{"id":1264,"date":"2024-04-29T10:23:10","date_gmt":"2024-04-29T17:23:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/?p=1264"},"modified":"2024-04-29T10:23:10","modified_gmt":"2024-04-29T17:23:10","slug":"real-assurance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/?p=1264","title":{"rendered":"Real Assurance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

(1 John 3:18-24)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are no strangers to pharmaceutical companies promoting the latest ground-breaking medication or treatment for everything under the sun in commercials filled with active people living their best lives filled with joyful smiles. Of course the commercials all end with the same disclaimer, listing every possible side-effect from those that are inconvenient up to and including some that may even be life-threatening.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But perhaps what is more commonly overlooked is that oftentimes in the commercial, the intended results of the medication or treatment cannot make the reliable claim that it will work in all the people all of the time. Instead, the results are couched in language that indicates possibility<\/em> without making promises. \u201cSome <\/em>participants experienced positive results.\u201d \u201cA certain percentage of those treated noticed a difference.\u201d \u201cPatients may <\/em>respond well to the treatment.\u201d Whatever the language, rarely is there a guarantee that something is effective all <\/em>of the time. In fact, it isn\u2019t just pharmaceutical companies; we\u2019ve gotten used to products across the board the really do nothing more than offer the possibility<\/em> of improvement in one way or another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While that may be the new norm for a culture who is used to being marketed to nonstop, there\u2019s one area that we cannot ever find peace in merely the possibility <\/em>of or high percentages. <\/em>We cannot rest easy unless nothing but a full guarantee is provided. Only REAL assurance will do. To what am I referring? Our status before God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

John grabs our attention as those interested in this assurance with a phrase from our verses. He addresses how we can “set our hearts at rest in his presence” (v.19)<\/em><\/strong>. That’s what we want! That’s what we’re after! The peace of mind of not having to worry if we should be stressed in his presence, but can be confident of rest in his presence. We don’t want guesses. Not wishful thinking. Not possibility. Just real assurance. And it\u2019s found only in Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outside of Christianity, optimism and possibility are the best offers anyone will find. Like the pharmaceutical companies, the best other religions can offer is possibility if you’ve lived a good enough life or tried hard enough. Maybe<\/em> a higher being or god will be satisfied enough. But only Christianity says that’s not good enough. You can be assured of being at peace with God. You can be confident that your soul has every reason to be at rest in his presence – because of Jesus Christ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now that we’re paying attention to John, we’re listening to what he says next to find out how our hearts can be at rest in his presence. He writes, \u201cIf our hearts condemn us\u201d (v.20).<\/em><\/strong> Doesn’t that apply to us all? We all have or even right now are dealing with heart that condemns us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And there are different reasons for that. <\/em><\/strong>If your heart condemns you, in many cases there is probably a reason why! You\u2019ve probably done or thought or said something deserving of such condemnation! When we did something wrong, when we broke a rule, our conscience accuses us. We know we weren’t entirely truthful with our spouse, and so our heart condemns us. That’s what the conscience does. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it’s not just always because we’ve done something wrong. Sometimes our hearts go over the top in tearing us down. They convict us with feelings of guilt. Feelings of shame. Feelings of inadequacy. Feelings of insecurity. They\u2019re all there, sometimes justifiably; other times not. But while your heart doesn\u2019t care why those feelings or emotions are there, it definitely will make sure that you\u2019re aware of them. That\u2019s what John meant by the phrase, \u201cIf our hearts condemn us\u201d (v.20).<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We show that we recognize when our hearts accuse and condemn us because we try to address it. I could try to pretend what I did wasn\u2019t that bad – but my own heart won\u2019t be fooled. I could try to rationalize my wrong to someone else, but I still know why I really<\/em> did it. I could try to shift the blame entirely onto someone else, but it would still linger because that never entirely lets me off the hook. I can try to imagine that God doesn\u2019t really exist or that there\u2019s no such thing as sin or wrong doing, but there\u2019s too much in the world that seems to indicate otherwise. If so many billions have been convinced that there is a God, can I really be so confident that they’re all wrong and I am in the very small minority who is right? No, there is nothing we <\/em>can do to get to that place of having a heart that is free of self-condemnation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John had an answer for when our hearts condemn us, as he continued, “If our hearts condemn us<\/em><\/strong> we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything\u201d (v.20)<\/em><\/strong>. God knows everything. Wait, God knows everything??? How is that a comfort for when my heart condemns me? You mean I cannot hide from God what I think I can hide from my parent, my teacher, my spouse, my friend, anything that God doesn\u2019t already know about? How terrifying! How is that a comfort that God knows everything?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because God knows something else that is even more important that all the sin that we could never hide from him. He knows the solution to that sin because he himself is the solution to that sin. It was John who quoted Jesus in his Gospel with saying that very thing! \u201cFor God so loved\u00a0the world that he gave\u00a0his one and only Son,\u00a0that whoever believes\u00a0in him shall not perish but have eternal life.\u00a0For God did not send his Son into the world\u00a0to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.