Confidence in Christ
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“How to …” Sermon Outlines (54. How to Be Confident in God)
54. How to Be Confident in God
“Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God” ( 1 John 3:21-22 ).
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
How can we be confident that we are in Christ
How do we feel the confidence in our heart and condemnation out
I. Through Forgiveness
Forgiveness is the release, on the part of the creditor or offended party, of any expectation that a debt will be repaid or that an offender will receive punishment for an offense. When describing the removal of an inappropriate offense in this way, the removal does not condone the behavior or suggest approval for the offense.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
A. Unforgiven sin is accompanied by guilt. Those who lack God’s forgiveness cannot be confident in Him.
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
The downfall of king Saul as he chose to disobey and reject God and the sorrow and fear that he endured afterward. Rebellion and disobedience
25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord. 26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
B. Forgiveness is received by confession. When we repent and believe, we can be confident in God. Guilt disappears .
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
II. Through Freedom
17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
A. Many believers do not possess the fullness of the Spirit. They are not totally committed, and are limited by doubts and resentments.
Do we allow God to make changes in our life
Are we looking for the freedom God gives/offers or our own
B. The Holy Spirit brings freedom. His abiding Presence banishes bondage, frees us from the Devils entrapments, and increases confidence
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:2–5 “2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.”
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
III. Through Fervor
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
A. Those with selfish motives are slothful about God’s work. Their distorted purpose brings failure and defeat.
Our purpose is not pure to God
In the NT it is the tr of ektenēs, “stretched out,” hence intent, earnest (1 Pet 4:8, “being fervent in your love among yourselves”); of zeō, “to boil,” “to be hot” (Rom 12:11, “fervent in spirit,” Acts 18:25); of zḗlos, “zeal,” “fervor” (2 Cor 7:7, RV “zeal”), in Jas 5:16 AV has: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much,”
25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
B. Christians should find delight in serving the Lord. As they fervently work, witness, and win for Him, their confidence grows.
IV. Through Faith
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
A. Many displease God and disappoint themselves because of their lack of faith .
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
B. Faith—confidence—is the means by which we open ourselves up to God. It is also the way to be victorious in Christ .
A living trust and belief in God
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Introduction)
At times, this emphasis on faith has degenerated into a checklist of beliefs that disregard a person’s life and practices. However, the biblical concept of faith is not meant to boil Christianity down to a set of religious ideas. The letter of James emphatically critiques such a distortion
Some things to add to our foundation
2 Peter 1:5–9 “5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” (KJV 1900)