If you have your Bibles, please turn to 1 John, chapter 5. 1 John, chapter 5. This is going to be your text. And I've titled this message, The True God. You know, there's all kinds of gods in this world, but there's only one true God. And we're going to look at this here. You know, as believers, there are things that God has caused us to know concerning his word, and he has given us understanding of things that are in his word. And as believers, we need to know. But you know, the word says that his greatness is unsearchable. And then in 1 Corinthians, God's word says, for we know in part, but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away with. And I thank God for that. You know, for believers, there is this. And the Lord has come, caused us to believe it with all of our hearts. And I usually quote this verse when I'm up here because someone said something to me one time, a person did, that had a profound effect on me. He said, how do you know that's the word of God? As far as I'm concerned, it's just another book written by a bunch of old men in the past. And he turned around and walked away. But that broke my heart. But in 2 Peter, it says, knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy come not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. And then in 2 Timothy, it says that all scripture is given by inspiration of God. Then I love what Isaiah 40 says, and all believers do. It says that the grass wither and the flower fadeth, but the word of our God will stand forever. And I thank the Lord for that. You know, we have come here this evening, first of all, because God has brought us here. Because he is absolutely sovereign over all things, in earth and in heaven, visible and invisible. Why? Because he is absolutely, he is absolutely in charge of all things. He has made all things. You know, in the book of Galatians, it says, for by him were all things created that are in heaven and earth, visible and invisible. And we've come here tonight to worship The true God. We've come here to praise him, to exalt him, to honor him, and then we'll also come to grow in grace and to grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. You know, Psalm 145 says, great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. And then Matthew, when he's talking about to grow in knowledge, he says, learn of me, for I'm meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls. You know, if it be God's will, may we all be able to enter into what our Lord is saying to us in this first scripture here tonight. Let's read here 1 John chapter 5. Let's look at verse 20. 1 John chapter 5, verse 20. He says, And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. It says here in our text that we know that the Son of God has come. You know, we know that God has said it in many places in His Word, but there's a few places that I want us to look at, if you don't care. Turn to the Gospel of John, the first chapter. First chapter of John, beginning in verse six. It says that there was a man sent from God whose name was John. We're talking about John the Baptist here, the forerunner. It said the same came for a witness, to bear witness of the light. It was Christ Jesus. That all men through him might believe. He was not that light. But he was sent to bear witness of that life. You know, we know that Christ lived on this earth for about 30 years before he started his ministry. Before he started his ministry, he come to John the Baptist to be baptized so that all righteousness might be fulfilled. Look at verse 29 of that same chapter. Verse 29, it says, the next day, John see if Jesus coming unto him, he knew who he was, and said, behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. I'd like for us to look at one more verse here in Matthew, turn to Matthew 3. When you enter into this, it really blesses your heart. And this is when Jesus Christ, he come to John to be baptized. And God's word says in 1 John, in verse 16, 16 and 17, it says, And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water. And, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon him. and lo a voice from heaven saying this is my beloved son and whom i am well pleased you know god's word says in first john earth three that by a record in heaven the father the word and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. And John says, in the beginning there was a word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. And then at verse 14. And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. You know, John was one of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. And he sat under Christ. He sat under his teaching and his preaching. And he spent time with our Lord. And you know, Christ was the greatest preacher and the greatest teacher. that ever walked the face of the earth. We'll turn back to 1 John, if you will, the first chapter. I'd like to read a few verses right here about what John started his book out with. Chapter 1 of 1 John. Verses 1 through 4. He says, that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, are the word of life. Christ Jesus, he said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and showed unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that you also may have fellowship with us. And truly, our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. You know, John's seen the Son of God with his eyes, but we see him with our eyes of true faith, God-given faith. And that goes deep into our hearts and deep into our souls. If you will, turn over a few pages back to your text, to verse 20 in chapter 5. I'm going to read her text one more time. Let's really look at it. And we know that the son of God is come and have given us an understanding that we may know him that is true and we are in him that is true. Even in his son, Jesus Christ, this is the true God and eternal life. And he says here, and have given us an understanding. Know how