A Different Angle on Valentine’s Day

1 John 4:7 "Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God, and [because] everyone who loves has born of God and knows God.  8 He who does not love has not come to know God, because God is love.  9 In this way God’s love is made evident in our midst, in that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world in order that we might live through Him.  10 In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the propitiation [atoning sacrifice] for our sins.  11 Beloved, if [in fact] God loved us like this, [then] we also are obligated to love one another.  12 No one has ever seen God.  [But] if we love one another, God lives in us and His love has accomplished its goal in us.” (author's translation)

“Love is of God,” (4:7).  With these four short words, the apostle John makes a very powerful and quite provocative statement both about love and about God.

For the countless people who are looking for love in all the wrong places (and in all the wrong forms), John says simply that “love is of God.”  He is its Source.

But then, take note that John also informs us that “God is love,” (4:8).  In other words, whatever He is, it is.  However, so that we do not misunderstand, the point is not that love defines God, but that He defines it.  Simply put, knowing God is the way to know [real, lasting] love because He is love.

Next, the apostle indicates that God’s love (the fact that He loves and, especially the way He loves) is both revelatory and redemptive.  God’s love is revelatory in that, when He loves, He does not merely say it, He shows it.  It is a love that He ‘makes evident’ to the objects of His love (4:9; John 3:14 - 17) in and through the cross – the atoning death of His Son.

But, then, take note that the reason for the revelation of God’s love is redemption.  God’s love is redemptive, in that, when He loves He gives so as to address the huge issue of sin in all of our lives (4:10).  But also, when God loves His love is redemptive, in that, in dealing with our sin (and sins), we are changed and our relationship to Him is changed (we come to be His children – ‘born of Him’ – 4:7).  In loving us redemptively, we are no longer [spiritually] dead, but are given [eternal] life through Jesus Christ (4:9; Ephesians 2:1, 4 - 5).  In loving us redemptively, God makes us His beloved children even though we were formerly His enemies (4:7; Romans 5:6 – 11).

So what?  ‘Well, God, I am really glad you are that way . . . All of that is really great . . . Time to move on to the next thing . . . Right?’

Wrong!  If we claim to be God’s children – loved by God – begotten by His love – able to relate to Him because of that love – then, what?  Then, we are obligated (the idea is that of being ‘indebted’) to love not just Him, but every other child of God.  And, in responding to His love for us in this way, we make Him known.  The Unseen One is made visible through us (4:12).  His love accomplishes the goal He had in mind for it from the very beginning (4:12).  Amazing!

What Does it Mean to Be Born Again?

Preached at Northwest Christian Church
David P. Kautt
Sunday Morning, November 28, 2010

1 John 5:14-21, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, 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 the petitions that we have asked of Him.  If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.  All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.  We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.  We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.  And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.  Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

What does it mean to be ‘Born again’ or ‘Born of God’?  We’re nearing the end of our study of this marvelous portion of the Scripture, that portion we refer to as ‘First John’, the first letter penned by the apostle John, and once again, as over and over again through the course of this study, the Spirit of God uses the apostle John to confront us with this critical question, “What does it mean to be Born Again?”  Or, in the language of verse 18 of our text here, “What does it mean to be Born of God?” 

Whether we have been recently brought into God’s kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ, or whether we have known and been known by Him for years, this question is worth asking.  We need to come back to it regularly. 

In order to point us in the direction of the proper answers to this question, the apostle John presents us with three, ‘We know’ statements.  Three statements of fact to help us understand what it means to be ‘Born Again’, ‘Born of God’.  Let’s read those statements once again, shall we?

1 John 5:18-20, “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.  We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.  And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.”

What DOES it mean to be ‘Born Again,’ or ‘Born of God’?  If you and I were to be ‘Exhibits A’ and ‘B’ and ‘C’ and so forth, in a ‘court case’, paton ‘trial’, so to speak, by the people who know us, who watch us, who evaluate our claims to be God’s children, what would they be looking for as ‘evidence’ that our claims are valid?  Last Lord’s day’s service, that moving time of counting our blessings, capped off as it was by two joyful New Births, if someone from the outside had slipped in to watch and listen and take it all in, likely, sort of like the rest of us, they would have been caught up in the emotion of the moment, in the ‘experience’!  And, what a powerful and intensely meaningful experience it was, for certain!  But, listen – once they, our ‘outside observers’ had come back down to earth with the rest of us, what would they have been thinking?  What question would they have wanted to ask of those who had been baptized, and of all of us?  How about this one: “What’s the proof?”  For two of us, one week later, but for many of us, months, years, even decades later, ‘where’s the evidence’ that you or I have been ‘Born Again’, or ‘Born of God’?

