Unshakeable Faith – Preaching
Preaching Outline on I John 5:4-5 – “For everyone who is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
Introduction to I John 5:4-5
The text we read tells us that we overcome the world through faith. First of all, we need to understand what faith is and how it is defined.
The text in Hebrews 11:1 says: “Faith is the firm foundation of things hoped for and the proof of things not seen.”
So faith is a firm foundation. Foundation is the basis, the support of the life of God’s servant. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).
Development
Faith is the support for things hoped for and also the proof or certainty of things not seen. Like the heavenly promises that we believe exist but can’t see. Faith is the certainty of eternal fulfillment. It is also the certainty of the promises that God has made to our lives here in this world.
Faith does not come from us, it is a gift from God (Eph 2:8) and it is also part of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). Faith has its seat in the heart, it is not something achieved by our physical or mental effort, but God gives it to us according to the measure of faith he has distributed to each one (Rom 12:3).
True faith, which pleases God, is not just saying that you believe that Jesus is Savior and Lord, but as Romans 10:10 says; believing comes from the heart, the faith that God grants is for the righteousness or justification of the one who believes and with the mouth confesses, testifies to what God has done in our lives giving us salvation.
To understand this better, the apostle James, in chapter 2 verse 17, says that faith without works is dead. But what does this mean?
James says in verse 19 that believing in God makes even the demons believe and tremble. Faith must be followed by attitudes that testify, that justify, that prove our faith, such as our behavior which was transformed when we accepted Christ, our speech which is now different; we no longer accept the world’s offerings, etc.
Faith is alive, it transforms us every day.
And how do we acquire more faith?
In John 5:24, it says: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and shall not come into condemnation, but has passed from death into life.”
The text says that we must first hear the word of God, and Romans 10:17 confirms this: faith comes by hearing. So we hear the word of Jesus and believe in the one who sent him (the Father), understanding the plan of salvation for man.
But he who does not believe will be condemned
The expression “not believing” in the original (Greek) means disobeying. Faith and obedience are intertwined. With faith comes obedience.
Returning to the text we read at the beginning, 1 John 5:4, the apostle John says that our victory over the world is our faith. Faith overcomes the world.
When Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, in chapter 6, verse 16, speaks of the armor of God, he says that faith is the shield against the fiery darts of the adversary, protecting us from his attacks. Faith is a defense, it protects us; and the command is to stand firm in faith (I Pe 5:9) against the attacks of the adversary who prowls around trying to destroy us.
Conclusion of I John 5:4-5
Now is the time to defend ourselves, protect our homes and ourselves by resisting with faith in Jesus. Faith will give us victory.
We must seek it, asking the Lord to renew our faith and perfect it every day. We must love the Word of God and meditate on it every day and teach our children, grandchildren and nephews to love it too, and as we do this, our faith is added to and when the darts of the adversary come, we will be protected by faith, the shield of the servant of God.
There is a spiritual battle, and we must put up defenses. We’ve already seen speaking up and shutting up, which if we observe, deliver us from sorrow; and the cry for the blood of Jesus, which delivers us from dangers along the way. And today, let’s take hold of faith and seek it out so that our lives and homes are protected from the onslaughts of evil.
Preaching Outline on I John 5:4-5 – “For everyone who is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
More Preaching Outlines
- Eternal life – John 3:16
- Grace is for everyone – John 3:16
- Mark 5:36 – The “Only” we need to understand
