The Best Guarantee (1 John 4:13-15)

Introduction

Maybe one of the most asked questions by Christians is: how do I know I am saved?  

We all want a good guarantee with important parts of our lives. 

You want insurance on your home to guarantee the replacement of your belongings. 

You buy that extra protection on that electronic device or appliance so you are guaranteed that it will be fixed or replaced.

You make sure there is a good warranty on that vehicle so you are guaranteed that it will run like its supposed to.

You want your bank to be insured so your money is guaranteed to be there.

In very simplistic terms, then, how do you know that your salvation will have its effect on your life?  How do I know I am saved?

That question is answered in our text by John as he continued to write this letter. Notice in v.13 again John says By this. He uses this phrase a lot to introduce a concept he really wants to make sure his listeners grasp. In fact, it appears 11 times in this letter. 

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us.  In other words, how can you be sure that God abides in you and you in him?  Here is the answer: because he has given us of his Spirit. 

This is the main truth we are going to unpack–the guarantee we have of our salvation through the Holy Spirit’s activity in us. I hope you are encouraged by this message; I hope you gain confidence by this message. And if you don’t know Christ as your Savior, I hope you’ll understand what He has done for you and understand your need to repent of your sin and trust in Jesus. 

I want to point out a natural movement we see in the text, which consists of 4 parts. I’ll briefly speak to each of the first 3, but we’ll spend the majority of our time on the 4th part.

Let’s start at v.14 first: we see apostolic authority here. John was one of many who saw and testifies about Jesus. So understand here that it’s not just someone talking without experience. You can trust what you’re reading at least because it is written by someone who is speaking out of what he has seen. Not to mention the fact that these words are Holy Scripture, inspired by the Holy Spirit.

1st Part of the Movement: v.14

Now here’s the first part of this natural movement. It’s like this happened, then this happened, then this happened, and finally, the 4th part: the guarantee that all of that has happened and is effective for your life.

The 1st movement: He saw and testified that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. This happened.

You need to understand that ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (, ESV)

Apart from Jesus Christ, you are perishing and will perish eternally under the wrath of God. But God has made redemption possible for you. The Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

2nd Part of the Movement: beginning of v.15

That happened. Then this: whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus came to this world and finished the work that is necessary for you to be redeemed. But tells us, “...if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

The 2nd part of the movement is that you have to confess Jesus.

It’s not enough just to know that Jesus came into the world. Many people are smart enough to know that Jesus was a real man on the earth.

It’s not enough, though, just to say empty words. I mentioned recently that this word confess means to confess publicly, to acknowledge openly. There is belief behind this confession, like says.

So, the 1st part is that the Father sent his Son into the world. That happened.

Then, what is to happen is that every person has to decide to confess Jesus Christ. To believe in their heart that God raised him from the dead and that he has paid the penalty for sin and brings victory in this life.

That happens. Then, the 3rd movement.

3rd Part of the Movement: end of v.15

When you confess your belief in Christ, you will be saved. So this happens: God abides in you and you abide in God. Theologically this is called our union with Christ. We could spend a whole sermon on this topic alone, but let me share how Wayne Grudem summarizes it: “we are in Christ, Christ is in us, we are like Christ, and we are with Christ” (Systematic Theology, p. 1256).

Millard Erickson gives 4 implications of our union with Christ (Christian Theology, 3rd Edition, p. 882-883):

We are counted righteous.

We now live in Christ’ strength.

We will suffer.

We have the prospect of reigning with Christ.

Transition: Now, even with these three events being true in your life, some might wonder, how do I know this has all happened?

This is where the guarantee gives you assurance. The Holy Spirit’s work in your life gives assurance.

The Holy Spirit gives assurance of salvation

We’ve already heard this theme in 3:24: “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.” (, ESV)

How does the Holy Spirit give us assurance? I would say that the answer comes by identifying the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. So what does the Holy Spirit do exactly? There’s a great study resource called Willmington’s Book of Bible Lists. Let me share some of the items in a list called “57 Ministries of the Holy Spirit”:

30. Convicts the unsaved person of sin, righteousness, and judgment

judgment

37. Warns its members

39. Desires to direct its evangelistic attempts

41. Regenerates the believing sinner ; ;

; ;

42. Baptizes the believer ; ; ; ;

;

43. Indwells the believer , ; ; ; 7:37–39; ;

7:37–39; ;

44. Seals the believer ; ; ; ;

44. Seals the believer

; ; ; ;

45. Fills the believer

46. Conforms him to the image of Christ

47. Strengthens his new nature ; ;

; ;

48. Reveals biblical truth to him

49. Assures him concerning salvation and service ;

;

50. Gives him liberty ;

51. Fills his mouth with appropriate things

52. Prays for him

53. Guides him ;

54. Teaches him

55. Empowers him for witnessing

H.L. Willmington, Willmington’s Book of Bible Lists (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1987), 150–151.

56. Imparts the love of Christ to him and through him

57. Will someday raise the bodies of all departed believers

Some of the “57 Ministries of the Holy Spirit” from H.L. Willmington, Willmington’s Book of Bible Lists (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1987), 150–151.

H.L. Willmington, Willmington’s Book of Bible Lists (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1987), 150–151.

So let me ask:

Do you feel the conviction of sin?

Are you conforming to the image of Christ?

Are you learning and discovering biblical truth?

Are you finding liberty/freedom over sinful thoughts, words, actions?

Are you experiencing the guidance of the Holy Spirit, often evidenced by peace you will feel?

Are you telling others about Jesus, being his witness?

Are you loving others?

This is the work of the Holy Spirit in you. That is evidence of the salvation inside of you.

Look at the similarities to what Paul wrote:

(ESV)

13In 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, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Now, let’s look specifically at how the Holy Spirit seals the believer and is the guarantee of our inheritance.

“Seal” generally means to put a mark upon something as a sign of its authenticity. Believers are sealed. And the Holy Spirit is the “guarantee” of the inheritance we have in Christ. The HS is valuable enough to give the believer a sense of security by which to live faithfully until that great inheritance comes.

The Holy Spirit doesn’t come and go. You are sealed. And that is linked to the eternity we have in Christ (inheritance). This should give you confidence.

Yet, there might be many who don’t have confidence in their salvation. Maybe they expect something more that should be evident in their life, maybe they’re impatient with where they are in the process of sanctification. I would hope that we would be encouraged by seeing the small graces of the work of the HS in their life.