Don’t get me wrong, the experience is necessary, and helpful.  The experience of repenting of one’s sins; the experience of confessing Christ before men; the experience of forsaking all others to trust Christ to save you; the experience of joining Him in Christian baptism, the experience of being buried with Him in the likeness of His death and then, raised to live in the newness of His resurrection life.  All these ‘experiences are helpful and necessary whether we participated in them last week, or 20, 40 or even 60 years ago! 

But, listen – in seeking to answer the question, “what does it mean to be ‘Born again’, or ‘Born of God’”, the apostle John, in this first letter of his, he moves us from reciting the 5-finger exercise (hear, believe, repent, confess, be baptized), to the next step, finger #6, to the outcome, the evidence, the proof of the reality and validity of those first 5 steps we have taken – that step we might call ‘Living the Christian life’…

Proof #1 – The first of John’s ‘we know’ statements, contained in verse 18, what is at stake?  What’s the issue on the table, so to speak?  Mr. Outsider, coming into our midst to watch, to listen, to observe our lives, and then, compare them with our claims, what will he look for as ‘evidence’? 

Well, I’m not sure what Mr. Outsider would look for, but what the apostle John indicates that Mr. Outsider should see is a new lifestyle, a new lifestyle that is characteristic of you and me.  (1 John 5:18) 

Now, before we move on to verse 19, and then verses 20 and 21, let me ask you to explore something with me right here, for just a moment.  The evidence of the New Birth, the proof that you and I have been Born of God is first of all, a new lifestyle.  Now, what does that men?  What will a new lifestyle ‘look like’?  How will others know, how will WE know that such is the case for you and me?  Some might say that this new lifestyle will be along the lines of a change in the way we wear our hair, or a change in the car we drive, or that now we make an effort to be ‘in church’ each Lord’s Day.

But, listen – I want you to look again with me at verse 18, and take note of what this Book has to say about this ‘New lifestyle’.  “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin [literally, ‘does not keep on sinning’, ‘does not make it his habit to sin’], but he who has been born of God keeps himself [I think the idea there is that the child of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, seeks to restrain himself from sinning] and [thus] the wicked one does not touch him, is not able to get a hold on his life…” 

What does it mean to be ‘Born Again’, or ‘Born of God’?  Right off the bat, as we take in what God’s Word says about his new lifestyle, we observe, we must surely notice that God has some pretty challenging expectations of His people.  He expects them to wage war against sin as the guiding principle – against the tyrannical Ruler in their lives… He expects us - yes, us - to keep in mind what Paul said in Romans 6, that famous Baptism passage, do you remember what he said?  He said, “Shall you continue to sin so that God’s grace may about?  Certainly not!  You died to sin, you were baptized into Christ’s death, buried with Christ through baptism into death, so how can you continue to live in sin?” 

God’s expectations of His children are pretty challenging indeed!  But, listen!  So are His promises!  So are His promises!  1 John 2:1, “My little children, I write these things to you, so that you may not sin, even once.  But, but, if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One! 

Yes, God’s expectations of His children are very, very challenging.  “Whoever is born of God does not, does not keep on sinning – habitually, willfully, defiantly, rebelliously – the true child of God does not act that way.  His lifestyle is new and different, markedly different from his old lifestyle.  But, listen!  He doesn’t, you and I don’t go it alone!  1 John 5:18 and 2 Thessalonians 3:3 – mark them down, will you?  In our pursuit of this new habit, this new lifestyle of living as if we are dead to sin as the governing force over our lives, never forget this one fact: “The Lord is Faithful!”  And He will establish you and keep you from the evil one!”

‘What does it mean to be born again, born of God?’  1 John 5:18 – It means that you and I are in pursuit of a new lifestyle, a new habit regarding sin, a new way of living, with the help of the Holy Spirit! 

Secondly, it means that you and I have a new Source, a new sufficiency, a new leader!

Face #2 – ‘we know’ statement #2 – 1 John 5:19, “[And] we know that we are of God, and [that] the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.”

Back when we all were a lot younger, we played a children’s game called, ‘Follow the Leader’, you remember, don’t you?  One of the neighborhood bunch would step up to the front of the line and say, “Follower me, do what I do…”  And immediately, everyone would fall in behind him, and do this, because he did that, and do this, because he did that…  It’s a game of imitation, you know it!  And it’s also, you may not have thought about is this way before, but the game, ‘Follow the Leader’ is also a game of expectation, a game where the followers must, they are expected to do what the leader does, or else they can’t play. 

Now, listen.  1 John 5:19 – This Book says that when you and I became God’s children, when we were born again, born of Him, for us, the ‘game’ of following the world and its leader, the Devil – STOPPED!  I mean it was over!  As far as God is concerned, the world and its leader no longer are to hold sway over our lives!  Rather, the imitation is now supposed to be turned HIS direction!  As our New Leader, when He says, ‘Jump!’, our only question should be, ‘How high?’ 

