CHRIST THE TRUE GOD
1 John 5:18-21, ESV
Part 20 of the sermon series on the letters of John (final).
The apostle assures the believers that if they pray according to God’s will, He will hear them. John gave a very specific application that if one prays for a brother (or sister) in sin, God will give him life. The author classifies those whose sins do not lead to death, which could mean believing in false teaching, or those who keep on sinning as a lifestyle. John would end his letter by once again using the phrase “born of God,” and that Christ protects all born of God from the evil one. The apostle would end his letter like he began it, declaring the deity of Christ.
Protected
Those born of God do not have a lifestyle of sin. The theological term for being born of God is regeneration. John states that Christ protects all born of God, yet the author proclaims that Christ is born of God. It means that Christ was born as a man, yet John would also write that Christ is God.
1 John 5:18: 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.
Christ is born of God in the sense of the virgin birth. Christ is eternal, but His physical body was born of God. It was miraculous. Conversely, believers were born in the flesh, but they are born of God in the Spirit.
True God
The apostle assures the believers that they are from God, but the whole world is under the influence of the evil one. John highlights that understanding comes from the Son of God. The author then gave the most powerful statement that Jesus Chris is the true God.
1 John 5:19-20: We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 20 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.
One may observe two orthodox doctrines: regeneration and Christ’s sovereign power in salvation. No one can be born of God or regenerated without the power of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is important to note that near the end of his gospel account, he narrates Thomas saying, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). John ends near the end of his first letter, “Jesus is the true God and eternal life.”
No Idols
After declaring that Jesus Christ is the true God who brings about regeneration, John instructs the believers to keep themselves from idols. Worshipping Jesus is not idolatry because Christ is one with the Father.
1 John 5:21: Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
God clearly revealed in the Old and New Testaments that He hates idolatry. Therefore, everyone who fears God should avoid it with all their strength. However, idolatry can be subtle. Anything one values more than God is a form of idolatry.
Application
1. Let us stand secured as we believe in His word. The word promised that Christ protects us from the evil influence of the evil one. One sign that we belong to Him is removing from ourselves a lifestyle of sin.
2. We believe that all men are sinners, and it is only through the work of Christ that a person can be saved. Only God can make us born of God, made possible by the Son. We believe and proclaim that Christ is the true God and eternal life.
3. God hates idolatry. Therefore, we must avoid it. We will lift no one higher than the Trine God. By His grace, we will not allow any desire to take root in our hearts. Our sole desire is the Lord and His word.
Poem
TRUE GOD by Ed Pilapil Jr John declares the true God, it’s Christ Do not believe all other lies Father, Son, and Holy Spirit One God, let us all declare it The Triune God, the Trinity Scripture reveals the mystery Revealed to the new creation Also called regeneration Christ is called the eternal life They say deity or divine Only the Godhead is divine Only He gives eternal life Born of God: regeneration New birth, known as, new creation True God, no longer a mystery Sovereign is the Trinity Christ is God, we will declare it Through the power of the Spirit Push back on false teaching and lies Glorify the Father and Christ
Study Guide
1. What does it mean to be born of God as a believer? What does it mean for Christ to be born of God?
2. What is the state of the whole world? Who gave the believers understanding? What is the significance that saving knowledge comes from God?
3. What is idolatry? Why do you think John ended by instructing the believers to keep themselves from idols?
PDF files
