The Confidence of God's Children - 1 John 3:18-24

INTRO

_WE ARE BACK Y’ALL_

Have you woken up in the middle of the night with a racing mind?

Have you had self condemning thoughts?

-I’m the worst, what’s wrong with me, I know better, etc.

Has anxiety flooded you like that?

Regret and worry…man we can be really harsh self critics.

Maybe you get it honestly,

maybe it’s been the harsh words of someone else in your life that has lead to this middle of the night crisis.

It’s in these moments we need the kind words of a father.

That is what John is doing as a spiritual father for these young Christians for us.

He is seeking to affirm and encourage us that we can have confidence to silence our anxious heart.

Danny Akin shared a powerful testimony he once heard from a 55-year-old man.

This man, who had trusted Christ at the age of 50, spoke of his past struggles as a recovering alcoholic and drug addict.

He recounted his history of several failed marriages, all of which he took full responsibility for due to his bad choices and poor decisions throughout his life.

As he continued to share his story, tears streamed down his face while he spoke about his childhood,

it was a childhood marked by constant criticism and condemnation from his father.

He recalled his dad repeatedly saying things like, “Boy, you can’t do anything right.

Boy, you’re just downright dumb.

Boy, you will never grow up to amount to anything.”

This negative reinforcement shaped his life, leading him to become exactly what his father predicted.

However, with a gentle smile and a twinkle in his eye, the man shared how his life changed five years ago when he met Jesus.

He said, “But 5 years ago, when I met Jesus, I got a new daddy.

And this daddy loves me.

He believes in me. He thinks I can do anything!”

This friends is what John wants us to see that in Christ,

we receive a new Father, a perfect heavenly Father who loves us unconditionally.

This Father desires for us to have a healthy heart and a clear conscience.

When we remember our identity in Him through Christ and the Spirit,

we can love others as He has loved us

We can obey His commands out of gratitude for who He is and what He has done.

These truths have the power to save and to heal.

This is exactly what John is trying to get us to see and understand in chapter 3.

Here is our Big Idea this morning:

Big Idea: God’s children can confidently approach their father

I want to encourage you today friend.

I want you to understand the profound truth of who God is and how he welcomes.

I want you to be confident.

To have assurance.

To stop that 2AM guilt.

To silence the condemning lies.

I want you to understand that you are a child of God.

Let’s go to our text and see first

1. God’s Children Made Evident By Their Fruit

1 John 3:18–19 (ESV)

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;

John is using v.18 as a hinge verse.

If you want to know that you are of the truth.

If you want to reassure your heart that yes, I belong to Jesus.

I am a child of God.

Then where do you look?

You look at the way you love.

It’s not just what we say right?

It’s not just words but it’s our deeds, our actions.

This is the way the gospel is modeled for us:

God so loved the world that he gave

So let me ask do you love others in self-denying action?

John says if we are to look at our lives we will find evidence, we will see fruit that we belong to Jesus

I love the way Joby Martin asked it. If you were to be arrested for being a Christian is their enough evidence in your life to convict you?

I find early American Theologian Jonathan Edward’s so helpful on this.

Here is what Edwards Says,

“Natural men have no sense of the goodness and excellency of holy things, at least for their holiness. But for the saints, holiness is the most amiable and sweet thing that is to be found in heaven or earth. When persons are possessed of false affections and think themselves out of danger of hell, they very much put off the burden of the cross, save themselves the trouble of difficult duties and allow themselves more of the enjoyment of their ease and their lusts” _Jonathan Edwards

This is a challenge we face in the church today.

Many claim they've been saved from hell, but then live as if that's all that matters.

They give little thought to the weight of the cross or the responsibilities that come with being a servant of the Lord,

instead they indulge in comfort and worldly desires.

Jonathan Edwards would call this a clear sign of false conversion.

“The unsaved Christian”.