To be born again, born of God, yes, it means that you and I have a new leader.  We are of God, He holds, or is supposed to hold the ultimate sway over our lives!  And, as a child of God, it should be obvious, my behavior, and my battling against sin, should make it increasingly obvious that I have, we have a new lifestyle – in Him! 

Then, third, and finally, take a look at verse 20 and 21, and notice what they have to say about the new loyalty, the new loyalty that is to be characteristic of the child of God! To me, this is the best part of all. Read it with me, will you please.

1 John 5:20-21, “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”

What does it mean to be 'Born Again', or 'Born of God'?

A new lifestyle is important, remember Mr. Outsider? That's one of the 'proofs' he's looking for! And, a new leader, my, oh my, that is important as well! God is my Father, and as His child, in keeping with the imitation principle, in keeping with the old adage, 'Like Father, like son' – I am to become more and more like Him! But, then there's the question, the honest and earnest question: “How?” “How in the world is a new lifestyle of 'sinning less, and confessing it when I sin, more', how in the world is this new lifestyle, and the command to follow my new Leader something I could ever get done?”

Sound impossible? Like I said, this is the part I like best, fact #3, “we know” statement number three.

1 John 5:20-21, “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”

How in the world are you and I ever going to live up to these incredibly high and holy expectations God has for His children? Fact #3 – Actually, it's a whole bundle of facts that we must always, ALL WAYS, remember. Take a look, 1 John 5:20 – The Son of God has come... Praise God! 1 John 5:20 – the Son of God has given us an understanding, an insight into all of this, right here, through His Word, right here (in me) through the indwelling presence of His Spirit – why? Jesus Christ came. And, Jesus Christ has given us this understanding – why? That we may know Him who is true, not simply know about Him, but know Him, be in a life-changing relationship with Him who is true, and in His Son Jesus Christ.

Knowing God, through Christ, that's the answer to the 'How' question... 'What does it mean to be Born Again, or Born of God?' One final thought. If Mr. Outsider were to slip in here today, and follow you and me around for the next week, how would he answer this question: “Is he born again? Is she born again?” How would he?

Confident, Compassionate and Conformed Prayer

Preached at Northwest Christian Church
David P. Kautt
Sunday Morning, November 14, 2010

Image credit.

1 John 5:13-21, "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.  Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, 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 the petitions that we have asked of Him.  If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.  All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.  We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.  We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.  And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.  Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen."

Being a Christian affords to us many blessings, doesn’t it?  In calling us to Himself, in making us His own children, God showers us with many more blessings than I think we often realize we have received.  At the same time, those blessings God has given us, the gift of His Word and of His Holy Spirit, the gift of eternal life and forgiveness of our sins, the gift of love, joy and peace, with these gifts God has bestowed upon us come not only manifold blessings, but also many significant responsibilities.  In other words, we, as God’s children, are not only recipients of the gift, or gifts, but we also are entrusted with the management, the stewarding of these gifts, in such a way that God, the Giver of these gifts, might be pleased.

The gift of prayer – the blessing and privilege of prayer is a perfect case in point. 

Prayer - the Apostle John knew a great deal about this blessing and he understood the importance of the responsibility that went with it.  After all, he had been trained in the subject at the feet of Jesus.  He had heard the Lord’s teaching about prayer in the Sermon on the Mount.  He had listened as his Master provided him and his fellow disciples with a model prayer, a prayer pattern.  It’s the one we call ‘the Lord’s Prayer’.  He had watched as Jesus had often slipped away from the crowds to spend time alone with His Father in prayer.  And, yes, he had even been there, in the Garden of Gethsemane, to watch and wait and listen, as his Master wrestled in prayer with His Father’s plan for Him.

As we open up this passage from this marvelous letter, penned by the Apostle John, God’s Holy Spirit directs John to share some of those lessons and insights on prayer with you and me.  Let’s take a look and see what they are. 

Number one, the Apostle John instructs and informs us about the joy of prayer.  I don’t know if you have thought about prayer along these lines recently, but to me, as we consider both the blessing and the responsibility of prayer, to me it is uplifting to read what God’s Spirit led John to write in verses 14 and 15 about prayer. 

1 John 5:14-15, Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, 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 the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

This blessing of prayer – think of it, will you, my friends. It is a joyful thing! Prayer is a joyful thing! Why? Because, for the Christian, for the true child of God – in prayer – there is a confidence, an assurance to do the unthinkable. In prayer I can approach the un-approachable! In prayer, the Book of Hebrews tells us, we can come boldly before the throne of God that there –right there, at the blessed feet of our Mighty God and Merciful Father – we might find mercy and grace to help us in our time of need! (See Hebrews 4:16).

