Assurance and How to Find It
Notes
Transcript
INTRO
INTRO
ASSURANCE...
the widespread problem of assurance
the reasons for this problem
the “unhelpful solutions” to this problem
Tonight, my goal is to address this widespread problem with the biblical solution in a way that will give you practical steps to finding assurance.
19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
Give Background
FOR 6TH GRADERS:
The apostle John is writing to believers in a group of churches. These churches fellowship with each other
What happened? - The Group that went out from but not of them
Spreading heresy about the person of Christ
Spreading heresy about sin
Spreading heresy about the gospel
Spreading heresy about Christian living
John is writing “so that you may know” the truth, expose lies, assurance for those in the truth and the ability to discern who is truly walking in the light
FOR ALL OF US:
Past two weeks talking about loving others vs. hating others
the example of Cain and the example of Christ
Hate leads to death, murderers not abiding in Christ
Love in deed and truth, not just word and action
17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
John has just written—inspired by God—some hard truths and commands
Love like Christ in your actions; how can God’s love abide in the ones who turn their hearts away from those in need?
All of us have closed off our hearts to brothers in need at different times
All of us have loved in word and talk without following through
When looking at our actions and life, all of us have valid reasons to doubt.
John has been writing these things so that the believers can see these secessionists for what they truly are. However, in the process, there’s a lot of conviction and personal reflection that takes place for believers.
When we read the commands and hard truths of Scripture, there is conviction and a reality check that takes place
THAT’S GOOD, DON’T BRUSH PAST THAT
BUT
when our hearts begin to doubt and question in response, when our hearts condemn us, where do we look?
Where does John direct the reader’s attention in response?
To God.
How do you reassure your heart when it’s doubting, when it condemns you?
You look to God.
TO FIND ASSURANCE...
TO FIND ASSURANCE...
1. Start by humbly remembering God’s character.
1. Start by humbly remembering God’s character.
19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.
DEFINE TERM: HEART
the word heart can be used in many ways depending on the context.
“By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him (Jesus); for whenever our heart (sin) condemns us, God is greater than our heart and he knows everything (omniscient)
SO EXAMPLE...: when you’ve failed, when you’ve sinned, let’s say you saw a brother in need, you had the means to help him, and yet you ignored him, you turned a blind eye...
Notice where he doesn’t go first:
what do other people say? (they only see a sliver/portion)
what works/fruit do you see? (there’s going to be sin and obedience)
how do you feel? (feel at peace vs. anxiety)
what have you done in the past? (prayed a prayer)
Notice where he does go first:
He goes to God and His character
God is greater than our hearts
Greater - in importance
Like parents vs. kids giving commands
Your heart may say something, you may have doubts, but God has the final say, not your heart
He knows everything
He knows every single sin you have done and will ever do
He knows your heart, he knows who you are trusting, he knows your future
Let’s think about our theology for a second:
predestination vs. arminian beliefs
trace that through to it’s logical, biblical end
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Assurance is found first and foremost in God who predestines, calls, justifies, glorifies. God knows all, is outside of time and space.
Even though we believe that God predestines in salvation, we can so quickly jump to arminian beliefs, works-righteousness salvation when we look at our sin and struggles.
If God predestines and calls, won’t he also justify and glorify?
We wouldn’t confess, repent, and follow unless God had opened our eyes and loved us first.
We wouldn’t desire to obey and desire to please God unless he had given that to us
If we’re at that point, will he not also finish the work?
That’s where John starts.
God is greater than your heart and he knows everything
He knows whom he has predestined
He knows your heart, the struggles, the desires, the good, the bad, the ugly
He is greater than your heart.
He is the final judge, not your heart
He is just, merciful, gracious, holy, he will judge appropriately and accordingly
TO WRAP UP THE IDEA...
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Lay aside every weight and sin that cling so closely and run the race while looking to Jesus
Founder of our faith (started/established)
Perfecter of our faith (completes/finalizes)
This is a two-sided coins
For those in Christ, this will be assurance
For those not in Christ, this will hopefully bring you to a point of realizing your doubts have validity to them
TO FIND ASSURANCE...
TO FIND ASSURANCE...
