19 and in this we Aknow1 that we are out of the truth and before him we will Apersuade the hearts of us,
- To love by truth we need to be out of the truth;
- What is the truth?
- ‘The truth’ is a title/attribute of Christ;
- Therefore we could say ‘we know that we are out of Christ’.
How do we know experientially that we are out of Christ and before Him we will persuade our hearts? Or alternatively we could say how do we know we have assurance in our hearts?
20 that if the heart (might) Afinds fault with us, that (the) God is greater than the heart of us and Aknows1 all.
1st answer to being out of Christ and having assurance:
The subject of sin: does our heart find fault?
- Is there un-confessed sin in our hearts – ties back to Ch1v9;
- Let God search our hearts – Psalm 139v23&24;
- God is greater than any sin – it can be forgiven;
- No point in trying to hide any sin or keeping it secret as God knows all.
21 Beloved, if the heart of us (might) Afinds no fault of us, we Ahave boldness with (the) God
What is the result of a heart that finds no fault?
- Boldness with God;
- Which leads to v22:
22 and if what we (might) Aask, we receive from beside him because we Akeep the commandments of him and we Ado the pleasing things in sight of him.
Boldness = receiving what we ask for – read Psalm 66v18
Also additional criteria:
What we ask in prayer we receive because:
- We keep the commandments of Him – not sinning;
- Do the pleasing things in His sight.
These 2 things might be the reason our prayers are not answered. Another reason is that we ask amiss or not according to His will.
2nd answer to being out of Christ and having assurance:
Keeping His commandments.
- What are the commandments? v23
23 And this is the commandment of him, that we might Abelieve-a in the name of the son of him, Jesus Christ and we might Alove one another, according as he Agive-a commandment to us.
The commandment of the Father:
- Believe-a in Jesus Christ;
- Notice the aorist tense – not onetime;
- Another word for believe is trust – ongoing trust in Jesus Christ.
The commandment of the Son:
- Love one another;
- This was part of the new commandment Jesus gave 11 of his disciples – love one another as I love-a yous (John 13v34).
- 1st commandment = faith
- 2nd commandment = works
24 And the one Akeeping the commandments of him, Aabides in him and he in him. And in this we Aknow1 that he Aabides in us out of the spirit that he Agive-a to us.
Keeping His commandments = abiding in Him = He abiding in you
How does He abide in us?
3rd answer to being out of Christ and having assurance:
Through holy spirit in you. That which is out of the spirit (the Holy Spirit) is holy spirit (no definite article) which is give-a to us and abides in us.
Summary:
Born2Vision 