Passage: 1John5
References: 1 John 3v8, v9
Those who are born of God are those who:
1) Believe that Jesus is the Christ (1 John 5v1): The word believe means:
- To accept as true
- To expect or suppose, to think, judge or regard
- Be confident about something
- To credit with veracity, i.e to credit with truthfulness or with a fact.
Looking at the above definitions of believe, let’s compare how we feel about Jesus being the Christ. The bible did not say we should know that Jesus is the Christ, if it did then the only requirement would be the knowledge of Jesus being the Christ. However, it says that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ are those who are born of God. There’s a difference between believing and knowing. One can know without believing, but one cannot believe without knowing. The concept of believing comes from your inner convictions. You believe something to be true because your convictions tell you that it is right. A conviction is “an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence.” So to be born of God, in our minds Jesus being the Christ has to be more than knowledge, it has to become a conviction.
For example, a person would not steal because of a conviction they have about that act. To them stealing is wrong, so they wouldn’t do it. A person will not smoke because they are convinced it is bad for their health. People do things based on their convictions (i.e. their beliefs) so from the examples, we can see someone's lifestyle is built on convictions they have developed over time. Now what is God telling us about someone who is born of Him; that person should be convinced that Jesus is the Christ. This can only be achieved by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The bible says in 1John 5 v 6 that the Spirit testifies to this fact; that Jesus is the Christ. If we live by the Spirit of God, this truth builds up within us and therefore becomes a conviction. Just like the presence of our parents or guardians and their influence in our lives have instilled in us things we sometimes call attitudes, behaviors, morals or in short convictions, God as our father does this through His Spirit in us. Remember that it is His Spirit in us that shows the sign that we are His (1 John 3 v 24). Brethren let’s embrace the Holy Spirit, He is the lifeline of our new lifestyle in God. May we be blessed as we begin or continue to live as God’s children.
Stay Blessed.
