 --> 00:31:22.200 to call as many of them through the gospel to come join us in following Jesus for life. 00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:24.319 We've been commissioned to do that. 00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:29.700 We're not going to rally our dragons and hide from the world. 00:31:30.099 --> 00:31:38.279 We've been called to go to the world in wisdom and caution, but in love. 00:31:40.659 --> 00:31:43.619 Brothers and sisters, you were born by God to be in the world. 00:31:44.299 --> 00:31:47.339 You're not of the world, but you've overcome the world. 00:31:47.339 --> 00:31:51.959 And that's the last word I want to focus you in on, the word overcome. 00:31:51.960 --> 00:31:59.759 In this passage, in verses 4 and 5, the word overcome shows up three times. 00:31:59.880 --> 00:32:00.440 It's a verb. 00:32:01.579 --> 00:32:06.779 It's the word in Greek that the shoe company Nike got its name from. 00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:10.200 Nike means victory, to conquer, to overcome. 00:32:10.200 --> 00:32:17.860 But every time in verse 4 and 5, you see the word overcome used, it's describing a Christian's relationship to the world. 00:32:20.580 --> 00:32:24.440 For everyone who's been born of God is overcoming the world. 00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:26.420 The second sentence of verse 4. 00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:29.220 And this is the victory that has overcome the world or faith. 00:32:29.640 --> 00:32:35.080 And who is it that is overcoming the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 00:32:35.079 --> 00:32:44.919 If you look at that second sentence in verse 4, and this is the victory that has overcome the world, that verb overcome is in the past tense. 00:32:46.439 --> 00:32:48.319 In other words, it's happened. 00:32:50.159 --> 00:32:51.659 The victory's been won. 00:32:53.199 --> 00:32:55.139 The world has been overcome. 00:32:56.139 --> 00:32:57.019 How so, you say? 00:32:57.619 --> 00:33:01.639 Well, it's summed up in that word by our faith, your faith. 00:33:02.539 --> 00:33:04.119 What's John talking about? 00:33:04.119 --> 00:33:15.299 Well, you look back in verse 1 and verse 5, and the object of our faith is Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, who God sent as a propitiation for our sin. 00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:19.179 Who overcame the world in His death and His resurrection. 00:33:19.599 --> 00:33:27.579 So when we're looking at this past victory that has overcome the world, our faith in the finished work of Jesus. 00:33:29.699 --> 00:33:32.019 I mean, this is the same Jesus who said this. 00:33:32.019 --> 00:33:33.819 I love this. 00:33:34.779 --> 00:33:37.879 Steve Bickle is going to close the service in this. 00:33:37.979 --> 00:33:38.599 Listen to this. 00:33:38.719 --> 00:33:40.279 This is John 16, 33. 00:33:40.399 --> 00:33:44.439 This is your risen King speaking on earth. 00:33:45.339 --> 00:33:49.059 I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace. 00:33:49.359 --> 00:33:51.159 In the world you will have tribulation. 00:33:51.599 --> 00:33:52.439 But take heart. 00:33:52.919 --> 00:33:55.439 I have overcome the world. 00:33:55.679 --> 00:33:56.539 Same phrase. 00:33:56.539 --> 00:34:01.960 Jesus has overcome the world by His death and resurrection. 00:34:01.960 --> 00:34:07.819 Now, on either side of that word overcome, there are two other verbs overcoming. 00:34:08.360 --> 00:34:08.980 Present tense. 00:34:08.980 --> 00:34:14.039 For everyone who has been born of God is overcoming the world. 00:34:14.139 --> 00:34:15.519 Verse 4 and 5. 00:34:15.659 --> 00:34:18.719 Who is it that is overcoming the world? 00:34:18.719 --> 00:34:22.619 Here's what is going on here. 00:34:23.319 --> 00:34:26.480 The finished work of Jesus that won the victory. 00:34:27.099 --> 00:34:32.439 We get to live out through our believing in Jesus. 00:34:32.859 --> 00:34:34.339 Through our loving one another. 00:34:34.739 --> 00:34:36.759 Through our obeying all of His commands. 00:34:37.079 --> 00:34:41.299 We live out the victory day by day over the world. 00:34:41.300 --> 00:34:43.840 That's what He's getting at. 00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:47.880 By believing in Jesus. 00:34:48.800 --> 00:34:51.280 The world is telling lies about Jesus. 00:34:51.539 --> 00:34:57.800 By when we believe the truth about Jesus, we are living victoriously in Jesus. 00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:01.300 When it comes to loving. 00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:10.460 We overcome the world day in and day out when we are living out the victory of Jesus in the way we love one another. 