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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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EVIDENCES
OF SAVING FAITH - 1 (1 John 5:1-5) Grace
Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming Pastor
Daryl Hilbert A. Evidences
of Familial Relationship (1Jn 3:1-10) B. Evidences of Love - Part 2 (3:11-18) C. Evidences of Truth (3:19-4:6) D. Evidences of Love - Part 3 (4:7-21) E. Evidences of Saving Faith - 1 (5:1-5) 1. Saving
Faith is Continuous (1a) a) Saving
faith here is described as continuous action (o pisteuōn - “the one
who is believing). The Bible describes several types of actions
concerning saving faith. (1) It
begins at a point in time (aorist tense - Rom 10:14; 1Co 15:2; Gal 2:16; Eph
1:13). (2) It continues after that time (continuous
action - present tense - Jn 5:24; 11:25; Rom 9:33; Eph 1:19; 1Jn 5:13). (3) It begins at a point in time and continues
(perfect tense - Act 15:5; 20:25; Tit 3:8 cp. Jn 20:31). b) So
saving faith begins at a point in time and continues until the believer goes
to heaven. Faith does not cease to believe but grows stronger as it
continues. Apostasy takes place when one claims to exercise faith but at some
point ceases to have faith. c) Faith is therefore not stagnant but
always moving. Furthermore, faith is not a simple acknowledgement of the
facts, but rather reliance upon someone or something. d) Jesus Christ is the object upon which
faith rests and relies. It is faith that Jesus is the “Christ.” The word
Christ means Messiah, the anointed One. He is the One who came to die for the
sins of man. e) The one who places his faith in Christ is
born of God spiritually and has a relationship with the Father. 2. Saving
Faith Exhibits Love for the Father (1b) a) When
a believer is alive spiritually, the Holy Spirit gives him a love for the
Father. b) Believers are described as those “who love
God” (Rom 8:28). c) Believers love God with their whole being
(Mar 12:30). d) A love for the world is contrary to the
love for the Father (1Jn 2:15). 3. Saving
Faith Exhibits Love for the Children of God (1c) a) The
believer is taught by God to love one another (1Th 4:9). b) The love of the brethren is to continue
(Heb 13:1). c) Believers are to have a sincere love of
the brethren (1Pe 1:22). d) The believer knows he is born of God
because he loves the brethren (1Jn 3:14, 16). 4. Saving
Faith Exhibits Obedience for God’s Commands (2-3) a) If
we love God, we will love the brethren and we love the brethren because we
are commanded to love the brethren. b) Over and over the believer is commanded to
“love one another (Jn 13:34; 15:12; 1Th 4:9; 1Jn 3:11). c) The exhortation to love God is often
coupled with the exhortation to keep His commandments (Jn 14:15, 21; Jn 15:10
cp. Deu 11:1, 22; Jos 22:5). d) Furthermore, keeping God’s commandments
are not burdensome (barus - heavy,
weight; Eng. “baraometer”).
If a person attempts to obey God’s commandments but has to do so with
constant drudgery, then it could be evidence that that person does not have
saving faith. 5. Saving
Faith Overcomes the World (4-5) a) The
one who truly has been born of God overcomes the world. “Overcome” comes from
the Greek word nikáō, which means to win, prevail, or
conquer. The words “overcome” and “victory” come from the same root. b) The word was used of those who conquered
and were victorious in battle. The believer is engaged in battle with the
world’s system, the flesh, and the devil and it is his faith that gives him
the victory over each of them. (1) The
believer has faith that God has empowered him to resist the influences of the
world (1Jn 5:4-5). (2) The believer has faith that God has given
him the Holy Spirit who enables him to obey God’s will and not carry out the
impulses of the flesh (Gal 5:16). (3) The believer has faith that God has
defeated the devil and gives him the strength to resist the devil (Eph
6:10-12; 1Jn 5:4-5). c) The
fact that a person has victory over these areas is evidence that they are a
believer. It is evidence that they believe (continuously) in the deity of
Christ (“Son of God”). |
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