Prayer – it is a joyful thing! In Christ you and I have confidence – holy boldness before God in prayer!  Then notice the joy continues – and increases as a result of this blessing – this amazing gift of God called prayer.  Look again at that fourteenth verse.  Prayer is a joyful thing, for the Christ, prayer is a joyful thing!  How do we know that?  Have you ever tried to ask a President for anything?  Have you ever tried to ask a millionaire for anything?  (My son Joel’s going to like this next one.)  Have you ever tried to ask a store manager for anything?  You stand there trying to present your request, to make your case, to ask what you’re wanting to ask, and the President, Millionaire, yes, Joel, too often, even the Store Manager, looks and acts as if he is a million miles away from you!  He’s not listening to me!  He’s not paying attention to me!  Prayer, look at it, my dear ones, what a joyful privilege it is for all of us who
belong to the Lord Jesus Christ!  Why?  Because He hears us!  (verse 14) 

Then, one more, feast your eyes on the truth contained in verse 15 about prayer!  Prayer is a joyful thing!  For the true Child of God it is a very, very joyful thing!  Why?  Verse 15, “If we know that God hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”  Prayer is a precious, joyful privilege for the Christian, simply because we can go about it expectantly!  Anticipating, full well, that God will respond to our requests.

Prayer is a joyful thing!  It is.  But, then, notice the shift of focus and tone, beginning in verse 16.  The Apostle John had heard, and I’m sure, smiled, perhaps like he had never smiled before, when we heard Jesus say things like: “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything in My name, I will do it,” (John 14:13-14) and “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you,” (John 15:7) and “you did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give you.” (John 15:16)  Yes, the Apostle John had heard all of those powerful, confidence-building words Jesus had spoken to His disciples about prayer.  And what joy those words must have stirred in his heart.  But, listen.  John had also watched and
observed as Jesus dealt with faltering disciples, like Peter – cock-a-doodle-do!  And with wayward ones, false ones, like Judas Iscariot!  And what did he come to realize?  What did the Apostle John come to realize, and what should we come to understand about prayer?  Verses 16, 17 and 18 – the fact that not only is prayer a joyful thing, an incredibly rich privilege, prayer also is a sobering thing, a solemn and deeply serious responsibility that we must never take lightly! 

1 John 5:16-18, “If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.  All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.   We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.

We pray, don’t we, because we have the privilege to come boldly before God’s throne of grace!  That’s a joyful thing!  And, we pray, because unlike Presidents, millionaires and store managers, God actually listens to us!  That’s a joyful thing!  And we pray, not merely wishing – you know, crossing your fingers and wishing – but we pray KNOWING that God will answer us!  And that, too, is a joyful thing! 

But, listen – what do you call prayer when it is something you and I are doing for a brother who is struggling with sin in his life?  A joyful thing?  No!  A sobering thing!  A deeply solemn and serious thing.  Why?  Because somehow, some way, God works through our prayers, take a look at James 5:13-20, to give life.  Did you hear me?  To give life to our erring brother!  Listen, my loved ones, prayer is a serious thing because somehow it often can be a matter of life and death!  A matter of life, and death.  I bet that most of us haven’t thought about prayer in those terms in a while.  But look, not only does John supply instructions about the serious matter of praying for the erring brother who is NOT sinning a sin unto death.  He also lets us in on an even more serious matter pertaining to prayer.  The matter of the person who IS sinning a sin unto death, and what our prayer response should be in that case. 

Two or three observations for us to take in right here.  Number one, the text very plainly says that there IS such a thing as a sin unto death!  It is not clear if John means physical death, spiritual death, or perhaps both!  But, either way, the fact that sin - what I believe must be a willful, defiant, rebellious, pattern of habitual sin – leads to death is clear from what the text says.  And, that, my friends, is serious, isn’t it?

Secondly, please note what John says regarding praying for such a person whose sinful life style is aimed in the direction of death.  In effect, he says, ‘Don’t!  Don’t pray for such a person.’  Does that shock you?  Allow me to give you a little perspective on this.  3 times in the book of Jeremiah – Jeremiah 7:16, 11:14 and 14:11 – three times the prophet Jeremiah, preaching and prophesying to God’s people in the face of their willful, deliberate, stubborn, defiant pattern of sin and sinful rejection of God’s Word and will, God told Jeremiah, “Don’t pray for them!  Turn them over to Me, and let me deal with them.  But don’t pray for them!”  Whew!  Listen, the apostle Paul points his readers, in 1 Corinthians 5, 1 Corinthians 11, and 1 Timothy 1, the same direction.  If they’re going to keep on sinning, willfully, defiantly and unrepentantly, stop praying for them, and hand them over to God (and even to Satan)… Whew! 

