1 John 3:19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20: For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21: Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22: And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23: And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 24: And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Introduction

Last Sunday we saw the Apostle John sets forth the absolute necessity of love for the true Christian. According to John one of the distinguishing marks of a person who is truly born of God is love for the brethren. In other words, there is no such thing as loveless Christianity. But knowing our own hearts and our own personal experience and if we are honest, though we practice Biblical love, we know and confess that we still fall short in this area of sacrificial love. We know that we do not love the way we ought to love. We are painfully aware of our unstable and limited love. And because of this knowledge and awareness, there is a possibility that our hearts condemning us. Our failure in practicing sacrificial love may result in our hearts not being at rest before God. When that happens, what do we do? What is a true child of God to do when he or she is pricked in conscience about his failures and shortcomings? John tells us in verse 20, “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.”

When our hearts condemn us, we must first remember that our heart is not a trustworthy judge. You may have heard the saying “Let your conscience be your guide.” But is conscience a reliable guide? I agree with what John Stott says regarding our conscience, “Our conscience is by no means infallible; its condemnation may often be unjust. We can, therefore, appeal from our conscience to God who is greater and more knowledgeable. Indeed, He knows all things, including our secret motives and deepest resolves, and it is implied, will be more merciful towards us than our own heart. His omniscience should relieve, not terrify, us.”

God knows all things and since He knows all things, He also knows how at times our love for the brethren is weak. Remember that God knows us better than ourselves. He understands that even in our limited love there is the evidence of our relationship with Him as our Father. Remember Peter’s response to our Lord when he was asked about the reality of his love. How did Peter respond? He appealed to the knowledge of Christ who is greater than his conscience. “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.” (Jn 21:17)

This is how we come out from that state of a heart not being at rest in God to a state of confidence before the presence God—we take comfort in knowing that God is greater than our conscience and he knows all things.

Hiebert writes, “The added words “and knows all things” seem to be a note of encouragement; it is better to have the all-knowing God as our judge than our own conscience. “It is the difference between conscience and Omniscience.” While He knows our failures and shortcomings, He also understands our true motives and desires, the innermost yearnings of our heart. His omniscience is also linked to His unchanging love and sympathy; He remembers His saving intentions and purposes for each of us. It is to that perfect knowledge that the conscience-stricken believer, like Peter in John 21:17, can appeal: “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.” The fact that He has implanted His love in our hearts assures us that He will not reject or disown us.”

So, what do we do? We have to focus on the fact of God’s mercy. We have to constantly turn to the truth about God. Instead of focusing on your condemning heart, focus and remember God’s love and mercy. This is how our confidence at God’s presence is restored. When we focus on His great love for us, we are given the ability to exhibit sacrificial love for the brethren.

Now expressing and exercising God’s love to others benefits us as well. Here in this section John gives us three wonderful blessings that we will experience as we practice Christian love., namely, Assurance of Being of the Truth, Assurance of Answered Prayers, and Assurance of Communion with Christ.

I – Assurance of Being of the Truth

As we have already seen in our past lessons, the apostle John’s whole purpose in writing this letter is to bring his readers to a firm assurance that they possess eternal life. He wants his readers to experience that blessed assurance of salvation. He writes this letter so that the people whom he affectionately addresses as “my little children” might come to know without a shadow of doubt that they have eternal life.

The question is, can we know for sure we have eternal life? Is it possible for us to know that we possess eternal life? Isn’t it arrogant to say that you are a child of God and that you have eternal life? Is it? Is it arrogant to claim that you are saved and that you know for sure that you are on your way to Heaven? That’s a good question and the apostle John under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit gives us a very clear answer. He tells us that an assurance of salvation is possible, and it is not a matter of arrogance but rather it is a matter of Biblical confidence. In fact, he constantly use the phrase “that ye may know.” Why? Because he wants believers to know.

1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

And here in this section John addresses this matter of assurance once again.

1 John 3:19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

1 John 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

How can I know for sure that I am a true child of God and that I possess eternal life? How can I know for sure that I am of the truth as John describes here in verse 19.

1 John 3:19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

“Hereby we know” that is, by this we know. The question is “by what?” By what he just said in the earlier verses which is: by the sincere and active love we shall come to know that we are children of the truth. As we practice true Biblical love, we experience inner assurance of being in the truth. It gives us confidence before the presence of God that we are of the truth.

II – Assurance of Answered Prayer

Another wonderful blessing that we will experience as we practice Christian love is assurance of answered prayers.

