1. What Do You Know for Sure? I John 5:6-21 Chapter 10

2. “Nothing is certain but death and taxes.” Benjamin Franklin “We know!” –Know: in John’s letter – 39 times (8 times in I John 5:6-21) The life that is real is built on the divine certainties that are found in Jesus Christ. Jesus is God (5:6-10) –To believe that Jesus is the Son of God is basic to Christian experience

3. –Three Witnesses 1 st witness – the water –“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” Matthew 3: 13-17 2 nd witness – the blood –Jesus on the cross: the supernatural darkness, the earthquake, and the rending of the veil (Matt 27:45, 50-53 –“Truly this was the Son of God” (54) 3 rd witness – the Spirit –Spirit was given (John 26; 16:14) –The only Person active on earth today –The witnessing of the Father is past history; the witnessing of the Spirit is present history –The first is external; the second is internal

4. –The Spirit witnesses within the believer »The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are the children of God (Rom 8:16) –Spirit witnesses through the Word (I Cor 2:14) –Christians feels at home with God’s people because the Spirit dwells in him The law requires 2 or 3 witnesses (Deut 19:15) –The Father, cross, and the Spirit within the believer The Spirit, the water, and the blood agree that Jesus is the Son of God Believers Have Eternal Life (5:11-13) –Key word in I John 5:6-10) – witness (record or testifieth)

5. –Witness of the Word of God “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (5:13) Eternal life is a gift (John 10:27-29, Eph 2:8,9) –The gift is a Person-Jesus Christ »“He that has the Son has the life” (I John 5:12 NASB) Characteristics of God’s children –“Everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him” (I John 2:29 NASB) –“No one who is born of God practices sin” (3:9 NASB) –“We know that we passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren” (3:14) –“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (4:9 NASB)

6. –“Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world” (5:4) –For I know whom I believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (II Tim 1:12) God Answers Prayer (5:14-15) –Christians have confidence in prayer Confidence – freedom of speech –Conditions we must meet Heart that does not condemn (3:21-22) –Unconfessed sin, an obstacle to answered prayer (Psalm 66:18) –Differences between husband and wife (I Peter 3;1-7) –Differences between Christians (Matt 5:23-25) We must pray in God’s will (Matt 6:10)

7. –“Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance. It is laying hold of God’s willingness” George Mueller –Determine God’s will »By reading God’s Word »By listening to the Spirit »By discerning the circumstance around us –Prayer is the way God wants His children to get what they need –Prayer is the thermometer of the spiritual life –“We know that we have the request” (15) »Inner confidence that God has answered –Prayer is the desire of the heart & the utterance of the lips »“Pray without ceasing” (I Thess 5:17) Abiding in Christ –Reasons to pray »Command

8. »God-appointed means (way) to receive what God wants to give »Keep in God’s will Dependence on prayer –In the morning (Mark 1:35) –All night (Luke 6:12) –Gethesame –On the cross 3 times Most important about prayer – will of God Christians Do Not Practice sin (5:16-19) –The practice of sin, habitual sins, not occasional sins –Believers have new nature (Good’s seed, v.9) –Christians face three enemies: the world, flesh, and Devil

9. Devil –The world “lies in the power of the evil one” (Satan) (5:19 NASB) –Satan – the god of the age (II Cor 4:3-4) –Prince of this world (John 14:30) –The spirit who works in the children of disobedience (Eph 2:12) –Satan has many devices »Lies (Gen 3; II Cor 11:1-3) »Infliction of physical sufferings (Job & Paul II Cor 11:1-3) »Pride – David (I Chron 21) –Roles »Serpent who deceives (Rev 12:9 »Lion who devours ( I Peter 5:8-9) Flesh – old nature, old man, sinful nature

10. The world (I John 2:15-17) –Desires of the flesh –The desires of the eyes –The pride of life –How to keep from sinning “He (Christ) who was born of God keep him (the believer) and the evil doesn’t touch him.” (5:18 NASB) –Simon (Luke 22:31-32) –Satan cannot touch without God’s permission Job) –Satan cannot go beyond what the believer can tolerates (I Cor 10:13) Spiritual young man”; their ability to overcome the evil one (I John 2:13-14) through God’s Word abiding in believers –Sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17)

11. When a believer sins, he can confess his sins to God and be forgiven (I John 1:9) –All unrighteousness is sin: degrees »Sins can lead to death (16-17) »Nadab & Abihu (Lev 10:1-7) »Korah (Numbers 16) »Achan (Joshua 6-7) »Uzzah (II Sam 6) Believers have the greater responsibility to obey God –Complete Bible –Full revelation of grace –Dwelling of the Holy Spirit within the believers –Warnings »Annias & Sapphira »Lord’s Supper (I Cor 11:30)

12. The Christain Life Is the Real life (5:20-21) –“We know that our real life in the true One, and in His Son, Jesus Christ. This is real God and this is real, eternal life” (5:20 Ph) Ephesus given over to idolatry “We know that there is no such things as an idol in the world, and there is no God but one.” (I Cor 8:4 NASB) –Idols: “Nothings, vapors, emptiness” –Lifeless, useless substitute for the real thing –Ps 115:1-8 Idolatry –Covetousness (Col 3:5) –Violation of God’s commandment & Satan’s device to

13. »Control –World vs Christians Enlightenment vs God is Light Love vs real love (God is love) Wisdom & learning vs truth (Spirit is the truth) –“Christian has turned from idols to serve the living and true God.” (II Thess 1:9)