“Love…Obey…Believe”
1 John 5:1-5
September 2, 2007
Carl Palmer
Pastor-Teacher
Love
1
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born
of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.
Membership
in the family of God is open to all who confess that Jesus is the Christ, the
Son of God. Therefore, everyone who
makes this confession should deeply love everyone who makes this
confession.
Everyone
“born of God” is not born into isolation, but born into a family with obligations
-- to the Father of the family and also to all the children of
the family.
Obey
2
This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and
carrying out his commands.
3
This is love for God: to obey his commands.
And his
commands are not burdensome.
God’s
commands become burdens – when they conflict with my own will and
desires…
When
that happens, love for my own will dominates my love for God, and what
was intended for my good seems a great burden.
Believe
4 for
everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome
the world, even our faith. 5
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son
of God.
Since
God is almighty, the life He gives must surely be a victorious life.
The
child of God, believing in Jesus, obeying His word and acting in love for God
and people, has supernatural power to overcome the world.
For
every child of God:
What does God want me to be believing?
What command does God want me to be obeying?
Who does God want me to be loving?