Christian, What, in the World, Are You? – 1 John 5:18-19

As the world increasingly blurs the definitive line between truth and error, the idea of an absolute God has eroded in peoples’ minds, instead making religion and piety a thing to be customized by each individual’s personal convictions. These uncertain waters of confused religiosity are made murkier by relativity and subjectivism; therefore, Christians must be assured of their true identity in the Lord.

Every true Christian is a man of conviction on God’s Word. Not all conviction is the same. We must see the Bible as the very Word of God. Apostle John’s letter focuses on the Christian’s assurance- his absolute certainty of God’s specific revelation to us through every word of Scripture. (1Jn 1:1) The Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit, and therefore infallible. It is the only ruling authority. (2Tim 3:16; Matt 24:35) It is only faith rooted in the Word that gives believers the conviction and boldness to stand against a world that opposes Christ. On what basis are you secure and at peace? Unless our foundation is God’s Word, we are bound to fail. Saving faith comes by the Word, and it is the source of endless conviction. (Rom 10:17) Every area of our lives- our marriages, ministries, businesses- must be ruled by God’s Word.

Every believer is a child of God. To be a child of God, you must be born of God. We are born of the Spirit when He illuminates truth in us – that we are sinners before a holy God. That’s when the Holy Spirit changes our nature for our salvation. We are imparted with a divine nature like Christ, as we are adopted by God in His love and grace. (Jn 1:12; 2Pet 1:3-4; Eph 4:24) Though we have sinned and strayed from the Lord, those on whom God has set His grace are kept in His steadfast love and mercy. (Lk 15:16, 22-24) There is no fear before God our Father, and He will never forsake us, because Jesus Christ was forsaken for us. (1Jn 3:1-2; Heb 4:16; Matt 27:46) We often fail to feel this intimacy with God our Father because we fail to fear God and live by faith. God shows His fatherly compassion on those who fear and love Him. (103:13)

Christians are holy. Though all Christians sin, genuine believers do not follow after false teaching and remain in God’s Word. The Christian life is not an extension of the old life. We no longer sin naturally, and when facing temptations, sin is not our automatic response. As we continually move closer to God’s holiness, it becomes more evident that sin is incompatible to our new nature. When we do sin, we confess our sins to God and are cleansed through our justification in Christ. (Titus 3:4-5; 1Jn 1:9) We do not remain in sin because of our relationship with Christ. He protects us from its power by His Word and by prayer. The closer we are to Christ and His Word, the farther we are from sin. Jesus prays for us unceasingly because we are children of God, and His prayers sustain us and cause us to grow in sanctification. (Jn 17:17; Rom 8:26; Heb 7:25)

God has provided everything for us to be holy- Jesus’ crucifixion is complete, and we live in His resurrection- yet why do we still sin? It is because we fail to discipline ourselves in the pursuit of our sanctification. (Phil 2:12) We must unceasingly cultivate and work out our sanctification. Our holiness is the only mark that will shine the light of true saving faith in this cursed world. We must draw near to Jesus, the source of living water and eternal life. Then we must live the life of Christ, that is, the life according to Christ. As we do, our holiness will point others to the true and living God.