Dealing With Doubt Series

Scripture

After completing high school in South Africa, I spent two years in the South African Air Force doing my compulsory military service. Early during my second year in the South African Air Force, I was converted to Jesus Christ. For much of the rest of my second year, I was in the war in northern Namibia where I spent time in the bush. I could not attend worship or fellowship with other Christians. Almost a year later, I begin my studies at the University of Cape Town. I was thrilled to be able to worship with fellow Christians each Lord’s Day. I also threw myself into Bible studies on campus, and was actively involved in the fellowship of the campus student ministry.

I don’t remember exactly when it was, but twice during my first and second years at the University of Cape Town, I experienced serious doubt about whether or not I was a Christian. On both occasions, my doubt only lasted a few days. But I questioned whether I was truly saved. I wondered if I was somehow deceived. What if I was mistaken about Christianity? What if there was a different way of salvation?

Are you confident that if you were to die today that you will be received into God’s presence? Are you sure that you are going to heaven? Have you ever doubted your salvation?

In his First Letter, the Apostle John realizes that some of his beloved flock may be dealing with doubt about their salvation. So, he almost interrupts his train of thought and helps Christians who are dealing with doubt about their salvation.

Let’s read about dealing with doubt in 1 John 3:19-24:

19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (1 John 3:19-24)

Introduction

The Apostle John wrote his First Letter to encourage believers regarding their assurance of salvation. John’s purpose for writing this letter is given in 1 John 5:13, where he writes, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.”

The false teachers were throwing John’s beloved flock into doubt and confusion about their relationship with God. And so he gave them three tests by which they could know whether they had a relationship with God. They were the tests of obedience (in 1 John 2:3-6; 2:28-3:10), love (in 1 John 2:7-11; 3:11-18), and doctrine (in 1 John 2:18-27; 4:1-6). However, in the midst of his elaboration of these tests, John digresses to write about dealing with doubt.

Lesson

First John 3:19-24 shows us what to do when we doubt our salvation.

Let’s use the following outline:

1. Be Aware That God Knows Everything (3:19-20)

2. Be Confident Before God (3:21)

3. Be Obedient to God’s Commandments (3:22-23)

4. Be Attentive to God’s Spirit (3:24)

I. Be Aware That God Knows Everything (3:19-20)

First, when we doubt our salvation, let us be aware that God knows everything.

John writes in verses 19-20, “By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.” Having just elaborated on the test of love as an evidence of new life in Christ (in the previous paragraph), John assures his beloved flock that when they do deeds of love, they can know that they are of the truth. But perhaps they still may have a sense of their hearts (or consciences) condemning them. However, God is greater than their consciences and he knows all things, and he will forgive them and let them know that they are his beloved children.

God has given all people a conscience. However, our conscience is fallible. It is not always correct. Moreover, Satan sometimes troubles our hearts and consciences by his lies and half-truths.

On the other hand, as John says, “God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.” There is nothing fallible about God at all. He is always correct. He knows us better than we know ourselves. I love what John Stott said regarding God and our hearts. He writes of God: