July 30, 2023
Morning Service

Last week in our study of I John 4, John drilled down even deeper into the commandment we have been given to love our brothers (4:21).  In fact, he defined love and those who love in this way:

1Jn 4:15-16Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.  (16)  And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

            God defines love and we who abide (follow Jesus) must also love others because it was Him who first loved us.  When we accept Jesus’ invitation to “Follow Me” we die to ourselves and allow Him to live through us.  He loves those around us through us.  It is what we were created for, to be His hands and feet in this world. 

 

Eph. 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

            The NLT translates workmanship as “masterpiece!”  We are each a masterpiece created uniquely by God for good works; to be a tool in His hand right where we are.

 How can we determine if we are doing this well?

            Today we are going to look at five tests we can evaluate ourselves on where we are in fulfilling the purpose for which we were created for.  The first one is the what we just mentioned as we reviewed chapter 4.

1.Love Test: 

Do we love God and those around us?  John made it very clear that we cannot claim to love God and hate our brother.  We must evaluate our heart to see that love is who we are, not what we do.  To follow Jesus (abide in Him) we must rid our hearts of any hate or ill will towards those around us so that we can come honestly and sincerely before God with a clear conscious. Love defines us a disciple of Jesus.

Joh 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  (35)  By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

            Looking around our church this morning, you all are a very lovable group.  But, there are those at work or my neighbors that are not so easy to love.  We can’t just love those who love us back; Jesus says the world does that.  We have to be different.

2. Faith Test:

1Jn 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.

            Who do we believe Jesus is?  We must confess Him as Lord of our lives and believe it in our heart. 

Rom 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  (10)  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

            To confess with your mouth and believe it in your heart are the first two steps to knowing if you are in the faith. It is not enough to say it; you have to believe it as well.  Hebrews 11:6 tells us this:

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

            This is the verse that spoke loudly to me.  To please Him, I must believe that He is.  If I truly believe then my actions will naturally move me closer to God rather than away from Him as I “diligently seek Him.”  This brings us to the test where the rubber meets the road.

3. Life Test:

1Jn 5:2-3 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.  (3)  For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

            Do we live like we believe?  Could someone take you to court and have enough evidence to convict you as being a Christian?  Do we believe in such a manner that we don’t only confess Him with our voice, but proclaim Him with our lives?  Are we obeying Him out of love or duty?  Jesus commanded us to demonstrate our love for Him, by being obedient.

John 14:15"If you love Me, keep My commandments.

            That does not take a theological degree to understand this, but we must test and make sure our motivation is correct.  We obey because we love not because we have to in a sense of duty or obligation.  I freely desire and choose to keep His commands and, as John told us, “His commandments are not burdensome.”  Oh how He loves us, and I return His love with obedience rooted from my love for Him.  Are you truly living for Jesus and does your life prove it?

 

4. Growth Test:

1Jn 5:4-5 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.  (5)  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

The victory in overcoming the world and all the temptations that are there is the increasing of our faith; or we could say “growing in the Lord.”  When we grow in the knowledge and wisdom of the Lord, the things of this world lose their glitter in our eye as we are exposed to the truth of the gospel message.  It creates a hunger inside of us for more and more of Him.  Jesus said in the sermon on the Mount; “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.”  We realize that it is Jesus that satisfies our longings and completes us.  As each one of us grow in the Lord, it makes all of the church better and stronger.  Paul explained it like this to the Ephesians:

Eph. 4:15-16 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— (16) from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

            Growth in each of us individually causes growth in us as a body of believers building us up (edifying us) in love.  Do you want to see our church grow?  Draw closer to God and He will draw close to you (James 4:8) and we will all grow together.  We end with another tough test.

 

5. Sin Test:

1Jn 5:4-5 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.  (5)  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

            We use the same scripture, but a different view of it.  Are we overcoming the world, or is the world overcoming us?  Are you struggling to find victory in your journey with Jesus?  It is in Him that victory is achieved and we must get our eyes off of the world and off of ourselves and focus solely on Him.  Peter walked on the water overcoming the storm around him until he took his eyes off of Jesus and then sank. I love how the Hebrew writer says this so well after discussing the “Hall of Fame” in chapter 11:

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (2) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

            Our lives are a race, or journey I like to call it, that ends with meeting Jesus face to face.  When we can put our eyes on the prize and focus on this as our priority, we take a new perspective on life.  If you were to run a marathon, you would not carry a heavy backpack, wear a heavy coat, or put on your biggest boots to run.  You lighten your load and take only what is necessary for the journey.  We need to follow the advice we have here from this scripture and “lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”  What weight are you carrying this morning?  Is there sin in your life that makes your journey more difficult?  Are there things in your life that you are doing that draw you away from God rather than draw you closer?  Begin today the process of removing those things from your life.  You will find it very liberating as you let go and let God.

            I challenge you this week to go through this 5 step list in front of your spiritual mirror.  Identify in yourself where you are strong and where you need to work.  Are you truly loving those around you as Jesus loved you?  Do you believe that He is?  Do you live your life according to that belief?  Are you diligently seeking God or just when you need Him?  Are you removing the things in your life that are holding back from seeking Him fully?   The key is it begins with embracing Jesus and understanding all that He does for you and let your motivation be your love for Him.

 

Heavenly Father, help us to honestly evaluate our lives and make any changes needed.  Cleanse us from all unrighteousness and let our hearts be found to truly love You.