Blessed Assurance (1 John 1.2)

Rev. Lauri Ferring

1 John • Sermon • Submitted 12 days ago • Presented 15 days ago

1 John 1:1–2:6

Assurance of salvation

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Assurance of God's truth and salvation bringing perfect fellowship between Him and the Church.

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Blessed Assurance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRytplESOjw

Psalm 144 NIV

Of David. 1 Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. 2 He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me. 3 Lord, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them? 4 They are like a breath; their days are like a fleeting shadow. 5 Part your heavens, Lord, and come down; touch the mountains, so that they smoke. 6 Send forth lightning and scatter the enemy; shoot your arrows and rout them. 7 Reach down your hand from on high; deliver me and rescue me from the mighty waters, from the hands of foreigners 8 whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful. 9 I will sing a new song to you, my God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you, 10 to the One who gives victory to kings, who delivers his servant David. From the deadly sword 11 deliver me; rescue me from the hands of foreigners whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful. 12 Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace. 13 Our barns will be filled with every kind of provision. Our sheep will increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields; 14 our oxen will draw heavy loads. There will be no breaching of walls, no going into captivity, no cry of distress in our streets. 15 Blessed is the people of whom this is true; blessed is the people whose God is the Lord.

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Blessed Assurance

Samuel and Susanna Wesley, parents of John Wesley, loved each other, but struggled with differences of opinion regarding what they believed on some theological subjects. One of the biggest differences had to do with the subject of the assurance of salvation, or what we refer to as the witness of the Spirit. This difference of opinion caused some friction between the two in their early days. However, life took over and they became busy with the various duties of ministry in time.

In Samuel’s later years as his health was declining, he was walking through a field puzzling about some conflicts in the church when he became aware that it had been a long time since he had preached or taught on this subject of assurance. He was also concerned for his wife, and sons who were slaving away desperately trying to find this assurance through legalism and works. Samuel then became very burdened for his family and his church to understand the joy of having this assurance. He quickly began to preach once again. Soon after, he was on his death bed. Individually, he called for Susanna, Charles, and John and he pled with each to promise to pray without ceasing until the Spirit came and gave them that assurance.

After he passed, time went on and each member of the family began to struggle with the promise he had made them swear to him. It began with Susanna. Even though she was old, and her health was not so good, she one day shut herself up in her room. She refused to eat or to answer her door. Her daughter was quite concerned for her until one day she came out with a radiant expression. She had been praying and seeking God per her promise to her husband. She had that spiritual breakthrough that Samuel and told her about. It profoundly changed her life! She had always been a bit dour in personality, but now she shined brightly with a newfound confidence and thankfulness for God’s salvation. She then began to plead with her sons, and soon Charles also had an experience that gave him that same peace. However, John was overseas, and he was working himself into a frenzy feeling he had to do more to try to be sure he had done enough to be confident of God’s approval come judgement day.

After John Wesley had been preaching for some time, someone said to him, "Are you sure, Mr. Wesley, of your salvation?" "Well," he answered, "Jesus Christ died for the whole world." "Yes, we all believe that; but are you sure that you are saved?" John replied that he was sure that provision had been made for his salvation.

"But are you sure, Wesley, that you are saved?" It went like an arrow to his heart, and he had no rest or power until that question was settled. Once again, he recalled his father’s dying wish for him to find that assurance. Then one day, he was in a special service when something that was said broke through him in a special way. His burden was finally lifted, and he knew, beyond any doubt, that he was saved and would be received by God.

Many men and women go on month after month, and year after year, without power, because they do not know their standing in Christ; they are not sure of their own footing for eternity. Latimer wrote Ridley once that when he was settled and steadfast about his own salvation he was as bold as a lion, but if that hope became eclipsed, he was fearful and afraid and was disqualified for service. Many are disqualified for service because they are continually doubting their own salvation.

A couple weeks ago, we began this sermon series on 1 John where we find John the apostle, seeking to provide the same avenue of assurance for those within the church. The persecution of Christians had moved from outward attacks of the physical body to inward attacks on their theology. The gospel was being challenged by outsiders who have come in and wanted to be part of the church but were challenging the things taught by the disciples.

