LETTER FOR CONFIDENCE

Introduction: We are finishing the second chapter of John’s letter. As we near the end of these letters, the last topic is confidence. One of the basic truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that we can have confidence. We can have confidence that those sins which weighed infinitely heavy upon our shoulders have been washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ. We have confidence that God is our Father, no longer our Judge. This theme of confidence appears several times in this letter. For example, in chapter 1 we have confidence about the forgiveness of our sins (1:9). In chapter 2 we have confidence through our Advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous. We also have confidence because we have been anointed by the Holy Spirit (2:20). In chapter 3 we have confidence that we will be like Jesus (3:2). In chapter confidence, though our hearts condemn us, through the love of Christ (4:18-19). And in chapter 5 we have confidence in the victory brought to us by Jesus Christ.

Christians should be the most confident people in the entire world. Our Faith is anchored in the Word of God, a perfect track record of God’s faithful dealing with His children throughout human history. Yet, most Christians are not confident. We struggle with confidence for a variety of reasons. But our focus is not on the lack of confidence or the causes thereof. Rather, our focus is to remind believers of the confidence we have.

Perhaps an illustration of our goal will help our understanding this morning. I want you to imagine a young lady of 22 walking in the downtown streets of Chicago. She has a 10 year old boy with her. As she is walking she enters the shady part of town and begins to receive strange looks from men sitting and standing around. She looks to her young companion, this 10 year old boy, and realizes that neither she or the young boy can do much of anything. Do you think this young lady has confidence? Now, imagine the same scenario, only instead of the 10 year old boy there is a 6’ 8” marine who is also packing a 45. When she looks at him, she is confident that she will be okay. And though when she glances at some of the odd looks she may get a bit anxious, she is quickly reminded of the reasons she has to be confident when she looks at the marine.

Now, rather than a 6’ 8” marine who is packing a 45, we have a God Who’s power is incomprehensible. And sometimes we simply need to be reminded of Who is walking with us. John, in , reminds us the reasons we have for Confidence. We are anointed by and we are abiding and in Him. These two-fold truths of the Christian are absolutely vital to our confidence. And you will notice that, though we are mentioned in both the anointing and the abiding, it is focused on the Triune God. That is our confidence: God.

And our confidence in God provides confidence in two particular areas: deceivers and Jesus. Now, at first glance we notice that there is a tremendous difference between deceivers and Jesus, and this is true. Though there are our focus this morning, it is for different reasons, as our passage indicates.

I. CONFIDENCE IN THE FACE OF DECEIVERS-

The first focus is on John’s confidence in the face of deceivers. In fact, this part of the epistle is focused on dealing with deceivers. The first goal, then, is to determine what exactly is meant by these deceivers.

Confidence in the face of Deceivers

In our context, we have already learned that there are many antichrists in the world (see 2:18). These are people who were once with the apostles (2:19). John presents the main cause of why they are not with them: a denial of Christ.

A. The Description of the Deceivers

All deceivers of the Church and of the Christian have this thing in common: they deny Christ. It comes in different approaches and in a variety of expressions. In John’s day, as we have already noticed in our previous sermon, that some were denying the physical body of Jesus. Here a few false teachings (heresies) that have attacked Christ throughout Church History:

Sabellianism: denied the Tri-unity of God

Docetism: denied the body of Jesus

Monophysitism: view the Logos as joining with the human person Jesus

Adoptionism: Jesus was a human adopted by God and then became divine

There are many more denials of Christ throughout history, which is a reason for the importance of studying Church History. It helps us see the attacks of the Devil, because most modern heresies are simply a regurgitation of past heresies.

B. The Dangers of the Deceivers

What is at stake here is not a favorite football team, it is eternity. If you get the Gospel wrong, then eternity will be an endless torment. It is so serious that Paul, in , says to those who would teach a false Gospel (i.e., heresy) should be accursed! When we get the Gospel wrong we get eternity wrong, and it is of paramount importance that we get the gospel right.

C. The Defense against the Deceivers-

John then reminds his readers that they were anointed by the Holy Spirit. Last week we discussed this in more detail. But I want to remind you of what is meant by this phrase exactly:

The word illuminate is “generally the concept of illumination relates to the ministry of the Holy Spirit helping the believer to understand the truth of the Bible.” -Charles Ryrie

Ryrie, Charles Caldwell. Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth. Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1999.

