Three Tests of Authentic Christianity Text: 1 John 5:1-5 HCSB Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent also loves his child. 2 This is how we know that we love God's children when we love God and obey His commands. 3 For this is what love for God is: to keep His commands. Now His commands are not a burden, 4 because whatever has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith. 5 And who is the one who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? INTRODUCTION 1. As we began our study of First John, it was noted that it had a different objective than the Gospel of John... a. John wrote his gospel in order that one might "have" eternal life • John 20:30-31 HCSB Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name. b. His epistle was written so that one might "know" they have eternal life • 1 John 5:13 HCSB I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. 2. Throughout his epistle, then, John has mentioned the kind of things that provide evidence that one is truly a child of God, possessing fellowship with the Father and the Son • 1 John 3:10 HCSB This is how God's children--and the Devil's children--are made evident. Whoever does not do what is right is not of God, especially the one who does not love his brother. 3. There are actually several tests that John has been applying by which we can know that we have eternal life, and in the text for our study (1 John 5:1-5), they are mentioned together. In these verses there are "Three Tests Of Authentic Christianity", and the first one is... I. THE TEST OF "BELIEF" A. IN PARTICULAR, BELIEF IN JESUS... 1. As the Christ • 1 John 5:1a HCSB Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah 2. As the Son of God • 1 John 5:5 HCSB the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God 3. Who has come in the flesh • 1 John 4:2 HCSB This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. B. TO DENY JESUS AS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD... 1. Makes one a liar and antichrist • 1 John 2:22 HCSB Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Messiah? He is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 2. Makes fellowship with the Father and the Son impossible • 1 John 2:22-23 HCSB Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Messiah? He is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one 1

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who denies the Son can have the Father; he who confesses the Son has the Father as well. 2 John 1:7-9 HCSB Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves so that you don't lose what we have worked for, but you may receive a full reward. 9 Anyone who does not remain in the teaching about Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son.

C. THE IMPORTANCE OF SUCH FAITH IN JESUS... 1. Necessary for one to be "born of God" • 1 John 5:1a HCSB Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born of God a. Just as faith in God is necessary to please Him • Hebrews 11:6 HCSB Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him. b. So faith in Jesus is necessary to experience eternal life • John 8:24 HCSB Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." • Acts 8:36-37 HCSB As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, "Look, there's water! What would keep me from being baptized?" 37 [And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart you may." And he replied, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."] 2. Necessary for one to "overcome the world" • 1 John 5:4-5 HCSB because whatever has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith. 5 And who is the one who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? a. We can overcome the world only through the One who lives in us (USE EXAMPLE OF HAND IN GLOVE) • 1 John 4:4 HCSB You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. b. But with such strength, we can do anything God desires of us • Philippians 4:13 HCSB I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me. Without faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God who came in the flesh, we cannot be born of God and so live so as to overcome the world! But is "belief in Jesus" the only test of authentic Christianity? Not according to Jesus, as found in John 8:30-31. As taught by both Jesus and His beloved disciple John, there is also... II. THE TEST OF "LOVE" A. JESUS HAD MADE BROTHERLY LOVE... 1. A mark of discipleship • John 13:34-35 HCSB "I give you a new commandment: love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." 2. A commandment to prove we are His friends 2

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John 15:12-14, 17 HCSB This is My command: love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you. 17 This is what I command you: love one another.

B. JOHN HAD STRESSED BROTHERLY LOVE... 1. As evidence of abiding in the light • 1 John 2:10 HCSB The one who loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 2. As evidence of being a child of God • 1 John 3:10 HCSB This is how God's children--and the Devil's children--are made evident. Whoever does not do what is right is not of God, especially the one who does not love his brother. 3. As evidence of having passed from death to life • 1 John 3:14 HCSB We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. 4. As evidence of knowing God and being born of God • 1 John 4:7-8 HCSB Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. C. AND NOW, IN DISCUSSING BROTHERLY LOVE... 1. John describes it as a necessary corollary to loving God. If you love God who brings forth children, then you must love those children who have come from Him! • 1 John 5:1a HCSB Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born of God, 2. John reveals how we can be sure that we love God's children (i.e., have brotherly love): by loving God and keeping His commandments • 1 John 5:2 HCSB This is how we know that we love God's children when we love God and obey His commands. a. I may claim to love my brethren... b. But if I do not love God and keep His commandments, my claim is a shallow one! One who is truly "born of God" not only believes in Jesus, then, but also loves the children of God. In discussing the necessity of loving the children of God, John mentioned keeping the commandments of God. This leads to the third test of authentic Christianity, that of... III. THE TEST OF "OBEDIENCE" A. JOHN HAD EMPHASIZED THIS TEST EARLIER... 1. As essential to having fellowship with the Father • 1 John 1:6-7 HCSB If we say, "We have fellowship with Him," and walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 2. As essential to knowing Jesus

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1 John 2:3-4 HCSB This is how we are sure that we have come to know Him: by keeping His commands. 4 The one who says, "I have come to know Him," without keeping His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

3. As essential to loving God • 1 John 2:5a HCSB But whoever keeps His word, truly in him the love of God is perfected. 4. As essential to abiding in Jesus • 1 John 2:5b-6 HCSB This is how we know we are in Him: 6 the one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked. 5. As essential to being a child of God • 1 John 3:10 HCSB This is how God's children--and the Devil's children--are made evident. Whoever does not do what is right is not of God, especially the one who does not love his brother. 6. As essential to having our prayers answered • 1 John 3:22 HCSB and can receive whatever we ask from Him because we keep His commands and do what is pleasing in His sight. B. NOW HE STRESSES THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL TO... 1. Loving the children of God • 1 John 5:2 HCSB This is how we know that we love God's children when we love God and obey His commands. 2. Loving God Himself 1 John 5:3a HCSB For this is what love for God is: to keep His commands. C. TO JOHN, HOWEVER, THIS "TEST" IS NOT A BURDEN... 1. The commandments of God are not "burdensome" • 1 John 5:3b HCSB Now His commands are not a burden, 2. Though he had served the Lord for many years (possibly 50 or more), he had not found the commandments "grievous" (KJV) 3. His attitude toward "commandment-keeping" was like that of David's • Psalms 19:7-11 HCSB The instruction of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, making the heart glad; the commandment of the LORD is radiant, making the eyes light up. 9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are reliable and altogether righteous. 10 They are more desirable than gold--than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey--than honey dripping from the comb. 11 In addition, Your servant is warned by them; there is great reward in keeping them. CONCLUSION 1. In these three areas, then, we find the proof of authentic Christianity: a. Belief in Jesus as the Son of God who came in the flesh b. Love for the brethren c. Obedience in keeping the commandments of God 4

2. It is interesting that today... a. Many people do not have any problem with the first two (belief and love) b. But will often balk when told they need to be obedient to the commands of Jesus Christ ("Oh, you are just being legalistic!") 3. But if we really love God and His children, if we really believe in Jesus as the Son of God who came in the flesh and died for our sins, then the commandments of the Lord will not be grievous... • John 14:15 HCSB "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. Are we passing the tests of authentic Christianity?

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