Victory in Jesus Christ - 1 John 5:4

1 John 5:4 (NKJV)
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—[a]our faith.

The moment we repent of our sins, and ask to the Lord Jesus Christ to come in our lives as Lord and Savior, the holy spirit seals us and thus
becomes the children of God, born-again by the spirit.

Romans 10:9-10, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

Acts 2:38, Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 3:26, For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

And our new journey begins of becoming (Christ-like) (Sanctification).
We are still in this world, but we are not for the world

The world itself becomes our enemy, that we are to overcome:

The meaning of the world in this verse is not "kosmos" or the people, but the devils system and can be found in verse.

1 John 2:16 (NKJV)
16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

Lust of the flesh:
1. Pornography is as ordinary as facebook in this generation, even children can have an easy access over cellphones!

2. Pre-marital sex among people, specially the younger generation. (The world says it's okay!)

3. Sexual Immorality, un-natural sex (LGBTQ)

Lust of the Eye:
Covetous - strong desire to have the things of others
"even with all they have, they covet the wealth of others"

Pride of Life:
God hates proud people!
James 4:6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.

Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. 

James 4:10 (NKJV)
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

And we overcome that are in the world our (flesh and the devil's scheme) through our faith in Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you [a]will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Ask God for strength and grace to overcome our struggles with sins.

Slave to Sin and Freedom from Righteousness - Romans 6:20-22

Romans 6:20-22 (NKJV)
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit [a]to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.
Verse 20, The state of man before God after the fall, is slave to sin and dead in righteousness.

John 8:34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.

21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!
Romans 3:23 NIV, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

Romans 6:18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

If you repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the holy spirit will give you a new spirit, thus putting to death the enslavement of sin in your life.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.!

3 Parts of Salvation (God's grace and help)

1. Justification - declared righteous before God.
Romans 3:28, For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.
Romans 5:1, Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

2. Sanctification - God's will for us, by the help of God (Holy Spirit)

3. Glorification - ultimate perfection of believers, becomes like Christ.
Romans 8:30, and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

1 Peter 5:4, And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

What is Sanctification is "the state of proper functioning." To sanctify someone or something is to set that person or thing apart for the use intended by its designer.
e.g. 1. Eyeglass is sanctified when use to improve sight. 2. Spoon is sanctified if used for eating.

Same as in the study of God's word, A human being is sanctified, therefore, when he or she lives according to God's design and purpose.

The Greek word of "Holiness." means to be set apart.

God is holy, Isaiah 6:3 "And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."

God's people (Christians),
Matthew 5:48 "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
1 Peter 1:15-16, 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Original Design of God for Human beings is perfect "Sanctified" according to His image and likeness, and all His creation.

Sin caused human being to be broken, fallen or dysfunctional. Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

Adam and Eve's prefallen sanctification was not a result of capabilities(built-in). God's indwelling presence was responsible for the manifestation of his attributes in them.

(Gen 3:9) God called out to the fleeing man, "Where are you?" . God was not seeking information. He was clarifying to sinful humanity that his presence was now lost.

Application:
How do we live as sanctified/holy/pleasing to God/in accordance to God's will?

1. God sanctifies by grace,
Jesus Christ sanctifies us:
Hebrews 10:10, And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

2. Human beings(us, Christians) are responsible to use God's grace by faith. Faith is "the" means of sanctifying grace.
2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
a. God's word, John 17:17, Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
b. Prayer allows the believer to apply faith to every area of life.
c. The church is the context in which mutual ministry takes place
d. Providence (protective care of God) is God's superintendence over every detail of life so that a believer will always have a way to grow in grace.

God Allows Trial to Keep Us Humble - 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 (NKJV)

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to [a]buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Paul was spiritually blessed by God abundantly, revelations that most us didn't know, but was given to Paul for God's purpose.

Going back to verse 2, We read God's revelation to Paul, Paul knew a man in Christ that was caught up in third heaven (paradise) and heard unspeakable words which

conceited = excessively proud of oneself. Full of Pride.

"thorn in the flesh" = a metaphor used by Paul to describe his affliction (Pain or Suffering), the bible is silent about the nature of Paul's affliction, but some believed to be a type of rare eye disease that caused his appearance to look deformed. The daily pain was so intense, it was like an ongoing crucifixion.

messenger of Satan = Just as in the Old testament God allow Satan to afflict Job, nevertheless Satan wants Paul to be discouraged in God's work and to live a life independently from God.

God is not the author of pain and sufferings, It is not part of God's nature.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

God's always able to help us in time of our need, He makes the impossible possible.

God can work/use us mightily if we acknowledge our weaknesses.

What is grace?

Undeserved/Unmerited favor, gift, not earned but freely given.

Synonyms: merciful, compassionate, kind;

God is gracious, part of His character.

Psalm 145:8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.

Psalm 116:5 The Lord is gracious and righteous;our God is full of compassion.

(The greatest grace) Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.

