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DECEMBER 7

5:13 These things.This has reference to all that 5:21 keep yourselves from idols. John con-
John has written in his letter. that you may trasts the term “idols”with “the true God”of v.
know that you have eternal life. Assurance of 20. He has reference here to the false teachers
eternal life constitutes the first Christian cer- that withdrew from the brotherhood with
tainty. While John wrote his Gospel to bring which they had been formerly associated
unbelievers to faith (John 20:31), he wrote the (2:19). Their false beliefs and practices are the
epistle to give believers confidence that they idols from which the readers are commanded
possessed eternal life. The false brethren’s to protect themselves. The false teachers
departure left John’s congregations shaken upheld the world’s philosophy as superior to
(2:19). He assured those who remained that God’s revelation as demonstrated in their per-
since they adhered to the fundamentals of the version of basic Christian teaching. In closing,
faith (a proper view of Christ, obedience, love), John once again highlights the importance of
their salvation was sure. eternal life. This does adherence to the fundamentals of the faith.
not refer primarily to a period of time but a per-
son (v.20;John 17:3).Eternal life is a relationship
with the Person of Jesus Christ and possessing that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is
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His nature (vv.11,12). sin not leading to death.
18 We know that whoever is born of God does
not sin; but he who has been born of God
eternal life, and that you may continue to believe keeps himself, and the wicked one does not
in the name of the Son of God. touch him.
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in 19 We know that we are of God, and the
Him, that if we ask anything according to His whole world lies under the sway of the wicked
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will, He hears us. And if we know that He one.
hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we 20 And we know that the Son of God has
have the petitions that we have asked of Him. come and has given us an understanding, that
16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin we may know Him who is true; and we are in
which does not lead to death, he will ask, and Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This
He will give him life for those who commit sin is the true God and eternal life.
not leading to death. There is sin leading to 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
death. I do not say that he should pray about Amen.

DAY 7:What are the 3 characteristics of an “overcomer”?
“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God”(1 John 5:1).Saving faith is the first char-
acteristic of an overcomer.The term “believes”conveys the idea of continuing faith,making the point
that the mark of genuine believers is that they continue in faith throughout their life.Saving belief is
not simply intellectual acceptance, but wholehearted dedication to Jesus Christ that is permanent.
The object of the believer’s faith is Jesus, particularly that He is the promised Messiah or “Anointed
One”whom God sent to be the Savior from sin.Whoever places faith in Jesus Christ as the only Savior
has been born again and, as a result, is an overcomer (v. 5).To be “born of God” is a reference to the
new birth and is the same word that Jesus used in John 3:7.The tense of the Greek verb indicates that
ongoing faith is the result of the new birth and, therefore, the evidence of the new birth.The sons of
God will manifest the reality that they have been born again by continuing to believe in God’s Son,
the Savior.The new birth brings us into a permanent faith relationship with God and Christ.
“And everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him” (v. 1). Love
is the second characteristic of the overcomer. The overcomer not only believes in God, but loves
both God and fellow believers.The moral test is again in view.
“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His com-
mandments” (v. 2). John repeats this phrase twice in these 2 verses. Obedience is the third charac-
teristic of an overcomer. In these verses, John weaves faith, love, and obedience all together
inextricably.They exist mutually in a dynamic relationship—as the genuine proof of love is obedi-
ence, so the genuine proof of faith is love.The word “keep”conveys the idea of constant obedience
(John 8:31,32; 14:15,21; 15:10).

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