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Five Restful Assurances for Believers
1 John 5:13–21 | John has written an entire letter for believers to rest assured in their faith. This week, we bring the letter to a close, and as we do we should be asking: So what should I be walking away with from this study of 1 John?
John answers this in his closing verses with five restful assurances for the one who has believed in Jesus. Let's finish this book strong together.
1 John 5:13–21 | John has written an entire letter for believers to rest assured in their faith. This week, we bring the letter to a close, and as we do we should be asking: So what should I be walking away with from this study of 1 John?
John answers this in his closing verses with five restful assurances for the one who has believed in Jesus. Let's finish this book strong together.
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The Most Important Decision of Your Life
1 John 5:6–12 | The most important decision of your life is whether you will believe Jesus is the Son of God who can save you from your sin. There it is, as direct as I can write it. This week's passage states this fact as simply, loving, and pointedly as God can state it.
So the question is: Have you believed Jesus is the Son of God and experienced life in Christ?
1 John 5:6–12 | The most important decision of your life is whether you will believe Jesus is the Son of God who can save you from your sin. There it is, as direct as I can write it. This week's passage states this fact as simply, loving, and pointedly as God can state it.
So the question is: Have you believed Jesus is the Son of God and experienced life in Christ?
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Breakthrough Love
1 John 5:1–5 | Breakthrough (noun): a sudden and important development or an instance of achieving success in a particular activity.
I'm sure you've noticed that one of the recurring themes in the book of 1 John is love. Truthfully, it’s nearly impossible to study a chapter in 1 John without hearing about the love of God and a love for others. We’ve seen this beautiful picture of love presented throughout this series - a deep, selfless, unshakeable love that God commands and exemplifies. But how do we get to the place where we love like that?
1 John 5:1–5 | Breakthrough (noun): a sudden and important development or an instance of achieving success in a particular activity.
I'm sure you've noticed that one of the recurring themes in the book of 1 John is love. Truthfully, it’s nearly impossible to study a chapter in 1 John without hearing about the love of God and a love for others.
We’ve seen this beautiful picture of love presented throughout this series - a deep, selfless, unshakeable love that God commands and exemplifies. But how do we get to the place where we love like that?
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The Assurance of God in Us
1 John 4:13–21 | One of the key themes of 1 John is that true believers love one another. John has continued to make this point throughout the letter. And last week, as we studied verses 4:7-12, we saw the simple command to love one another in light of the audaciously gracious love of God. And while we can say “Amen” to that with our mouths and understand it in our heads, the reality is that many of us can struggle with this in one of two ways. The first struggle is that we can doubt that God can truly love us like that. And the second struggle is that we can despair that we are failing at loving others as God loves us. But John does not want us to despair or to question God’s love for us. He desperately wants to assure us of God’s love for us and His abiding in us which is evidenced by a confidence before God and a love for others.
1 John 4:13–21 | One of the key themes of 1 John is that true believers love one another. John has continued to make this point throughout the letter. And last week, as we studied verses 4:7-12, we saw the simple command to love one another in light of the audaciously gracious love of God.
And while we can say “Amen” to that with our mouths and understand it in our heads, the reality is that many of us can struggle with this in one of two ways. The first struggle is that we can doubt that God can truly love us like that. And the second struggle is that we can despair that we are failing at loving others as God loves us.
But John does not want us to despair or to question God’s love for us. He desperately wants to assure us of God’s love for us and His abiding in us which is evidenced by a confidence before God and a love for others.
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The Power To Love One Another
1 John 4:7–12 | We know we are called as followers of Jesus to love one another, and we know that can be hard at times. This week, John tells us the source of the power of loving one another. And his explanation might surprise us.
1 John 4:7–12 | We know we are called as followers of Jesus to love one another, and we know that can be hard at times. This week, John tells us the source of the power of loving one another. And his explanation might surprise us.
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Consider The Source
1 John 4:1–6 | We learn this pretty early on in life: "Don't believe everything you hear!" We grow up learning to use discernment to separate truth from lies, right from wrong, real from fake.
This same simple saying needs to be applied to who we listen to and who we don't listen to on spiritual matters. This week's passage teaches us how to discern spiritual truths from spiritual errors. This week is an investment in our spiritual health to ensure we are getting our information about Jesus and what it means to follow Jesus from reliable sources.
