We Have the Victory
Summary
Pastor Rob Ketterling concludes the study of 1 John with chapter 5, focusing on the theme of victory. Throughout the epistle, John has emphasized three recurring themes: faith, love, and obedience. In this final chapter, John brings everything to a climax by declaring that believers have victory over sin, the world, and the devil through Jesus Christ. The message addresses the spiritual battle that Christians face in a world system that opposes God and constantly tries to conform believers to its patterns. The sermon emphasizes that God's commandments are not burdensome because Jesus is present with believers, giving them the strength to obey. Pastor Rob challenges the notion—promoted by both the world and some preachers—that God's commands are restrictive or joy-killing. He shares personal stories, including visiting a high-profile church where the pastor apologized for God's purity standards, and meeting a rabbi in Jerusalem who delighted in following 613 laws. These experiences reinforced his determination to love obeying God's Word even more passionately than those under the Old Covenant. The victory believers possess is not something they must fight to achieve but something they fight from—it's already won through Christ. Christians are not victims but victors who overcome the world through faith in Jesus as the Son of God. Pastor Rob encourages the congregation to stop letting the world squeeze the life out of them and to start living as overcomers. The message concludes with a call to realize that even when circumstances look like 'Friday,' Sunday is coming—believers are on the winning side and need to live in that victory now.
Key Takeaways
- John's three themes in 1 John: faith, love, and obedience - all leading to victory
- Believers have victory over sin, the world, and the devil through Christ
- God's commandments are not burdensome because Jesus gives us strength to obey
- God's blessings are when you stay in His boundaries
- Christians fight from victory, not for victory - the battle is already won
- Those born of God overcome the world through faith in Jesus
- We should live as victors, not victims
- It may look like Friday in your spiritual walk, but Sunday is coming
- Jesus won over death, hell, and the grave - because He won, we win
- Faith sees that Jesus is better than anything the world offers
Outline
Introduction: Faith, Love, and Obedience Lead to Victory
- Week five of looking at 1 John - final week in chapter 5
- Next week will cover 2 John and 3 John
- Three recurring themes in 1 John: faith, love, and obedience
- John writing as an older minister to his spiritual children
- Chapter 5 brings it all to victory
- Victory over sin, the world, and the devil
- Reference to old church song: 'Victory is mine'
- First four chapters beat us up - chapter 5 lifts us up
Overcoming the World (1 John 5:1-5)
- Everyone who believes Jesus is the Christ is born of God
- Love for God means loving His children and obeying His commandments
- God's commands are not burdensome
- Everyone born of God overcomes the world
- Victory comes through faith in Jesus
- World system is opposed to God and fights against believers
- World tries to make you conform, give in, go with the flow
- World tries to steal faith, joy, victory
- We're in a spiritual battle but on the winning team
- World and its system will fade away - Jesus lasts forever
God's Commands Are Not Burdensome
- Proof of loving God is obeying Him
- World says God's commands are a burden and God is a killjoy
- World says: don't be pure, don't be ethical, don't forgive
- Story: high-profile pastor apologized for God's purity standards
- Pastor Rob told his family: 'We'll have none of that'
- God's blessings are when you stay in His boundaries
- Church should never suggest God doesn't know best
- God gives us strength to live the holy life He wants
- Christmas video illustration: kids and marshmallows
- Commands aren't burdensome because Jesus is in the room with you
- Commands aren't burdensome because we love God and want to obey
Delighting in God's Commands
- Pastor Rob as a kid wanted to please his teachers
- Got Fran Tarkenton to write letter to his teacher
- Story: Meeting Rabbi Moshi in Jerusalem shop
- Rabbi said he delights to follow 613 laws
- Rabbi quoted Psalm 40:8 and Psalm 119:35 about delighting in God's law
- Pastor Rob determined: if rabbi loves 613 laws, I should love being led by the Spirit
- Elizabeth Elliott called this 'the glad surrender'
- We should be glad to do what God asks
Born of God = Overcoming the World
- Those born of God overcome the world
- How do you know you're a child of God?
- Repented of sins, accepted Jesus as Savior
- Believe He rose from the dead and is waiting in heaven
- Usually a marking moment - day, month, year, or season
- Pastor Rob was 7 years old when he said yes to Jesus
- Evidence of new birth from 1 John:
- Keep His commandments (3:24), Walk as He walked (2:5-6)
- Don't hate but love others (2:9), Don't love the world system (2:15)
- Confess the Son (4:15), Practice righteousness (2:29)
- Don't make a practice of sinning (3:6)
Living as Victors, Not Victims
- Victory is present tense - a constant reality
- Warren Wiersbe: 'Christian is not fighting for victory but from victory'
- Battle has already been won
- Some feel defeated - need to understand who they are in Christ
- Illustration: Movie characters who can't die because they're the star
- That's the confidence we need - we already have victory
- Know the sequel - will be with Christ in heaven
- Walk as victor, not victim
- Word 'victory' is Greek 'niko' or Nike (goddess name)
- Pronunciation: should be 'Nikke' not 'Nike' (also 'Gouda' not 'Gooda')
- Means to conquer like an athlete with mastery over competition
- Not because of our efforts but what God gave us
Faith in Jesus: The Key to Victory
- Key to victory: believe Jesus is the Son of God
- How does faith give victory?
- 1. God cares for you - sent His Son
- 2. Jesus is with you - never leaves or forsakes
- 3. Jesus overcame and gives you strength to overcome
- 4. Jesus won over death, hell, grave - you win too
- Marshmallow illustration: Ace telling Roger 'Don't do it'
- We need an 'Ace' - Jesus is with us in temptation
- Faith sees Jesus is better than anything world offers
- It was Friday, but Sunday was coming
- May look like Friday in your spiritual walk, but Sunday's coming
Conclusion: Live as Overcomers
- We are on the winning side
- In the end, we win - have victory now
- Know the sequel - live in victory
- Stop letting world squeeze life out of you
- Leave church saying 'Victory is mine'
- Faith, love, obedience all point to victory
- Victory is ours because of what Jesus did, not our efforts