He goes on to say

“There is a holy breathing and panting after the Spirit of God to increase holiness which is as natural to a holy nature as breathing is to a living body. If you’ve been given a new nature, then the longing for holiness is natural. The true believer loves God in the first place for the beauty of His holiness. Instead of being something separable from salvation, holiness is the very purpose of salvation. And once a person is renewed, a life of holiness is instantly begun and a transformation of nature is continued and carried on to the end of life until it is brought to perfection in glory.” _Jonathan Edwards

This is what John is saying in our text.

That a child of God is made evident by their fruit.

Abundant life is not a some day in heaven thing it is a right now pursuit.

Loving others as God in Christ has loved us strengthens our hearts and gives us assurance.

By loving others in truth (v. 18), we come to "know we belong to the truth" (v. 19).

But if we are honest—loving others isn't always easy.

It's often easier said than done.

True love involves serving others just as Jesus served us.

Sometimes this service is public and celebrated,

but other times it's private, humbling, and goes unnoticed.

It can be tough.

Richard Foster captures this perfectly in Celebration of Discipline.

In some ways we would prefer to hear Jesus’ call to deny father and mother, houses and land for the sake of the gospel than his word to wash feet. Radical self-denial gives the feel of adventure.… But in service we much experience the many little deaths of going beyond ourselves. Service banishes us to the mundane, the ordinary, the trivial. _Richard Foster

Jesus changes our lives.

Listen what is extremely popular right now is to take church and make it all about you.

Churches utilize therapeutic language to help you discover your true self.

To get you caught up in this grand idea of something big.

But Jesus wants us to live lives that are low, slow, and hidden.

It’s in the shared meal where we weep with a fellow brother and sister.

When we showcase compassion to someone who may never understand the cost we have gone to for them.

That is when Jesus reassures our hearts that we belong to him.

When he sets in us a holy affection for the things of God.

But here is our problem.

Many of us don’t love perfectly.

We don’t love selflessly.

This is what leads to those 2AM moments.

When my conscience condemns me, when my heart feels heavy with guilt, my assurance can waver.

Where do I turn then?

My conscience might whisper, "If you're a real Christian, why would you act like that?

Why would you speak that way? Why would you crave so much affirmation or praise?

Why is pride still in your life? Why do you get angry?"

These thoughts can make you question your faith and lose your assurance.

That leads us to see second

2. God’s Children Know God’s Greater Grace

1 John 3:20 (ESV)

for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

This is such a deeply encouraging verse.

You see when our conscience sends us on a guilt trip we look in faith to the God who is greater than our uncertain hearts.

Our hearts will be so unsure so lost in the failure to love perfectly.

When our conscience fixates on our failures, it can hit us with guilt and chop away at our assurance.

So, what do we do?

We remind ourselves there's something greater than our conscience.

There's a higher court, a higher standard—God Himself.

God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.

His holy indignation against sin surpasses ours

His knowledge of us is far deeper than our own.

Romans 8:1 says, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

When your conscience accuses you, turn back to God's greater grace.

He knows everything.

God knows every sin, has a higher standard than we do, and still declares us justified.

He knows our hearts better than we do.

Remember what Jesus asked Peter: “Do you love Me?” And Peter replied, “You know my heart, Lord, you know everything; you know I love You.”

Despite Peter's failures, Jesus reaffirms him and called him to feed His sheep.

God knows the worst in us, yet He does not condemn us.

There is no condemnation for those in Christ.

Romans 8:31-39 reminds us that if God is for us, no one can be against us.

Nothing can separate us from His love.

God sees our deepest failures but also our genuine love for Him.

Even when it's not obvious, we can say, “Lord, you know my heart, you know I love You.”

Again the hope of our assurance is in the finished work of Christ.

Several years ago one of the astronauts who walked on the moon was interviewed and asked, “What do you think about as you stood on the moon and looked back at the earth?”

The astronaut replied, “I remembered how the spacecraft was built by the lowest bidder.”

We can rejoice that the work of salvation did not go to the “lowest bidder” but was performed by an infinite God.

We don’t have to look to our ability and our work.

We look to his work.

There will never be a deficiency in his work.