As I said, my dear ones – prayer, yes it is a joyful privilege indeed!  But, listen, it is just as serious and sobering a responsibility also.

But, then, one more thing, one more important aspect to prayer that you and I must always keep in mind, confident prayer – the holy boldness and incredible joy we talked about at the first – and compassionate prayer – lifting up our erring brothers and sisters in the serious responsibility of prayerful intercession.  Listen, confident prayer and compassionate prayer must always also we conformed prayer, conformed prayer!  Verse 14 one more time:

1 John 5:14, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

Conformed prayer, what in the world is ‘conformed prayer’?  Some would say that ‘conformed prayer’ is praying according to the proper formula, you know, using the proper words – “In Jesus’ name”, “Thy kingdom come”, “Thy will be done”, “hallowed be Thy name” and so forth… But listen, anyone - I mean, anyone – can mouth those words.  Anyone can take up that prayer formula and try to use it, as if it were a rabbit’s foot or a good luck charm! 

But listen – that’s not what those words are meant to be, NOR is that what prayer, conformed prayer, is all about!  So, what is conformed prayer?  And, how is it that is serves as the basis, the foundation, for confident, and compassionate prayer?

Read 1 John 5:14 with me, one more time, will you?

1 John 5:14, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

Confident prayer, full of all the joy we learned about earlier, and compassionate prayer, soberly interceding for struggling, erring brothers and sisters – unless and until it comes from a “not my will, but Thine be done” heart is un-heard and un-answered prayer.  The psalmist said it this way, and with this we will close:

“Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to Him, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” (Psalm 37:4-5)

and

“The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.  He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.” (Psalm 145:18-19)

Assistance and Assurance in Our Christian Walk

Preached at Northwest Christian Church
David P. Kautt
Sunday Morning, November 7, 2010

1 John 5:6-13, “This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.  For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.  And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.  If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God; which He has testified of His Son.  He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.  And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.  These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

“I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God”.  Last Lord’s Day, on that happy occasion of our son Jaden’s baptism, we began the message with this passage of Scripture as our study text, and with that ‘good confession’ as we call it, those monumental words of commitment, that faith declaration, as the starting point in our study. 

Today, I want to come back to those words and this study text, and consider their meaning and implications for Jaden and for the rest of us - ONE WEEK AFTER… 

Certainly, the waters of the baptistery are still, long since still, following Jaden’s baptism one week ago.  And, certainly Jaden’s body and my body are dry, after 7 days to get that way.  But, listen – there are at least two or three other things that are certain as well.  Allow me to remind you of what they are.  Number one, for Jaden, and in fact, for all of the rest of us who have made that good confession, and have been immersed into Christ for the remission of our sins, the discipling process, the task of growing in Christ is not over.  It is not finished, yet.  In fact, in Jaden’s case, in a way, you could say that it has just begun. 

Number two, though only 7 days have elapsed since Jaden declared his faith in Christ, and was baptized by God’s Spirit into the Church, the Body of Christ – let me tell you – those 7 days have NOT been 7 days FREE of temptation and testing in Jaden’s life!  Believe me, they haven’t!  Nor, have they been 7, temptation-free days for you, either!  Satan didn’t go on a leave of absence ever since Jaden walked this aisle!  No, I would dare to say that he has been even more at work trying to get him back!  And, he’s working on you and me to tempt us in that direction also! 

And, thus, there is one more thing that is certain.  Anybody have any idea what it is?  It is certain that, whether we are 7 days out, or 77 years out, since our confession of faith and baptism, it is certain that TODAY we need assurance and assistance in our faith walk with Christ, in this thing the Bible calls Salvation!

Guess what? That's exactly what God has provided for us, right here, in His Holy Spirit-inspired Word! Assistance and assurance in our faith walk with Christ.

Before we explore those two inter-related subjects let me point out something to you, that I think is critical for our understanding of this text and for going home with what God wants us to go home with from this text. Zero in on verses 10, 12, and 13 – and note carefully the words, “believe,” “believes,” and “has,” and “have”. I point out these words to you, to underscore for you their meaning and the implications of their meaning in the context of this passage. These four words, found repeatedly in verses 10, 12 and 13, although they come across in most of our translations in such a way that makes one think all that is involved in salvation is for a person to believe in Christ, we need to go deeper, to realize that when the apostle John says, in verse 10, “He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; and he who does not believe God has made Him a liar...” Literally, what God's Spirit speaking through the pen of the Apostle John is saying to us is this: “He who keeps on believing in the Son of God continues to have the witness in himself; [and] he who does not continue to believe in the Son of God has made God a liar...” And, the same kind of thing is true for the translation of those words found in verses 12 and 13.

