1 John 5:5 [5] “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” There are those who ask the question, was Jesus even real? Did he really exist? Is he nothing more than a myth? While history proves that Jesus lived upon this earth, some still choose not to believe in his existence. They would rather deny the facts, and live in ignorance, than to face this reality. They fear if his existence is true, then everything else about Jesus could be true. These truths are more than some unbelievers want …

1 John 5:4 [4] “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” We cannot defeat the world and its system within ourselves. No matter who we are, or how strong we think we may be, man has proven that he is no match for the world he lives in. Education, reformation, morality, religion, riches, power and prestige have all failed. The world is simply too powerful for man. The pull of the world and the pride of life will swallow him whole every time, leaving him lifeless …

1 John 5:3 [3] “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” John’s message throughout this epistle has been dominated by love. Love is the evidence of life. A dead man knows nothing, sees nothing, hears nothing and feels nothing. When we were lost, we were dead in our trespasses and sins. Because there was no life of God in us, there was no love of God in us.  This verse reveals the divinity of love, the deeds of love and the delight of love. God’s love is seen in …

1 John 5:2 [2] “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.” I remember hearing a preacher tell the story about when he was younger, riding down the road with a much older, and wiser, man of God. After some time traveling, he sensed an awkward silence in the vehicle, for the older preacher was a man of few words. Being young, and wanting to make a good impression on the older man, he thought he would strike up a spiritual conversation to break the silence.  He spoke out, …

1 John 5:1 [1] “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” This verse teaches that our attitude toward God has everything to do with our attitude toward man. When believers have a right relationship with God, they have a right relationship with each other. They love each other, because they are loving him. Love toward God, and his children, is a mark of identification  for every born-again believer.  I once knew an individual who was faithful to church, but always …

1 John 4:21 [21] “And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” The diversity of membership in a church always amazes me. Think for a moment about all the different types of personalities that attend your church. Isn’t it hard to comprehend how a group of people that are  so different can become family? Most people in the congregation are not blood kin, nor have they spent most of their lives together. Within the congregation you have people who have different pay scales, different talents, and are of different mindsets altogether. I …

1 John 4:20  [20] “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” I want you to think about the first phrase of our verse today, “If a man say”. People will say a lot of things, but just because someone says something, that doesn’t make it true. In fact, the Bible teaches us here that if a man says one thing, but his life doesn’t back it up, then he is a …

1 John 4:19 [19] “We love him, because he first loved us.” I’m always amazed at how the Bible can say so much in one phrase or verse. This is a simple, but profound, text when we consider it. If we are not careful, we can read it, and not truly take in all that it has to say to us.  First, think about the reverse in this verse. The first phrase declares that we love him. Can you truly say that today? Do you love Christ? If the answer is yes, then pause for a moment and consider the …

1 John 4:18 [18] “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” Fear is an emotion that every individual has to face. No one likes to live in fear, but we all know what it’s like to have to deal with it. Our verse has a lot to say about this subject. I want you to examine with me four fundamental truths about fear.  First notice the truth about fear. The Bible says, “There is no fear in love”. A child who knows …

1 John 4:17 [17] “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” There are a lot of future events that I look forward to in eternity, but I have to be honest that there is one I greatly dread. I both fear and dread that great judgment morning. Standing before the creator, and giving account for the deeds I have done, and the life I have lived, is not something I’m looking forward to when I leave this world.  The Bible says …