That is, the Holy Spirit helps us understand the Bible (“you have no need that anyone should teach you...”). This is not denying the need for pastoral ministry, by the way! There are other passages of Scripture that present the need for pastor-teachers in the Church of God (; ; and ).

This is a defense against those who claim to have special knowledge, or special revelation. A good indication of this type of heresy is when people say something to the affect of, “The Lord told me...”. Now, every time someone makes this comment is not a sign that they are a blasphemous, heretical teacher. However, it is a good warning.

Our defense is the Holy Spirit. We have been anointed by the Holy Spirit, and we learned last week that this is a reference to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We see this played out in the rest of the verse as John describes that the believer has no need for a special teacher because we have the Holy Spirit. Our defense against the lies (denials) of the antichrists and those deceivers is the Holy Spirit’s wonderful teaching. He protects us from false teaching as we read the Scriptures and our understanding of the Scriptures. Paul picks up the importance work of the Holy Spirit in passages like , , and 26-27.

We have Confidence in the face of Deceivers!

II. CONFIDENCE IN THE FACE OF JESUS-

At the end of the confidence in the face of Deceivers John attaches an important thought in verse 27, “abide in him.” This is a command. We only have confidence as we abide, dwell, live in Him. Which leads to our next area of confidence: confidence in the face of Jesus.

Now, this may strange at first read because we have had several passages the provide a warmness in our approach to our Savior. illustrates the wonders of our ability to confession of sin and restoration to God. Wee see the sweetness of Jesus when we learn that He is our Advocate in 2:1.

So, at first glance this idea of having confidence in the face of Jesus is odd. However, as we work through this passage, I think it will become clearer what John about which John is speaking.

John reminds us that we are to abide in Him. That is, we are to dwell with Jesus. Our lives should be marked by a dependence upon and filling of Jesus Christ. The disciple of Jesus should be like Jesus, and that is a part of abiding. But since we have already discussed this in a previous sermon, we will not belabor the point. Rather, we will learn from John’s exhortation of comfort.

A. Confidence is based upon Abiding

John reminds us that we are to abide in Him. That is, we are to dwell with Jesus. Our lives should be marked by a dependence upon and filling of Jesus Christ. The disciple of Jesus should be like Jesus, and that is a part of abiding. But since we have already discussed this in a previous sermon, we will not belabor the point. Rather, we will learn from John’s exhortation of comfort. Brothers and sisters, if we are not abiding in Jesus Christ we will be ashamed at His coming. Which leads us to our next point of focus.

B. Confidence in the Lord’s Return

The next aspect of our confidence is that we know Jesus will come back. It should not be a surprise to the believer that Jesus is coming back. describes this return. In other passages, such as , particularly 44.This passage relates how unspecified the Lord’s return is. We know that He is coming, we just do not know when. Therefore, it is imperative that we live in such a way that when Christ returns we will not be ashamed. But God is a gracious God and has provided us the heads up on this day.

C. Confidence in the face of Jesus

This is a reference to the judgment of Christ upon Christians. Now, it is absolutely important for us to fully grasp the significance of this judgment. So, with that goal, please turn to 2 Corinthians 5:10.

This leads us to our two options when Jesus comes. We can, as John desired of himself and his followers, to have confidence in the face of Jesus or we can have shame. Those are our options. As John has consistently presented two choices, this is another example. We can either have confidence in the face of Jesus upon His return, or we can have shame. Let’s address these two options.

Confidence- the idea of this confidence is a boldness, a frankness, an openness. It is the same word used in where that writer says, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” This is the confidence that a child has when walking into her parents bedroom asking for a bowl of cereal. There is no shame that it is 5:36 on a Saturday morning. There is no fear that the parent will throw their bedroom slipper at them. They are confident! And when we abide in Him, we have confidence.

Shame- the idea is one of pulling away, of hiding. Like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, when we are not abiding in Christ then we will have shame at His coming. They will hide. Like children hiding when they know they have disobeyed, we will run in fear when Jesus comes back. We must abide to have confidence.

The last verse of chapter 2 connects the idea of God’s character with our purpose. John says, “If you know (or since you know) that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.” That is, your life will provide the evidence of your abiding in Him.