the scriptures say here that he has given us an understanding. We didn't learn that understanding on our own. This understanding must be given to us by God that we know. What we understand is a precious gift that comes from our Savior. What we know and understand must give and we cannot gain it according to our own, on our own. No matter how smart that we may think we are, when it comes to knowing God's will and the scripture's aspect of it, we will never know or understand them in the heart unless God opens our heart up to them. If you would, look at Luke 24, Luke chapter 24. Verse 44. And this is the Lord Jesus Christ speaking to his apostles after he had rose from the dead. And this was before his ascension. And in verse 44. And he said unto them, these are the words which I spake unto you, which I was yet with you. But all things must be fulfilled. and he fulfilled every one of them, which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms concerning me. You know what this saying right here, you can find it in Hebrews. He said, lo, he said, I come in the volume of the book. It is written of me to do thy will, O God. And this is a book that he's talking about. From cover to cover, it's about Christ Jesus, our Lord. And what we was talking about that men that are spiritually dead, there's no way that he can truly in a heart understand the word of God. Look at verse 45. This is Christ speaking. He said, then opened he their understanding that they might understand the Scripture. What we know and what we understand of the Scriptures has come to us by the Spirit of Christ that lives within us. And then he said in verse 46, he said unto them, thus it is written, and thus it behoove Christ to suffer. and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem, and you are witnesses of these things. I thank God for that. You know, natural man They cannot understand the things that God has written spiritually, because they are spiritually dead. He cannot know them, and He cannot understand them. 1 Corinthians chapter 2. Let's look at 1 Corinthians chapter 2. I'm sorry, I think we've already looked at that. You know, there's so many verses in God's Word that we know, and it brings us comfort because the believer knows that the Word of God is absolute truth. Absolute truth, every verse, every word of scripture which God gives his people, he gives his people peace. And I've wrote down a few verses that I say that gives all of us peace, and one that we all know very well is Romans 8, 28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God. But he don't stop there. He says to them that are caught according to his purpose. These verses help the believer to get through trials and heartaches and hardships that we go through. And we know it to be true. And the older you get, the more you look forward to them. One verse that brings my heart a lot of blessings, and I know it does for all of us. We know that if our earthly house, if this tabernacle were dissolved, We have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. And there's no way that the natural man can know or understand this, but this verse brings peace and comfort for us. And when we leave this tabernacle, you know, The older you get, the more you realize that your time's short. I mean, I know that no one knows when the Lord's going to call them home. I had a six-year-old brother that went to be with the Lord. I had an 88-year-old sister last year to go to be with the Lord. But when we go to be with the Lord, what have we got to look forward to? And we all know this verse very well. Beloved, now we know. We now are the sons of God and do not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, this is such a blessing, we shall be like him or we shall see him as he is. You know, in the mind of God, these things have already happened. And God's people know it to be true. And we know it by His Word and by His Spirit. You know, in Proverbs, it says, For the Lord giveth wisdom out of His mouth, cometh knowledge and understanding. And the Lord gives wisdom and understanding. Let's look at other texts again. In chapter 5 of 1 John, verse 20. It says, We know the Son of God is come. How do we know that? Because God has given us an understanding that we may know him that is true. We know that God is true, the only one and the only God. You know, in Psalms 31, 5, David said, into thy hand I commend my spirit, commit my spirit, that I have redeemed me, O God of truth. And then in Jeremiah, the Lord said, Jeremiah said, but the Lord is a true God. He is the living God. He is the only living God. And He is an everlasting King. You know, one faithful preacher said, I have one life to live, one death to die, one judgment to face, and an eternity to spend. And I need one foundation to stand on. And God has provided that foundation. And that foundation is on Christ and Christ alone. I love what Isaiah says. He says, therefore, but saith the Lord God, behold, I lie in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a cradstone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation. and that shore foundation, and that pride stone, precious cornerstone, that's Christ Jesus. And this speaks of his life, his death, and his resurrection. You know, when our Lord was standing before Pilate, and when he was ready to lay down his life for his people, and he laid his life down. No one took it from him. He laid his life down to die for the sins of the people that his father had placed in him before the foundation of the world. Our Lord said to him, to this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world. But I should bear witness unto the truth. And listen, everyone that is of the truth hears my voice. You know, our Lord said that I should bear witness of the truth. You know, if God's people know our Lord, and we want to know Him, and we do know Him, but we want to know Him more. But the more we know Him, the more we