Our salvation is as sure as the architect of that salvation, Almighty God

Understanding that God's grace surpasses our self-condemnation leads to deeper trust and assurance in His love.

What do you say to yourself in those moments of self condemnation?

I sometimes try to play lawyer and self-justify.

You know what happens then?

Either one I delude myself and end up prideful.

Or I realize rightly that I cannot justify myself and I head towards despair.

Friends we have to look away from ourselves

Great quote from C.S. Lewis

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less.” ― CS Lewis

Here is where we get into trouble.

When we look to ourselves, we make everything about us.

Our performance, our problems, our concerns.

Listen you and I make really bad gods.

Why because we ultimately disappoint ourselves

The reality is, we need to know what God has declared over us in the gospel, and until we know that deeply in our souls, we will look to our hearts which speak a terrible word

Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV)

The heart is deceitful above all things,

and desperately sick;

who can understand it?

Now a lot of know that verse but listen to the next verse.

look at the next verse

Jeremiah 17:10 (ESV)

“I the Lord search the heart

and test the mind,

to give every man according to his ways,

according to the fruit of his deeds.”

It is God who speaks the true and better word over you.

Hannah almost daily has city a light playing

How I love the voice of Jesus On the cross of Calvary He declares His work is finished He has spoken this hope to me

Boldly I approach my Father Clothed in Jesus' righteousness There is no more guilt to carry It was finished upon that cross

When your heart condemns you.

God is greater than your heart.

He knows you. Psalm 103 says he knows our frame; he remembers we are dust.

This is what he says.

I am forgiven and set free from all my sins. (1 John 1:9)

I am a child of God and a co-heir with Christ. (Romans 8:16-17)

I am a new creation in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

I am chosen and appointed to bear fruit. (John 15:16)

I am an overcomer through the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 12:11)

I am rooted and established in God’s love. (Ephesians 3:17)

I am a friend of Jesus, and He laid down His life for me. (John 15:13)

I am a child of God, and the evil one cannot touch me. (1 John 5:18)

I am loved with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3)

I am clothed with the armor of God to stand against the enemy’s schemes. (Ephesians 6:11)

I am free from condemnation because I am in Christ. (Romans 8:1)

When your heart tells you you are a failure tell your heart to shut up.

Stop looking in the mirror and lift your eyes to where your help comes from.

When we do this we can live confidently with boldness.

This leads us to see third

3. God's Children Have Union with Christ

1 John 3:21–24 (ESV)

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 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. 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.

God sets our hearts at ease.

We see the reality. We are united in Christ.

We are no longer orphans, no longer beggars beneath the table.

We are brought in a seated at the table.

Mephiboseth

The story of Mephibosheth, found in 2 Samuel 9, is a vivid picture of grace.

Mephibosheth was the grandson of King Saul and son of Jonathan.

After Saul and Jonathan's deaths, he was left crippled and forgotten, living in fear and obscurity.

But then King David, moved by his love for Jonathan, sought out Mephibosheth.

When he found him, David didn’t just show kindness—he went above and beyond.

He restored all of Saul’s land to Mephibosheth and invited him to eat at the king’s table, treating him like one of his own sons.

Despite his brokenness and his past, Mephibosheth was given a place of honor and belonging.

This story mirrors our own experience with God.

We, too, are broken and undeserving, yet Jesus seeks us out.

He doesn’t just forgive us; He brings us into His family.

We’re invited to the King’s table, not because of anything we’ve done, but because of His incredible love.

Like Mephibosheth, we’re given a new identity and a permanent place of honor.

We’re no longer outsiders; we’re beloved children welcomed into the presence of the King.

If God sets our hearts at ease before him, we have the confidence to approach him in prayer.

Samuel asks me for anything - At Ollies, hey Dad can we climb up there?

This is the kind of praying we should be freed to do!

We should ask God for things beyond what we could imagine.

When we trust God's judgment over our own conscience, our confidence shifts.

Instead of relying on our feelings, we rely on God's Word and what He says about us.

