Intro:
1) We resume our study in 1 John as we continue to talk about the evidences that a true believer will manifest. Two week ago, we discussed the importance of understanding our situation in life, perceiving and understanding the need of a brother, and purposefully choosing to help as opposed to purposefully shutting our bowels of compassion toward him.
2) This is an act of love that needs to be evidenced. Many people will say that they are willing to help but then a barrage of excuses will follow any attempt to ask them to act upon their words. As believers, we cannot live as people with split tongues or hypocritical acts.
I. In Deed and In Truth
1 John 3:18- “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”
1) Again the apostle John begins a verse addressing the churches in Asia Minor as “little children.” As we remind ourselves, this designation emphasized the maturity level of their faith. John considered them new in their faith and needed to be reminded of the fundamental basic truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and what it means to be a follower of Him.
2) In this case, John remains on the topic of love and how to evidence oneself as a believer in Jesus Christ by the love that we show. John clearly points out to us not to love in word or in tongue. There are two separate Greek terms. The Greek term for “word” is logos. Logos “is the articulate utterance of human language.”[1] It is what we speak, the words that come from our mouths, originating from our mind, that form a coherent sentence. This is logos
3) The Greek word for “tongue” is glossa. This refers to the “tongue of man” or a language.[2] Therefore, the difference between the two is that one refers to the words that we’ve spoken from the conviction in our hearts that are formulate in our minds and the other is the language that we speak it in. The apostle John urges us not to love purposefully or exclusively in either one.
4) One interesting side note before we go on to the next part of this verse refers to the term logos. This is the term used to describe Jesus Christ in John 1:1- “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The fact that Christ was described as the Word, ho logos, indicates that “He is the first immaterial intelligence. His incarnation is the expression of that intelligence in speech that humans could understand.”[3]
5) Continuing on, we should not love exclusively in words or in the language that we speak, but in deed and in truth. The Greek word for “deed” is ergon. It normally refers to “work, performance, the result or the object of employment.”[4] It speaks of an undertaking. Mainly, when John spoke to us telling us to love in deed, it was meant to love by displaying actions. “Claiming to love is not enough. Love is not sentiment but deeds.”[5] It is not enough to only speak words of love. “Words of compassion must be demonstrated through specific deeds of help.”[6]
6) Interestingly enough, the purpose of this part of the letter is for John to remind the believers in Asia Minor how a true Christian portrays themselves and if we do a word study on the Greek word ergon we can see that the emphasis of the word reaches to a deeper understanding of what it means to act like a Christian and evidence it through our actions. The verbal form erga is used in James where erga denotes acts by which someone proves his genuineness and his faith. James 2:14- “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?”
7) Faith is proven by works. James 2:22, 25- “Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?... Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?” Rahab “demonstrated the reality of her saving faith when at great personal risk, she protected the messengers of God.”[7]
8) James, in speaking about Abraham and Rahab used these examples as a “demonstration of the genuineness of their faith and the reality of their justification before God.”[8] Let us not be mistaken. “Salvation is determined by faith alone and demonstrated by faithfulness to obey God’s will alone.”[9]
9) And this demonstration of faithfulness to obey God’s will, especially in regards to love must be done, not only in deed, but also in truth, emphasizing the sincerity and genuineness of the act. The demonstration of specific deeds to help must come from a true intent to help, in truth.[10] “Compliments and flatteries become not Christians but the sincere expressions of sacred affection and the services or labors of love do.”[11]
Conclusion:
1) We must remember that it is not works that justifies us before God, but rather it is faith alone that imputes righteousness upon an unworthy soul. The works and deeds that we do simply justify and demonstrate our genuine and sincere faith.
2) In order to demonstrate our sincere faith, we must act upon in obedience to God’s will. By displaying acts and deeds of love we can evidence that we are truly children of God, if only we show it in truth. Our acts must be sincere, not out of obligation, responsibility or lack of understanding. And it must be constant and progressive, finding ways to display love in the form of deeds not flattery.
3) If that is then the case, then there must be more to just telling someone “God bless you” or speaking in order to show compassion. True compassion, true love, sincere faith will go above and beyond, understanding the importance of the Gospel. Witnessing and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others as an act of love must be done in deed and in truth.
[1] Zodhiates Key Word Study Bible 1734
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
[5] MacArthur Study Bible 1971
[6] IANT 478
[7] MacArthur Study Bible 1930
[8] Ibid
[9] Ibid
[10] IANT 478
[11] Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Assure Our Hearts- 1 John 3:19
Intro:
1) For the past few weeks, we’ve been discussing the evidence that we can show to others that we are truly believers in Jesus Christ. A defining evidence of belief and faith in Christ is to display love, volitional, purposeful, in deed, and in truth. This shows to others that we are truly a child of God.
