What Is Authentic Faith In Jesus Christ? pt.5

Text: 1 John 3:1-12 Pt5
Title: What is Authentic Faith in Jesus Christ?

Vital Verse: Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3:2–3).

Nugget to Nibble:
The third chapter of John focuses on the necessity of the children of God walking in purity by avoiding sin and maintaining an authentic love for one another (1 John 3:1-24). Since believers in Christ are children of God, every phase of life anticipates dwelling eternally with God. An incredible zeal should compel Christians to fix their faculties on their redeemer (1 John 3:3). Authentic children of God "purify" the internal and external aspects of their lives in conformity with the purity of God. The cleansing John references exceeds ritual purity. Israelites and the Levitical priests specialized in the external rites of cleanliness. Both groups attempted to remove the physical elements that defiled or rendered them unclean in the Old Testament’s sacrificial system. New Testament believers must cleanse the internal filth of the mind. Defilement after Christ emphasizes the unseen sin of the mind that manifests through the body. 1 John 3:11-24 focuses on one of the primary areas where the hidden sin of the heart occurs: love for another. The relationship between family, friends, and humanity demonstrates the condition of the mind. Authentic love for God will create a love for others (1 John 3:14). Love for humanity signifies that one has transitioned from the death that sin produces to the eternal life emanating from the Holy Spirit.

Outline of Text
1. Believers purify their body. 1 John 3:1-3

Fact #1
Humanity is the creation of God through nature, but spiritual conversion alone qualifies one as a child of God.

Fact #2
Membership in the local church does not guarantee membership in the universal church.

2. Believers practice righteousness not sin. 1 John 3:4-10

Warning of Deception: 3:7
Christian/righteous
1) Behavior: the righteous practices righteousness 3:7
2) Paternity/Father: the righteous have the seed of the Father. 3:9
3) Identity: the righteous are born of God. 3:9

Sinner/Wicked person:
1) Behavior: practice of sin is of the devil. 3:8
2) Paternity/Father: no one born of God practices sin. 3:8
3) Identity: the wicked practices sin and is born of the devil. 3:10

3. Believers persevere in love. 1 John 3:11-23

Fact#3
Hatred for an ethic group reveals a hatred for God and the spirit of antichrist.

Impact Fact:
Authentic Christians purify themselves because the person who practices sin reinstates what Christ came to remove.