Confident, Compassionate and Conformed Prayer

Preached at Northwest Christian Church
David P. Kautt
Sunday Morning, November 14, 2010

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1 John 5:13-21, "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.  Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.  If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.  All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.  We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.  We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.  And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.  Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen."

Being a Christian affords to us many blessings, doesn’t it?  In calling us to Himself, in making us His own children, God showers us with many more blessings than I think we often realize we have received.  At the same time, those blessings God has given us, the gift of His Word and of His Holy Spirit, the gift of eternal life and forgiveness of our sins, the gift of love, joy and peace, with these gifts God has bestowed upon us come not only manifold blessings, but also many significant responsibilities.  In other words, we, as God’s children, are not only recipients of the gift, or gifts, but we also are entrusted with the management, the stewarding of these gifts, in such a way that God, the Giver of these gifts, might be pleased.

The gift of prayer – the blessing and privilege of prayer is a perfect case in point. 

Prayer - the Apostle John knew a great deal about this blessing and he understood the importance of the responsibility that went with it.  After all, he had been trained in the subject at the feet of Jesus.  He had heard the Lord’s teaching about prayer in the Sermon on the Mount.  He had listened as his Master provided him and his fellow disciples with a model prayer, a prayer pattern.  It’s the one we call ‘the Lord’s Prayer’.  He had watched as Jesus had often slipped away from the crowds to spend time alone with His Father in prayer.  And, yes, he had even been there, in the Garden of Gethsemane, to watch and wait and listen, as his Master wrestled in prayer with His Father’s plan for Him.

As we open up this passage from this marvelous letter, penned by the Apostle John, God’s Holy Spirit directs John to share some of those lessons and insights on prayer with you and me.  Let’s take a look and see what they are. 

Number one, the Apostle John instructs and informs us about the joy of prayer.  I don’t know if you have thought about prayer along these lines recently, but to me, as we consider both the blessing and the responsibility of prayer, to me it is uplifting to read what God’s Spirit led John to write in verses 14 and 15 about prayer. 

1 John 5:14-15, Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

This blessing of prayer – think of it, will you, my friends. It is a joyful thing! Prayer is a joyful thing! Why? Because, for the Christian, for the true child of God – in prayer – there is a confidence, an assurance to do the unthinkable. In prayer I can approach the un-approachable! In prayer, the Book of Hebrews tells us, we can come boldly before the throne of God that there –right there, at the blessed feet of our Mighty God and Merciful Father – we might find mercy and grace to help us in our time of need! (See Hebrews 4:16).

Prayer – it is a joyful thing! In Christ you and I have confidence – holy boldness before God in prayer!  Then notice the joy continues – and increases as a result of this blessing – this amazing gift of God called prayer.  Look again at that fourteenth verse.  Prayer is a joyful thing, for the Christ, prayer is a joyful thing!  How do we know that?  Have you ever tried to ask a President for anything?  Have you ever tried to ask a millionaire for anything?  (My son Joel’s going to like this next one.)  Have you ever tried to ask a store manager for anything?  You stand there trying to present your request, to make your case, to ask what you’re wanting to ask, and the President, Millionaire, yes, Joel, too often, even the Store Manager, looks and acts as if he is a million miles away from you!  He’s not listening to me!  He’s not paying attention to me!  Prayer, look at it, my dear ones, what a joyful privilege it is for all of us who
belong to the Lord Jesus Christ!  Why?  Because He hears us!  (verse 14) 

Then, one more, feast your eyes on the truth contained in verse 15 about prayer!  Prayer is a joyful thing!  For the true Child of God it is a very, very joyful thing!  Why?  Verse 15, “If we know that God hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”  Prayer is a precious, joyful privilege for the Christian, simply because we can go about it expectantly!  Anticipating, full well, that God will respond to our requests.

Prayer is a joyful thing!  It is.  But, then, notice the shift of focus and tone, beginning in verse 16.  The Apostle John had heard, and I’m sure, smiled, perhaps like he had never smiled before, when we heard Jesus say things like: “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything in My name, I will do it,” (John 14:13-14) and “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you,” (John 15:7) and “you did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give you.” (John 15:16)  Yes, the Apostle John had heard all of those powerful, confidence-building words Jesus had spoken to His disciples about prayer.  And what joy those words must have stirred in his heart.  But, listen.  John had also watched and
observed as Jesus dealt with faltering disciples, like Peter – cock-a-doodle-do!  And with wayward ones, false ones, like Judas Iscariot!  And what did he come to realize?  What did the Apostle John come to realize, and what should we come to understand about prayer?  Verses 16, 17 and 18 – the fact that not only is prayer a joyful thing, an incredibly rich privilege, prayer also is a sobering thing, a solemn and deeply serious responsibility that we must never take lightly! 

1 John 5:16-18, “If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.  All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.   We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.

