4. Sure of Victory
Question 1:
What’s your favorite comeback story?
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
When I was a little boy, my uncles raised cattle. I can remember sitting on the tailgate of the old farm truck watching two of their bulls fighting. They seemed mismatched since one was a young bull and the other was old. The younger bull may have been quicker, but the older bull was bigger. After pawing the ground and throwing dirt in the air, the two bulls put their heads together and began to shove. Most of the time, the older bull won, but the younger bull would get the best of him on a few occasions.
When I look at the condition of our world, I see a similar picture of righteousness fighting against wickedness. There is a constant shoving match between the two, and it’s hard to tell who’s winning. If you draw your information solely from the news media, then darkness seems to be winning. But when you read the Bible, you discover the opposite is true. Darkness may seem to be winning, but it has already been defeated. Jesus has won the victory, and His followers are on the winning side. We have the ultimate “comeback story” because of Jesus!
THE POINT
Because Jesus has won the victory, His
people are victorious.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
1 John 3:19-22
19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.
In the previous verses, John has been teaching on our responsibility to love one another. Love is proof of genuine salvation, which in turn assures our hearts. Sadly, we have times in our lives when we don’t love as we should. When this happens, a sense of failure can set into our minds causing us to feel condemned before God, which in turn can fill us with doubt. Such doubt can be debilitating at times and can even render us unable to move forward.
Question 2
Why would our hearts need reassurance?
Apparently, John’s readers were struggling with doubt. For this reason, John wrote to reassure them. He reminded them that God looks beyond our failures to the true intent of the heart. We can wrongly see ourselves through the lens of doubt, self-condemnation, or wrong thinking, but God sees us through Christ’s righteousness. Think about these beautiful words, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). It is good news to know that, when we trust the finished work of Christ, “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).
Because of Christ, we can walk in victory over doubt. This confidence allows us to pray with boldness in accordance with God’s will (1 John 5:14). Think about it this way: When we abide faithfully in Christ, assurance blooms within us, which allows us to pray in faith according to God’s will. Prayer, in this way, carries a promise: “Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him” (vv. 21-22).
Of course, the promise is conditional: “We keep his commands.” God takes pleasure in answering prayers that are offered from an obedient heart. This “pleases him.”
Recently, one of my sons worked hard to raise money to purchase a used car. I was proud of him, so when he asked if I would pay the remaining amount for the car’s purchase, I was glad to do so. Why? Because he had been diligent, worked hard, and done so well. He had respected my wishes and had done what I asked of him. Therefore, it pleased me to help him. He was not trying to perform for me; he simply wanted to please me. In the same way, God does not want us to perform for Him; He wants us to please Him. He wants our obedience to arise out of love for Him, not merely out of obligation.
1 John 3:23-24
23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
At first glance, the two actions we are called to do sound like two commands from Christ: “believe” and “love.” However, John referred to these as “his command” (singular). These two commands function together as one test for true Christianity. If we believe the right doctrine, then we will manifest the right ethic. We confirm the authenticity of our faith by obeying the singular command to believe Christ and love others, which in turn produces assurance of salvation and confidence in prayer.
John drew from Jesus’ allegory of the vine and branches (John 15:1-8) when he wrote, “The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them” (v. 24). The condition for this mutual indwelling is obedience. Obedience in faith and practice is what it means to live in Christ. Living in Christ indicates a close relationship with Him and a desire to please Him no matter the cost.
The mutual fellowship between the believer and Christ is the highlight of the Christian’s earthly experience. It is only through living in Him that we bear fruit—the fruit of love and obedience. Consider the reciprocal effect. The more we believe, love, and obey, the more faith, love, and obedience we produce. As we live in Christ and produce more fruit from our faith, love, and obedience, our assurance will continue to grow.
VICTORY IN JESUS
What are some characteristics of false spirits at work in the world today? Use the acronym below to record your answers. (An example has been provided.) Then answer the questions.
Fear
A
L
S
E
After considering how to discern what is false, what are some ways to have victory over these things in our lives? How can we have victory in Jesus?
“Take your stand on the Rock of Ages. Let death, let the judgment come: the victory is Christ’s and yours through Him.”
DWIGHT L. MOODY
John wasn’t talking about actions we do to earn salvation, but rather, actions that deepen our relationship. This is the essence of living in Christ.
When we come to Christ in faith, He comes to live in our hearts through His Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9-10). Even as Christ lives and remains in our lives through His Holy Spirit, the same Spirit draws us to live in Him and obey Him. As Paul wrote: “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Phil. 2:12b-13). The working out of our salvation and our living in Christ is the result of the Spirit of God first working in us. The proof of the Spirit’s presence breeds security in the heart of the believer, and that security breeds fruitfulness.