Today, we will look once again at that same passage of scripture we looked at two weeks ago. Please stand as I read from our text 1 John 1:1-2:6.

1 John 1:1–2:6NIV

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.

5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God!

II. Blessed Assurance

A couple weeks ago as we looked at this passage, I only dealt with the first 4 verses, and I was focused on John’s experience. Today, I want us to look at John’s experience and how it can be applied to our lives. We will begin again with the subject of an eyewitness, but I want to examine it from a different perspective. So, consider with me the...

A. Assurance of the I-witness 1 John 1:1-4

John begins this letter by sharing what he has witnessed.

1 John 1:1–3NIV

Previously we talked about John’s authority on this subject. He had the authority of one who was an eyewitness to all Jesus said, did and experienced. He also had the authority of one appointed by Jesus as Jesus’ representative. Look with me at Jesus’ final words recorded in Matthew 28.

Matthew 28:18–20 (NASB95) 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Jesus specifically appointed the disciples to be our teachers. They were to pass on what Jesus had taught them. John and the others had the assurance of those who had experienced and witnessed everything with their own eyes.

We may not have been a first-person witnesses of Jesus life, death, resurrection, and ascension, but we are first-person witnesses of what Jesus has done for us. When we come to that moment in our life when we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we experience something. Each person’s experience is a little different. Some feel a great burden lifted. Some feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude that pours forth with tears. Another may feel great jubilation and jump up with excitement. Some feel it immediately. Some feel it the next day or another may notice the difference a week later, but all feel a difference from within at some moment either at the time or shortly after.

There are also other experiences we have as we grow in our understanding and faith. Things like when we first understand about trusting God by tithing. We make a choice to obey in this and determine to start giving God that 10% of our gross income. Ten percent isn’t much, but it is a significant amount to us when we live within a tight budget. We place that first check on the plate and our heart speeds up. It may soon look like we will not make it financially that month but at the last moment, some unexpected something happens that provides the funding needed and we realize God has blessed us for our obedience. The excitement we feel in that moment and the succeeding months as God provides month after month is yet another experience of proof that God is alive and working within us.

Or perhaps it is something we are praying for, and God answers our prayer. All these experiences are evidence that God is working in our lives as proof of our salvation. We are obeying and we are seeing the rewards in our life.

This is one kind of assurance, however, the downside to this kind of assurance is that it fluctuates with our emotions. We feel confident and assured one moment, but the next we can find ourselves with doubts yet again. However, John reveals another kind of assurance.

B. Assurance through fellowship 1 John 1:5-7

1 John 1:5–7NIV

When we walk in fellowship with someone, there is a sense of peace and companionship. However, if fellowship is broken, there is tension. I love the concept of light and darkness here as it really fits the feelings of emotion when we are in fellowship or out of fellowship. When we spend time with someone we are in fellowship with, we feel lighthearted, warm, and fuzzy. However, if we are walking with someone where there is discord, there is a sense of tension. We feel we are walking in a dark, cold place.

If we are out of sync with God, we feel guilty. Like Adam and Eve in the garden scrambling to cover themselves and trying to avoid being in God’s presence. When there is discord, we prefer not to be in the presence of that person we are at odds with.

When we look at scriptures that describe fellowship, we find them accompanied by words like love, encouragement, unity, and sharing. All such words make us feel good and warm.

However, this is not a perfect assurance by itself either because sometimes we get bogged down in false guilt.

I remember a time when I felt this discord due to false guilt. I was probably upper elementary or middle school age. My mom had received an antique chandelier from my grandmother. It was one of those ones with small globes and teardrop crystals that hung down. It had not been mounted yet, and my mom had placed it in a corner behind a chair by a window and told us kids to be careful of it. This was when we lived on the farm and we were way out in the country, so we did not get people at our house every day. One day, someone pulled up in our drive. I heard the crunch of gravel from our driveway, so I went running to the window to see who it was. You guessed it, in my haste, I forgot about the chandelier and my foot smacked one of the globes and it broke. I felt so bad, and I expected to be in trouble, so I went to my room and did not even come out to talk to our company. After the company had left, my mom came searching for me. When she found me in my room, she asked what was wrong. With tears coursing down my face, I told her and I said I had put myself in self-imposed timeout. To which my mom shared that she was disappointed that the chandelier had a broken globe but that she knew it was an accident. I was not in trouble.

