The Omaha guide., 1934-12-29

IC-victory Through Christ.
The purpose of John In this epistle
Is to furnish criteria by which one may
know beyond a p~eradventure that he
has eternal life (see | John SID. In
working out his purpose he sets down
a definite thesis in chapter l, verses
II, which is that eternal life was man.
ifested to credible witnesses-John and
his fellow apostles-in the person of
Jesus Christ. Through the incarnation
Jesus Christ has become identified with
the human race, so that those who be-
lieve in him are introduced to the ia
Their. resulting in a vital fellowship.
The saved n has fellowship with God,
or fellowship in the life eternal. The
entire epistle is devoted to the exhibit
ton of tests by which one can surely
know that he is saved. The lesson
unit for today is the elimination of
these tests.
!. Believes That Jesus Is the Christ
". u.
Such faith is the proof of gener
alton. He not merely believes in the
ethics of Jesus, but that the historic
Jesus is the Messiah of God-the Son
of God come in the flesh. The one
lacking this belief is still u~nregenerate,
regardless of his pretensions. Jesus
Christ Is the giver of eternal life. Yea,
ne is, in his very essential being, eter-
nal life. Therefore. the one who be-
lieves in him as manifest in the flesh
is born of God.
II. Loves the Children Of God ". u.
The n born of God loves those who
are born Of God. The unfailing test
of fellowship with God is that we love
those who are born of God. Love for
God shows itself in loving Gods chill
dren.
III. Keeps Gods Commandments
wv. 2, ~.
This is filial. not legal obedience. We
do not keep Gods commandments in
order to become his children, but be-
muse we possess his nature. Obedi-
Ince Is the unfailing proof OF the d.
line birth.
! ~. overeomes the World wv. 4, 81.
Conflict for the regenerate man is
absolutely certain. The worlds ways
are opposed to God. By the world Is
meant all that is opposed to God. 1t
Includes all the lusts Of the flesh which
respond to the enticemeHts of the
World. 1t also includes Satan, the
brince of this world. The M who be-
lleyes that Jesus is the son OF God Is
born Of God and has Jesus Christ nv-
ing In him. Therefore, he oyercomes
the world, because he has In him one
who is greater than Satan. Faith in
Jesus Christ is the weapon by means
OF which victory is realized. The vic.
torious life is the absolute test of be-
ing a Christian.
v. The Grounds Of Christian Belief
wv. 6-12).
Since victory over the world is Sc
cured by faith in Jesus as the Son o
God. it is important that we know thu
grounds upon which such belief |
based. The believers faith rests upol
the threefold testimony Of the Spirit
the water, and the blood.
Il l. The Spirit is the Holy Spirit, tn
third member of the Godhead. Iii
supreme business is to make Chris
real. This he does to the spirit OF tn
believer (Rom. S:16l, and to the worlt
through the Word Of God and throug
the lives and testimony of believers.
2. The water is his baptism at tn
Jordan. By baptism he formally Ell
tered upon his mediatorial work.
was here that the Spirit came upo
him In the form of a dove, and thu
the Father acknowledged him as b
Son.
8. The blood is that of the eros
In the act Of baptism he dedicated hir
self to that task of making full a RICH
eousness for man on the cross of ca
vary. This is doubtless what is meaI
by fulfilling all righteousness" b
baptism and the cruci6xion, with {
that they signitied. were proofs tn
Jesus was the very Son of Cod II
witness of the cross of Christ is st
ripping and saving men.