So what am I saying? What's the point? Do you remember that I told you that at least 3 things are certain for Jaden, and for the rest of us who are Christ's followers – 7 days AFTER his baptism?

Number one – for Jaden (and for you and me, too), the growth process is not over – it has only just begun!

Number two – Satan has been working even harder to get Jaden back, since the events of last Lord's Day!

And, number three – it is certain that Jaden, and you and me, need assistance and assurance in our walk with Christ. Here's the point: what I'm trying to drive home in underscoring the continuing aspect of believing as it relates to salvation – two things, two phenomena that I have observed way too many times over the years! Here they are: number one – way too many folks have walked aisles like this one and said words like Jaden said, and gotten wet in a place like the place where Jaden got wet, only to dry off and not be any different! A confession of faith, and an act of faith, if they are not done in faith, not carried out by faith, then they are useless! Useless! The Apostle John writes, in verse 13, “I am writing – I have written what I have written here, to you who continue to believe in the name of the Son of God...” This letter is not written to those who participate in a few empty, religious rituals! No! This Book was written to Believers! To those who continue to Believe!

Second phenomenon I have observed way too many times over the years is this one – a person walks an aisle like this, confesses, sincerely confesses Christ like Jaden did, steps into the watery grace of Christian baptism, and is raised to walk in newness of life – then, BAM! I mean, almost that quickly – BAM! He's hit with, she's hit with the same old temptations, and the same old spiritual struggles! Then, what? Then, into the mind of that vulnerable, little babe in Christ flood thoughts like, “I must not really be saved! I mean, I thought I was! I repented of my sins, confessed my faith in Christ, joined Him in His death, burial and resurrection in Christian baptism, so, why am I being tempted like this? Why am I struggling with doubt and discouragement like this? I though I was saved...”

Look again at verse 13 with me, will you? And read closely and carefully. The Apostle John explains for us in simple, yet I believe, very, very meaningful terms here, WHY he wrote what he wrote.

1 John 5:13, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Three reasons why, number one, as we already pointed out, he wrote to confront the problem of 'easy believism”. You know, walk this aisle, say a few words, get wet in there, and you're good to go. “He who keeps on believing in the Son of God has, is having the witness in himself, but he who does not continue to believe God has made God a liar...” The Holy Spirit directed John to choose words, yes, even to select very specific tenses and forms of words to state very clearly that easy believism, and the empty ritual that goes with it, won't cut it with God!

But, notice also – two other reasons why John wrote what he wrote. These come at phenomenon number two that I described a moment ago. Easy believism and it companion empty, religious ritual is one problem facing folks like you and me and Jaden. But, you know something? I think the problem that confronts and even obstructs far more of us is the problem of doubt! The problem, the naggin questions, “Am I really a Christian? Have I been truly saved?”

One day Jesus was making His way down from a mountain where, before the eyes of Peter, James and John – the same John, by the way, who wrote this letter – Jesus had been radiantly transfigured before their eyes... Still over awed by what had happened on that mountain, Peter, James and John walk with Jesus to meet the rest of the disciples and find them there, at the foot of the mount, striving with the religious leaders and, more importantly, struggling to help a man and his son, his demon-possessed son. Pick up the account with me, if you would, beginning at verse 17 of Mark chapter 9.

Mark 9:17-24, “Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.” He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Now, go back to 1 John 5:13, and read the text with me, one more time.

1 John 5:13, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Why did the Holy Spirit direct the Apostle John to write what he did, in the way that he did? To confront the problem of easy believism, yes. But, I think even more significantly, to confront the problem, the difficult, gut-wrenching problem of doubt.

A moment ago we read in the gospel of Mark the account of a desperate father and his anguished cry for help, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.” As we close, allow me to point you in the direction of a faltering disciple, a faltering disciple, named Peter, and in both cases, the case of the desperate father and, the case of the faltering disciple, allow me, most of all, to remind you of the Faithful Savior! The faithful Savior – Luke 22:31-34.

Luke 22:31, 33, 34, 32, “And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” 34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.” 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

You walk down this aisle, you sincerely confess Christ as your Lord and Savior, you step joyfully into that watery grave and are raised to walk in newness of life... And, about the time your feet reach the top step of the baptistery – BAM! BAM!

“Cock-a-doodle-do!” “Lord, I am ready to go with you, both to prison and to death!” “Didn't I just declare something like that a few minutes ago? And, haven't I just been joined with Christ in Christian baptism? I though I was saved? What's going on here? What went wrong?”