Sometimes we have past experiences that can burden us with false guilt. False guilt can rob us of our feelings of fellowship. We need to be careful that we do not allow it to do so, and the other types of assurance can help us to still feel assured and overcome false guilt. John’s letter quickly helps us identify another way we find assurance. It is the...

C. Assurance of a Received Confession 1 John 1:8-10

1 John 1:8–10NIV

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

You may not think confession is reassuring, but it really is. It is not easy to confess our sins, but once we do we feel such freedom. When we walk in the path of Jesus’ light and the salvation He provides, we are not afraid to confess when we sin. As we mature in our faith, we quickly begin to recognize how freeing it is to speak the truth and confess. Sin and guilt are a burden. Confession and truth are freeing and makes light our steps. However, speaking such truth is not in our nature. When we recognize that our behavior has changed enough that we are willing to quickly confess and repent, it brings a sense of assurance once again. We see the change in our life and our attitude, and we know we have changed. It is so freeing, and it is evidence that we are maturing in our faith, which only happens if we are saved.

However, there are more assurances. Next, we have the...

D. Assurance of God’s Grace 1 John 2:1-2

1 John 2:1–2NIV

The Libertines and some Gnostics I spoke of a couple weeks ago, believed our behavior didn’t matter. This is not true! Our behavior does matter. God said...

Leviticus 11:44 (NIV) 44 I am the Lordyour God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy...

Peter reaffirms this in his letter of 1 Peter.

1 Peter 1:15–16NIV

15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

However, we can find assurance that when those times occur when we fail, we can know that Jesus’ blood covers our offense. So, we need not live in fear of our every failure. But neither do we take advantage of this either. Paul addresses this attitude of abuse of God’s grace in Romans 6:1-2

Romans 6:1–2NIV

1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

If we are walking in fellowship with Christ, we walk in light and have no desire to linger in sin and darkness. But when we do offend, we can be assured that if we repent and are sorry for the offense, God is gracious, and Jesus’ blood covers the offense.

I would add that this also means that we are not required to run to the altar every time we do something wrong. When we become aware of it, we just need to quickly acknowledge it before God and adjust our behavior.

There is great assurance in knowing that God is not standing by waiting to destroy us for our weakness, but out of His great love He has provided for us and continues to love us even in moments of failure.

At this point, you may ask why God was so quick to drop people in their tracks in the Old Testament. You need to remember that the children of Israel, for their sake and ours, were on a journey of learning. God was using them to teach us what were wrong behaviors and attitudes. He also wanted us to understand just how serious those offenses were. Remember, God’s perspective of death is different than ours. God knows it is temporary. We also need to keep in mind that we have no idea of what the eternal statis is for those people. Just because they were dropped in that moment, doesn’t mean they were all sentenced to hell. God was using them to teach us all! However, that period (OT) passed and now after Jesus’ time (NT), we are living in a state of grace.

Now, look with me at yet another assurance found in this passage which we have lightly addressed already. It is...

E. Assurance from Our Behavior 1 John 2:3-6

1 John 2:3–6NIV

3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

In the Old Testament, the laws were written on stone to teach us and help us understand what righteousness is. However, knowing the law and desiring to keep the law are two different things. God said,

Hebrews 8:10NIV

10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

With the work of God’s Spirit, our desires change. We know longer work hard to obey a written law, but instead we have an inner desire to do what is right. We recognize this change in our desires, and it assures us that we are no longer the person we used to be. Fellowship with God has changed our hearts, our desires, our allegiances, our ability to love God as well as others. This change in us, assures us that we our God’s and He is ours.

This brings us to one last assurance not found in today’s text. It is the...

F. Assurance of the Holy Spirit 1 John 4:13; Romans 8:16

We find this one in…

1 John 4:13NIV

13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.

And it is affirmed by Paul in…

Romans 8:16NIV

16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

For some, this is instantaneous with salvation. For others, it is a process of maturity. However, if we continue in our spiritual growth, the moment comes when we have a complete sense of peace and joy that we are forgiven and fully assured of our place as God’s child with all the full benefits that come with that status.

