Things We Know

I John 5:18-21

This last chapter of I John focuses on what we know as Christians. We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the savior of the world because we have evidence to prove it is true. We have the testimony of God the father, of the Jesus, and of the Holy Spirit. We also have the prophecies about his birth, his crucifixion, and his resurrection, and the proof they were fulfilled. We have the working of the Holy Spirit on the earth to further support our knowledge.

Firstly, because we know he is the Son of God, and the savior, we know we have eternal salvation. We no longer have to fear missing it. It is already ours. Knowing that God has done this because of his love for us, we also know that he will answer our prayers, in so far as those answers accomplish what he desires for us. He has promised he will not hold back any good thing.

Thirdly, we know that a person who has a meaningful relationship with God will try to please him, not from fear, or to try to get something, but because of a desire to please him. They will not persist in sin, because sin has no power over them, according to Romans 6:14. “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” As a result we can simply refuse to participate in sin and do what pleases God. Romans 6:11-12 directs, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”

We don’t have to fight Satan, as Nancy Reagan insisted about drugs, we can just say “no”. Christ already fought and defeated him. The only time drug use has declined among the youth was during the “Just say no” program. Many said it was too simplistic and fought for discontinuing it, insisting it couldn’t be that simple, but it worked. A lot of emphasis has been placed on how to get victory over various sins, but ultimately, we just have to say “no”.

“We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” (I John 5:18)

The Christian has the Holy Spirit in him, empowering him to say “no.” I John 3:9 tells us, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” The Holy Spirit will not allow the Christian to be content in sin. Discomfort, punishment, and finally death will show up in a Christian’s life, if they persist in sin. I John 3:10 states that whether a person is of God or not is shown by his lifestyle. “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” We know ourselves by the attitude of our heart.

"And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” (I John 5:19)

Romans 3:10-12 declares the natural human state. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Until we understood this, and that it included us, we had no reason to put our faith in Christ. Only when we understood our inability to do right did Christ’s death for us have significance. Now we know.

“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” (I John 5:20)

Our salvation is the result of God’s giving us understanding and saving us because of his love. Ephesians 2:4- 9 declares God’s part. “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

The unsaved world, by contrast, has chosen not to know God, making up substitutes to replace him, according to Romans 1:21-25. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” Because they have chosen not to know God, God has allowed them to deceive themselves and be deceived by Satan, forming their own religions. Knowing the truth, we must not allow ourselves to be caught up in the false religions around us.

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” (I John 5:21)