\u00a0Whoever believes in him is not condemned\u2026\u201d (John 3:16-18). <\/em><\/strong>Whoever believes is not condemned. Believing in Jesus = no condemnation! I don\u2019t know about you, but that\u2019s the kind of confident assurance I want before God! Jesus didn’t come into this world to condemn me but to rescue me. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s why John emphasized the need for faith in Jesus in the verses from 1 John. He wants us to realize how and why we can actually be in a place of confidence before God where our hearts don\u2019t <\/em>actually condemn us. There is only one path that ends up in that place, and John highlights it in verse 23. \u201cAnd this is his command: to believe\u00a0in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/em><\/strong> Believe in Jesus Christ, and you are no longer condemned. That’s his command. So if we think God is most concerned with how we live or how we behave, we’re missing what matters most: what we believe and who we believe in for our assurance. Believing in the Son means we have assurance that we do not stand condemned before God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imagine if you had that level of confidence in approaching your boss about a concern or a request. Imagine having that level of confidence about a tough conversation you need to have with your spouse. Imagine having that level of confidence with the officer approaching your driver\u2019s side window who just pulled you over. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With God, you don\u2019t have to imagine, you just believe, and it\u2019s the reality! You know exactly where you stand before a holy and righteous God thorugh faith in Christ Jesus. And where you stand is “not condemned.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not condemned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Living in this kind of real assurance of eternal life is also one of the most freeing things a person could ever experience. And what does it change us to do? \u201cDear children,\u00a0let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth\u201d (v.18)<\/em><\/strong>. Real assurance means we can be real with others. There\u2019s enough that\u2019s fake in this world. There are enough pretenders. Yes, sometimes it’s us, too. We scroll past them on social media. We see them on the news. We get emails from them. We don\u2019t need more artificial intelligence, but more real assurance. When we find that real assurance in Christ, we can then be real with others. Often times that means we can go beyond words, as John encourages us, and make a real difference with actions and truth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To better appreciate what this means, let\u2019s start by acknowledging how exceptional we are at manipulating words. For example, in an effort to soften the blow or avoid conflict or more pressure from someone else, even though we are virtually 100% committed to not <\/em>following through or attending, we tell others we\u2019ll try <\/em>or see if we can make it work <\/em>or get back to you. <\/em>Be honest – those are empty words. They mean nothing and carry no weight, and we really only throw them around pretending we\u2019ve let ourselves off the hook. We use verbal sleight of hand to avoid the words that would more accurately reflect what we actually mean. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of all of that, we can be honest about what we really mean by speaking the truth. We can spend more time in action instead of a lot of mental time hiding our intentions or wishes with verbal camouflage.\u00a0And where we struggle in any of these areas, let us take advantage of the added blessing that comes with the real assurance we have in Christ: the privilege of prayer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDear friends,\u00a0if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God\u00a0and receive from him anything we ask\u2026\u201d (v.21-22)<\/em><\/strong>. <\/em>Because we have complete assurance of where we stand before God, we also have direct access to God, with the added promise that he will hear and answer our prayers. When we ask of God what God wants for us and others, he\u2019ll grant it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And guess what? God just made it clear what he wants for us and others: to love with actions and truth instead of words or speech. If that\u2019s what God wants and our prayers are tied to making that happen, then count on God coming through. In other words, if you genuinely want to grow in loving others with real action and in truth instead of being fake or pretend, you need only to ask. The God who assures you that he hasn\u2019t condemned you also assures you that he will complete your requests. Unlike the website that times out or the app that cannot complete the requested action, God hears – and answers – your prayers. Really.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s the blessing of real assurance. If you want it, stop paying attention to your heart. Don\u2019t listen to it. Don\u2019t follow it. Don\u2019t let it guide you. God is greater than your heart, and he says what your heart can never know on its own: in Jesus Christ, you are not condemned. Believe it, it\u2019s true. Then, go live in that truth by putting your faith and love into real action. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(1 John 3:18-24) We are no strangers to pharmaceutical companies promoting the latest ground-breaking medication or treatment for everything under the sun in commercials filled with active people living their best lives filled with joyful smiles. Of course the commercials all end with the same disclaimer, listing every possible side-effect from those that are inconvenient… Continue reading Real Assurance<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[345,65],"tags":[31,119,5,109,352,120,36,108],"class_list":["post-1264","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-resurrection-reality-series","category-sermons","tag-confidence","tag-easter","tag-jesus","tag-preaching","tag-real","tag-resurrection","tag-sermon","tag-teaching"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p842FN-ko","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1264","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1264"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1264\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1265,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1264\/revisions\/1265"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1264"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1264"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}