Evidence Confirming Assurance

1 John 2:1-6

1 John 2:1–6 NLT

1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. 3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

INTRODUCTION:

I- THE PROVISION THAT CONFIRMS OUR ASSURANCE (I John 2:1-2)

1 John 2:1–2 NLT

1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

A. Our Advocate (I John 2:1)

1 John 2:1 NLT

1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.

(Τεκνία μου, ταῦτα γράφω ὑμῖν ἵνα μὴ ἁμάρτητε. καὶ ἐάν τις ἁμάρτῃ, παράκλητον ἔχομεν πρὸς τὸν πατέρα Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν δίκαιον,)

1. It is not God’s will for us to live in a sinful lifestyle.

(1 Peter 1:15-16)

1 Peter 1:15–16 NLT

15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

2. It is not God’s will to leave us in bondage to sin.

(John 8:34, 36)

John 8:34 NLT

34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.

John 8:36 NLT

36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

B. Our Atonement (I John 2:2)

1 John 2:2 NLT

2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

(καὶ αὐτὸς ἱλασμός ἐστιν περὶ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν, οὐ περὶ τῶν ἡμετέρων δὲ μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ περὶ ὅλου τοῦ κόσμου.)

1. What is an atonement?

αὐτὸς ἱλασμός ἐστιν περὶ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν = He (himself) iis the means of the forgiveness (expiation) of our sins.

καὶ περὶ ὅλου τοῦ κόσμου = and for the whole world.

2. Why do we need it?

a. Because we have a sin problem.

(1 John 1:8, 10)

1 John 1:8 NLT

8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.

1 John 1:10 NLT

10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

b. Because the whold world has a sin problem.

(Romans 3:23)

Romans 3:23 NLT

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

II- THE PROOF THAT CONFIRMS OUR ASSURANCE (I John 2:3-5)

1 John 2:3–5 NLT

3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him.

A. Obedience (I John 2:3-4)

1 John 2:3–4 NLT

3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.

( 3 Καὶ ἐν τούτῳ γινώσκομεν ὅτι ἐγνώκαμεν αὐτόν, ἐὰν τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ τηρῶμεν.

4 ὁ λέγων ὅτι Ἔγνωκα αὐτὸν καὶ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ μὴ τηρῶν ψεύστης ἐστίν, καὶ ἐν τούτῳ ἡ ἀλήθεια οὐκ ἔστιν·)

1. The first desire of a true child of God is to please the Father.

a. According to Paul’s testimony to the Jews in the temple, one of his first questions after his conversion experience was to ask the Lord what He wanted Paul to do. (Acts 22:6-10).

Acts 22:6–10 NLT

6 “As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 “ ‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked. “And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, the one you are persecuting.’ 9 The people with me saw the light but didn’t understand the voice speaking to me. 10 “I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ “And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are to do.’

2. Living in disobedience without God’s correction indicates that a relationship with him does not exist. (1 John 2:4)

1 John 2:4 NLT

4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.

a. Hebrews 12: 7-8

Hebrews 12:7–8 NLT

7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.

b. 2 John 9

2 John 9 NLT

9 Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.

B. Love (I John 2:5)

1 John 2:5 NLT

5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him.

(ὃς δʼ ἂν τηρῇ αὐτοῦ τὸν λόγον, ἀληθῶς ἐν τούτῳ ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ τετελείωται. ἐν τούτῳ γινώσκομεν ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐσμεν·)

1. Love is demonstrated through obedience.

a. What does your level of obedience indicate about your love for Christ?

III- THE PLAN THAT CONFIRMS OUR ASSURANCE (I John 2:6)

1 John 2:6 NLT

6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

A. Abide in Christ (I John 2:6a)

1 John 2:6a NLT

6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

(ὁ λέγων ἐν αὐτῷ μένειν ὀφείλει καθὼς ἐκεῖνος περιεπάτησεν καὶ αὐτὸς περιπατεῖν. )

1. God’s plan is that we abide (remain) in Christ. (John 15:4-10).

John 15:4–10 NLT

4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. 9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.

a. It is impossible to be fruitful without abiding in him. (vs. 4-5)

b. Abiding in Christ is key to answered prayer. (vs. 7)

c. Obedience is key to abiding. (vs. 10)

B. Imitate Christ (I John 2:6b)

1 John 2:6b NLT

6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

1. We are to strive to be like Jesus.

(Luke 6:40)

Luke 6:40 NLT

40 Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.

(Ephesians 5:1)

Ephesians 5:1 NLT

1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

(1 Corinthians 11:1)

1 Corinthians 11:1 NLT

1 And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

2. We are to live out his teachings.

(John 14:15)

John 14:15 NLT

15 “If you love me, obey my commandments.

(John 14:21)

John 14:21 NLT

21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

3. We are to strive to carry out his mission.

(Matthew 28:19-20)

Matthew 28:19–20 NLT

19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

CONCLUSION:

Questions to ponder:

What is the primary purpose of John writing this letter, as stated in 1 John 2:1?

According to 1 John 2:2, what does Jesus do for us when we sin?

How can we be assured that we know God, based on 1 John 2:3?

In 1 John 2:4, what characterizes someone who claims to know God but does not obey His commandments?