What can we know, and How?

We Know Love - v16

God Defines Love

1 John 4:7–8 ESV

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

If God IS love, then any definition or example or illustration called love that does not match the character, will or Word of God is simply not love.

1 John 4:10 ESV

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Not only is God the source and definition of love, John (with the rest of the New Testament) tells us that the highest and clearest picture of love is found by looking to Christ specifically; His life, ministry, substitutionary death, and resurrection, which leads us to say further that if it does not fit in the example of, or teachings of Christ Jesus specifically IT SIMPLY IS NOT LOVE!

The Exclusivity of Christ - v16

Acts 4:12 ESV

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

John 10:10–11 ESV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 3:16 & Psalm 23

He leads me in paths of righteousness for HIS name’s sake

πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων = all the believing

John 3:16 CSB

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Matthew 4:24 ESV

So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them.

pas ha kakos

Matthew 11:13 ESV

For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John,

pas hoi prophetai

So the emphasis of John 3:16 is not the unknowing of who will believe (of course we don’t know who will) but rather the text is an assurance that ALL who believe inherit eternal life

None other has ever, or could ever, give such a guarantee, which is the foundation of our knowing; of our assurance.

NONE who believe will perish; ALL who trust in Jesus will have everlasting life. Please note the strength of the words NONE and ALL. They are key.

If we are looking at the witness of the historic churches of Jesus, or also if we are looking at true love… we do not say you should believe in a god, but rather you MUST trust in and follow Jesus of Nazareth. None else will do.

This Love Motivates Action - v17-18

Because true love is from God; because it is choice and it is devotion, and it is dedication, it is not something that can be fallen into or out of; it is something that brings strong emotions yes, and motivates action.

No one can say they love another and leave them in suffering without attempting to help. That is NOT what Jesus does. That is NOT love.

We can know and be assured that we are Saved - v19

By this… meaning what was just said, therefore SOME of our knowing and being assured has to do with our obedience. Are we following Christ Jesus?

*** CAUTION: this is NOT an invitation or advice to become a navel gazer, or to listen to the voices who WILL tell you you are failing. ***

Yet there is an assurance we can have. This is not the only place we see this:

Romans 8:14 ESV

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Romans 8:16 ESV

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

So, this is NOT the only way we find assurance, yet it IS available and our text today states that we can know, so let us push into this text; this means, so that we have all the tools at our disposal to be able to KNOW and be ASSURED of our soul salvation; that we are in the truth; in the way

Assurance Requires Participation v20-22

lack of condemnation in our hearts

Confidence in our hearts

Answered prayers

1 John 4:14–15 ESV

And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

James 5:16 ESV

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Our obedience

#4 leads us back to that need of obedience. Also, we cannot know about perceived condemnation or answered prayers if we are not actively participating in God’s chosen means… thus the need of obedience.

Our Confession Article 10 on Sanctification:

...is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means-especially the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer.

So… if you struggle with assurance, look to Jesus and then throw yourself into the Word and working (remember Paul while claiming grace said he worked harder than others)

This Assurance Leads to Obedience -v23-24

v22 says BECAUSE

God is free, & we are still charged / called to obedience

Obedience, of course requires study to know what to be obedient to

v23 says commandment

It does not say request, or it would behoove you…

THIS TEXT IS A CLARION CALL FOR REPENTANCE & OBEDIENCE!

Repentance, because we know we are not fully obedient.

The Good news to end on:

ALL of this obedience and assurance is enabled by the ministry of the person of the Spirit among believers, especially as we are connected together as a congregation; a family of families; a community of struggling and faith.

“It is the Spirit that links the church to Christ the Head, making it the body of Christ, the totus Christus.”- Robert Jenson

Church Family, We can know that we know that we know. We can have assurance amid doubts. This is because of the presence and ministry of the Spirit among us, who requires our obedience in order to grow and comfort us.