1 John 4:1–6 | We learn this pretty early on in life: "Don't believe everything you hear!" We grow up learning to use discernment to separate truth from lies, right from wrong, real from fake.
This same simple saying needs to be applied to who we listen to and who we don't listen to on spiritual matters. This week's passage teaches us how to discern spiritual truths from spiritual errors. This week is an investment in our spiritual health to ensure we are getting our information about Jesus and what it means to follow Jesus from reliable sources.
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Quieting A Condemning Heart
1 John 3:19–24 | The battle to rest assured is won and lost in our hearts. We all know the loud megaphone a condemning heart can have, and how our internal wrestlings can mess with the assurance of our faith.
In this message, we look at a beautiful passage that helps a follower of Jesus quiet a condemning heart. Let's take the megaphone away from that loud internal voice of condemnation and enjoy the restful assurance of those who are in Christ.
1 John 3:19–24 | The battle to rest assured is won and lost in our hearts. We all know the loud megaphone a condemning heart can have, and how our internal wrestlings can mess with the assurance of our faith.
In this message, we look at a beautiful passage that helps a follower of Jesus quiet a condemning heart. Let's take the megaphone away from that loud internal voice of condemnation and enjoy the restful assurance of those who are in Christ.
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Marked By Love
1 John 3:11–18 | Marked: clearly noticeable. Evident. As the family of God, we are to be marked by certain things. We’ve seen consistently throughout the book of 1st John that we are to be marked by faith in the true Jesus. We’ve looked recently at the reality that we are to be marked by a pattern of righteousness and not one of continual sin. Now our attention shifts to love. Christians are to be marked by love. Jesus tells us that the world will know that we are part of the family of God by our love for each other.
1 John 3:11–18 | Marked: clearly noticeable. Evident.
As the family of God, we are to be marked by certain things. We’ve seen consistently throughout the book of 1st John that we are to be marked by faith in the true Jesus. We’ve looked recently at the reality that we are to be marked by a pattern of righteousness and not one of continual sin. Now our attention shifts to love.
Christians are to be marked by love. Jesus tells us that the world will know that we are part of the family of God by our love for each other.
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Practicing Sin or Practicing Righteousness?
1 John 3:4–10 | "No one who abides in him keeps on sinning..."Whoa. I read that soberly. I know of my sin struggles and where I see sin rear its ugly head in my life. I know I know Christ, but I also know I "keep sinning." But what does John mean here? What does he want us to understand about the person who persists in sin, makes a practice of it, keeps on sinning? What will John boldly tell us is true of this person's eternal reality? And how is this different from the sin struggles of the true Christian?
1 John 3:4–10 | "No one who abides in him keeps on sinning..."
Whoa. I read that soberly. I know of my sin struggles and where I see sin rear its ugly head in my life. I know I know Christ, but I also know I "keep sinning."
But what does John mean here? What does he want us to understand about the person who persists in sin, makes a practice of it, keeps on sinning? What will John boldly tell us is true of this person's eternal reality? And how is this different from the sin struggles of the true Christian?
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The Adopting, Sanctifying, Perfecting Love of God
1 John 3:1–3 | Do you know...like really know...like deep down in the fabric of your being know...how much Jesus loves you!
This week we will see what Jesus has done that allows us to know how much he loves us. This week we will see what he is doing that shows how much he loves us. This week we will see what he will do that shows us how much he loves us.
Need a fresh drink from the well of the Father's love for you?
1 John 3:1–3 | Do you know...like really know...like deep down in the fabric of your being know...how much Jesus loves you!
This week we will see what Jesus has done that allows us to know how much he loves us. This week we will see what he is doing that shows how much he loves us. This week we will see what he will do that shows us how much he loves us.
Need a fresh drink from the well of the Father's love for you?
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Last Hour Living
1 John 2:18–29 | Read the headlines. Watch the news. Follow global events. Just look around. Everything seems heavy, sad, broken, and not getting any better. We are living in the last hour. But what does that mean? What does “last hour living” look like for the believer? How do we navigate so many against Christ in these days in a way that, well, models the peace and rest of Christ.
