Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

A man was honored as citizen of the year.

He spoke and he told his life story.

He said, "Friends and neighbors, when I first came here 30 years ago, I only had the suit on my back, the shoes on my feet, and a small briefcase containing what little my father left me.

Today I'm chairman of the board of the First National Bank, I own hotels, apartment buildings, office buildings, & three companies with branches in 49 cities.

Yes, friends, I have done well for myself and your city has been very good to me."

Afterward a boy approached him and asked, "Sir, I'm curious.

What did you have in that small briefcase?"

The RICH man answers, "That small briefcase just had about a half million dollars in cash and $900,000 in government bonds my dad had left me,"

The secret to this man’s success had to do with what his father had given to him.

The same is true for us here today.

The secret to our success is to recognize all our Father has given to us the moment when He gave us His Spirit to live inside of us.

Transition:

the Apostle John recognizes this briefcase that Jesus had left for us and that is what we will recognize as we continue this journey through this first epistle of John— 1 John 3:18-24

Scripture Reading:

Verse 18 can either be linked to the previous paragraph or can be an introduction to what comes next.

Most translations link it to the previous paragraph however I see it as a better fit to an introduction to what John is about to say.

“let us not love with word or with talk/tongue” interestingly that “talk” word is the same word for “tongues” (γλῶσσα) But more importantly, John is saying: “Actions speak louder than words!” ( This agrees with the apostle Matthew and the Apostle James Matt.

7:24; James 1:22–25; 2:14–26).

“but in deed and truth” The word “truth” ἀλήθεια might be slightly surprising.

One would expect a synonym of “deed,” like “action.”

The ἀλήθεια term can mean genuine (NJB) or true (TEV) like the use of “message” in 1:5 and 3:11 which emphasize both doctrine and lifestyle, so too, “truth.”

The deed and motives must both be motivated by self-giving love (God’s love) and not just be showy deeds that feed the ego of the one acting which Jesus says earns them their own reward disqualifying these showmen from the eternal reward.

Transition:

So in my humble opinion this is the context in which we should read the following verses that we have to show our love through action and right motive and the following is a commentary by this apostle what it means to show this kind of active love and where our focus ought to be as we love with deeds and truth.

I. Focus Inwardly (vv.

19-21)

“By this we shall know” This refers to the loving acts previously mentioned, which is proof that his intended audience is believers and yet again evidence of one’s true conversion.

“that we are of the truth” Believers’ loving lifestyles show two things:

that they are on the side of truth; and

that their consciences are clear.

There are two heart conditions the Christian can experience through our consciences:

The Condemning Heart

vs. 19-20a

All believers have experienced inner grief over not living up to the “standard” that they know is God’s will for their lives.

As we proceed in our daily walk with Christ, it is inevitable that our hearts will condemn us.

Those pains of conscience can be from God’s Spirit (to cause repentance) or Satan (to cause self-destruction or loss of witness).

This is then either good guilt or bad guilt.

Bad guilt seems to be what John is referring to when considering his other writings.

But whatever the source of bad guilt—an overactive conscience, the realization that they don’t love others enough, or even Satan’s false accusations—believers will feel the weight accusation.

However, when this happens, we can look at how we are living out our faith by our physical actions and choices and then properly evaluate if we are living in the truth.

Is John actually saying we can be assured of salvation by our works?

Well…in the context of this letter, the basis for the readers’ assurance is the good works that they do.

In essence, John is saying that true Believers can be confident in the Father’s presence by reminding themselves that Jesus’s love has been active in their lives as they have helped others and loved others.

John is trying to console believers who are living by the standard of love but still struggling with sin (both commission and omission).

The believer has a condemning heart when he is guilty of sin.

Undealt with sin causes our hearts to be condemned by guilt.

John says that condemnation in the heart of the Christian when he sins is something that assures us we "belong to the truth" and are saved.

The somewhat ambiguity of the statement “for God is greater than our hearts” has prompted two thoughts on how to take this.

Some see it as consoling believers whose hearts (or consciences) condemn them of sin in general.

They can hold on to the sign of sonship—God’s love.

Others see it the opposite way--that this phrase intensifies John’s warning.

The condemning voice of conscience merely echoes the judgment of God, who knows the juicy details of each life.

Therefore, we cannot minimize or excuse our sins as insignificant.

In both cases, by claiming God’s forgiveness through Christ, believers can come confidently to God, recognizing that his grace and mercy are greater than their guilt.

“and knows all things”

Because God knows everything, Christians can trust that he thoroughly understands and will forgive their sins and help them grow in the areas where they need it most.

God knows our true motives and this is reassuring to those who are pure!

How? as John says indirectly to the believer, even if your heart is unjustly condemning you, your heart is not the judge.

Christians still struggle with sin and with our cursed flesh (cf.

2:1).

We still face temptations and act inappropriately in some situations.

Often the Spirit, and our conscience condemns us; however we are forgiven by YHWH.

So as we repent, our conscience may not have forgiven us yet and John says essentially “That’s okay, because YHWH forgives even when we don’t forgive ourselves—HOW Reassuring!

Then what should believers do with the accusations of their hearts/consciences?

They should not ignore them or rationalize their behavior, but they should set their hearts on God’s love and His perspective.

When they feel guilty, they should remind themselves that God knows their motives as well as their actions.

His voice of assurance is stronger than the accusing voice of conscience.

God will not condemn his children, for whom his Son died (Romans 8:1; Hebrews 9:14–15).

The Confidant Heart

vs. 20b- 21

God's wants us to have a confident heart.

How do we gain a confident heart?

By responding appropriately when our heart condemns us.

How do we do that?

By turning to God for cleansing.

This is why John means when he says "God is greater than our hearts."

No matter how burdened our heart may be, God can lift that guilt from our heart.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

- 1 John 1:9

God is justified in forgiving us because the cross covers all our sin.

In the Old Testament, Israel worshiped in the tabernacle; and in the holy of holies was the ark of the covenant.

In it, among other things, were stone tablets with the ten commandments on them.

They reminded the people of their failures before God.

But on top of the ark was a slab of pure gold, known as the mercy seat.

Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would offer a sacrifice for the sins of the people and would sprinkle the blood of that sacrifice on the Mercy Seat.

The mercy seat symbolized the ultimate sacrifice of Calvary.

Now, the Mercy Seat completely covered the ark.

It was as long as the ark was long; and as wide as the ark was wide.

This was intended to illustrate that no matter how great our sin, God's grace and mercy are at least just as great, and just as wide, but really even bigger than any of our sins.

3:21 “if our heart does not condemn us”

John’s readers knew Christ’s commands and could test themselves by them.

If their conscience is clear, they can come to God truly without any fear

This reassures them once again of their standing before God as His loved children.

Some Christians may be tempted always to assume their guilt because of what John said in chapter 1:8–10, or a background of condemnation or sin that plagues their conscience.

Addressing his readers once more with endearment “beloved”, John reminds them that they need not always feel self-condemned before God.

This “if” (third class conditional) once more reminds his readers that they may or may not feel self-condemned.

Their conscience will not always be accusing them when they come into God’s presence.

This lack of feeling guilt does not necessarily prove one’s innocence.

This has to be true based on what John, himself, has already said earlier in chapters 1 and 2. Those refusing to confess sin still have it and are self-deceived.

Those not loving their brothers are walking in darkness whether they know it or not.

Also, John is not implying by this that those who do not feel guilt do not have guilt.