E-pistle for October 26, 2012
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E-pistle
FreeWay Foundation October 26, 2012
The victory that overcomes the world
(I John 5:1-21)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the faith that overcomes
1. Overcoming faith starts with a personal belief and acceptance of Jesus Christ,
the Son of God, v. 1.
2. Overcoming faith includes not only receiving God's love through Christ, but also
loving others, vv. 1-2.
3. Overcoming faith includes knowing and obeying God's will and His commandments,
v. 3.
4. Overcoming faith is triumphant in this world through the finished work of Christ,
vv. 4-6.
II. Meditation on the "witnesses" of God's truth
1. Three witnesses in heaven, v. 7:
1) The Father
2) The Word (Jesus Christ, John 1:1)
3) The Holy Spirit
These three are one . . . the Trinity.
2. Three witnesses on earth, v. 8:
1) The Spirit: Who indwells believers on earth
2) The water: baptism which testifies of saving faith
3) The blood: Christ's blood applied to sinful souls to bring forgiveness and
cleansing.
These three agree as one.
III. Revelation: on John's reassuring possibilities
1. IF we receive the witness of man, the witness of God is greater, v. 9.
2. IF we ask anything according to His will, He hears us, v. 14.
3. IF we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that
we have asked of Him, v. 15.
4. IF a Christian prays in intercession for another believer, God will hear and answer that
petition, unless the back-slider already has committed "the sin leading to death" . . . has
sinned away his day of grace, v. 16.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Establish my faith upon the infallible witnesses provided by God.
2. In intercessory prayer, first seek to know what God's will is concerning the person,
situation, or circumstance.
3. Believe, with unshakable faith, that God will and does answer all my prayers which are
according to His revealed will to me.
4. Rather than criticizing or condemning a believer who has fallen into sin, pray for God to
restore that person to full spiritual fellowship.
From the elder to the elect lady
(II John 1:1-13)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on John's personal assertions
1. I love you (fellow Christians) in truth, v. 1.
2. I rejoice greatly over believers who walk in truth, v. 4.
3. I plead that we all love one another, v. 5.
4. I hope to come to you and to speak to you face to face, that our joy may be
full, v. 12.
II. Meditation: on dealing with deceivers (false Christians)
1. If persons do not confess that Jesus Christ came as God in human form, they
are deceivers, and anti-christ, v. 7.
2. Self-examination is necessary for believers, to make sure they have not been
deceived . . . that they have not labored in vain, but have served faithfully and will
receive a full reward, v. 8.
3. Whoever sins, and forsakes Christ's teachings, does not have God; he who abides
in the word of the Lord has intimate relationship and fellowship with God, v. 9.
4. If a person comes to you and does not bring this doctrine (that Jesus is the Son of God
and His word is truth), do not receive him into your house nor greet him, to avoid sharing
in his evil deeds, vv. 10-11.
III. Revelation: on the overview of this letter
1. John emphasizes his recurring theme of Jesus' "new commandment" . . . that believers
must love each other, v. 5; John 13:34-35.
2. "The elect (chosen) lady and her children" (v. 1) and "the children of your elect (chosen)
sister greet you" (v. 13( could refer to a particular female Christian leader, but more
probably it refers to a local church.
3. John taught the doctrine of "the security of the believer," that "the truth (Christ) . . .
abides in us and will be with us forever," v. 2.
4. John pronounces a blessing upon the believers (v. 3):
1) Grace = God's unmerited gift of love and life.
2) Mercy = Removal of a guilty person's penalty.
3) Peace = Spiritual rest and fellowship within the proper
relationship of loving God and loving others.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Obey the "Eleventh Commandment" . . . to love others.
2. Examine my life daily in the light of God's revelation, and in repentance ask for God's
forgiveness and cleansing.
3. Receive spiritual discernment to be able to distinguish between genuine believers
and deceivers (false Christians).
4. Bless my fellow believers, invoking God's grace, mercy, and peace upon them in the
name of Jesus.
"Many wealthy people are little more than janitors of their possessions."
--Frank Lloyd Wright (1868-1959)
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