In this message, we'll talk about four restful reminders for last hour living.
1 John 2:18–29 | Read the headlines. Watch the news. Follow global events. Just look around. Everything seems heavy, sad, broken, and not getting any better.
We are living in the last hour. But what does that mean? What does “last hour living” look like for the believer? How do we navigate so many against Christ in these days in a way that, well, models the peace and rest of Christ.
In this message, we'll talk about four restful reminders for last hour living.
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Do I Love The World?
1 John 2:15–17 | 1 John 2:15 says, "Do not love the world or the things in the world." And from there it goes on to identify a very dire reality for anyone who does love the world.
But I'm confused... doesn't the most well-known verse of all time tell us that "God so loved the world?" So should we love the world or not love the world?
What is John saying here? What does it mean to not love the world in the way John means it? How do I even know if I do love the world in this way? And what's at stake if I am a lover of the world?
1 John 2:15–17 | 1 John 2:15 says, "Do not love the world or the things in the world." And from there it goes on to identify a very dire reality for anyone who does love the world.
But I'm confused... doesn't the most well-known verse of all time tell us that "God so loved the world?" So should we love the world or not love the world?
What is John saying here? What does it mean to not love the world in the way John means it? How do I even know if I do love the world in this way? And what's at stake if I am a lover of the world?
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I Am Beloved.
1 John 2:7–14 | I always enjoy hearing the stories of how people have come to know Jesus as their Lord. The stories usually have similar undertones as everyone comes to Jesus broken, crushed by the weight of their sin. Some people are more wrecked than others, some have an acute awareness of their condition before a holy God that causes alarm, but we all come to Jesus broken. My favorite part of the story is when they get to the place where Jesus transfers them from darkness to light, from broken to whole. There is always this moment of, "hallelujah" that erupts in my heart when I hear this part of the story. This is how it should be for God's children. God's children have a unique privilege to enjoy God in a way that no other creature in all of creation can. And this enjoying of God ought to have a revolutionary effect on our lives.
1 John 2:7–14 | I always enjoy hearing the stories of how people have come to know Jesus as their Lord. The stories usually have similar undertones as everyone comes to Jesus broken, crushed by the weight of their sin. Some people are more wrecked than others, some have an acute awareness of their condition before a holy God that causes alarm, but we all come to Jesus broken.
My favorite part of the story is when they get to the place where Jesus transfers them from darkness to light, from broken to whole. There is always this moment of, "hallelujah" that erupts in my heart when I hear this part of the story. This is how it should be for God's children. God's children have a unique privilege to enjoy God in a way that no other creature in all of creation can. And this enjoying of God ought to have a revolutionary effect on our lives.
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Grow And You'll Know
1 John 2:3–6 | When we were young, it was much easier to know that we know things. The confidence that comes from simple knowledge is undeniable. As a child, you didn’t say, “I think my daddy is a doctor.” You were confident, “My daddy is a doctor.” But as we age, it’s much harder to have that same confidence. We move from “I know I know.” to “I think I know.” to simply, “I think.” This happens as our world gets more complex and the explanations get harder to understand. And, unfortunately, this also happens with our faith.
I know that I know God. I think that I know God. I think about God.
This week as we continue our study in 1 John, we’re going to look at the marks of a true believer. What should be true of all of us, if we are truly in Jesus Christ? And most importantly, we’ll answer the question: How can you know that you know God?
1 John 2:3–6 | When we were young, it was much easier to know that we know things. The confidence that comes from simple knowledge is undeniable. As a child, you didn’t say, “I think my daddy is a doctor.” You were confident, “My daddy is a doctor.” But as we age, it’s much harder to have that same confidence. We move from “I know I know.” to “I think I know.” to simply, “I think.” This happens as our world gets more complex and the explanations get harder to understand. And, unfortunately, this also happens with our faith.
I know that I know God. I think that I know God. I think about God.
This week as we continue our study in 1 John, we’re going to look at the marks of a true believer. What should be true of all of us, if we are truly in Jesus Christ? And most importantly, we’ll answer the question: How can you know that you know God?
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The Propitiation For Our Sins
1 John 2:1–2 | 1 John 2:2 made me look like a fool on a beach one time. Seriously. The revelation God gave as to what it meant for Christ to be the propitiation for my sin had me on my feet, jumping around, celebrating the MASSIVE implications it had for my life and for all who call on Christ to be saved.
