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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.
THE STUDY
Yesterday we
looked at the idea of what is in our hearts is what will be demonstrated to
those around us. If we have the love of God in our hearts then that is what
(and should) be pouring from within.
Only a faith
that works can set our hearts at rest.
The plural hearts translates the
singular kardia. So the text speaks
of one heart. Biblical writers occasionally used the concept of corporate
personality in which one person represented the whole community. Here, the many
is placed with a singular noun, heart.
The net effect is to stress the unity of the body of believers. Although we are
many, we have one heart. And when this one-in-heart group acts in love, our
common heart can be at rest (peisomen,
lit. we will persuade; see Heb 13:18) in the presence of God (emprosthen autou: before him). The
expression “reassure … before him” (nrsv) suggests the judgment seat of God or
Christ (Matt 25:32; Luke 21:36; 2 Cor 5:10; 1 Thess 2:19; 3:13). The verb “we know”
(gnōsometha) is a middle voice
suggesting knowledge that validates the claim of the person—for ourselves. A
few manuscripts read simply ginōskomen
(we are knowing). This knowledge
assures us that we belong to the truth.[1]
WHAT WE CAN WALK
AWAY WITH …
- We walk away this morning with the sense that we can have this assurance that we are Children of God! We belong to the truth which sets us free. We don’t have to wake up every morning wondering if we have fallen short or missed the mark. Our fruits will demonstrate our oneness with His Spirit. Friends, family members, and complete strangers will see and know, as well as ourselves, that we are in the truth.
CONCLUSION:
A visitor asked an old, bedridden woman who
said she was trying to be a Christian: “Are you trying to be Mrs. Whyte?” “No,
I am Mrs. Whyte.” “How long have you been Mrs. Whyte?” “Ever since this ring
was put on my finger.” “That is how it is with me. I do not try to be a
Christian. I have been one ever since I put out my empty hand and received
Christ as my Savior.”
Rest assured,
if you have accepted Christ as your personal savior, have allowed the Spirit of
God to dwell inside you, and have been developing this relationship with Him;
the fruit that comes from within will be the truth. Let the very nature of
Christ pour from you onto someone who needs Him today.
Blessings my Friends
Pastor Rod
[1]
Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3
John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary
(126). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.
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