The Problem with the Lack of Assurance
1 John 5
Some Americans today don’t trust their immigration dept. people anymore. It seems many terrorists have slipped through their fingers. There is a fear that more terrorist attacks may come because they cannot keep track of all the illegal immigrants who overstayed their visas and hiding somewhere in the US, planning their next target. It was said that the US govt should put Blockbuster Video people to be in charge of Immigration because if u are two days late they are all over u. They will hunt u down! Hence life in US is on the edge for some, people don’t feel secure.
People traveling by air today go through security checks. Told to come early to the airport to go through a vigorous security check. Post 9/11 we rely on these checks to ensure safety of air travel. Since April, the federal government has been charging travellers a $24 fee for security upgrades at all Canadian airports. Don’t wanna be blown up, do we? So we subject ourselves to these security checks and pay the extra $24. We want to be safe.
Now what about people traveling to heaven? How safe are u? Are there security checks we could use so that we know for sure we’re on the way to heaven and not the other direction? How will u know the minute u die u gonna be in paradise? How do u know u are really a born again Christian believer? Perhaps u doubt whether u are. You seem to see all the flaws of your own character. Every day u live on the earth u see Christians making big mistakes, blowing it. The bible does state that not everyone who calls Jesus “Lord” is a Christian.
Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV) Jesus says:
Not everyone who says to me, ’Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ’Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ’I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
How can I be a Christian when it is obvious I am not at all perfect. Could I be the one who calls Him “Lord” and find out later I am destined for hell and not heaven? I think John wrote his letter to remind us of something…
13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
True Christians are …
1. FAITHFUL: BELIEVERS in Jesus as the Son of God who are LOVERS of the church
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
Thought here: your assurance/security for eternal life is worked out in the here and now. In your clear confession that you trust Jesus right now as your God, the promised Messiah who can deliver this messed up world out of darkness, oppression. You cannot see Jesus but you know He loves you here right now this minute. Right now, you have no doubt that Jesus came to seek and save you. Received this message gladly into your heart. You are open to God’s spiritual light entering your darkness.
Also here right now this minute, in the faces of people you can see in the church, you have a heart change. Perhaps you were cynical about church before, but now see the same possibilities the same potential that God sees in his children. And u love that vision, and u love them as they are believing with hope and patience that they will be transformed, and be perfect one day.
Faith itself is the victory and is you’re your assurance clearly in a changed life transformed by love. The LOVE of Christ becomes the controlling motive. And it is seen clearly in personal relationships forged in love and transferred to another person, namely the church that Jesus died for. You claim to love Jesus, well, the auto response for those who love Jesus is the love for His church, His bride. You will choose to love the church as much as Jesus did. This is the faith that will overcome and is not at burdensome. It becomes a joy! Commandment is simple LOVE! Remember the joy, satisfaction u have when u serve someone in church? Give something of yourself away?
Faith is not believing in historical facts or data about the man Jesus. I think most people heard of the incident here in Vancouver when someone tried to eat cake in the presence of our PM Jean Chretien. The poor guy got tackled like a football dummy. I mean most sane people believe in Jean Chretien as PM of Canada, but do they have a personal relationship with him? Come near him with a piece of cake, you shall find out how much he loves you, courtesy of the RCMP. Furthermore if he is dead and gone, he would not be able to rise after 3 days in the grave. HE cannot save u from death and promise eternal life. He won’t rise again bodily and say touch me, feel me, love me, which Jesus did.
Faith is the transforming event when u placed your life entirely in His hand believing He loves u, died for, producing in u a life change where u no longer live for yourself but for God and for others. Where u can come near God and other Christians and not fear of being tackled to the ground, blown to pieces, but safe and secure, forgiven and doing the same for others.
2. given an INNER WITNESS: They have a HEART knowledge of God’s TESTIMONY
6This is the one who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7For there are three that testify: 8the[1] Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
When a person really gets saved he receives the Holy Spirit. See Rom. 8:9-17 The incoming Holy Spirit makes the new convert a "new creature in Christ Jesus".
9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ…. 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.[7] And by him we cry, "Abba,[8] Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17Now 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.
Have u sense inner promptings in your daily life? when u read the Bible? When u pray?
Rom. 8:16 says that the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. Bible salvation through faith in Christ is something that happens in the heart. U may not see fireworks display, but it is displayed inwardly. Sense any changes… It is not a hope-so or guess-so. You need to experience within u the evidence of God’s moving you, receiving Sonship, Not good enuff to say "I guess I’m saved" U gotta know it from the inside out.
3. PRAYERFUL: They practice PRAYING to a God who HEARS and ANSWERS us
14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.
The context tells us praying for people is totally in His will. Pray believing God hears, what can of prayers. Prayers that express love for others to experience life.
16If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. 17All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.
No one knows for sure, what is the sin that leads to death but from the context of the letter of 1 John it is evident that it speaks to the sin of the antichrist, the false prophets, i.e. those who deny Jesus came in the flesh and yet is divine. However, key thought here is confidence and assurance comes with prayer – approaching God and having a two way conversation with a Father who loves you and have given you eternal life through the Son and His Spirit to seal the deal!
4. WARRIOR: They oppose sinful patterns because they serve Jesus only
18We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. 19We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true--even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
Are you practicing sin? A Christian may be unaware that they have some sinful practice or habit but a real Christian will begin to fight the sin when God reveals it to him that he is doing wrong. No doubt we will sin but what is said here is a conscious deliberate practice of sin, rebellious attitude, that refuses to listen to God’s Spirit. It is continuing to sin with no attempt or desire to stop, no regard for prayer, no regard for inner witness, no regard for Jesus. So here the call again… fight sin… through prayer, inner work of the Spirit and love for Jesus and His people.
1 Tim. 6:12 “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called”
5. WATCHFUL: They will be on the guard against threats to their love for God.
21Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
This road we travel on call life, is littered with obstacles. Like a Nintendo or Playstation game, every you go in the game you need to stay alert and avoid the traps, the bad guys, the bombs. Yes, God keeps us safe but we need to do our part too by keeping away from idols, dodge the bullets. NO sane person will go jump into the Fraser River
IN CONCLUSION --- The five points I shared with you, are a security checklist. One day when u meet God will u blown away or will u be welcomed as child to a loving father’s arms? Did u pass the test? Or do u have a problem of a lack of assurance? Are you a sensing an assurance that u are a true Christian? Perhaps you are sensing your sins have clouded the picture? Will u make a clear confession of Jesus in faith? God will then send His Spirit into your spirit to seal the deal. Walk away, I call to you, with assurance of faith, joyful and at peace with God. Or u can walk away unchanged, unsure, your choice…
Is there any progress in being watchful, a warrior, a pray-er? Any awareness of the inner witness of the Spirit and are u faithful to Christ? If not make it right the Bible tells me God loves the one who messed up and depend on Him to make life work.
