August 22nd 2021
Followers Of Jesus Are Destined To Live Forever In The New World!
1 John 5:4b-5 (NIV)
This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
Are you becoming an overcomer each day by working on becoming more Christ-like? Can you do things in this world that Jesus did when He lived here as a man? Most people will immediately answer this question with an emphatic NO! However, with faith it seems possible for us to do good deeds that we would not do on our own volition. Every day we see Christian people do good deeds that cost them their time and they are willing to give away some of their money. Okay, so such things are not miracles but still such things do cost the giver some inconvenience and sometimes it requires the giver to deny themselves to some extent. Some people even risk their lives to save someone else that they do not even know.
In the selected verses John has given us compelling reasons why we can overcome this world, and it is not because of good things we do, it is because of what Jesus Christ did for us, in our stead! Then because of this opportunity to be born again in this world of death, which takes us out of the devil’s control, and instead we are directed by the Holy Spirit. Do you feel the freedom? This is the faith that will set you free if you are willing to live it. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
Jesus came into this world for the purpose of setting free His followers. As Jesus has said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). Jesus died to buy your freedom and allow us the freedom to live now, knowing our future is secured for the continuation of our life in the new world. Don’t worry, be happy! Now you are going have that song on your mind all day long! You are welcome!
Paul reminds us about helping our brothers and sisters in this world who may need our help. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ (Acts 20:35). In this world we should look for opportunities to serve others who need our help, as a benefit of our salvation. Jesus told His disciples, us, that He died for us, because He wanted to be our friend, because He first loved us. Greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. This is my command: Love each other. (John 15:13-14, 17). Jesus loved us while we were (are) still sinners!
We all likely know the Biblical account of the woman who believed if she could just touch Jesus’ clothes that she would be healed of her problem of bleeding. So, in a crowed situation she got close enough to Jesus so she could touch His robe. Then Jesus knew someone had tapped into His power. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" (Mark 5:30). This woman admitted that she had touched Jesus, believing that she would be healed. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." (Mark 5:34). Notice that Jesus attributes her healing to be linked to her faith.
If you want to tap into Jesus’ power in your life you must believe that He is willing and capable of fulfilling whatever you request. Then you must be patient as God will decide if/when your request will be fulfilled. Prayers are not answered in ways that we can always understand as our request may not be the best result for us in the long run. God’s will for us is more important than our finite view of our life.
John kind of sums it up for us, as the children of God. I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. (1 John 2:12-14).
Our sins have been forgiven by what Jesus Christ did for us! This and this alone, places us into the future realm that God the Father is planning. There is a new world coming that will be like the first world, before sin came into it, bringing suffering and death into the then perfect world. All those who have chosen to follow Jesus are destined to live in this new world, as the children of God. Are you ready to join this infinite family plan?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
1 John 5:4b-5 (NIV)
This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
Are you becoming an overcomer each day by working on becoming more Christ-like? Can you do things in this world that Jesus did when He lived here as a man? Most people will immediately answer this question with an emphatic NO! However, with faith it seems possible for us to do good deeds that we would not do on our own volition. Every day we see Christian people do good deeds that cost them their time and they are willing to give away some of their money. Okay, so such things are not miracles but still such things do cost the giver some inconvenience and sometimes it requires the giver to deny themselves to some extent. Some people even risk their lives to save someone else that they do not even know.
In the selected verses John has given us compelling reasons why we can overcome this world, and it is not because of good things we do, it is because of what Jesus Christ did for us, in our stead! Then because of this opportunity to be born again in this world of death, which takes us out of the devil’s control, and instead we are directed by the Holy Spirit. Do you feel the freedom? This is the faith that will set you free if you are willing to live it. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
Jesus came into this world for the purpose of setting free His followers. As Jesus has said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). Jesus died to buy your freedom and allow us the freedom to live now, knowing our future is secured for the continuation of our life in the new world. Don’t worry, be happy! Now you are going have that song on your mind all day long! You are welcome!
Paul reminds us about helping our brothers and sisters in this world who may need our help. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ (Acts 20:35). In this world we should look for opportunities to serve others who need our help, as a benefit of our salvation. Jesus told His disciples, us, that He died for us, because He wanted to be our friend, because He first loved us. Greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. This is my command: Love each other. (John 15:13-14, 17). Jesus loved us while we were (are) still sinners!
We all likely know the Biblical account of the woman who believed if she could just touch Jesus’ clothes that she would be healed of her problem of bleeding. So, in a crowed situation she got close enough to Jesus so she could touch His robe. Then Jesus knew someone had tapped into His power. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" (Mark 5:30). This woman admitted that she had touched Jesus, believing that she would be healed. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." (Mark 5:34). Notice that Jesus attributes her healing to be linked to her faith.
If you want to tap into Jesus’ power in your life you must believe that He is willing and capable of fulfilling whatever you request. Then you must be patient as God will decide if/when your request will be fulfilled. Prayers are not answered in ways that we can always understand as our request may not be the best result for us in the long run. God’s will for us is more important than our finite view of our life.
John kind of sums it up for us, as the children of God. I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. (1 John 2:12-14).
Our sins have been forgiven by what Jesus Christ did for us! This and this alone, places us into the future realm that God the Father is planning. There is a new world coming that will be like the first world, before sin came into it, bringing suffering and death into the then perfect world. All those who have chosen to follow Jesus are destined to live in this new world, as the children of God. Are you ready to join this infinite family plan?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak