I John 3:21-22 (Part 2)

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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.

THE STUDY:

The other day we looked at God calling us to be holy which enables us to become what he requires. Thus the confidence we enjoy is both now and preparation for the future. Today as a result of active participation in the truth by real deeds of love, Christians can calm their disapproving hearts and achieve boldness in prayer, and their prayers will be answered because they, as believers, are consciously subject to God’s will (they obey His commands and do what pleases Him). This presumes, of course, that the requests themselves are made in subjection to God’s will.^[1]

The author of Hebrews encourages the believer to approach that throne with confidence (Heb. 4:16; Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace).^[2] The word confidence originally described the full citizen of a Greek city-state who had the democratic right to speak freely. In New Testament times Jesus and the apostles spoke with confidence when they publicly proclaimed the gospel. We have the freedom to go to God in prayer and have fellowship with him and the Son, Jesus Christ.^[3]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning understanding that as we grow in Christ our confidence grows. Our nature starts to become the nature of Christ. What we are asking the Father to do is what the Son would be asking as well.

CONCLUSION:

          Years ago a young missionary had to flee from western China. An infuriated mob hotly pursued him. He hastily boarded a river boat. The mob, too, came on the boat. Then he jumped into the river. The mob began to throw spears at him. Miraculously he escaped, unharmed. When he was telling of the ordeal later, a friend asked him, “What verse from the Bible came to you as you were darting beneath the boat to escape the spears of the mob?” “Verse?” he asked in astonishment, “why, the Lord Himself was with me!”

          We don’t have to have a bible in our hands or a cross around our neck to have the presence of God with us. If we have asked, believed, and confessed then the Spirit of God is with us. This is our confidence!

           

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (1 Jn 3:21–22). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[2] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (316). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

^[3] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (316–317). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.