Confident Before God

1) The Believer’s Assurance Of Heart

(v19) Loving by action and truth toward God’s children, we can stand before God with assurance of our salvation, NOW and THEN.

Truthful love = we are of the truth.

Quote: Our hearts shall be calm, confident, and happy before God when we know that true love flows within them. [Spurgeon, C. (2014). Spurgeon Commentary: 1 John. (E. Ritzema, Ed.) (1 Jn 3:19). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.]

(v20) “if our heart condemn us”

Living in the reality of your conversion is what lies before you every day. That is often times the greatest warfare within the mind of the believer.

Are you a Christian or are you not?

Have I believed in Christ or not?

Would you agree that your conscience never forget any of the bad you have done or the good you have not done?

Illustration: (by C.H. Spurgeon) And many dear children of God have often had a verdict in the court of their own conscience that has been adverse to their hopes because their conscience has been cognizant of only one side of the case, or they have forgotten some great and important truth that ought to have been mentioned before the court, and then its verdict would have been different. [Spurgeon, C. (2014). Spurgeon Commentary: 1 John. (E. Ritzema, Ed.) (1 Jn 3:20). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.]

“God is greater than our hearts”

The Holy Spirit swings open the courtroom doors as a key witness to the “so called, guilty” with key intel about the accused.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV 1900) — 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

“and knows all things”

God sees the good, bad, motives, religious pretending, varnished hypocrisy, etc.

If you are truly condemned down here, there will be NOT CHANCE of an acquittal up there!!!

(v21) Those who are living obediently to God through the power of God’s Spirit, will remove from their life doubt and it’s power.

We often times provide the very tools Satan uses in order to flood our hearts with doubt regarding our personal salvation.

This is exactly why the Holy Spirit never fails to be our inner witness. YOUR HEART can’t be trusted!!!

Oh, the privileges the believer has in the Lord (boldness, joy, restfulness, peace, etc.) by which they rob themselves when allowing disobedience to be materialized in their life.

“if our heart does not condemn us”

We once again step back into the courtroom of the inner man.

The question is not, “Have I kept the law perfectly?’

Ecclesiastes 7:20 (KJV 1900) — 20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

Romans 3:20 (KJV 1900) — 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Here is the correct question: “Am I a believer in Jesus Christ ALONE?”

Quote: The question is, “Am I a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ? Am I resting in Him for salvation, and do I prove the truth of that faith by loving God, and loving the brothers, and by doing those things that are pleasing to God, and avoiding those things that are displeasing to Him?” The question is not concerning merit, but concerning grace and the fruit of grace. [Spurgeon, C. (2014). Spurgeon Commentary: 1 John. (E. Ritzema, Ed.) (1 Jn 3:21). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.]

NEVER conclude your confidence and assurance based on your FEELINGS!

They are like the wind.

They depend on circumstances and surroundings.

It is not, “am I happy” but “Am I a sincere believer and is their fruit that proves it?”

“we have confidence toward God”

He will do not hurt.

He will bless you.

He is a Father and Friend.

Taking your troubles and worries to Him.

His power, truth, faithfulness, etc.

At death’s door, judgement seat and Heaven’s gates.

Illustration: Most of you probably check your doors before you go to bed to make sure they are locked.

2) The Believer’s Assurance In Prayer

Illustration: A prayer life without an obedient life is like a bullet without a primer; the bullet is not going anywhere.

Living with purity is equal to praying powerfully.

Notice to WHOM the promise of answered prayer is given too?

There is an unlimited promise to those who’s asking is sanctified for the glory of God.

Un-sanctified desires will be graciously refused.

This person does not have a motivation make a petition contrary to the will of God.

Those who delight in God’s will are those who delight in pleasing God.

John 15:7 (KJV 1900) — 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

1 John 5:14 (KJV 1900) — 14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

(v22) “keep His commandments”

For God to grant all requests to those who are disobedient is to encourage rebellion.

Illustration: A father will always supply his child’s needs. Only with good behavior will he also grant the things the child wants.

A father should say, “Since you chose not to listen to me, I can’t listen to you.”

(v22) “do what is pleasing in his sight”

Quote: “Obedience ends where questioning begins” (C.H. Spurgeon)

The greatest motivation for the actions of God’s child is, “this would please my Father.”

Have you been doing lately what you would want Jesus to see?

It is HIGHT TIME believers CORRECT theirselves.

There are some here today who lack God honoring consistency. You are standing in the way of God’s church prospering. DANGEROUS PLACE!!!!!

QUESTION: What kind of person do you consider a TRUE FRIEND?: CONSISTENT or INCONSISTENT

(v23) “believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ”

The FIRST COMMANDMENT to be obedient too.

Obedience (repentance & faith) to this command is not a WORK, but a SURRENDER to Jesus’ work.

Quote: We must grasp with strong confidence the great fact that He is God, for nothing short of a divine Savior can ever deliver us from the infinite wrath of God. He who rejects the true and proper Godhead of Jesus of Nazareth is not saved, and cannot be, for he does not believe in Jesus as God’s Son. [Spurgeon, C. (2014). Spurgeon Commentary: 1 John. (E. Ritzema, Ed.) (1 Jn 3:23). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.]

BELIEVE JESUS CHRIST - the one who really accomplished the mission of redemption.

(v23) “and love one another” - SECOND COMMANDMENT

After FAITH comes LOVE

There should be a growing love for God, Jesus, church, sinners and men everywhere.

Simply - For God to answer your prayers, you must love God and your fellow man.

Why is that imperative?

This positions you to desire honoring God and blessing your brothers.

Why would God entrust you with Heaven’s resources if your interest are more pride centered than love centered?

(v24) “the one who keeps his commandments resides in Him”

The evidence of a two-way abiding.

This is evidence that the believer has made God his dwelling place.

(v24) “by the Spirit whom he has given us”

The Spirit’s interaction with the believer is never to come around to your fleshly way of thinking, feeling or acting.

He come in to subordinate your nature to His own control (Spirit filled).

Only by His power are we able to renew our heats and develop a prayer life that has one sole interest; desiring God’s will over our own.

Conclusion

Jesus is commanding two things today:

Believe on Jesus Christ alone for Salvation

Love your brethren

Jesus is make a unbreakable promise:

He will give to you what your heart desires.