A. SERMON SLIDES
Slide 1:
Blessed Assurance
I John 5:13-21
Slide 2:
1 John 5:13–21 (ESV)
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. And is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.
We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
Slide 3:
Slide 4:
Any one area fulfilled is not sufficient proof or authentic Chrisian faith, but absence of one is sufficient to confirm false faith. All 3 working together are sufficient proof of authentic Christian faith.
Slide 5:
Four Areas of Assurance and Confidence
I. Confidence in the Written Word (vs. 13)
II. Confidence in the Presence of God (vs. 14,15)
III. Confidence in our Intercessory Role (vs. 16,17)
IV. Confidence in the New Birth (vs 18-21)
Slide 6:
Written Word
“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.”
Slide 7:
Presence of God
“And is the confidence that we have toward him”
Slide 8:
The greatest benefit of mere mortals before the throne of God is not to gain God’s compliance to our wishes, but to be assured of His loving presence. He hears.
Slide 9:
“An ordinary simple Christian kneels down to say his prayers. He is trying to get into touch with God. But if he is a Christian he knows that what is prompting him to pray is also God: God, so to speak, inside him. But he also knows that all his real knowledge of God comes through Christ, the Man who was God – that Christ is standing beside him, helping him to pray, praying for him. You see what is happening. God is the thing to which he is praying – the goal he is trying to reach. God is also the thing inside him which is pushing him on – the motive power. God is also the road or bridge along which he is being pushed to that goal. So that the whole threefold life of the three-personal God is actually going on in that ordinary little bedroom where an ordinary man is on his knees saying his prayers.”
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
Slide 10:
Intercessory Role
“If anyone sees his brother (fellow Christian) committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.”
Slide 11:
What this verse cannot mean:
1) That Christians are dependent on others to find reconciliation with God
2) That we should pray for the hidden sins and motives in other Christians
3) That there are mortal and venial sins, forgivable and unforgivable.
Slide 12:
What it could mean:
1) Christians who are put to death by God for a sinful act
2) Pretending Christian who refuses to be mediated to God through Christ
Slide 13;
Jeremiah 7:16 (ESV)
“As for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with me, for I will not hear you.”
Slide 14:
New Birth
“We know that everyone who has been born of God…”
Slide 15:
New Birth = given understanding so that we may know Him
Slide 16:
New Birth = spiritual protection
Slide 17:
Luke 22:31–32 (ESV)
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
Slide 18:
“He who was born of God will protect him, and the evil one does not touch him.”
Slide 19:
“Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn’t realize that love as powerful as your mother’s for you leaves its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign… to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever.”
B. GROUP DISCUSSION
Please read I John 5:13-21. What is John trying to impress upon his readers at the end of his letter? What stands out to you?
It seems like John has been saying this through his letter:
Any one area fulfilled (Ethical/Relational/Doctrinal) is not sufficient proof or authentic Chrisian faith, but absence of one is sufficient to confirm false faith. All 3 working together are sufficient proof of authentic Christian faith.
Talk about this. Do you agree? What examples can you give from your life or witnessing the lives of others?John writes, so that people can know.
What does this say about the importance of the Word of God.How seriously do you take your role as an intercessor for the brothers and sisters in Christ? God chooses to use the prayers of the church to heal and encourage reconciliation for others to Christ. Do you do this? Why or why not?
What have been your “hangups” with prayer?Why is it impossible to be a Christian without being “born again?” What does it mean? Have you and do you remember when or how?
Prayer and praise.