Sermon Prepared by James McCullen
Email Preach Him with Dr. Jim

FINAL EXAMS.
1 John 5: 1-5

INTRODUCTION:
Today several of our young men graduate from high school. They will receive a diploma stating they have completed the requirements for a secondary education. Through the years they have taken several final exams. Today they receive a reward because they have passed all their final exams.

John has give three test throughout this book. He wants all Christians to be sure they have eternal life. He has given a test related to birth, love for Christian brothers, and a belief test illustrated in keeping the commandments of God.

In the text today John give three final exams. Will you pass these test and receive the added assurance that you are the child of God? Follow in your copy of the scriptures as we investigate these three exams.

THE FINAL EXAM INCLUDES A BIRTH TEST..... v 1 a, b

THE FINAL EXAM INCLUDES A LOVE TEST...... v 1 c, 2-3

THE FINAL EXAM INCLUDES A VICTORY TEST.... v 4-5
 
 

EXPLANATION:

A.    This birth test highlights the PRINCIPAL of belief

        1. Belief DETERMINES the birth.
                a. Belief not works, or gifts or rituals.

        2. Belief DEMONSTRATES immediate birth.
                a. Make an analogy:
                        1) Physical birth begins at conception.
                        2) Spiritual birth begins at belief.
 

B This birth test highlights the PERSON of belief

        1. The person is JESUS the CHRIST.
            a. Not a J Ws interpretation of Christ.
            b. Not a Mormon interpretation of Christ.
1 John 2:22
Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.
 

ILLUSTRATION:
The necessity of the new birth is vividly portrayed in the life of George Whitfield. At 16 he became deeply convicted of his sin. He tried everything to become acceptable to God. He wrote, "I fasted for 36 hours twice a week. I prayed formal prayers several time a day and almost starved myself to death during Lent, but only felt more miserable.

Then by God's grace I met Charles Wesley, who put a book in my hand that showed me from the Scriptures that I must be 'born again' or be eternally lost." Finally, Whitfield understood that he had to trust in Jesus Christ. He believed and was both forgiven and changed. After he became a preacher, he spoke at least a thousand times on the subject, "You must be born again." Have you ever had a spiritual birthday?
 

APPLICATION:

The Birth test can only be passed by experiencing the New Birth. You must be Born Again through the precious blood of Christ.

1 Peter 1:3 and 23
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be [born again] to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, v 23 for you have been [born again] not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, <that is>,through the living and abiding word of God.
 
 

EXPLANATION: Intro: The Mathematics of the LOVE TEST says 1 + 1 + 1 = 1 (FOLLOW A,  B,  C,)

A.    First we Love God. v 1 c
            v 1 c ". . . and whoever loves the Father loves the <child> born of Him.

            1. LOVE FOR GOD IS SHOWN IN ACTION.
                    a. The action shown in time commitments.
                    b. The action shown in treasure commitments.
                    c. The action shown in talent commitments.

Mr. Willard Rutledge's son was killed in a car wreck almost five years ago. I was told he has been mad at God. Recently he visit in a nursing home and got in a conversation with Otto Kelly. Otto was 97 years of age and near death. Willard led him to the Lord and as Otto was saved Willard came back to the Lord. Why so? Willard is a child of God and even in a backslidden condition he had to share how a man can be saved. In doing so he came back to the Lord himself.

B.    SECOND WE LOVE THE CHILDREN OF GOD. v 1 c - 2
        {2} By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe
        His commandments.

        1. LOVE FOR GOD's CHILDREN IS SHOWN IN ACTION.
                a) The action of teaching.
                b) The action of caring.
                c) The action of being present.
                d) The action of being there.
 

C.    THIRD WE LOVE GOD'S COMMANDMENTS. v 3
        {3} For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not
        burdensome.

        1. LOVE FOR THE COMMANDMENTS IS SHOWN IN ACTION.
                a. Not a burden.

ILLUSTRATION:
J. Stuart Holden was being shown through a large factory where hundreds of looms were spinning very fine linen thread. The manager of the mill said to Mr. Holden, "So delicate is this machinery that if a single thread of the entire 30,000, which at this moment are being woven, should break, all of these looms would instantly stop."

He stepped to one of the machines and broke a single thread. Suddenly every loom was still and remained so until the thread was rejoined, where upon the machinery was again in motion.

The mechanical wonder exhibited in the factory that day clearly illustrates that which is spiritual. It is through one act of disobedience, one departure from the will and fear of God, that the blessings of our fellowship with Him are stopped. Not until that thread is rejoined will the joy of the Lord flow again in our hearts.
 

APPLICATION: The Love test is not three threads but one.

1. Love God, 2. Love the Child of God, 3. Love the Commandments of God.
 
 

A. The Fact Of Our Victory. v 4 a
        {4} For whatever is born of God overcomes the world;. . . "
 

B. The Faith Of Our Victory. v 4 b
        v 4 b "...and this is the victory that has overcome the world- our faith."
 

C. The Force Of Our Victory. v 5
      v 5 And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
 

ILLUSTRATION: Jos.10:24-27 Story of people stepping on the necks of five Kings.
Missionary read this story and applied it to five concerns she had. Wrote each on a piece of paper.

    1. Did not like the fellow missionaries.

    2. Did not like the People of India.

    3. Did not like the home she had to live in.

    4. She was home sick.

    5. She was physically sick.

Then she put her foot on each of these attitudes and said your my enemy and I will have victory over you.

        1. She meet a fine young man. Spent less time in the home she didn't like.

        2. She began to loose her home sick attitude.

        3. The young man helped her to see the people differently.

        4 She began to have a better relationship with her fellow missionaries.

        5. Her physical condition improved.
 

APPLICATION: How you doing? I am OVERCOMING. I have passed my final exams.

Dr. E. V. Hills' message to the "Promise Keepers" He used Acts 4:20 for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard. " Therefore I have a case of the "I cannots". I must tell about the New Birth, I must tell about my Love for God and my brother and sisters, I must tell because I am an overcomer In Christ.
 

Every Christian has the opportunity to be a sower. Some say they can not do that but they really have never tried