Prove It 5 // 1 John 5 (ESV)

John 3:3 (ESV) | Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Question: How do I know I am born of God?

  • Acknowledge the darkness within

The saved person believes Jesus is the Christ.

  • 1 John 5:1, 5 (ESV) | Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him…. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
  • Jesus wants to help you overcome your problems so your problems don’t overcome you.

The saved person loves and obeys God.

  • 1 John 5:2-4 (ESV) | By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
  • The Law gave way to Love showing us where we are insufficient and shapes us with God’s sufficiency.

The saved person seeks confident connection with God.

  • 1 John 5:14-15 (ESV) | And this 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.
  • Know God’s Word to Discern God’s Will and Go God’s Way.

The saved person does not give in to the struggle with sin.

  • 1 John 5:18-21 (ESV) | 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.
  • Don’t quit the struggle!

Change is Possible (caterpillar to butterfly video)

  • Our struggles lend to our strength

Reflection Questions

1.    What does it mean to be born again?

2.    What does it mean to believe in Jesus? How does Jesus help you everyday?

3.    What does it mean to love and obey God? What was the purpose of the Old Testament Law? What does Jesus’ Law do for us?

4.    What tool did God gift us with to connect with Him? How does God want us to go to Him? Why?

5.    What does it mean to you to struggle with sin? What happens when you give into the struggle? What can we learn from the chrysalis?