“To be born again is to enter into a new existence, to have a new mind, a new heart, new views, new principles, new tastes, new affections, new likes, new dislikes, new fears, new joys, new sorrows, new love to things once hated, new hatred to things once loved, new thoughts of God, ourselves, the world, the life to come and salvation.”
– JC. Ryle
Prayer
Beyond a shadow of a doubt
1 John 5:13
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
There are two types of court in the country; federal system court and state court.
Federal courts operate differently from state courts. Primarily federal courts are civil or those involving the constitution or laws. States handle criminal and civil.
There are about 94 district courts, 13 circuit courts, and one Supreme Court in the United States. There are about 1770 judges in the country and 1.3 million lawyers.
Here are some of the most famous trials in the United States.
Espionage trial of the Rosenbergs 1951
This trial remains to be the only instance of Americans being jailed for espionage during the cold war. Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were tried, convicted, and executed for conspiracy. Their trial was credited for fueling the cold war paranoia among the Americans.
Ted Bundy Trial 1979
This was the first murder trial to be aired on television and radio in America. His murder trial remains to be the most-watched of all time.
Manson’s Family Trial 1970
Charles Manson led a cult-like group that murdered eight people. During the trial, the members of the group shaved their heads and sang on their way to the court. Similarly, Manson sang in the courtroom.
Manson and the followers were all sentenced to death which became life imprisonment.
The Lindbergh baby 1934
The son of a famous pilot, Charles Lindbergh went missing. The remains were found two months later. An investigation was set up which ran for about two years. Richard Hauptmann was identified, tried and convicted
For the first time, the press used sound cameras during the criminal trial.
OJ Simpson’s trial 1995
This is well recalled as the trial of the century. O. J. Simpson was a former actor, celebrity pitchman, and football Hall of Famer. His trial proceedings were being followed by an estimate of ninety-five million people.
He was convicted for killing his ex-wife, Nicole Brown, and her friend Ron Goldman.
Simpson spent millions in his defense and was acquitted of murder nine months later.
These trials were to prove something one way or another. Beyond a shadow of a doubt.
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The Bible contains law, guilt, a court, a judge, testimony, witnesses.
In 1 John, John is making his case. A case against false teachers. A case to help provide believers with truth and confidence.
Acts 17:30-31
[30] The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, [31] because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
1 John 5
[1] Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. [2] By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. [3] For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. [4] For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. [5] Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
[6] This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. [7] For there are three that testify: [8] the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. [9] If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. [10] Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. [11] And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. [12] Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
[13] I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. [14] And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. [15] And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
[16] If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. [17] All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.
[18] We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
[19] We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
[20] And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. [21] Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
Beyond a shadow of a doubt
- Evidence – 1-5
1 John 5:1-5
[1] Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. [2] By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. [3] For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. [4] For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. [5] Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
That’s our evidence that we present when faced with judgment when we die. I believe that Jesus has been born of God. That’s it. That’s all I got. Not my works, not my pedigree, not my religious attendance, not my verses memorized. Not that I am a good person.
Romans 3:23
[23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Oh and for confidence sake…verses 2-5 show me my evidence that I indeed made that decision…I can see if I love God and my neighbor, and obey him and keep His commandments. But it’s all about Jesus and what He did.
Romans 8:1
[1] There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
- Testimony – Bad witnesses or Good witnesses?
1 John 5:6-10a
[6] This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. [7] For there are three that testify: [8] the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. [9] If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. [10a] Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself.
Deuteronomy 17:6
[6] On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.
Deuteronomy 19:15
[15] “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.
This means God himself testifies that Jesus is the Son, The Christ, The Messiah. When it says the Spirit, the water, and the blood.
Mark 1:10-11
[10] And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. [11] And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
And the blood is Jesus work on the Cross for us. And the work of the Spirit inside of us.
- More evidence – v13 -17 we pray for our brothers and sisters
This fits our reason for confidence. Verses 13-17 emphasize our willingness and want to pray for our brothers and sisters. Don’t get distracted here. There’s a hangup about what constitutes a sin unto death or not. In reality the penalty for any sin is death. (Rom 6:23); but this is a bit of tricky wording here and let me help you out. The only unpardonable sin is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit/unbelief. That’s it. What this is saying is that we should pray for our fellow Christians and for conviction of sin; however, there are some sins that lead to a swift judgment and death and it’s too late. Acts 5 Annanias and Sapphira
1 Corinthians 11:27-30
[27] Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. [28] Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. [29] For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. [30] That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.
- Verdict – v13-15 & 18-20 “know”
John here tells you how to know…that you have eternal life. 7 times he says know.
What we can know. Beyond a shadow of a doubt.
1 John 5:13-15
[13] I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. [14] And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. [15] And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
1 John 5:18-20
[18] We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
[19] We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
[20] And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
I hope we’re always careful to explain what the Christian life is here. That we don’t paint some inaccurate view of immediate riches, paradise on earth, no problems, no health issues, etc. Not doing a good job of “selling” am I? Jesus tells us it’s a narrow road, few take it, there will be trials and tribulations, take up your cross, die to self.
Bad teachers, false prophets tell you otherwise. Let’s be crystal clear. Society has drastically changed over the course of the last few hundred years and it seems to be speeding up. Every focus is about self and self improvement and even the Bible seems to be twisted into a self help book. Can I remind you it’s about sin and our need for forgiveness and salvation?
It’s true that a relationship with Jesus surely provides comfort and help and relief and encouragement, but when we solely look to Him to be our friend instead of Savior we’ve turned everything into being about us and our pain and past and who is the cause instead of knowing that we sin and need forgiveness….and really everything is about Him.
What we tell you is the truth and that it’s worth it. It’s all worth it.