I often visit with doubting Christians. One lady in particular struggles daily with the reality of her eternal security. She has become so frozen in fear that her spiritual productivity suffers. You may find yourself in a similar predicament, feeling confused or condemned. God’s promise of forgiveness overrules the heart’s condemnation. Don’t base your security on how you feel, but on what you know. We have victory because we live in Jesus and He lives in us.
Question 3
What does it mean to remain in Jesus?
1 John 4:1-4
1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Our relationship with Christ is the source of our victory over the world. Since His Spirit resides in us, every Christian has been given power to overcome the world. Christ has conquered everything in this world—including all false prophets and antichrists. We still must be on our guard against false teaching. False prophets are masters of confusion, but the apostle Paul assured us that God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33). God desires for peace to reign in the hearts of His saints.
The responsibility falls on God’s people to learn to discern truth from error. We are to “test the spirits.” A godly pastor would not be offended that you weighed what he was saying against the Bible. The Bereans even “examined the Scriptures daily to see if” the teachings of the apostle Paul “were so”; those who did so were called “noble” (Acts 17:11)!
Question 4
Where do you see the spirit of
antichrist at work in our culture?
The ultimate test is this: what does a teaching or a sermon say about Jesus Christ? Of course, other false teaching can be present, especially if it does not hold to the Bible as the sole inspired Word and authority of God (Gal. 1:6-9). Cults and false teachers are infamous for the things they take away from God’s Word or the things they add to it (Rev. 22:18-19). But the core doctrine to begin with is where they stand on the truth that “Jesus Christ has come in the flesh” (v. 2).
At times, it may seem that the world is winning. The pervasive wickedness in our culture certainly seems to be gaining ground. We can rest assured, though, that victory in Christ is guaranteed, and we can cheer for Christ’s victory even now!
Question 5
What process do you use to determine if
something is of God or the enemy?
LIVE IT OUT
Because Jesus has won the victory, His people are victorious. Choose one of the following applications:
- Examine your life. Do you struggle with doubt? If so, answer these two questions: Do you believe the truth of Christ as taught in the Scriptures? Do you love other brothers and sisters in Christ? If you answered yes to both, then you have no reason to doubt. If you answered no to either, share your doubts with your group leader.
- Align your life. Make sure you are practicing the spiritual disciplines regularly. Practice such things as prayer, Bible study, Scripture memory, fasting, journaling, and serving. Each of these disciplines will help you walk with Christ.
- Make a difference in someone’s life. Do you know someone in doubt? Take time this week to walk them through 1 John. Ask them questions such as: Do you desire to have fellowship with God? Are you sensitive to sin in your life? Do you believe what the Bible teaches about Christ? Do you have hatred in your heart toward others?
The world may seem to be winning, but it’s good to remember the rest of the story. Jesus has won the victory, and we have everything to look forward to as a result!
Teacher Notes:
Challenges the Titans Faced:
Racism - Prejudice - Hate - Anger
Fear - Doubt - Worry
Confidence - inside - outside
Control - Pride - Authority
Danger - Evil - Lies
List any challenges or struggles you are facing at the moment. Let's have a silent moment of prayer - thanking God for providing the One who is greater than our struggle.
Sure
of Victory: Video: Remember the Titans
In
advance, play a video clip showing the victory scene from “Remember the
Titans.” Explain that the Titans had gone undefeated during the season but were
down with only seconds to go in the state championship game. After showing in
the video, talk about how the team was able to win despite the odds being
against them.
Give
each learner an index card and a pencil. Say: Take a minute to list a few
challenges you are facing in your life right now. Think about why those
obstacles are so difficult and why Jesus can give you the victory. After a few
minutes, encourage learners to take a moment to silently pray for the things on
their lists and to thank God for providing the One who is greater than their
struggles. Challenge the learners to use their cards as a prayer prompt during
their quiet times this week.
What’s
one of your favorite victories from history?
General
Norman Schwarzkopf who commanded allied forces in the 1991 Gulf war has died at
the age of 78 in Tampa, Florida. Schwarzkopf, who was given the nickname of
Stormin' Norman, led the invasion of Iraq and expelled Saddam Hussein's Iraqi
forces from Kuwait in 1991.
This lesson
revolves around the theme of victory, which Christ has won for us through His
death and resurrection. As He lives in our lives through the Holy Spirit, we
can find victory—both inside and outside—as we live from day to day.
John
used his letter to explain how people could live in victory over sin, over
temptation, over death, and over the world. This victory does not come by human
effort but through the victory that Christ already won for us by His death and
resurrection and abiding presence in our lives. When we align ourselves with
Christ and follow Him, victory will not be far behind.
1 John
3:19-22
This
is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in
his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our
hearts, and he knows everything. Dear
friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and
receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what
pleases him.
1. Victory
in Our Hearts. (Conscience / Doubt)
Many
are afraid that they don’t love others as they should. They feel guilty because
they think they are not doing enough to show proper love to Christ. Their
consciences bother them. John has these people in mind in this letter.
