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* “The Basis of Our Confidence“*
*1 John 4:13-16*
ÓFebruary 18, 2007 Rev. Bruce Goettsche REAL DEAL CHRISTIANS
Some years ago /Time/ magazine reported on a nervous motorist in Lambertville, New Jersey.
This man, on being stopped by the police, explained that he had been driving on two hundred and twenty-four consecutive learner’s permits over the last twenty-five years.
He had flunked his first driver’s test and had been unsure of himself ever since.[1]
If we were honest, many of us would confess that we feel the same way about our relationship with Jesus Christ.
We want to be followers of Christ but because of what we perceive as our spiritual failures we are unsure of ourselves.
We want to believe we are headed for eternal life but we just aren’t so sure.
As a result, we tend to live tentatively in our relationship with the Lord.
The apostle John has written his letter to help us see the qualities of a true believer.
One of those qualities is a confidence or assurance in the faith.
As we near the end of 1 John 4, John seems to be transitioning from talking about love to focusing on the assurance that is ours in Christ.
In 1 John 4:13-16 John gives us a few of the things that should provide the basis of our confidence.
What John says is not necessarily new, however as he writes now, He seems to be saying these things as an affirmation rather than an exhortation.
How do we know if we are true believers?
*We Share in the Gift of His Spirit (v.13)*
* *
13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
The first test of whether or not we are a true believer is an internal test.
Does the Holy Spirit live within us?
As you read through the Bible you see a progression in mankind’s relationship with God.
In Genesis we are told that God walked with Adam, Enoch, Noah and Abraham.
In Exodus God started to live with the people in the tabernacle.
However, when the people sinned grievously, God’s Spirit departed.
With the coming of Christ things change again.
Now as we come into a transforming relationship with Jesus Christ, God’s Spirit takes up residence inside of us.
John captures this idea by saying, “We live in Him, He lives in us”.
This is a message that is reiterated throughout the New Testament (it is also foretold in the book of Joel in chapter 2).
Jesus said,
But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away.
Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
[John 16:7]
Paul said,
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.
Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
[Ephesians 1:13,14]
When you want to purchase something (like a house) you are usually asked to put down some kind of deposit.
This means you are serious about the purchase.
The owner knows that you intend to make the purchase when all the financial arrangements can be worked out.
In a sense, the Bible tells us that God gives us the Holy Spirit as His way of guaranteeing that we will indeed “live even though we die”.
It is God’s way of showing us that He is committed to us for the long haul.
A husband and wife exchange rings . . .
God gives us His Spirit.
In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Paul asks,
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price.
Therefore honor God with your body.
The Bible teaches that when we become a true Child of God we enter into the most intimate of relationships with God.
He becomes a part of us.
This is a much more intimate relationship than even that of a husband and wife.
The Spirit lives IN us.
He is privy to our thoughts, our attitudes and our private deeds.
Jesus tells us that as a result of the Holy Spirit’s influence we will begin to develop the character of Christ.
We will have new power to serve the Lord.
We will be given the words we need when under attack or when we don’t know how to pray.
We will be delivered from fear (more on that next week) and given a new ability to discern.
We will also know a new joy, a new strength, a profound peace, and a deep assurance that we are truly a child of God . . .
all because of God’s Spirit within us.
But this all begs the question doesn’t it?
What most of us want to know is this: “How do I know if I have received the Holy Spirit?”
How can we know if God is living in us?
Some will tell us that you cannot know that you have the Spirit until you speak in tongues or have some similar extraordinary experience.
This comes from reading through the book of Acts.
In Acts we see at least four occasions when people who received the Holy Spirit showed this by speaking in tongues.
Certainly such experiences happened and could happen again.
However, saying that these things happened and saying it is the normal experience or the necessary experience is an entirely different thing.
That would be like saying, “Since the Apostle Paul was blinded for a period when he was brought to Christ, so any true believer will also be blinded.”
Throughout the rest of the New Testament these signs are mentioned as gifts that some people receive but no where are we told that this is the normal sign that the Holy Spirit has come upon a life.
Extraordinary experiences can be wonderful; however they can also be dangerous.
They can be dangerous first, because they are unreliable.
Lots of things can provoke an ”experience” (drugs, the power of suggestion, Satan).
Rather than use an experience as the test of truth, we need to use the truth (the Bible) to test our experience.
Second, putting the focus on an extraordinary experience is dangerous because it can provoke spiritual pride.
This is the opposite of what the Spirit does in a life.
When the Holy Spirit is truly at work He makes us aware of our weakness and the greatness of the Lord.
A true believer becomes humble rather than proud.
A true believer is less and less self-sufficient and more and more Christ-sufficient.
Third, when we emphasize extraordinary experiences, many will seek the experience rather than the one who is Lord over all our experiences.
Grand experiences can easily lull people into a false sense of security.
It is possible to have great experiences without truly laying hold of Christ.
So, if extraordinary experiences are unreliable how can we tell if the Holy Spirit dwells (or abides) in us?
Let me give you some simple questions to ask yourself:
1. Have you ever been convicted of the depth of your sin? (John 16:8) Jesus tells us the Spirit will convict the world of sin.
Those who do not have the Spirit will constantly seek to justify their sin or excuse it.
Those with the Spirit will recognize their sin and repent of it.
2. Have you put your hope and confidence for salvation on Christ alone?
Have you received His gift of eternal Life?
You will not receive the Holy Spirit until you are first a child of God.
(Romans 8:9 tells us that if we do not have the Spirit it is because we are not a true believer).
3. Do you sense the Spirit inside of you? (1 Corinthians 6:19) Paul tells us that the Spirit testifies to our sonship (Romans 8:15)
4. Do you sense a struggle going on inside of you between what you used to be and what you desire to be? (Romans 7)
5. Is the gospel making more sense to you? (John 16:12-15).
Jesus told us the Spirit would guide us into all the truth.
6. Do you sense the leading of the Spirit?
(Romans 8:14) Paul talks about being led by the Spirit of God.
7. Do you see evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in your life?(Galatians 5:22-23)
8. Do you hunger to share the Gospel and do you see signs of power in your life as you witness?
(Acts 1:8)
1. Do you long to be more like Jesus?
If you answer yes to these questions, then the Holy Spirit is in you and you are in Christ.
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