will know of our sin. And the more we will know that there's nothing that we can do about it. There's only one thing that will remedy, and that is the precious blood of the Lamb of God. And this is a chapter that we read quite often, but it's one that blesses our hearts so much. And if you will, turn to the book of Isaiah. We read it very often, and we all know it. And all of God's people love it, and it helps us to remind what Christ had to go through for the sins of His people. You know, when He spoke the world, whenever He made the worlds and the earth and the universe and all that, He just spoke it in existence. But whenever sin had to be forgiven, His Son had to come into the world and suffer. But it says at the top of the Bible, the humiliation and the sufferings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Let's read this. It says, who has believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant and as a root out of dry ground. He hath no form nor comeliness. And when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of man, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. And we hid as it were our faces from him. And he was despised, and we exteemed him not. We're talking about God the Son. Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. Yet we did exteem him, spitting of God. and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his scraps we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned away every one to his own way. and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before his shearers is done, so he opened not his mouth. He didn't open his mouth because he had all of our sins plunged into him. He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living. For the congressions of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked and with the rich in his death, because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him. He hath put him to grief. When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the prevail of his soul, and shall be satisfied. By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many, for he shall bar their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, and he have poured out his soul unto death. And he was numbered with the transgressors, and he barred the sins of many. speaking of his people, and he made intercession for the transgressors. I often like to think of that because, you know, sometimes we get so caught up and we read words and things, but, you know, think about that. He was almighty God in the flesh, and he'd come to save his people, and that's what it took was his blood. Let's look at our, let's go back to chapter five of 1 John again. Let's read it here again. It says, And we know that the Son of God is come, we know, and He hath given us an understanding that we may know Him, that is true. And we are in Him, that is true. Even in His Son, Jesus Christ, this is the true God and eternal life. You know, it says here in our text, when it says we, he's talking about those that the father placed in him before the foundation of the world. And I, you know, I just wish that I could enter into that statement more often. You know, all of God's sheep know they're sinners and they have nothing to offer to God other than cries of mercy. And I thank God there. He says in Timothy, God who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, and I thank God for that, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us. We didn't earn it. We didn't work for it. We didn't study for it. It was given us in Christ Jesus before the world begun. You know, the Spirit of Christ lives in the heart of every believer. You know, the Bible says that God is our refuge and strength. He's a very present help in time of trouble. He's there whenever we get up of a morning. He's there when we go out into the world. He's right there with us. He's there when we go home. He's there when we go to bed. He's there when we're asleep. He's our always. And we've always been in Him. He knew us before we ever knew Him. When we were rebellious, when we hated Him, didn't want nothing to do with Him, we were His sheep. He just hadn't called us out yet because He placed us in Christ before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1 says, according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. You know, in Christ, we're as holy as Christ is. All the love of God is in Christ and those that are in Christ. You know, I look at myself and I think, you know, how could God love someone as sinful as me? And I thank God that he sent his son into the world to save sinners. The older I get, the more I despise myself. The sin that is in me, it's my nature and it's who I am. There's only one remedy for that, and that is the precious blood of Christ Jesus, our Lord. God's people look to Christ, and they keep looking to Christ, and I never get tired of hearing about the blood of Christ. You know, our text says that we're in Him, but it's true, even in His Son, Jesus Christ. God's people thanks God for that salvation, from start to finish, it's all of the Lord in Christ. His people have a perfect righteousness. We have a, what I was just talking, we have a perfect righteousness in Philippians. Christ said, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. He took our sin into him, plunged into him, and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. He gave us what He had. He gave us His righteousness. And He took what we had, our sins. And then the last part of our text here in 1 John 5, 20, it says this is the true God and eternal life. You know, John says here in verse 11, of the same chapter that Bert Bettertax is in. He says, and this is a record. Now, this is not the record of man. This is not the record of some denomination. This is the record of Almighty God. He says, and this is a record that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. May the glory be all to God. Thank you.