2) But now we take an introspective look and consider if showcasing these external outward evidences help prove to ourselves that we are truly children of God. How can we remind and prove to ourselves that we are saved and are believers in Jesus Christ? Is this even important?
I. Assure Our Hearts
1 John 3:19- “And by this we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before Him.”
1) Believe it or not, there are many people in this world who sincerely believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and God, but question their eternal security. There are many who believe that one can gain and lose their salvation. Because of this, their life is lived in anxiety and fear, wondering if anything was done to merit the loss of eternal life.
2) The issue of the eternal security of the believer is one topic that we will not discuss today. But, as a simple reminder, when one has salvation, when was has entered into eternal life at the moment of faith in Jesus Christ, that can never be taken away. Because of this, it should motivate us to live sacrificial for God because of this display of love. It is a display of grace to give us the salvation that we DON’T deserve and a display of mercy not to give us the judgment that we DO deserve.
3) Nevertheless, there may be times that we do question the sincerity of our faith and the security of our salvation. We discussed ways to provide external evidence when others doubt. But what happens when WE doubt? “The believer wrestles with himself in relation to being in the truth. This is due to the presence of our sinful nature and to our acts of sin committed while in this world. When we commit sin, we are forced to question our salvation. So we need to convince ourselves that we are in the truth despite our failures.”[1]
4) We remind ourselves that works does not justify one before God. Works does not give one salvation. Instead, works is simply a demonstration of the sincerity of our faith. Within the category of works is the concept of love. And by how we love, we can then know that we are of the truth. We can be certain of our salvation if we simply love as God has asked us to love.
5) By loving with a self-sacrificial volitional love we can know that we are truly saved. An additional blessing is it then gives us assurance and confidence in our salvation that we can manifest what is in us by displaying love. “A lifestyle of love is the demonstrable proof of salvation.”[2] We can prove to others and prove to ourselves that we are truly a child of God if we can live self-sacrificially and choose to love others when they are still undeserving of it.
6) “One of the greatest arguments strengthening our assurance of salvation si the love for the brothers, not only in deed but in truth.” It then brings us to the question, why is the assurance of our salvation so important? Without the assurance of salvation or the thought that one can lose it, there is a lack of peace and a heavy feeling of anxiety and paranoia that one can potentially lose their salvation. That anxiety and fear increases when someone realizes that they could potentially die before ever redeeming themselves and re-attaining their salvation.
7) The assurance of salvation provides a sense of peace and serenity in one’s life, able to continue to live and serve God without fear of committing a sin that would then relegate someone to an unrighteous position and therefore deserving and condemned to hell.
8) Additionally, the assurance of salvation allows for a sense of freedom to approach God in manner of someone who is redeemed and redeemed permanently, as opposed to someone who is afraid to approach Him for fear of losing redemption. “It is a great happiness to be assured of our integrity in religion. Those that are so assured may have holy boldness or confidence towards God; they may appeal to him from the censures and condemnation of the world.”[3]
9) Of course, this assurance is demonstrated through love. This assurance is again another benefit of simply loving our brethren. “John gives 3 benefits of love for the true Christian. The first benefit is assurance of salvation since love in action is the test of Christian profession.”[4]
10) To love someone who is undeserving of love is not only beneficial to the other person nor asked for by God, but it is necessary, not because it is commanded to us by Christ and urged to us by the apostle John, but because for our sakes it gives us a sense of security and peace. “The way to arrive at the knowledge of our own truth and uprightness in Christianity, and to secure our inward peace, is to abound in love and in the works of love towards the Christian brethren.”[5]
Conclusion:
1) We are assured of our salvation because the Word of God promises us that when we are saved we are saved for eternity and we are saved from the moment of belief. This assurance of salvation is a God given gift, one that He didn’t necessarily have to give. God could have made it so that we would have to regain our salvation every time we committed a sin. But His grace is wonderful in that He didn’t choose that route.
2) We should love because it proves to others that we are believers in Christ but it assures us that we are truly born again believers. Our transition to a character and person of love, growth, maturity and development helps solidify the fact that we truly children of God and erases any doubt that we do not nor could have lost our salvation.
3) The assurance of salvation and the peace, comfort and security that comes with it should be another reason why we should share the Gospel with a world full of insecurities, fear, anxiety, and depression. It brings us hope and victory.
[1] IANT 478
[2] MacArthur Study Bible 1970
[3] Matthew Henry Commentary http://www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?AuthorID=4&contentID=1850&commInfo=5&topic=1%20John&ar=1Jo_3_19
[4] MacArthur Study Bible 1970
[5] Matthew Henry Commentary http://www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?AuthorID=4&contentID=1850&commInfo=5&topic=1%20John&ar=1Jo_3_19
1) For the past few weeks, we’ve been discussing the evidence that we can show to others that we are truly believers in Jesus Christ. A defining evidence of belief and faith in Christ is to display love, volitional, purposeful, in deed, and in truth. This shows to others that we are truly a child of God.
2) But now we take an introspective look and consider if showcasing these external outward evidences help prove to ourselves that we are truly children of God. How can we remind and prove to ourselves that we are saved and are believers in Jesus Christ? Is this even important?
I. Assure Our Hearts
1 John 3:19- “And by this we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before Him.”
1) Believe it or not, there are many people in this world who sincerely believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and God, but question their eternal security. There are many who believe that one can gain and lose their salvation. Because of this, their life is lived in anxiety and fear, wondering if anything was done to merit the loss of eternal life.
2) The issue of the eternal security of the believer is one topic that we will not discuss today. But, as a simple reminder, when one has salvation, when was has entered into eternal life at the moment of faith in Jesus Christ, that can never be taken away. Because of this, it should motivate us to live sacrificial for God because of this display of love. It is a display of grace to give us the salvation that we DON’T deserve and a display of mercy not to give us the judgment that we DO deserve.
3) Nevertheless, there may be times that we do question the sincerity of our faith and the security of our salvation. We discussed ways to provide external evidence when others doubt. But what happens when WE doubt? “The believer wrestles with himself in relation to being in the truth. This is due to the presence of our sinful nature and to our acts of sin committed while in this world. When we commit sin, we are forced to question our salvation. So we need to convince ourselves that we are in the truth despite our failures.”[1]
4) We remind ourselves that works does not justify one before God. Works does not give one salvation. Instead, works is simply a demonstration of the sincerity of our faith. Within the category of works is the concept of love. And by how we love, we can then know that we are of the truth. We can be certain of our salvation if we simply love as God has asked us to love.
5) By loving with a self-sacrificial volitional love we can know that we are truly saved. An additional blessing is it then gives us assurance and confidence in our salvation that we can manifest what is in us by displaying love. “A lifestyle of love is the demonstrable proof of salvation.”[2] We can prove to others and prove to ourselves that we are truly a child of God if we can live self-sacrificially and choose to love others when they are still undeserving of it.
6) “One of the greatest arguments strengthening our assurance of salvation si the love for the brothers, not only in deed but in truth.” It then brings us to the question, why is the assurance of our salvation so important? Without the assurance of salvation or the thought that one can lose it, there is a lack of peace and a heavy feeling of anxiety and paranoia that one can potentially lose their salvation. That anxiety and fear increases when someone realizes that they could potentially die before ever redeeming themselves and re-attaining their salvation.
7) The assurance of salvation provides a sense of peace and serenity in one’s life, able to continue to live and serve God without fear of committing a sin that would then relegate someone to an unrighteous position and therefore deserving and condemned to hell.
8) Additionally, the assurance of salvation allows for a sense of freedom to approach God in manner of someone who is redeemed and redeemed permanently, as opposed to someone who is afraid to approach Him for fear of losing redemption. “It is a great happiness to be assured of our integrity in religion. Those that are so assured may have holy boldness or confidence towards God; they may appeal to him from the censures and condemnation of the world.”[3]
9) Of course, this assurance is demonstrated through love. This assurance is again another benefit of simply loving our brethren. “John gives 3 benefits of love for the true Christian. The first benefit is assurance of salvation since love in action is the test of Christian profession.”[4]
10) To love someone who is undeserving of love is not only beneficial to the other person nor asked for by God, but it is necessary, not because it is commanded to us by Christ and urged to us by the apostle John, but because for our sakes it gives us a sense of security and peace. “The way to arrive at the knowledge of our own truth and uprightness in Christianity, and to secure our inward peace, is to abound in love and in the works of love towards the Christian brethren.”[5]
Conclusion:
1) We are assured of our salvation because the Word of God promises us that when we are saved we are saved for eternity and we are saved from the moment of belief. This assurance of salvation is a God given gift, one that He didn’t necessarily have to give. God could have made it so that we would have to regain our salvation every time we committed a sin. But His grace is wonderful in that He didn’t choose that route.
2) We should love because it proves to others that we are believers in Christ but it assures us that we are truly born again believers. Our transition to a character and person of love, growth, maturity and development helps solidify the fact that we truly children of God and erases any doubt that we do not nor could have lost our salvation.
3) The assurance of salvation and the peace, comfort and security that comes with it should be another reason why we should share the Gospel with a world full of insecurities, fear, anxiety, and depression. It brings us hope and victory.
[1] IANT 478
[2] MacArthur Study Bible 1970
[3] Matthew Henry Commentary http://www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?AuthorID=4&contentID=1850&commInfo=5&topic=1%20John&ar=1Jo_3_19
[4] MacArthur Study Bible 1970
[5] Matthew Henry Commentary http://www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?AuthorID=4&contentID=1850&commInfo=5&topic=1%20John&ar=1Jo_3_19
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