1 John 5:18-21

Hey, hey, good morning, good morning. Welcome to Coffee and Devotions. This morning, it's us against the world, baby. No, I'm just kidding. But it kind of is. Let's have some coffee, we'll pray, and we'll see what God's word says about it. Let's pray. Father, we thank you so much for this day. Please help us as we read your word to understand what it means. Please, Lord, we need your spirit to open our eyes, to let us hear, to let us see, and let us believe. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. Here we go, 1 John 5, beginning at verse 18. We're gonna finish up 1 John today.
We know that whoever is born of God does not sin, but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, that we may know Him who is true, And we are in Him who is true, in His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Well, we have our three questions we need to ask ourselves. A, what's this about? B, what's the best verse to summarize this? And C, what are we called to do? So, what's this about? John is wrapping up the entire epistle here. He's already talked about what does it mean to be conquerors. He's already talked a lot about the world. He's talked about prayer. He's talked about sin. He's talked about confession. He's talked about a life that is hidden in Christ and is kept in Christ.
And because of being in Christ, not sinning, but instead loving our brothers and sisters. Not being like the wicked, walking the world in the way of sin and not caring about it. Instead, no, what is he saying? Whoever is born of God does not sin. So this first verse, verse 18, if you're born of God, you're not going to sin. This doesn't mean you don't have any sin at all. He who says he does not have sin is a liar.
That makes God a liar. That's where we start all the way in chapter one. And so what's this getting at? It's saying the pattern of your life isn't just this wanton degeneracy, right? Just walking in darkness and not caring at all. No, no, it looks like walking in the light, desiring the light, loving the light, walking in God's ways. We know that whoever is born of God does not sin, but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.
This is why Jesus told his disciples to pray, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, right? We are in God's hand. Satan had tried to sift out Peter, but Jesus had prayed for him. Jesus promises us that those who the Father has given me, none will be snatched out of my hand. Jesus goes and searches after the one, even though there's 99 left in the flock. And so we trust that God cares for us.
We walk in his ways. But the rest of the world, we know we're of God. But the rest of the world, they're under the sway of the wicked one. The adversary prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. We know that the rest of the world follows the prince of the power of the air. That's what they do. But that's not what we are called to do.
Our life is hidden in Christ, and that's what he gets at in verse 20. We know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding. Our God has renewed our mind, changed our thinking, taken our heart and given us new loves. That we may know Him who is true and we are in Him who is true in His Son, Jesus Christ. We know Jesus Christ. We love Jesus Christ. We're in Jesus Christ. We are united to Jesus Christ. And because of that, we remain, we abide in Him. This is the true God and eternal life. Jesus is the only way to the Father. And in Him there is life. Life everlasting. And so we must find our life in Him, the true God in eternal life. And so we go to Christ. We find our life in Him.
And the final encouragement or admonishment, exhortation, little children, keep yourselves from idols. Stay away from those things in your own heart that you would desire, your covetous desires. Instead, put to death the sinful desires of your flesh and go after Christ. Don't worship those things that are created, but worship the one who has created all things in heaven and on earth. Keep yourselves from idols.
This is a constant temptation, a constant reminder, a constant encouragement. So what's this section about? Well, it's a conclusion. Wrapping all of this up, that our life is hidden in Christ and we must keep ourselves from idols. What's the best verse to summarize this? Well, I think I really, really like verse 20. But what do we call it to do? Keep yourselves from idols. I just want to encourage you as we wrap up the book of 1 John.
Your heart and the world around us may have all sorts of temptations of things that we may want to go and follow after. Follow after God with all your heart. Find your life in Christ. Go to Him. Keep yourself from idols. Keep God always constantly before your eyes. Your heart in this world, the old man will try to pull you back. But Satan, Satan is not victorious over you. So Christian, find your life hidden in Christ. keep yourself from illness.
Let's pray. God, we thank you for the great love you have shown us in your Son, Jesus Christ. God, please help us to follow after you and to love you. God, please, may your name be hallowed. May your will be done here on earth as it is in heaven. Father, give us this day our daily bread. and forgive us our trespasses, as if we forgive those who have trespassed against us. Father, please do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, and yours is the power, and yours is the glory forever and ever. Father, please hear our prayers in the name of our Savior, in whom we have life. In Jesus' name, amen. May God bless you, and may you be kept from every idol. I'll see you next time.