Life Application:

1. He wants us to be humble always no matter how blessed we are today and in the future. He wants us to acknowledge Him

always as the source and the giver of every spiritual and material blessing.

James 4:6 ESV

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

2. God sees our hearts and our future (God is sovereign) and God wants us not to depend on our own

Abilities, Skills, talents, money and other resources but to trust/depend in him who is the source of all things.

Whatever blessings we have today is because of His grace, His loving kindness, and His tender mercies.

Illustration:

Poor Sermon

Charles Spurgeon, known as "the prince of preachers," felt he delivered his sermon so poorly one Sunday that he was ashamed of himself. As he walked away from his church, the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, he wondered how any good could come from that message. When he arrived home, he dropped to his knees and prayed, “Lord God, You can do something with nothing. Bless that poor sermon.”

In the months that followed, 41 people said that they had decided to trust Christ as Savior because of that “weak” message. The following Sunday, to make up for his previous “failure,” Spurgeon had prepared a “great” sermon—but no one responded.

Spurgeon’s experience underscores two important lessons for all who serve the Lord. First, we need the blessing of God on our efforts. Solomon said in Psalm 127:1, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.” And second, our weakness is an occasion for the working of God’s power. The apostle Paul said, “I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10).

3. Through out the bible God chooses the the weak, the helpless, the poor and nobodies to display his power and grace.

David a little boy, defeated the warrior giant Goliath.

Gideon came from a poor family and the least from the household, but God choose Gideon to defeat the Midianites.

Gideon, was considered the greatest Judge, in courage, in wisdom, and in faith in God.

Illustration:

God Chooses Nobodies - Oswald Chambers

God can achieve his purpose either through the absence of human power and resources, or the abandonment of reliance on them. All through history God has chosen and used nobodies, because their unusual dependence on him made possible the unique display of his power and grace. He chose and used somebodies only when they renounced dependence on their natural abilities and resources.

Grace that Even Angels Long to Look Into - 1 Peter 1:10-12

1 Peter 1:10-12 (NKJV)

10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to [a]us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

* The prophets of the old and new testament prophesied of the this grace (Salvation in Jesus Christ)

The intently search and inquire about the coming grace but did not experience it.

    * Prophets

    1. Would foretell future events, would exhort, reprove as the ambassador of God

        2. Would spoke not his own thoughts but what he received from God

    3. Not under influenced, but conscious about everything.

* 55 Old Testament Prophecies about Jesus (old)

* 353 Prophecies Fulfilled in Jesus Christ (old and new)

Isaiah 53:5-6

5 But He was wounded[a] for our transgressions, He was [b]bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes[c] we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord [d]has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Luke 10:23-24

23 Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see;

24 for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it."

1. How blessed are we that salvation by the grace of God was revealed to us through the bible.

2. The value of God's salvation to those who believes in our Lord Jesus Christ.

     1 Peter 1:18-19 

    18 knowing that you were not redeemed with [a]corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

    1 Corinthians 6:20 

    20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body [a]and in your spirit, which are God's.

     1 Peter 2:24

    24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose [a]stripes you were healed.

3. The desperate need for us to be saved.

    Romans 3:23

    For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

    John 3:36 ESV

    Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

       

    Romans 1:18 ESV

    For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

    Revelation 20:15 ESV

    And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

4. Learn, apply and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

    2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)

    15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

    Romans 1:16 (NIV)

    16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.    

     Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

    19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Salt and Light (Ver. 1) - Matthew 5:13-14

Matthew 5:13-14 (NKJV)
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

1. In reading the bible you will encounter (salt and light) "Metaphor's", particularly in our passage.
2. A Metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
   A Metaphor is a figure of speech that directly refers to one thing by mentioning another for rhetorical effect. It may provide clarity or identify hidden similarities between two ideas.

Referring to His disciples but can also be applied to those called by God, saved by His grace.
Salt or sodium chloride (NaCl) a very important mineral in our lives and has two common purpose:
1. As preservative, long used as agent to preserve food from decaying. Salt contains antiseptic properties that kills harmful germs
    2 Kings 2:21, Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, "This is what the LORD says: 'I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.'"

2. As seasoning, as flavor enhancer, and make food taste good.

- As God's chosen people we are to spread the gospel(good news) and be doers of the word of God by the sanctifying power of the
Holy Spirit, 1. To prevent the decaying/corrupting effect of sins in one's life. 2. To bring hope to a life destined to eternity in hell.
- We are to be the influencer of the gospel and righteousness to the people around us, specially those people that need Jesus Christ.
- A life without seasoning (Jesus Christ) is meaningless, restless and hopeless.

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

St. Augustine once said "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you."

It's really amazing how bits of salt can change the taste of a bowl of meal, same as true with Christians that can impact their family, society, businesses and the world with their testimony.

And if a salt looses it's saltiness, it will have no use. Same as the believer that doesn't do the word of God, will be of no use for the kingdom of God.