Ok Billy this is great and all but what am I supposed to do?

verse 23

1 John 3:23 (ESV)

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.

Again John wants you to have confidence.

This verse presents one comprehensive command in two parts:

belief in Jesus and love for one another.

First, we must believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

This belief means trusting in His person and work—His deity, humanity, and role as our Savior.

Second, we must love one another, a command Jesus emphasized in John 13:34-35, where He instructed us to love as He loved us.

Warren Wiersbe sums it up well: "Faith toward God and love toward man sum up a Christian’s obligations."

These two elements—faith and love—are foundational.

They are the evidence of God's work in us and the testimony of His Spirit.

Do you see how we over complicate it.

Again it’s faith, then faith working through love.

Think back to Exodus - Salvation then the law

Salvation is made evident by obedience it’s not salvation by obedience.

Illustration

During the first part of the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, no safety devices were used, and 23 men fell to their deaths.

For the last part of the project, however, a large net which cost $100,000 was employed.

At least 10 men fell into it and were saved.

But an interesting sidelight is the fact that 25 percent more work was accomplished when the men were assured of their safety!

Let’s bring it all together.

verse 24

1 John 3:24 (ESV)

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.

In 1 John 3:22-24, John talks about keeping God's commands and the blessings that come from obedience.

He explains that through the Holy Spirit, given to us as a gift, we know that God lives in us and we in Him.

Living in Christ means continually keeping His commands.

Do we fail? Yes!

Again we have dealt with this

1 John 2:1 (ESV)

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

John is connecting the dots.

It’s repentance and faith.

It is listening to the better word spoken over us in the gospel.

Laying off our besetting sins and abiding in Jesus.

For John, obeying God and abiding in Him are always connected, as are having the Spirit and remaining in God.

John highlights that the Holy Spirit, whom we received at conversion, is essential for discerning truth from falsehood.

The Spirit's presence proves Christ's life in us and helps us live rightly and love others.

When our hearts condemn us, we should look for the Spirit's work in us—believing in Christ, obeying God's commands, and loving others—

All of those things are evidence of God's presence.

CONCLUSION

We live in a world where few things are sure: there is little security and life is ever so brief.

But one thing you can count on is the constant care of the One who keeps you in the hollow of His hand.

Through every generation, believers have found themselves in the same position—in the loving hands of the Savior.

Yours is the same great privilege as Martin Luther’s.

When Martin Luther was in the throes of the Reformation and the Pope was trying to bring him back to the Catholic church, he sent a cardinal to deal with Luther and buy him with gold.

The cardinal wrote to the Pope, “The fool does not love gold.”

The cardinal, when he could not convince Luther, said to him, “What do you think the Pope cares for the opinions of a German … [farmer]?

The Pope’s little finger is stronger than all Germany.

Do you expect your princes to take up arms to defend you—you, a wretched worm like you? I tell you no. And where will you be then?”

Luther’s reply was simple. “Where I am now. In the hands of Almighty God.”

Place your confidence in God.

He will keep you by His power.

He is greater than your heart.

Pray

1. What specific actions can I take this week to demonstrate love in deed and truth, rather than just in words?

2. How can I better handle moments when my heart condemns me? What scriptures or truths can I hold onto to remind myself of God's greater grace?

3. How well do I receive God’s grace in my life? Are there areas where I struggle to accept His forgiveness and love?

4. When I examine my heart, what motives do I find behind my actions? Are they aligned with God’s desires for me?

PRAYER:

Kings Table Church:

Jack

Sophie

Two new believers. That they would be like the good soil in mark 4

Clayton

Steven

Minu

Sarah

Shawn

For these non-Christians to trust Christ.

For Pastor Jordan that he would love Jesus more, pursue holiness, and use my life for His glory.

YOUNG LIFE CAMP

That God would work mightily and bring people to saving faith

Needs in Our church

David Hicks - pacemaker

For Our Church

That we would have unity amid diversity—loving those with whom we have nothing in common but the gospel.