Stand Assured in Christ

​1 John 3:19-20 ~ “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.”
 
God does not have opinions on matters. He does not hold onto speculations nor does He guess concerning His understanding of all humanity. The Almighty is never confused, confounded or deceived. He knows all things and is Himself the very essence of truth. God said of Himself in Isaiah 46:10 that He is the One, “declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done.” David declared in Psalm 139:16, “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” Not one day that you have lived, or will ever live, has been missed by the LORD. He has seen them all, and He knows you even better than you know yourself.
 
And it is for this that I want to bring your thoughts upon today. I fear there is a crippling, debilitating condition that rests in the minds of many struggling Christians. It is a snare upon their hearts, a heavy load that keeps them from walking in confidence and joy with the LORD Jesus Christ. There are believers in Christ that hold to the notion that the LORD Almighty takes the same view of them as they do of themselves. We look to the middle of our text for today as we consider this. It says: “for whenever our heart condemns us.” Is this you? There are many—multitudes even—of God’s children who are born-again that will look at themselves in the mirror and wonder, even question, the very love of Christ. Not that they doubt that Christ does love, but that they will doubt very strongly that He could possibly love the person looking back at them in the mirror. And so, their hearts condemn them and set themselves apart from the wonderous grace of Christ—even though He has already delivered them.
 
Dear ones, let me tell you this with all candor, it is a lie of the enemy to think that you have to be “lovely” to be loved by God. Romans 5:8 debunks that notion immediately, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” You may have fallen into some snare or trap of temptation and found yourself sullied again, and grief has stricken you with such sorrow that you condemn yourself. But let that grief move you to repentance not to hopelessness. Run to the Savior, not away from Him. He is ready and willing to forgive the humble and repentant heart. He will receive you with mercy and grace. He tells the Apostle Paul that His grace is all-sufficient (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). Be sure of this—it is sufficient for you as well.
 
And consider this next statement in our text today: “God is greater than our heart, and He knows everything.” If your heart condemns you—God is greater. You do not have an authority higher than the Almighty, even over your own heart. You cannot go to the Judge of all mankind, who has received you in Christ and accepted His sacrifice in your place, and then tell Him that you still must fall into the prison yard of hell. It will not happen, for you have been redeemed by that which is of far more worth than the debt of your sins. Do not fail to believe Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Are you in Christ Jesus? Have you received His mercy and grace and believed on Him? Do you look to Jesus now as the only hope and source for your salvation or do you think you need to add something more to His redemption for you? Oh, beloved, if you are in Christ leave off your self-condemnation and embrace the everlasting mercy of Jesus.
 
What then do you do when doubts creep in and your heart begins to condemn you again? How do you reassure yourself and find confidence before the LORD? This is how our text opens, “By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him.” Yet, what is the “this” he refers to? I would have you read all of 1 John, chapter 3, but let us venture upon verse 14 just for a highlight, “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.” Look to the love you have for those who belong to Christ. In that, you will discover the grandeur of God’s salvation within you. But let me caution you: do not measure love by worldly standards. Genuine, godly love, is far more than the sentimental affections offered by the world. When you do find that God’s love abides in you—then set your heart at rest, and be assured that you are not condemned.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael 

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