2. Continue by honestly addressing the reasons for doubt.
2. Continue by honestly addressing the reasons for doubt.
21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
Yes, we start by looking to the character of God, but then we do need to spend some time evaluating the reasons for doubt.
John says this:
If we keep God’s commandments
and do what pleases him
whatever we ask
we receive from him
AND
Our heart does not condemn us
We have confidence before God
In other words, when you’re walking in true obedience (something you can only do if you are truly in Christ), you’re not going to be struggling with assurance. On the contrary, you’ll have confidence before God. When you’re walking in true obedience, you want God’s glory and what’s good for others. And when that’s your desire, and you pray to the Lord about those things, you will receive answers to prayer about that because you want what God wants.
BUT, if you’re struggling with assurance, there’s something prompting that...
wrong beliefs about God (addressed in point 1)
wrong beliefs about salvation/man’s responsibility (addressed in point 1)
OR
Not keeping God’s commandments
Not doing what pleases him
not asking for the right things
not receiving what you think you should receive
heart condemns you
you lack confidence
Ask yourself these questions?
Do you really believe the truths about God in salvation (Rom 8; Eph 2)
Are you walking in sin? Unconfessed sin?
Do you want what God wants?
Where have you been placing your confidence before?
I’ve found that the following reasons are large contributors to doubt:
Matt 7 passage/seeing Pharisees and the self-deceived (wondering if that’s me)
Living in sin, hidden sin, and struggling to find victory
There’s not a desire as described in the Bible
Assurance was found in the wrong place in the first place
Wrong understanding of God and the gospel
So how do you fix these things? How do you find assurance?
Remember, start by remembering God’s character, and then from there, address the causes of doubt...
To do so, I think using Pastor Charlie’s method from this morning is super helpful
PASTOR CHARLIE’S MODEL
biblical thoughts
biblical desires
biblical actions
living sacrifice
God’s glory
Addressing the doubts, regaining biblical thoughts starts with this...
TO FIND ASSURANCE...
TO FIND ASSURANCE...
3. Finish by faithfully re-centering on the gospel.
3. Finish by faithfully re-centering on the gospel.
23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
Believe in the Son
Love one another
Abiding in God/God abides in you
His Spirit abides in you
This is the gospel.
You repent and believe, trusting in Jesus
Your soul is secure, you’re sealed with the Spirit
Think about how big that promise is...
14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Your salvation isn’t secure after a certain number of good works and holiness percentage. You don’t clean up your act enough.
No, the gospel starts with God loving and saving you, so that you can then love others.
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
THEN you obediently love others, through the help of the Spirit
The path to finding assurance starts by focusing on God’s character, then identifying your doubts, and addressing them with the gospel.
Matt 7 passage/seeing Pharisees and the self-deceived (wondering if that’s me)
God - He is holy, just, and knows everything. He sees the heart, we can never live up to that standard on our own, that’s why Christ needed to take our place.
Doubts - The Pharisees relied on their own righteousness, maybe that’s you? Maybe you’re doubting because “they were so righteous” and that’s what happened to them, I don’t want to be in the same boat
Gospel - Trust in Jesus, you’re sealed with the Spirit. Security is found in God. The obedience that you then do is empowered by the Holy Spirit. Are you going to fail at times? Yes. But that’s not where your security lies.
Living in sin, hidden sin, and struggling to find victory
God knows everything. The sins you committed in the past, the sins you’re committing now, the sins you will commit in the future.
If you’re one of God’s elect, he knew those sins and died for them before you ever committed them.
Doubts - Why am I still struggling? Why am I not finding victory? Well remember, you still have a body of flesh. But then evaluate, do you believe in Christ or are you believing in the world and what it has to offer you? Are you willing to repent and let go of those sins? Are you striving to keep Christ’s commandments and do things His way? If not, don’t expect those results.
Gospel - There is forgiveness in Christ, confess, repent, and trust in Him! Rely on the Spirit (through reading the Word of God and living it out)
24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,
There’s not a desire as described in the Bible
Assurance was found in the wrong place in the first place
Wrong understanding of God and the gospel
If you are truly in Christ, there is eternal security
There will be times you sin and you fail
There will be seasons where you may experience doubt
Return to God’s character
Address the reasons for doubt
Re-center on the gospel
SUMMARY/CLOSING
SUMMARY/CLOSING
