Seven Things You Need To Know About Christianity

The Bible in the Book of 1 John give us seven things about the Christian faith that help make the joy of the
Christian complete (1 John 1:4).  Here is the passage where the seven things are found:

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life--to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death. We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 1 John 5:13-20

1. The Bible teaches here that the Christian has eternal life right now--"that you may know that you have eternal life." 
2. The Bible teaches here that the Christian has freedom of access to the Heavenly Father--"we know that he hears us in whatever we ask."
3. The Bible teaches here that the Christian will have answered prayer--"we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him."
4. The Bible teaches that the Christian cannot love living in sin permanently because he has been Born Again by God--"We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning"
5. The Bible teaches that the Christian knows they belong to God and that the world is slave to the Devil--"We know that we are from God,and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one."
6. The Bible teaches that the Christian knows and understands that Jesus Christ has truly come--"we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding."
7. The Bible teaches that the Christian has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, who is God and the source of Life--"we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."

The meat here in this passage exceeds the space to explain in one blog post.  With that in mind, I want you to focus on one thing from this passage--Do you know personally these things that the Apostle John shared under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit?  If you say you do not, then I challenge you why not.  All these things are written so that your joy in Christ may be made full (1 John 1:4).  If you find yourself lacking in understanding, then go over the entire Book of 1 John and ask the Lord to examine your heart and show you what you are lacking.  Remember, the seven knowings of Christianity from this passage all stem from the reality that you must be a Born Again Christian (John 3:3; John 3:16).  If you are not familiar with the idea of being a Born Again Christian, then I encourage you to examine the link I have in this blog: How Do I Become A Christian?

Pastor Steve

Psalm119:89