So...what does it mean that Christ is the propitiation for our sins? Why does it matter? And how might the revelation of this sink into your heart in such a way that you too will look like a "worshipping fool" in your joyful response to it?
1 John 2:1–2 | 1 John 2:2 made me look like a fool on a beach one time. Seriously. The revelation God gave as to what it meant for Christ to be the propitiation for my sin had me on my feet, jumping around, celebrating the MASSIVE implications it had for my life and for all who call on Christ to be saved.
So...what does it mean that Christ is the propitiation for our sins? Why does it matter? And how might the revelation of this sink into your heart in such a way that you too will look like a "worshipping fool" in your joyful response to it?
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Confessing Sin
1 John 1:8–10 | We often run from the idea of confessing our sin. The lies build up in our head as to why concealing it is better than confessing it. We might offer up to God in generalities some broad sin struggle, but fight the notion of naming the specifics of our sin, and we really shudder at the thought of telling others about it.
This week we look at God's goodness and grace to us in giving us the means of confessing our sin. We're going to debunk a lie that tells us we don't need to confess. We're going to define what healthy confession looks like. We're going to destroy the hurdles that keep us from confessing. And we are going to determine to trust the character of God and promises of God for those who confess sin.
1 John 1:8–10 | We often run from the idea of confessing our sin. The lies build up in our head as to why concealing it is better than confessing it. We might offer up to God in generalities some broad sin struggle, but fight the notion of naming the specifics of our sin, and we really shudder at the thought of telling others about it.
This week we look at God's goodness and grace to us in giving us the means of confessing our sin. We're going to debunk a lie that tells us we don't need to confess. We're going to define what healthy confession looks like. We're going to destroy the hurdles that keep us from confessing. And we are going to determine to trust the character of God and promises of God for those who confess sin.
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Walking In The Light
1 John 1:5–7 | God is light. We are told this in the word. This means that God's people are to walk in the light and their relationship with the Lord should be seen in their life. There is a scary possibility brought up in what we will study this week in that it's possible for people to say they have fellowship with God, to possibly even think they have fellowship with God, and yet still be walking in darkness.
So... what does it mean that God is light? What does it look like to walk in the light? How do we know if we are still walking in darkness? And the most important question for us to answer: How do we cross over from darkness to light?
1 John 1:5–7 | God is light. We are told this in the word. This means that God's people are to walk in the light and their relationship with the Lord should be seen in their life. There is a scary possibility brought up in what we will study this week in that it's possible for people to say they have fellowship with God, to possibly even think they have fellowship with God, and yet still be walking in darkness.
So... what does it mean that God is light? What does it look like to walk in the light? How do we know if we are still walking in darkness? And the most important question for us to answer: How do we cross over from darkness to light?
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Jesus From Jump Street
1 John 1:1–4 | John wastes no time as he opens this letter. Page open. Pen in hand. Let’s talk about Jesus! He will tell us that it’s this Jesus and our right understanding of Jesus that will lead to fellowship with God and with each other. And this fellowship leads to our joy!
1 John 1:1–4 | John wastes no time as he opens this letter. Page open. Pen in hand. Let’s talk about Jesus!
He will tell us that it’s this Jesus and our right understanding of Jesus that will lead to fellowship with God and with each other. And this fellowship leads to our joy!
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Background of 1 John
1 John | Assurance brings peace. Assurance brings joy. Assurance brings rest. We are about to embark on a journey through a letter in our Bible with this stated purpose: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” This letter seeks to provide corporate assurance to a group of believers and personal assurance to individual believers of what it looks like to be in Christ. Let’s go on the journey together and experience all of the blessings of knowing this rest-giving assurance of our standing in Christ.
1 John | Assurance brings peace.
Assurance brings joy.
Assurance brings rest.
We are about to embark on a journey through a letter in our Bible with this stated purpose: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.”
This letter seeks to provide corporate assurance to a group of believers and personal assurance to individual believers of what it looks like to be in Christ.
Let’s go on the journey together and experience all of the blessings of knowing this rest-giving assurance of our standing in Christ.
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