00:35:10.460 --> 00:35:15.539 We love beyond what our likenesses are. 00:35:15.820 --> 00:35:17.059 We love beyond tribes. 00:35:17.460 --> 00:35:18.760 We love beyond appearances. 00:35:19.220 --> 00:35:20.579 We love beyond mental health. 00:35:20.900 --> 00:35:24.240 We love beyond social awkwardness and spiritual immaturity. 00:35:24.639 --> 00:35:26.420 We love beyond these things. 00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:31.139 And we win the victory over the world. 00:35:34.840 --> 00:35:39.960 And we live out the victory in our obeying of all that He's commanded. 00:35:40.460 --> 00:35:45.280 It first says, I am not, I choose not to believe God's commandments are burdensome. 00:35:45.500 --> 00:35:46.920 I choose not to believe that. 00:35:47.460 --> 00:35:48.920 I have a good, loving God. 00:35:49.220 --> 00:35:50.400 And His ways are life. 00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:57.920 And then secondly, what that means is, in our obeying, we're going to do what He says. 00:35:58.480 --> 00:36:00.519 We're going to pull a Wesley. 00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:02.380 As you wish. 00:36:03.039 --> 00:36:03.579 Of course. 00:36:04.300 --> 00:36:05.079 Yes, I will do that. 00:36:05.180 --> 00:36:05.740 I love you. 00:36:06.720 --> 00:36:07.619 It's not burdensome. 00:36:07.619 --> 00:36:10.619 But it also means we're going to have to disagree with people. 00:36:11.619 --> 00:36:16.480 We're going to have to take stands graciously, faithfully, firmly. 00:36:17.099 --> 00:36:21.319 So when the world says something like, love, let love be love. 00:36:22.119 --> 00:36:24.980 We can say things like, I can see why you would believe that. 00:36:25.299 --> 00:36:31.019 But my loving God has actually put good limits on sexuality on earth. 00:36:31.019 --> 00:36:33.259 And it's not burdensome. 00:36:34.139 --> 00:36:34.880 It's joy. 00:36:37.579 --> 00:36:46.300 We overcome the world by living out the life God has planted in us by His grace. 00:36:46.780 --> 00:36:52.119 And we live it out by believing in Jesus, totally God, totally man. 00:36:52.759 --> 00:36:56.860 By loving one another regardless of what appearances may be. 00:36:56.860 --> 00:37:00.120 And by obeying all that He has commanded. 00:37:04.380 --> 00:37:06.220 Baby, you were born to overcome. 00:37:10.099 --> 00:37:14.120 Jesus won the victory and we live that victory out together. 00:37:15.640 --> 00:37:17.380 In believing in Jesus, together. 00:37:18.480 --> 00:37:20.200 In our loving one another, together. 00:37:21.059 --> 00:37:23.360 In our obeying all that He commanded, together. 00:37:23.360 --> 00:37:23.480 Together. 00:37:25.579 --> 00:37:28.559 Did you notice the full circle of this passage? 00:37:30.500 --> 00:37:31.920 1 John 5, 1. 00:37:32.180 --> 00:37:35.160 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. 00:37:35.660 --> 00:37:37.880 1 John 5, 5. 00:37:38.380 --> 00:37:42.620 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 00:37:43.660 --> 00:37:44.740 It's all about Jesus. 00:37:46.039 --> 00:37:47.740 It always comes back to Jesus. 00:37:48.620 --> 00:37:50.039 Who He is and what He's done. 00:37:51.240 --> 00:37:52.940 Transforms the way we live our lives. 00:37:53.360 --> 00:37:59.700 Brothers and sisters, God birthed you to live for God. 00:38:00.700 --> 00:38:01.660 Not the world. 00:38:02.960 --> 00:38:05.420 You were born by God to live for God. 00:38:06.039 --> 00:38:09.820 And you were born by God to overcome the world. 00:38:09.980 --> 00:38:15.579 So, are you overcoming the world or is the world overcoming you? 00:38:17.280 --> 00:38:21.519 Baby, we were born to overcome. 00:38:21.519 --> 00:38:23.039 Let's pray. 00:38:25.179 --> 00:38:29.059 God, thank you so much for the victory that you've won in Jesus on our behalf. 00:38:29.860 --> 00:38:37.320 Great God, we are humbled by your gracious act of grace in us to birth us. 00:38:37.320 --> 00:38:41.400 We're awed by it. 00:38:42.300 --> 00:38:43.700 We are so grateful. 00:38:45.200 --> 00:38:46.140 Help us, God. 00:38:46.240 --> 00:38:46.800 Help us. 00:38:47.500 --> 00:38:51.220 Give us spirit strength to believe in all that Jesus is. 00:38:51.480 --> 00:38:53.460 To love as Jesus loved. 00:38:53.800 --> 00:38:55.440 And to obey all that He has commanded. 00:38:55.660 --> 00:38:56.500 It's our joy. 00:38:57.380 --> 00:38:58.160 Convince us. 00:38:58.740 --> 00:38:59.620 It's our joy. 00:39:00.579 --> 00:39:01.920 It's in the name of Jesus we pray. 00:39:02.880 --> 00:39:03.199 Amen. 00:39:03.199 --> 00:39:03.339 Amen. 00:39:03.339 --> 00:39:03.380 Amen. 00:39:03.380 --> 00:39:03.400 Amen. 00:39:03.400 --> 00:39:03.420 Amen. 00:39:03.420 --> 00:39:03.440 Amen. 00:39:03.440 --> 00:39:03.460 Amen. 00:39:03.460 --> 00:39:05.440 Amen.