How do
we escape the gnawing accusations of our consciences?
Not by
ignoring them or rationalizing our behavior, but by setting our hearts on God’s
love. When we feel guilty, we should remind ourselves that God knows our
motives as well as our actions. His voice of assurance is stronger than the
accusing voice of our conscience. If we are in Christ, He will not condemn us
(Romans 8:1; Hebrews 9:14, 15). So if you are living for the Lord but feeling
that you are not good enough, remind yourself that God is greater than your
conscience.
Believers
can know for certain they are right with God. Even when we fail, God knows our
hearts and is willing to forgive us. A failure of sin may cause a breach in our
relationship with God but it doesn’t terminate it.
When
we are in right relationship with God, which is demonstrated by our faithful
obedience, we can pray with confidence He hears us and will respond.
One of
the biggest reasons that people face the agony of defeat in their lives is
doubt. We doubt our abilities. We doubt God’s ability. We question His love and
care in our lives. These doubts keep us from experiencing the victory that
Christ offers. If we will listen, our hearts will condemn us when we do wrong,
but we can have confidence in God through prayer. As our hearts focus on the
God who answers prayer, we have confidence and victory.
A
person who has no confidence inside struggles with victory. This could be an
athlete preparing for a contest or a musician preparing for a concert. It may
be a preacher preaching a sermon or a businessman making a presentation. But
how does a person get confidence that is not there. True lasting confidence
comes from a relationship with God through Christ, and as we deepen in our
prayer life, God restores us from the inside out.
1 John
3:23-24
And
this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to
love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in
him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by
the Spirit he gave us.
2. Victory
in Our Lives. We are talking about an inner victory here – living in
Christ and Christ living in us.
The
mutual relationship, living in Christ as He lives in us, shows itself in
Christians who keep these three essential commands: 1) believe in Christ, 2)
love the brothers and sisters, and 3) live morally upright lives.
Which
of these commands to do you think can be most challenging?
The
Spirit’s presence is not only spiritual and mystical, but it is also practical.
Our conduct verifies His presence.
True
inner victory expresses itself in the way that we treat others. Those who
belittle others are revealing a problem in their own lives. They put others
down to make themselves look better. Those who push others down to elevate
themselves are lacking the kind of victory that can come through Christ.
Our
belief in Jesus as God’s Son and the fullest expression of God’s love gives us
the ability to love others as He commanded. We are able to obey any commandment
of God because Christ resides in us and we in Him by the indwelling presence of
the Holy Spirit.
1 John
4:1-4
Dear
friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they
are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is
how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not
acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which
you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear
children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is
greater than the one who is in the world.
3. Victory
in Our Trials and Temptations.
How
does Christ help us overcome everyday opposition?
One
way is for us to evaluate the spirits – voices, messages that surround us.
John
acknowledged that this world offers a wide variety of temptations that are
appealing to different people in different ways. Some come through theological
error. Some entice people to immoral behavior. Different baits work on
different people. However, John implored His readers that they were born of God
and that the Spirit who lived in them was greater than the spirit who was in the
world.
Whether
the error is theological or moral, victory over trials and temptations can come
through the presence of Christ in us, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27).
Believers
are to evaluate the spirits, their messengers, and what they teach to determine
if they are from God. The test of authenticity of the spirit or its messenger
is whether they confess that Jesus Christ is God incarnate. The spirit of
antichrist is already pervasive in our world; thus, we are to be on guard
against it.
LIVE
IT OUT
Because
Jesus has won the victory, His people are victorious. Choose one of the
following applications:
Examine
your life. Do you struggle with doubt? If so, answer these two
questions: Do you believe the truth of Christ as taught in the Scriptures? Do
you love other brothers and sisters in Christ? If you answered yes to both,
then you have no reason to doubt. If you answered no to either, share your
doubts with your group leader.
Align
your life. Make sure you are practicing the spiritual disciplines
regularly. Practice such things as prayer, Bible study, Scripture memory,
fasting, journaling, and serving. Each of these disciplines will help you walk
with Christ.
Make a
difference in someone’s life. Do you know someone in
doubt? Take time this week to walk them through 1 John. Ask them questions such
as: Do you desire to have fellowship with God? Are you sensitive to sin in your
life? Do you believe what the Bible teaches about Christ? Do you have hatred in
your heart toward others?
The
world may seem to be winning, but it’s good to remember the rest of the story.
Jesus has won the victory, and we have everything to look forward to as a
result!
Conclusion: Most
of us would prefer to live a life of victory rather than defeat. We would
rather win than lose. Honestly, while there may be pleasure in playing a game,
when it’s over, don’t you have a little more joy because you came out on top?
How critical it is in spiritual matters to know we have victory because He has
won the victory. We can know the truth because He is the truth. Our doubts can
be overcome because He is ever faithful Jesus is the Victor and our Victory.
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