Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction:
A Black slave, carrying a bag of potatoes on his back, was asked by his skeptic master: “How do you know you are really saved and going to heaven?”
This Black slave took a few steps and then dropped the bag and took another step.
Then he said:
“How do I know I have dropped the bag?
I have not looked around, I cannot see the bag.”
“No,” replied the master.
“You can tell by the lessening of the weight.”
“Yes,” went on the slave, “that is how I know I am saved.
I have lost the guilty feeling of sin and sorrow and have found peace and satisfaction in my Lord and Savior as I talk to Him daily.”
Assurance in salvation is a beautiful, attractive witness and testimony.
Who wouldn’t want that kind of assurance?
Transition:
The Apostle John offers that sweet assurance of hope as he begins the end of the last of his first epistle:
Scripture Reading:
Transition:
After several months of study we have come to the concluding passage of 1st John.
The final nine verses of 1 John comprise its epilogue.
The epilogue has two functions: to summarize the main body of the letter and to encourage the readers to apply what they have read.
So now John provides several specific ways in which this community of believers could act on what he had written—you could think of this last section as John’s “So What?” to his letter.
I have been encouraged and greatly challenged in our personal walk with the Lord as we went through it exegetically.
John spoke much about our love for the Lord and for one another.
There was valuable instruction concerning false doctrine and the spirit of antichrist.
He has provided several marks by which we gain confidence of our relationship with Christ.
Here John concludes his thoughts and offers a final word to the reader.
We find a final exhortation concerning the Christian life.
This passage was given to believers.
We find comfort, as well as, a final challenge in these closing verses.
Let’s examine the aspects of life John discusses as we consider our assurance.
I. Our Association with Assurance (v.13)
Here we discover some certainties, some absolutes that believers enjoy today.
From the start, in verse 13, we have his purpose of writing this to us:
“I write these things to you who believe...”
Again, John addresses his intended audience--he is writing to the believer, to those who have believed in the name of Christ for salvation.
Only those who believe in the deity of the Son of God can absorb what John has written in this letter and apply it.
This supports the Doctrine of Illumination, which means you must have the Holy Spirit inside of you to fully understand the truths of scripture.
This is not to say that unbelievers cannot understand scripture at all, but certainly unbelievers are unable to process the truths of scripture and live it out apart from the Holy Spirit.
Those to whom John originally wrote lived among the world, with all the difficulties associated with it, but they were not of the world.
They had been set apart to Christ in Christ.
Even though they faced much adversity, they were not alone in the journey.
They had the Spirit working within them and they had Christ along with each other.
We are a couple thousand years removed from the time when John penned these words, but the same is true for all who believe in Christ.
I am certainly thankful for the opportunity of receiving salvation in the Lord and I rejoice for those of like faith with whom I can and do share this journey.
"...that you may know that you have eternal life.”
Above all else, John wanted his readers to have no more doubts about their faith, but instead to know they have eternal life.
John encouraged them to consider all he has shared with them.
The letter, written to believers who had been unsettled in their faith by false teachers, encouraged them to continue in the faith and affirmed their possession of eternal life.
John wanted his readers to know—to be sure—that they had eternal life.
They could base their certainty on God’s promise that he has given them eternal life through his Son.
There were many who were confused, and some were being mislead.
John wanted them to be settled in their faith, enjoying assurance of salvation, and productive for the Lord.
Their faith in Christ, resulting in salvation was not a temporary thing.
Their faith in Him brought eternal life.
There was no need to fear the adversity in this life or the impending death at the end of life.
They were certain and secure in Christ.
The question then becomes: “Are you sure you have eternal life?”.
Now I’m not asking about the person next to you, or your neighbor.
I am asking you personally: do you have salvation?
are you a hundred percent certain that you will see Christ face-to-face when you die?
We too can experience the same assurance—the same certainty.
I am not depending upon my works or abilities to secure eternal life.
I am not looking to the latest trends or modern philosophies.
The world does not embrace my faith, but I am secure in the finished work of Christ.
How can I be so certain?
First, it is a proven fact that Jesus rose from the grave triumphant over sin and death.
In turn, because He lives, we have the assurance of a future resurrection.
Second, Christ lives inside of me!
I can hate sin because He hates sin, I can (and do) love others because He loves others, I can sacrifice my all to serve, because He already sacrificed Himself for me!
All the saved inherit eternal life. 2 Cor.5:1
Just like when Jesus was telling the Pharisees that He would rebuild the temple in three days, you have to understand that Paul is not just talking about brick-and-mortar buildings neither
Transition:
John assured the believer of the great confidence we have in Christ.
But he then adds a precious element: believers also can be confident that YHWH will listen to their prayers.
II.
Our Appeal (v.14)
This next verse applies the truth of our assurance as it impacts the life of the church, particularly with regard to sinning brothers (as we’ll see next week).
One benefit of a life of faith in Jesus is answered prayer.
We are certain, as believers, that YHWH hears every prayer.
Confidence in God’s presence results from knowing that God is listening.
John is not referring to that confidence he described earlier, confidence on judgment day when each believer gives an account to the Lord Jesus.
Rather, this is daily confidence in one’s relationship with our Heavenly Father.
In prayer it is better to have a heart without words, than words without a heart.
Prayer is for the relationship between you and your Creator.
George Muller once said that the most important part of his prayer was the fifteen minutes after he had said “Amen.”
He was meaning that it is the trust and the peace that the prayer brought.
Are you lacking trust?
what does your prayer time look like?
Are you lacking peace? it has a direct connection to your prayers or lack thereof.
Confidence in prayer means boldness or freedom to speak to Christ (Hebrews 4:16)
that’s real peace!
“we ask anything according to His will” John’s statements seem to be unlimited in the believer’s ability to beseech God.
How and for what one prays is another evidence of a true believer.
Does this mean that YHWH will respond no matter what we request?
Not necessarily
Looking close, we realize that prayer is not asking for our will, but asking for God’s will in our lives.
People may or may not ask according to God’s will, but when then do, God hears.
So how can we pray that way?
How do we know what is God’s will?
This happens as a part of our growth in our relationship with Jesus.
When people choose to place their will in line with God’s will, the Holy Spirit in them will teach them to understand God’s will more completely.
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