The problem, the deep, anguish-inciting problem of doubt! We've been there, haven't we? We have! But, look! We are not there, in that dark and dreadful place called 'doubt' alone! No! The one to Whom desperate fathers and faltering disciples cry out, “Lord, help my unbelief!” He's there! In that dark place! Yes, He's there! And, look at what He's doing for us there! Luke 22:32, 1 John 2:1, Hebrews 2:16, Hebrews 4:15 and Hebrews 7:25 – There in that deep, dark, dreadful place called doubt, Jesus our Advocate, our Great High Priest, our Mediator, is praying for us, that our faith may not fail! Amen? Amen!

Assurance and assistance! This Book, this portion of Scripture that we have come to love so much, the Holy Spirit directed the Apostle John to write it, so that desperate fathers and faltering disciples might have what they need: assistance and assurance, in their walk of faith with Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:13, “1 John 5:13, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

The Certain Witness

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, October 31, 2010

Image credit.

1 John 5:6-13, “This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

“I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” How many of you have made that 'Good Confession' as it is called? How many of you have spoken those words, before an audience of witnesses such as this one, and the, a few moments later been immersed into Christ for the remission of your sins?

“I believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God.” The Lord willing, in just a little while, my youngest son, Jaden, will step onto this aisle, and walk up here to make that very confession of faith and to join Christ in Christian baptism. And, to say the least, we're very thankful. We praise God for how He's been working in Jaden's heart and mind, leading him to this point of decision, quickening him to trust in Christ, convincing him of his sin, and his need of a Savior – THE one and only Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ - calling him to repent and believe the gospel, and giving him courage to make that step. And, you're here, our dear Northwest Church family, and so are many other dear ones we've invited for this special day in Jaden's life, to share in it with him, and with us.

But, while I have your attention, allow me to point out something to you. According to this Book - this Book that declares itself to be God's book, and that, through many unique, and convincing proofs, shows itself to be God's book – Jesus Christ, believing Him or believing in Him, receiving Him for whom He claims to be, confessing Him, as the Lord-willing Jaden will do in a few moments, it is THE dividing line, the line in the sand, so to speak, between life and death. Life and death. For several of us, those words have come to have new and deeper meaning, just in the last few days, haven't they?

Confessing Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, is MORE than a religious ceremony or the reciting of some theological magic formula! Way more! To put it simply and soberly, it is a matter of life and death. Why is that? Well, as the apostle John would say it, as he has communicated it in the Scripture text we read a moment ago, it has to do with the issue of testimony, or testifying. God's testimony about His Son, Jesus Christ, first and foremost, and then our 'testimony' that hopefully follows thereafter.

Before we explore the gravity, the serious nature of this 'Heavenly' and 'Human' activity of testifying, allow me to sort of lay out the 'facts' pertaining to this testimony.

To begin with, going all the way back to the legal code of the Old Testament - the Law of Moses as we often call it – the idea of testimony or testifying is crucial.

Deuteronomy 19:15 indicates that every matter, every legal action must have at its root, it must be based upon the testimony of at least two or three witnesses. Such is the situation here in what the apostle John is proclaiming to us. The 'point of law' under discussion is this 'testimony' – 1 John 5:11&12 - “that God has given eternal life, and this life is in His Son”. And, that “[those] who have the Son have life [eternal life]; [but] [those] who do not have the Son of God do not have life.”

Now if you think about it, that 'testimony', that legal and theological 'claim' is quite a claim indeed. As I said a moment ago, there is nothing gray-colored here, is there? This 'testimony' puts things in very black and white terms. “He who has the Son, has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life...”

But, legal claims, declarations of this sort have to be backed up, they have to be established, according to Deuteronomy 19:15, by more than just one person's words, by more than one witness.

Look here – scan across this passage again with me, and what do you see? You'll see that this declaration about God and Christ and eternal life is not made merely by a single witness. But by multiple witnesses, or perhaps I should say, multiple layers of witnesses. Let me show you have I mean.

First of all, this witness, this testimony is a surpassing witness, a supreme kind of testimony, because, ultimately, it is given by, spoken by, God Himself. Verse 9: “IF we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.”

Now, to observe that fact about this testimony, the surpassing nature of this testimony because it is God's testimony, might seem like an odd place to start. But allow me to make this observation with you: what kind of 'case', what kind of claim, what kind of testimony, do we have here, if we have here the testimony of One who never, ever lies?! The editors of one particular edition of the Bible I own put it well in their summation of this section of this letter of the apostle John, when they inserted this heading over it: “God's witness is certain.” God's witness, what makes it a supreme or surpassing witness? The fact that His testimony, what He proclaims from His heavenly 'witness stand' is certain! It is sure! Why? Because it is TRUE!

