“Assurance in God’s Presence”

“Assurance in God’s Presence” (1 John 3:19–24)

Pastor Cameron Jungels

Eastside Baptist Church

Sunday AM, July 24, 2016

1 John 3:19–24 (NIV) 

19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. 

Working through the passage in reverse:

Main overriding question: “How do we know that we belong to God?” (v. 24)

Main overriding answer: “By the Holy Spirit he has given to us” (v. 24).

Clarifying question: “How do we know that we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us?”

Clarifying answer (3 works of the Spirit): John weaves together all 3 of the main indicators that we are the children of God (vv. 23–24).

1. Faith in Jesus Christ (v. 23).

2. Obedience to the commands of Christ (v. 24). 

3. Love for one another (v. 23). 

*All three of these indicators are produced by the indwelling Holy Spirit. These are not human initiated, self-produced works. These are works of God. 

*The presence of these three works of the Spirit provides two great benefits to us as believers:

1. Boldness/confidence in prayer (vv. 21–22; cf. 5:13–15). 

2. Assurance/confidence in God’s presence when our hearts (consciences) accuse us (vv. 19–20; cf. 4:13–18). 

Main Idea: “The fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in our lives gives us confidence before the presence of God in judgment and in prayer.”