60-23 Got Love? Pt 4

1 John 3:19-24

During the 1st Great Awakening in the early 18th century, flocks of people were coming to know Jesus Christ as Savior under the leadership of men like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield.

It was a remarkable period in church history where the HS was drawing countless souls into the body of Christ thru repentance and saving faith in the gospel.

Edwards, Whitefield and their faithful contemporaries were issuing the call to embrace the gospel, to obey God's Word and persevere in holiness.

Edwards recognized that many conversions were true but he knew that Satan could counterfeit conversions just as Jesus taught in the parable of the seed and the sower in Mt 13. There seeds fell on shallow soil and weedy ground. There is sometimes an initial interest in the gospel but no saving faith. Satan counterfeits true salvation in many cases.

Because so many people were coming to know the Lord, there was a need for assurance that sprung up from those who questioned whether they were doing all they should be doing and if they were truly saved.

Edwards wrote a book entitled "A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections" and in writes that the most convincing and accurate proof of salvation is the presence of holy or religions affections in the believer. These are the inclinations of the heart toward holiness which is marked by good works.

James 2:17 NASB95

17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

Genuine faith will produce good works.

Edwards taught what was considered to be the historic reformed position that salvation is a permanent gift and it certainly results in righteous living.

There have been 2 other positions in the church historically. There is what is called Arminianism-generally credited to James Arminius (though he didn't maintain a loss of genuine salvation was possible-he challenged the degree to which one could have assurance). Arminianism teaches that salvation guarantees nothing beyond the initial experience and that a person can and does lose salvation (thru unrepentant sin, rejection, and disbelief.) With the loss of salvation goes the ability to perform good works b/c the HS has been withdrawn and eternal life is forfeited.

The other position tries to find the common ground between the reformed and Arminianism—called "Free Grace" position. Free Grace proponents (20th century position) denies there is any connection between justification and sanctification. They teach that those who are justified are saved forever even if it is only a temporary interest in the gospel or a 1 time decision that is made. So a decision made in the past is sufficient to grant salvation and this person could deny the faith or live the rest of his life uninterested in spiritual realities that produce sanctification-growing in Christ.

I believe Scripture best supports the historic reformed position that salvation is permanent. Because of its permanency, we can have assurance of salvation based on our present living. We all desire assurance-I define that as freedom from self-doubt or uncertainty. We long for that.

John understands the necessity of assurance for believers which is why he develops 3 assuring realities that stem from an abiding inclination to live righteously. That inclination will inevitably result in good works-particularly love.

1) Assured that we are of the truth 2) Assured of answered prayer 3) Assured of our union w/ Christ

This is the 4th attribute of love (obedient, foreign, sacrificial, Assuring).

1) Assured that we are of the truth

(19-20)

Remember-talking about true love-self-denying love. In the presence of such love there is the fruit of assurance (which only comes to those who are of the faith).

John says "we will know." John mentions several times that we know" which is a knowledge that is based on experience. There comes a time in our Xian walk when there will be a crisis of belief. Satan loves to sow seeds of doubt in our lives. It is in those moments that we want to have assurance that we belong to God.

Such knowledge will come and it is based upon the condition of self-denying love being met-vs 18. If we love in deed and truth "we will know ... "

For John-to be of the truth is synonymous to being born of God. This is because truth ( and true love) finds its source in God. John R.W. Stott writes "truth can only characterize the behavior of those whose very character originates in the truth, so that it is by our loving others 'in truth' that we know we are ‘of the truth.'"

When this condition of loving in deed and truth is met—apostle writes "will assure our hearts before Him in whatever our heart condemns ... "

Assurance is possible but there is something about us that often gets in the way of assurance. When John is speaking of the heart he is referring to the source of inner life. The heart was the center of thought, feeling, emotion, volition, passion and particularly the conscience.

The human conscience is designed to accuse or defend human action. Both believers and unbelievers have one-though by a searing of the conscience it can be rendered ineffective.

Rom 2:15-16 God has placed His law on every human's heart.

It serves as an alarm to signal when we don't live according to His will. The conscience is designed by God to give warning that something is not right. It is this mechanism that to some degree keeps our society from chaos and absolute lawlessness.

For God's child-to go against the conscience is a serious offense. Rom 14:23 "whatever is not from faith is sin." When we live in obedience to God's truth, our conscience confirms for us that we are living right, but when we sin/go against God-it indicts us for unrighteous living. While we cannot forfeit salvation, our assurance of it can be diminished because our conscience is accusing us b/c of wrong behavior or thoughts.

We need to understand that the conscience is not perfect but fallible. The conscience can be trained and when it is trained according unbiblical principles, it leads to false living. Our conscience can mislead us and can be too severe or over lenient when it is not informed by the truth of Scripture.

A sensitive believer may have a conscience that troubles them with guilt and fear. The heart of a believer that feels its own inadequacy about loving others and following God's commands needs assurance--even John needed assurance.

"assure our hearts ... " term normally means "to persuade." When it means to persuade or convince-it needs the context to define the content of persuasion-which could be that "God is greater ... " it is uncertain how true love in action will persuade our hearts that God is greater than the heart.

Another translation is "to conciliate, to pacify, set at rest, or make tranquil." That gives way to "assure" NASB.

We need that assurance before God. In His presence, even the godliest of saints were terrified of God's holiness. Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel fell on their faces in the presence of the divine. It is a frightening thing to have to stand before God but we have a gracious gift of assurance that stems from loving our brothers and sisters.

There is peace and tranquility for the true believer—Rom 5:1; 8:1. Even when a conscience condemns us, we can take the matter to a higher court-to a judge that is neither too severe nor too lenient-but one who "is greater ... "

2 steps to take to silence the condemning conscience:

Love in action-self-examination

Focus on God-greater, knows all things. God understands the conscience, He knows the motives and desires of our hearts. His perfect knowledge is not separate from His love and sympathy-for the child of God.

