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

BIRTH MARKS OF THE CHRISTIAN
1 JOHN VARIOUS

INTRODUCTION:

THE BIRTHMARK OF SPIRITUAL DEPORTMENT     1 John 2:29
If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is [born] of Him.

THE BIRTHMARK OF SPIRITUAL DESIRE     1 John 3:9
No one who is [born] of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is [born] of God.

THE BIRTHMARK OF SPIRITUAL DISPOSITION     1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is [born] of God and knows God.

THE BIRTHMARK OF SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT     1 John 5:1
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is [born] of God; and whoever loves the Father loves the <child> [born] of Him.

THE BIRTHMARK OF SPIRITUAL DELIVERANCE      1 John 5:4
For whatever is [born] of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our faith.

THE BIRTHMARK OF SPIRITUAL DOMINION     1 John 5:18
We know that no one who is [born] of God sins; but He who was [born] of God keeps him and the evil one does not touch him.

Now let me ask  "do you have any birthmarks?"    Many people do. John Phillips tell us of several spiritual birthmarks.     I want to organize them into three categories.
 

I.    THE BIRTH MARK OF FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST

II. THE BIRTH MARK OF FAITHFULNESS IN RIGHTEOUSNESS

III. THE BIRTH MARK OF FOSTERING BROTHERLY LOVE
 
 

A.    FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS . . COMMENCES NEW LIFE. 1 John 5:1
        " Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is [born] of God;   and whoever loves the Father loves
        the <child> [born] of Him. "

        1. WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT IS NOT.

        2. FAITH IN THE FATHER MUST INCLUDE THE SON. JOHN 14:6
 

B. FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS . . CONTINUES NEW LIFE.    1 John 5:4
    For whatever is [born] of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the
    world-- our faith.

        1. SAVED AND KEPT BY FAITH
                a. A LIFE LONG WALK
 

ILLUSTRATION: #1
The last message in my commencement address ten years ago was that "faith is essential." I read these lines: I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, "Give me a light, that I may tread safely into the unknown," and he replied, "Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way."

Those words, penned by British author M. Louise Haskins and spoken by King George VI of England in his 1939 Christmas message to the British Empire, describe the type of faith we need to cope with adversity. It is the type of faith that has helped me to realize that opportunity always exists.
 

#2
Faith is the key that opens the door to heaven. You know, you could have a key ring with a lot of keys on it, like this (use actual key ring as object lesson if you have one); they will look somewhat alike. But I'll tell you this. If you go to the front door of my house, you could try all of these keys except the right one, and they would not open that door. The right key to heaven is called faith, saving faith. That is what will open the door to heaven. There is nothing else in the world that will open that door. What is it? FAITH. -- D. James Kennedy
 

APPLICATION: THE BIRTH MARK OF FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST
 
 

A.    A FAITHFUL LIFE DOES . .PRACTICE RIGHTEOUSNESS.     1 John 2:29
        If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness
        is [born] of Him.

        1. PRACTICE RIGHTEOUSNESS BECAUSE OF THE RIGHTEOUS ONE.
                a. MUST BE BORN OF GOD TO BE RIGHTEOUS.
 

B. A FAITHFUL LIFE DOES NOT . .PRACTICE SIN.     1 John 3:9,   1 John 5:18
        9  No one who is [born] of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin,
        because he is [born] of God.

        18 We know that no one who is [born] of God sins; but He who was [born] of God keeps him and
        the evil one does not touch him.

        1. BECAUSE OF THE SEED OF GOD. 3:9
                a) SEEDS PRODUCE THEIR KIND.

        2. BECAUSE OF THE SECURITY OF GOD. 5:18
 

ILLUSTRATION:
Sir Edmund Hillary, who attempted to scale Mount Everest, lost one of the members of his team in the failed effort. He returned to a hero's welcome in London, England, where a banquet held in his honor was attended by the lords and ladies and powerful people of the British Empire. Behind

the speakers' platform were huge blown-up photographs of Mount Everest. When Hillary arose to receive the acclaim of the distinguished audience, he turned around and faced the mountain and said, "Mount Everest, you have defeated me. But I will return. And I will defeat you. Because you can't get any bigger and I can."

IF JESUS IS IN YOUR HEART, WHEN SATAN KNOCKS LET JESUS OPEN THE DOOR
 

APPLICATION:

Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there. -- Will Rogers

THE BIRTH MARK OF FAITHFULNESS IN RIGHTEOUSNESS
 
 

A. FOSTERING LOVE FOR BROTHERS IS . . COMMANDED.     1 John 4:7
        Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God;. . ."

        1. LOVE IS FROM GOD
 

B. FOSTERING LOVE FOR BROTHERS IS . . COMPLIMENTED.     1 John 4:7
        ". . . and everyone who loves is [born] of God and knows God.

        1. KNOWLEDGE OF GOD IS EVIDENT. JOHN 13:34-35
 

ILLUSTRATION:#1

#2 In Germany they came first for:

1. The communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a communist.

2. Then they came for the Jews and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a Jew.

3. Then they came for the trade unionists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionists.

4. Then they came for me and by that time no one was left to speak.
 

CONCLUSION:

In his book "Open the Door Wide to Happy Living," T. Huffman Harris told of a young man named Eddie who became tired of life and decided to leap from a bridge into a turbulent river. Jim, a total stranger, saw Eddie being swept downstream and plunged into the water in an effort to save him. Eddie, a good swimmer, noticed the man floundering desperately in the strong current and knew that without his help he would drown. Something stirred within him. With all of his strength, Eddie swam over to the man and rescued him. Saving that stranger, who had attempted to save him, brought new hope and meaning to Eddie's life.

Sometimes it does take a crisis to shock us out of a "poor-me attitude." When shocked sufficiently, we can begin to see once again our value to God and to others.
 
 

I. THE BIRTH MARK OF FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST

II. THE BIRTH MARK OF FAITHFULNESS IN RIGHTEOUSNESS

III. THE BIRTH MARK OF FOSTERING BROTHERLY LOVE