We pray, don’t we, because we have the privilege to come boldly before God’s throne of grace!  That’s a joyful thing!  And, we pray, because unlike Presidents, millionaires and store managers, God actually listens to us!  That’s a joyful thing!  And we pray, not merely wishing – you know, crossing your fingers and wishing – but we pray KNOWING that God will answer us!  And that, too, is a joyful thing! 

But, listen – what do you call prayer when it is something you and I are doing for a brother who is struggling with sin in his life?  A joyful thing?  No!  A sobering thing!  A deeply solemn and serious thing.  Why?  Because somehow, some way, God works through our prayers, take a look at James 5:13-20, to give life.  Did you hear me?  To give life to our erring brother!  Listen, my loved ones, prayer is a serious thing because somehow it often can be a matter of life and death!  A matter of life, and death.  I bet that most of us haven’t thought about prayer in those terms in a while.  But look, not only does John supply instructions about the serious matter of praying for the erring brother who is NOT sinning a sin unto death.  He also lets us in on an even more serious matter pertaining to prayer.  The matter of the person who IS sinning a sin unto death, and what our prayer response should be in that case. 

Two or three observations for us to take in right here.  Number one, the text very plainly says that there IS such a thing as a sin unto death!  It is not clear if John means physical death, spiritual death, or perhaps both!  But, either way, the fact that sin - what I believe must be a willful, defiant, rebellious, pattern of habitual sin – leads to death is clear from what the text says.  And, that, my friends, is serious, isn’t it?

Secondly, please note what John says regarding praying for such a person whose sinful life style is aimed in the direction of death.  In effect, he says, ‘Don’t!  Don’t pray for such a person.’  Does that shock you?  Allow me to give you a little perspective on this.  3 times in the book of Jeremiah – Jeremiah 7:16, 11:14 and 14:11 – three times the prophet Jeremiah, preaching and prophesying to God’s people in the face of their willful, deliberate, stubborn, defiant pattern of sin and sinful rejection of God’s Word and will, God told Jeremiah, “Don’t pray for them!  Turn them over to Me, and let me deal with them.  But don’t pray for them!”  Whew!  Listen, the apostle Paul points his readers, in 1 Corinthians 5, 1 Corinthians 11, and 1 Timothy 1, the same direction.  If they’re going to keep on sinning, willfully, defiantly and unrepentantly, stop praying for them, and hand them over to God (and even to Satan)… Whew! 

As I said, my dear ones – prayer, yes it is a joyful privilege indeed!  But, listen, it is just as serious and sobering a responsibility also.

But, then, one more thing, one more important aspect to prayer that you and I must always keep in mind, confident prayer – the holy boldness and incredible joy we talked about at the first – and compassionate prayer – lifting up our erring brothers and sisters in the serious responsibility of prayerful intercession.  Listen, confident prayer and compassionate prayer must always also we conformed prayer, conformed prayer!  Verse 14 one more time:

1 John 5:14, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

Conformed prayer, what in the world is ‘conformed prayer’?  Some would say that ‘conformed prayer’ is praying according to the proper formula, you know, using the proper words – “In Jesus’ name”, “Thy kingdom come”, “Thy will be done”, “hallowed be Thy name” and so forth… But listen, anyone - I mean, anyone – can mouth those words.  Anyone can take up that prayer formula and try to use it, as if it were a rabbit’s foot or a good luck charm! 

But listen – that’s not what those words are meant to be, NOR is that what prayer, conformed prayer, is all about!  So, what is conformed prayer?  And, how is it that is serves as the basis, the foundation, for confident, and compassionate prayer?

Read 1 John 5:14 with me, one more time, will you?

1 John 5:14, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

Confident prayer, full of all the joy we learned about earlier, and compassionate prayer, soberly interceding for struggling, erring brothers and sisters – unless and until it comes from a “not my will, but Thine be done” heart is un-heard and un-answered prayer.  The psalmist said it this way, and with this we will close:

“Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to Him, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” (Psalm 37:4-5)

and

“The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.  He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.” (Psalm 145:18-19)

Assistance and Assurance in Our Christian Walk

Preached at Northwest Christian Church
David P. Kautt
Sunday Morning, November 7, 2010

1 John 5:6-13, “This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.  For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.  And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.  If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God; which He has testified of His Son.  He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.  And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.  These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

“I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God”.  Last Lord’s Day, on that happy occasion of our son Jaden’s baptism, we began the message with this passage of Scripture as our study text, and with that ‘good confession’ as we call it, those monumental words of commitment, that faith declaration, as the starting point in our study. 