Peter after he failed when Jesus asked him "do you love me" "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You" (Jn 21: 17).

Love in action is indicative of salvation in a believer. It can pacify the overly sensitive conscience and this is b/c God is greater and His knowledge is infinite above the condemning heart.

2) Assured of answered prayer

(vv 21-22)

"if our heart does not condemn" this b/c the condition has been met. God's child is loving and keeping commands.

His conscience is quieted b/c he is walking in faithfulness and obedience. Where this condition is met-"we have confidence" term means "frankness, openness, freedom of speech" especially in presence of a person of authority, power and importance.

When we live in obedience to God's commandments-we can approach the living God and speak whatever is on our minds.

This confidence doesn't flow from sinless perfection or none of us would have this boldness. It is born from a lively faith and a sense of real fellowship with God.

The believer has confidence and peace with God so he can approach the loving Father without fear.

NOTE: Unbeliever has no real confidence to approach God. The unbeliever stands before God as his Judge and there is only condemnation-for a believer, our confidence rests on our relationship with JC.

Heb 4:16 same term

"And whatever we ask ... "

John doesn't mean to imply that we are given a blank check to ask for something with divine guarantee of getting it. We are reminded in Scripture to ask according to the will of God (Mt 26:39, 42).

The point is that God responds to the prayers of His faithful people. James 5:16

John Stott mentions 6 conditions that need to be met for answered prayer:

1) prayer must be offered in Christ's name (John16:23-24),

2) for God's glory (James 4:2-3)

3) from a heart that does not cherish sin (Psalm 66:18), )

4) from a forgiven and forgiving heart (Mark 11 :25),

5) with faith (Matt. 21 :22)

6) backed by an obedient life (1 John 3 :22).

3) Assured of our union with Christ

If we are keeping His commandments and doing what is pleasing in His sight we have confidence of answered prayer. But someone might still come along and "what is it specifically that God commands us to do?"

So John answers: 2 commandments:

A. Believe in the name of God's Son JC

"to believe" is aorist points to a specific moment in a person's life when they believe in the name ... conversion. Saving faith is much more than simply accepting something as true.

James 2:19

To believe is to acknowledge and confess as true all that is spoken of Jesus in God's Word. It is agreement with God that Jesus is everything God says He is. That is what is meant by believing in His name-all that is true about Him.

He is sinless

Son of God-Son of Man

Fullness of God-fullness of human

Powerful

Faithful

Perfect, holy righteous just

Lamb of God

Lord & Savior

True saving faith assures or hearts that we belong to God because once we believed, true believers really never stop believing in JC.

to disbelieve is to reject the testimony of God Himself & to call Him a liar.

To whom is this commandment directed?

Nonbelievers. Those who have yet to trust in the saving work of Christ-so salvation has not come upon them b/c they have not been obedient to this commandment.

Ultimately believers:

R.S. Candlish "Keep on believing. Continue to believe more and more, simply because you see and feel it more and more to be "his commandment that you should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ." Unbelief, in you who have believed, is aggravated disobedience. And, as such, it is and must be especially displeasing to God. It is his pleasure that his Son should be known, trusted, worshipped, loved; honoured as he himself would be honoured. You cannot displease the Father more than by dishonouring the Son; refusing to receive him, and rest upon him, and embrace him, and hold him fast, and place full reliance upon him as redeemer, brother, friend. Do not deceive yourselves by imagining that there may be something rather gracious in your doubts and fears; your unsettled and unassured frame of mind; as if it betokened humility, and a low esteem of yourselves. Beware lest God see in it only a low esteem of his Son Jesus Christ."

You cannot have doubt over who Jesus is.

B. Love One Another

Back to self-denying love. This is a choice-we can choose to obey or choose to disobey. John's point is that self-denying love characterizes a believer's attitude toward fellow believers and as such give assuring evidence that we are united with Christ in spiritual fellowship.

Vs 24-commandments -plural (beyond simply believing and loving-but all Christ's commandments is assuring of mutual abiding.)

2 observations about obedient Xians:

They live in conformity with God-so they abide in Him.

They have fellowship with God-He abides in us.

Abide is one of John's favorite terms for salvation. 22x in 3 chapters of 1 John he uses this word. This mutual abiding is a blessing of obedience to God's commands that results in assurance.

We are promised that assurance thru the HS who is in us. Our obedience is imperfect. If we only went on the level of our obedience to God's commands we would have little assurance.

So God give us the HS to assure us of our union with Christ which is not a matter of being maintained thru works. Our salvation is not about what you and I do in order to stay saved.

We'd constantly be in trouble if that were the case. God's salvation is not earned, merited or deserved. But He bestows it permanently on those who believe. When our obedience is lacking-the HS who is given ( aorist-completed action) indwells us and gives us additional measure of assurance.

Ministry of HS is somewhat mysterious. We don't fully understand the operative ministry but we do notice the effects:

John 3:8.

1) Awakens the dead--Jn 3:5-8

2) gives sight to the spiritually blind

3) motivates the sinful heart to repent-Acts 16:14

4) draws the sinner into faith-I Pt 1 :2

5) places the believer in the body of Christ-I Cor 12:13

6) gifts the believer for ministry in the body

7) illuminates the believer's mind to understand Scripture

8) intercedes for us-Rom 8:26-27

This is only a partial list of HS ministry and serves to give assurance to those who are benefactors of the indwelling Spirit. When God's Spirit effects holy living (religious affections) by obedience to God's commands we have assurance that we are of the truth, answered prayer and united w/Christ.