John calls us through-out this book, to grow in God's love. Paul prayed:
"I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide, how long, how high, and how deep that love is. Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you." - Ephesians 3:17b-19 (Easy to Read)
In our text, John has us "look things over," and examine our daily walk with God. Let's consider what he has to say.
1. Looking In - vs. 19-21 - Am I walking in God's forgiveness?
There are two heart conditions the Christian can experience.
A. The Condemning Heart - vs. 19-20a
The believer has a condemning heart when he is guilty of sin. Undealt with sin causes our hearts to be condemned by guilt. John says that condemnation in the heart of the Christian when he sins is something that assures us we "belong to the truth" and are genuinely saved.
B. The Confidant Heart - vs. 20b- 21
God's wants us to have a confident heart. How do we gain a confident heart? By responding appropriately when our heart condemns us. How do we do that? By turning to God for cleansing. This is why John means when he says "God is greater than our hearts." No matter how burdened our heart may be, God can lift that guilt from our heart.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9 (NIV)
God is justified in forgiving us because the cross covers all our sin.
In the Old Testament, Israel worshiped in the tabernacle; and in the holy of holies was the ark of the covenant. In it, among other things, were stone tablets with the ten commandments on them. They reminded the people of their failures before God. But on top of the ark was a slab of pure gold, known as the mercy seat. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would offer a sacrifice for the sins of the people and would sprinkle the blood of that sacrifice on the Mercy Seat. The mercy seat symbolized the ultimate sacrifice of Calvary. Now, the Mercy Seat completely covered the ark. It was as long as the ark was long; and as wide as the ark was wide. This was intended to illustrate that no matter how great our sin, God's grace and mercy are just as great, just as wide.
"He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our offenses. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His faithful love toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." - Psalm 103:10-12 (HCSB)
As you look in, do you find that you are walking in the forgiveness of God? Learning to appropriate God's forgiveness is a key element in knowing His love, for each time you involve yourself in confessing sin and claiming God's cleansing, you are brought afresh to the foot of the cross, which is the greatest demonstration ever of God's love for us.
Daily, we should involve ourselves in the discipline of confession. As we do, we grow more deeply in our appreciation of the love of God.
2. Looking Up - vs. 21-22 - Am I walking in the fellowship of God?
If my heart doesn't condemn me, I can take it by faith that I am within God's will when I come to Him in prayer. Walking in the forgiveness of God, makes it possible for me to walk in the fellowship of God; and through that fellowship, He can communicate to me, through His Spirit, about those things He wants me to approach Him about in prayer.
It is through prayer that I can grow more and more to appreciate God's love for me, as in response to His spirit, I partner with God, learning not just what things to pray for, but how to pray for things.
I have often mentioned the four levels of growth in prayer: Level 1: Imitation; Level 2: Initiation; Level 3: Intercession; and Level 4: Interaction. Let's talk about this highest level of prayer.
"Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass." - Psalm 37:4-5 (NKJV)
A. I Delight in the Lord and He gives me proper Desires - v. 4
B. I Wait on the Lord and I get to see Him Work - v. 5
Learning to commune with God in prayer is a key element in knowing and growing in His love. You cannot see God moves time and time again in response to your prayers and doubt His love for you.
As you look up, are you walking in the fellowship of God? Daily, we should involve ourselves in the discipline of prayer.
3. Looking Out - vs. 23-24 - Am I walking in the fullness of God?
In verse 23, John summarizes what we have come to know as the Great commission (Matthew 28:19-20) "believe in the name of his Son,
Jesus Christ" and the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40) "love one another". In verse 24, John tells us how we can walk in obedience to both the Great Commission and Great Commandment.
A. Understand that He lives in us - v. 24b
When we believed on Christ, His Spirit came to indwell us. And by the presence of His Spirit, God has given us all we need to please Him.
"By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence." - 2 Peter 1:3 (NLT)
A man was honored as citizen of the year. He spoke and he told his life story. He said, "Friends and neighbors, when I first came here 30 years ago, I only had the suit on my back, the shoes on my feet, and a small briefcase containing what little my father left me. Today I'm chairman of the board of the First National Bank, I own hotels, apartment buildings, office buildings, & three companies with branches in 49 cities. Yes, friends, I have done well for myself and your city has been very good to me." Afterward a boy approached him and asked, "Sir, I'm curious. What did you have in that small briefcase?" "Only a half million dollars in cash and $900,000 in government bonds my dad had left me," He replied.
I'd say the secret to his success had to do with what his father had given him, wouldn't you? The same is true for us. The secret to our success is to discover all our Father has given to us by the presence of His Spirit. And we do that through His Word.
"And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires." - 2 Peter 1:4 (NLT)
B. Understand how to live in Him - v. 24a
God's Word is the key to "living" in Him.
Through God's Word, we can be transformed and live a God honoring life. Through the presence of His Spirit we have all we need to obey God; and through the promises of His Word we learn all we need to know to live our life for God.
Sadly, by neglect of God's Word, many Christians live like the Beverly Hillbillies. Their life has been changed, but they don't understand all they've been blessed with. (Show video) In a TV show, it's cause for laughter. In the Christian life, however, it's cause for sorrow.
Are you using all that the Word says is yours in Christ? As you look out at your life in this world, are you walking in the fullness of God?
Learning to live by the Word of God can cause you to be amazed by a love that has provided all we need for life and godliness! Daily, we should involve ourselves in the discipline of reading our Bible.
Conclusion: Three elements are key to our growing in God's love:
1) Daily confession of sin;
2) Daily communion in prayer; and
3) Daily commitment to hearing and doing God's Word.
By practicing these daily disciplines we can walk in the forgiveness of God, the fellowship of God and the fullness of God.
"If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me." - Luke 9:23 (NLT)
Just as the cross was literally the Father's plan for Christ's life; God has a plan for our life. And whatever else it might mean for you and me to embrace God's plan for our lives, it definitely means being willing to daily confess our sin, spend time in prayer, and read our Bible.
The verses for "I Have Decided To Follow Jesus," were inspired by the responses a Christian man gave to his persecutors when called on to deny his new-found faith. (Show video - I Have Decided)
In America, we Christians have it pretty soft. We don't have (yet) the enemies of the cross calling us to deny Christ or face death. But we do have the ease of life calling us to daily neglect the disciplines of confession, prayer, and Bible reading. How's your commitment to
following Jesus? Are you willing to deny yourself and take up your cross daily, and follow Him?