Romans 8:17NIV

17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

We are human and we live in a world dominated by sin. This means it still requires effort on our part to learn, and to do what is right. Even when we have the desire to do what is right, we still often fail. As Paul says in Romans 7:15.

Romans 7:15NIV

15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

However, we can still find peace, confidence, assurance, and joy because our hope is not in ourselves but in the assurance of the salvation achieved by Jesus’ death and resurrection and credited to our account.

Conclusion

Are you here this morning and find a desire as I speak for this kind of peace and assurance? We are living in a time when there are so many voices speaking into all the things that are taking place in our world. Things like COVID/mystery virus’…things like projecting meaning into routine events such as eclipses…things like speculations regarding future events taking place due to wars occurring and wars rumored to start. The assurance I am talking about this morning, takes the sting out of all those fears and more.

If you wish this kind of peace, confidence, and assurance it begins by putting your faith in Jesus Christ. It is not that list of things that control this world, but it is God and He sent Jesus to provide the answer for us. When we believe that God loves us and sent His Son to die for us, we have assurance that if God can provide for our past, He can provide for our future. All it requires is a declaration of our need for Him and asking Him to forgive us. It is as simple as ABC.

Acknowledge your son and admit you need God.

Believe Jesus is God’s Son and died for your sin.

Call on Jesus’ name and ask for His forgiveness.

When you do these three simple things with a genuine desire for forgiveness and God’s love, He will make you into a new person. He will provide you a new life with peace, joy, and confidence!

The next step is to grow in that relationship. Read the Bible, find a good church that teaches what the Bible says. Jesus and the apostles are not among us physically anymore, but they left us the written Word. It provides our instruction in walking with Jesus daily. And we are tutored by the Holy Spirit within us. He is literally Jesus living within us. The Holy Spirit joins with our Spirit when we receive Jesus as our Savior. He teaches us, directs us, comforts us, and is our constant companion.

We also spend time in prayer, both talking to God, with God, and listening to God. God speaks to us through His Spirit within us and through His Word. The more we trust the Holy Spirit within us, the more assurance, peace, and joy we find. These are the real deep kind that are unaffected by emotion fluctuation, and circumstances.

Do not be self-conscientious of those around you, but just focus right now on God and share with Him where you are and what you need from Him. He is always ready to answer any desire you have that will pull you closer to Him.

The altar is always open to come and kneel before His throne. Take a moment for silent prayer as I prepare the Table of our Lord, as I wish to close this sermon with communion this morning.

Communion

The Communion Supper, instituted by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a sacrament, which proclaims His life, His sufferings, His sacrificial death, and resurrection, and the hope of His coming again. It shows forth the Lord’s death until His return. The Supper is a means of grace in which Christ is present by the Spirit. It is to be received in reverent appreciation and gratefulness for the work of Christ. All those who are truly repentant, forsaking their sins, and believing in Christ for salvation are invited to participate in the death and resurrection of Christ. We come to the table that we may be renewed in life and salvation and be made one by the Spirit. In unity with the Church, we confess our faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. And so we pray: Father, forgive us of our sins and our shortcomings. Forgive us of the many times we become distracted, or fall prey to our wicked pride, or times when we do not honor You as we should. We now humbly bow before you, yielding ourselves to you. And now Holy Father, We gather at this, your table, in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who by your Spirit was anointed to preach good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, set at liberty those who are oppressed. Christ healed the sick, fed the hungry, ate with sinners, and established the new covenant for forgiveness of sins. We live in the hope of His coming again. On the night in which He was betrayed, He took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread, gave it to His disciples, and said: “This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19) Likewise, when the supper was over, He took the cup, gave thanks, gave it to His disciples, and said: “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Matthew 26:27-29) And so, we gather as the Body of Christ to offer ourselves to you in praise and thanksgiving. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us and on these your gifts. Make them by the power of your Spirit to be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the Body of Christ, redeemed by His blood. By your Spirit make us one in Christ, one with each other, and one in the ministry of Christ to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.

The Bread

The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, broken for you, preserve you blameless, unto everlasting life. Eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and be thankful.

The Cup

The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, shed for you, preserve you blameless unto everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and be thankful.

Precious Father,

Thank you for the life You have given us and for Your forgiveness which is so complete. May we continue to follow in Your steps and be found faithful. Amen.

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