Stand Strong: To Be A Child...Again

2016-01-24 
Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

Memory Verse: 1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Last week, we began a new series focused on the promises of God and how we can all be encouraged and strengthened because we can build our lives based on these promises. Our discussion last week focused on the understanding that God can be trusted. His Word is absolute, there is no question, no doubt over whether we can believe God. We discussed how it is impossible to build our lives on God’s promises unless we fully understand that He can be trusted.

Today, I want to spend some time talking about the greatest promise we have from Him. The promise of salvation, the promise of eternal life. There is no greater encouragement than to know that this world is not all that there is, that God has provided a way for us to live forever. This is not some other worldly, crazy concept of the fountain of youth. It is the promise that because of what Christ has done for us, we have confidence that salvation and eternal life are available to us all.

1 John 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. 2 We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. 3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. 6 And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony. 7 So we have these three witnesses 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree. 9 Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. 10 All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son. 11 And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. 13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.

To Be A Child…Again

1. It Starts By Believing

vs 1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God

Acts 4:12
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Acts 16:31
So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

2. Through Believing We Have Been Promised Power

vs 4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.

– Yes we suffer in this world, but God has given us power to overcome this world

Rom. 8:10
And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

3. Through Believing We Have Been Promised Victory

vs 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God
– We have victory, not because of our talents, but because of our faith

4. Through Believing We Have Been Given Life Now

vs 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

5. Through Believing We Have Been Given Life Eternal

vs 13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.