A spoil salt can't even be put on a good land because it might pollute it, but instead thrown on to the street to be trampled by people and animals.
In Ancient time, they will use it on the stair steps to prevent the steps from being slippery.

Dr. Thomson ("The Land and the Book") mentioned: A merchant of Sidon, who imported large quantity of salt from the marshes of Cyprus, enough to supply the entire province for many years. He transferred to the mountains
to avoid government duties. Sixty five houses were rented and filled with salt. The houses have merely earthen floors and salt next to the ground was in a few years entirely spoiled. I saw large quantities of it literally
thrown into the road to be trodden under foot of men and beasts.

The light of the world.—In its highest or truest sense the word belongs to Christ, and to Him only, He is the source of light.
John 1:9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Christ had appointed his disciples in general, and his apostles and the other ministers of His gospel, to enlighten and reform the world,
a world in darkness, immersed in ignorance, sin, and misery, by their doctrine and example; and so to direct their feet into the way leading to life and salvation.

Illustration: The sun being our source of light, and the moon reflecting the light from the son to give light our night time

The sun is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and we Christian His people are the moon that reflects the light of Jesus to the sinful world.

Both to every true minister of Christ, and to every true Christian: every such a one is not only a burning light, a person burning with love to God, and zeal for his glory, and love to mankind, and zeal for their salvation; but also a shining light, communicating his word to others in deeds and speech.

Holiness of God - 2 Samuel 6:1-7, 1 Chronicles 13:9-12

2 Samuel 6:1-7 (NKJV)
The Ark Brought to Jerusalem
1 Again David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from [a]Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called [b]by the Name, the Lord of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. 3 So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new [c]cart. 4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark. 5 Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the Lord on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals.
6 And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and [d]took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 7 Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his [e]error; and he died there by the ark of God.

Similar passage: 1 Chronicles 13:9-12

Didn't Uzzah wanted to protect only the Ark of the covenant from falling?
Why would the Lord’s wrath had broken out on a person that tries to help and protect the ark of the covenant?
Uzzah's punishment seems to severe/extreme or too much?

Is it not unfair that you are just trying to help, but you are the one punished to die?

Background: 1 Samuel 5:1
The ark of the covenant(ark of God) was captured by the Philistines, and later was brought to the house of Abinadab.

Reasons why God took such severe punishment.
1. Disobedience: God gave Moses specific instructions on how to move the ark of the covenant and other holy things of the tabernacle.
Numbers 4:15 (KJV)
15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.

1 Chronicles 15:15 (KJV)
15 And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the Lord.

No matter how innocently it was done, touching the ark was in direct violation of God’s law and punishable by death. This was a means of preserving the sense of God’s holiness and the fear of drawing near to Him without appropriate preparation.

[Picture of the ark of the covenant]'
Notice of how the ark is being carried?
(Exodus 25:12-14; Numbers 7:9)

2. Irreverent attitude towards God:Uzzah, having been around the ark in his own home, could very likely forget the holiness that it represented. There are times when we, too, fail to recognize the holiness of God, becoming too familiar with Him with an irreverent attitude.

3. Lack of faith and God's instruction was insufficient: Moses lost his right to enter the promised land because he felt his intervention was needed when he struck the rock, instead of speaking to it as God had commanded (Numbers 20:7-12).
We need to listen carefully to what God has to say to us, and in obedience strive to do all He commands. Yes, God is loving and merciful, but He is also holy and He defends His holiness with His power, and affronts to His holiness sometimes bring about His holy wrath. “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).

Illustration: 
The Ermine
In the forests of northern Europe and Asia lives little animal called the ermine, known for his snow-white fur in winter. He instinctively protects his white coat against anything that would soil it.
Fur hunters take advantage of this unusual trait of the ermine. They don't set a snare to catch him, but instead they find his home, which is usually a cleft in a rock or a hollow in an old tree. They smear the entrance and interior with grime. Then the hunters set their dogs loose to find and chase the ermine. The frightened animal flees toward home but doesn't enter because of the filth. Rather than soil his white coat, he is trapped by the dogs and captured while preserving his purity. For the ermine, purity is more precious than life. - HGB

The word holy means “to be set apart.” A thing is holy if it is set apart for a special use. Other words you might use are words like distinctive or different. Applied to God, holiness is that characteristic that sets him apart from his creation. There are many verses that speak of God being “on high,” “reigning,” “in his holy temple,” “sitting on the throne.” These verses all picture God as separate from creation and reigning over it.

There is a second important meaning of the word holy: “Utterly pure, separated from sin.” The Bible tells us that God hates sin, that he cannot sin nor will he tempt others to sin. God is so pure that he cannot tolerate sin in any form in his presence. One day he will destroy sin forever.

Habakkuk 1:13
Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?

Galatians 5:21
Envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,

Psalm 24:3-5(KJV)
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Then how can we be holy in the eyes of God, and enter into His kingdom?

Hebrews 10:10
And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 13:12
"So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood."

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.