Secondly, please note with me that this witness, this testimony could also be called a Spiritual testimony. A spiritual testimony. Look again at verses 6, 7 and 8, and you'll see it rather clearly. Verse 6 – Jesus Christ, how did He come? In what ways did He manifest Himself? “He came by water and blood”... who says? End of verse 6 – The Spirit, the Spirit – look at this – who is Truth! Furthermore, take a look at verses 7 and 8, and note WHO is testifying: In heaven, all 3 member of the God-head – the Holy Trinity – including the Holy Spirit. And then, the earthly witness – verse 8. The same three mentioned in verse 6, “the Spirit, the water and the blood.” The claim, the declaration that “God has given eternal life – that that life is in His Son, that whoever has the Son has life, and that whoever does not have the Son of God doest not have life...” That legal claim is backed up by the SURPASSING witness of God Himself. It was His voice that declared at Jesus' baptism (Matt. 3:13-17), at Jesus transfiguration, and by means of His resurrection power at work 3 days later (Romans 1:3-4) – it was God's voice at Jesus' death, when water and blood flowed freely from the soldier's piercing of Jesus' side. It was God's voice, on all three of of these momentous occasions that made this magnificent declaration: “This is my beloved Son, in Him I am well pleased!” And that claim about God, and Christ, and eternal life is backed up by the Spirit, the testimony of the Spirit, the Heavenly Dove who descended at Jesus' baptism, the Glory cloud of God's Holy presence who descended so heavily and so powerfully on the mount of transfiguration, and the “Spirit of Holiness” as the apostle Paul calls Him in Romans 1:4, mightily at work at Jesus' death, and especially at Jesus' resurrection! It is a spiritual witness that we are learning about here! And it is a supreme, a superior Witness, the testimony of God Himself, that we are learning about here.

But then, thirdly, not very carefully the content of this testimony, not only WHO is giving it, but WHAT these witnesses – God the Father, and God the Spirit are saying! Verses 9-13. God the Father's witness, the Holy Spirit's testimony about Jesus is what? Simply, that He is God, the Son, that He is the Son of God. And, listen, despite what the false teachers of John's day, and our day would have us believe otherwise, God the Father's witness, and God the Spirit's witness, is that God the Son is both fully God and fully man!

I mentioned a few moments ago that, in keeping with the legal principle of Deuteronomy 19:15, that every matter be established by the testimony, the unified, not divided or disagreeing, but unified testimony of at least two or three witnesses, the declaration of verses 11 and 12, “that God has given eternal life that eternal life is IN His Son, Jesus Christ, that having – possessing and being possessed by the Son of God means that life, eternal life is your possession. And that to fail to have, to refuse to have the Son is to do without, to reject eternal life. This monumental declaration is backed up, established by not just one witness, or even two witnesses, but by multiple witnesses, or we might say, multiple layers of witnesses. Allow me to explain this a little further. By means of His own words, and the powerful presence of His Spirit at Jesus' baptism, transfiguration, death and resurrection, God the Father and God the Spirit have said OF Jesus of Nazareth, He's the One, He's my Son. These are what we might call God's testimonies about His Son, to us.

Now, here's where things get interesting, exciting, and yes, even sobering – that 'line drawn in the sand' kind of stuff! Not only has God testified, provided His CERTAIN witness about His Son – to us!

Listen, if you're a Christian – if you HAVE boldly, unashamedly, sincerely testified, made your own humble and joyful declaration, “Yes! Yes! I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God” and been joined to Him in His death, burial and resurrection in Christian baptism – then, guess what? These very same witnesses, the Spirit, the water and yes, even the blood of Jesus, are at work, testifying, in you! In you!! Verse 10 – It's there in black and white, “He who believes in the Son of God has the witness IN himself.” Christian, do you know what that is? That's a 'hallelujah verse'!! That's a 'glory to God' verse! What God has declared of Jesus by means of the Spirit, the water and the blood, “this is my beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased.” He has also declared, loud and clear, about you!

But, listen. As joyful and exciting a truth as this is, God's witness to our Son-ship written and established in us, in our hearts by His Holy Spirit, as joyful and exciting as all that is, for the Christian – what if you are NOT a Christian?

Sobering – that what this is, or ought to be – sobering, because it is a line-drawn-in-the-sand kind of stuff. Verses 10 through 12 – the Good news, “He who believes in the Son of God has this witness in himself” is set off in stark contrast to the BAD news, namely that “he who does NOT believe God” - not only is such a person calling God, the Certain Witness, a liar! How dare we do such a thing!! But “he who does NOT believe God” - believe what God has said about Jesus, does not have Jesus, God the Son, and in Him, possess eternal life...

“I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” That Good Confession, that testimony made by folks like you and me that sets the stage for Christian baptism, this most sobering of life and death matters – let me ask you just this as we close.

If you do not have eternal life, because you do not have the Son of God, then what DO you have? What DO you have?

“He who as the Son, has life; he who does not have the Son of God, does not have life.”