1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22: And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

The practice of love will give confidence that God will hear and answer our prayers. As someone has said, “Love for the brethren produces confidence toward God, and confidence toward God gives you boldness in asking for what you need. This does not mean that you earn answers to prayer by loving the brethren. Rather, it means that your love for the brethren proves that you are living in the will of God where God can answer your prayer. “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments” (1 John 3:22). Love is the fulfilling of God’s law (Rom. 13:8–10); therefore, when you love the brethren, you are obeying His commandments and He is able to answer your requests.”

If we live in fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ, we can ask God for things with boldness and have confidence that God hears and will answer our prayers according to what He knows is best for us. But, do not misquote or misunderstand what John is saying here in verse 12. This assurance that “whatever we ask we receive from Him” does not mean that if I ask anything God will give it to me. Some have used, misused, and abused this verse, because they have taken this out of context. This verse is not about “name it and claim it.” It is not a “genie in a bottle” to be rubbed and receive whatever we wish! When we read this verse, we must not leave out the second part of this verse which is, “because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” The only ones who can claim this verse, are those who are living in fellowship with the Father and the reality of that fellowship is expressed in their desire to obey Him and to please Him. And in our obedience of Him we are able to come before Him with confidence. John brought up this subject of prayer again in chapter five verses 14 and 15 where he addressed this.

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

We will discuss this more when we come to the 5th chapter.

III – Assurance of Communion with Christ

The third amazing blessing that we will experience when we practice Christian love is assurance of communion with Christ.

1 John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 24: And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

When we as believers walk in love, we find it easier to obey God, and therefore we maintain a close communion with God. This is what our Lord says in John 14:23 , “... If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

Those who believe on the name of Lord Jesus Christ and practice brotherly love enjoy intimate communion with the Father and with Christ. This is a wonderful truth that the great God who created the universe should send His only begotten Son to die so that men and women like you and me might enter into the reality of this experience of communion with Him. Imagine lowly creatures of dust would have an intimate fellowship and close communion with a great and glorious God. This is truly an amazing thing!

Reading on in verse 24, “And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”

Warren Wiersbe in his book “Be Real” writes, “The Holy Spirit is mentioned by name in 1 John for the first time in 3:24. John introduced us to the Holy One (1 John 2:20) with emphasis on the Spirit’s anointing and teaching ministry ... But the Holy One is also the abiding Spirit (1 John 3:24; 4:13). When a believer obeys God and loves the brethren, the indwelling Holy Spirit gives him peace and confidence. The Holy Spirit abides with him forever (John 14:16), but when the Spirit is grieved, He withdraws His blessings.”

Oh, how we need to thank our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ for sending the Holy Spirit, because it is the Holy Spirit who gives real assurance.

Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

He speaks to the heart of the child of God and ensures him and enables him to say, Abba Father.

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15: For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16: The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are true children of God. How? Through the Word of God. The Spirit of God does not give some direct revelation like, audible voice and testifies to him, and tells him that he is a child of God. No! The Spirit bears witness that we are children of God through His Word. And as we obey His Word and walk in faith and love, we experience assurance of being in the truth, assurance of answered prayers, and assurance of communion with Christ.

Closing Thoughts

1 John 3:19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20: For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

Is your heart condemning you today? Could it be because you know in your heart that you are not of the truth? Could it be that your heart is condemning you because you do not yet know Jesus Christ as your Saviour? If you want to know that you belong to the truth, that you have eternal life, and to be assured before Him, you must know the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Truth. The apostle John writes in verse 23, “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ ...”

What does it mean to “believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ”? We need to look at the name Jesus Christ. In the Matthew, we are given its meaning. “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” - Matthew 1:21. “Jesus” is Greek which means “Jehovah is salvation.” It is clear from the Scriptures that Jehovah is God Almighty. The word “Christ” is Greek for Christos which means Anointed or Messiah. Jesus Christ is the Anointed One, Jehovah God incarnated in the flesh, our Messiah. So, to believe on the name of the Son of God is to believe that Jesus is God incarnate, our Messiah. It is to believe that He was the sinless Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Only God can forgive sin. Jesus Christ clearly says in Scripture that He is the Son of man who has the power to forgive sins. This is God’s command. If you want to belong to the truth and assured of eternal life, you must believe on the name of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

Let me speak to those who have trusted Jesus Christ as their Saviour. Is your heart condemning you today? Remember what John says in verse 20, “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.” Our Heavenly Father, who is greater than our heart knows us completely, and He has forgiven us for the sins we have confessed. If your trust and confidence is in Christ, God has given you eternal life and He will never allow anyone to be snatched out of His hand. John 10:28-30, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.  I and my Father are one.”

No condemnation now I dread:

Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!

Alive in Him, my living Head,

And clothed in righteousness divine.

—Wesley

May God grant you that blessed assurance and have a heart that is at rest before His presence!

AMEN!