The Comprehensive Exam: 1 John #12
This is an exposition of 1 John 5:1-5. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 17, 2016.
Intro:
I loved school! I’m one of those folks who just loved “being on campus.” Now don’t get confused – I didn’t say, “I love academics.” I said, “I loved school.” There is a difference. I enjoyed the study. I enjoyed the people. I enjoyed interacting with students and faculty. I found the give and take of debate stimulating. I enjoyed sitting around the student center and solving the problems of the world. It’s just a shame we didn’t have control the world back when we had all the answers. Today I’m not sure if I even know what the questions are – then I was confident I knew everything. What I didn’t like was the end of the semester. I didn’t like it because this might be one of those crazy professors who thought it was a good thing to give a “comprehensive exam.” You know an exam that actually covers the entire semester’s work? What a nutty idea to see if you’ve actually mastered the material you where supposed to have mastered! I remember the final exam for the first semester of western civilization. We walked in and took a seat. Two hours had been set aside for this exam. I was anxious for the teacher to hand out the exam so I could get started. “I hope there some matching and some multiple choice.” He pointed to the chalkboard and said, “There is the question. You’ve got two hours. Good luck.” “Beginning with the year 600, trace the development of this concept through to the dawn of the enlightenment using the major literary works and leading historical figures.” Nothing leaves you quite as exposed and vulnerable as a comprehensive exam.
As John comes to 1 John 5 of his 1st epistle, he pulls together the three tests revealed earlier in the letter. He was writing to a confused bunch as some false teachers had come into the church and perverted the Gospel. False teachers with “super truths” and “secret knowledge” had caused division and strife within the fellowship. Some had left the church. Those who remained were wavering. Uncertain. Hesitant. John intended to encourage them and strengthen their sagging faith. He said, “I am writing that you may know that you have eternal life.” His goal was that they would be certain of their being “in the faith.” In seeking to encourage he gave a series of tests.
- The test of righteousness – are you growing in holiness? Is there an increase in desire for the things of God? Are you progressing in godliness?
- The text of love – is your love increasing? Love for God and love for your fellow man?
- The text of truth – have you grown in your understanding of doctrine? Is there an increase in your appetite for the truth of God’s Word?
These are ways of measuring your spiritual life. They are a means of determining whether you are in fact “in the faith.” Now these three are brought together in our text found in 1 John 5.
Text: 1 John 4:20-5:5
Thesis: In our text John lovingly and yet forcefully sets forth the characteristics of a genuine believer.
We discover that these tests are not isolated truths. They do not stand alone.
Rather they naturally and of necessity blend together. Here John, with the exactness of a surgeon and the compassion of a pastor, applies these three tests. These things are true of the children of God.
If you are “in the family” this is true of you. If these are not true – you’re not “in the family.”
There are three things I want us to note:
- John proclaims the absolute necessity of the new birth. (4:20-5:1)
- John defines love as obedience. (5:2-3)
- John declares that faith assures victory. (5:4-5)Conclusion:
It’s exam time. Time to apply the three test.
How are you doing?
- The test of righteousness
- The test of love
- The test of truth
There’s nothing that leaves you so exposed or so vulnerable – but this is an exam you must take.