Today, I want to come back to those words and this study text, and consider their meaning and implications for Jaden and for the rest of us - ONE WEEK AFTER… 

Certainly, the waters of the baptistery are still, long since still, following Jaden’s baptism one week ago.  And, certainly Jaden’s body and my body are dry, after 7 days to get that way.  But, listen – there are at least two or three other things that are certain as well.  Allow me to remind you of what they are.  Number one, for Jaden, and in fact, for all of the rest of us who have made that good confession, and have been immersed into Christ for the remission of our sins, the discipling process, the task of growing in Christ is not over.  It is not finished, yet.  In fact, in Jaden’s case, in a way, you could say that it has just begun. 

Number two, though only 7 days have elapsed since Jaden declared his faith in Christ, and was baptized by God’s Spirit into the Church, the Body of Christ – let me tell you – those 7 days have NOT been 7 days FREE of temptation and testing in Jaden’s life!  Believe me, they haven’t!  Nor, have they been 7, temptation-free days for you, either!  Satan didn’t go on a leave of absence ever since Jaden walked this aisle!  No, I would dare to say that he has been even more at work trying to get him back!  And, he’s working on you and me to tempt us in that direction also! 

And, thus, there is one more thing that is certain.  Anybody have any idea what it is?  It is certain that, whether we are 7 days out, or 77 years out, since our confession of faith and baptism, it is certain that TODAY we need assurance and assistance in our faith walk with Christ, in this thing the Bible calls Salvation!

Guess what? That's exactly what God has provided for us, right here, in His Holy Spirit-inspired Word! Assistance and assurance in our faith walk with Christ.

Before we explore those two inter-related subjects let me point out something to you, that I think is critical for our understanding of this text and for going home with what God wants us to go home with from this text. Zero in on verses 10, 12, and 13 – and note carefully the words, “believe,” “believes,” and “has,” and “have”. I point out these words to you, to underscore for you their meaning and the implications of their meaning in the context of this passage. These four words, found repeatedly in verses 10, 12 and 13, although they come across in most of our translations in such a way that makes one think all that is involved in salvation is for a person to believe in Christ, we need to go deeper, to realize that when the apostle John says, in verse 10, “He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; and he who does not believe God has made Him a liar...” Literally, what God's Spirit speaking through the pen of the Apostle John is saying to us is this: “He who keeps on believing in the Son of God continues to have the witness in himself; [and] he who does not continue to believe in the Son of God has made God a liar...” And, the same kind of thing is true for the translation of those words found in verses 12 and 13.

So what am I saying? What's the point? Do you remember that I told you that at least 3 things are certain for Jaden, and for the rest of us who are Christ's followers – 7 days AFTER his baptism?

Number one – for Jaden (and for you and me, too), the growth process is not over – it has only just begun!

Number two – Satan has been working even harder to get Jaden back, since the events of last Lord's Day!

And, number three – it is certain that Jaden, and you and me, need assistance and assurance in our walk with Christ. Here's the point: what I'm trying to drive home in underscoring the continuing aspect of believing as it relates to salvation – two things, two phenomena that I have observed way too many times over the years! Here they are: number one – way too many folks have walked aisles like this one and said words like Jaden said, and gotten wet in a place like the place where Jaden got wet, only to dry off and not be any different! A confession of faith, and an act of faith, if they are not done in faith, not carried out by faith, then they are useless! Useless! The Apostle John writes, in verse 13, “I am writing – I have written what I have written here, to you who continue to believe in the name of the Son of God...” This letter is not written to those who participate in a few empty, religious rituals! No! This Book was written to Believers! To those who continue to Believe!

Second phenomenon I have observed way too many times over the years is this one – a person walks an aisle like this, confesses, sincerely confesses Christ like Jaden did, steps into the watery grace of Christian baptism, and is raised to walk in newness of life – then, BAM! I mean, almost that quickly – BAM! He's hit with, she's hit with the same old temptations, and the same old spiritual struggles! Then, what? Then, into the mind of that vulnerable, little babe in Christ flood thoughts like, “I must not really be saved! I mean, I thought I was! I repented of my sins, confessed my faith in Christ, joined Him in His death, burial and resurrection in Christian baptism, so, why am I being tempted like this? Why am I struggling with doubt and discouragement like this? I though I was saved...”

Look again at verse 13 with me, will you? And read closely and carefully. The Apostle John explains for us in simple, yet I believe, very, very meaningful terms here, WHY he wrote what he wrote.

1 John 5:13, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Three reasons why, number one, as we already pointed out, he wrote to confront the problem of 'easy believism”. You know, walk this aisle, say a few words, get wet in there, and you're good to go. “He who keeps on believing in the Son of God has, is having the witness in himself, but he who does not continue to believe God has made God a liar...” The Holy Spirit directed John to choose words, yes, even to select very specific tenses and forms of words to state very clearly that easy believism, and the empty ritual that goes with it, won't cut it with God!

But, notice also – two other reasons why John wrote what he wrote. These come at phenomenon number two that I described a moment ago. Easy believism and it companion empty, religious ritual is one problem facing folks like you and me and Jaden. But, you know something? I think the problem that confronts and even obstructs far more of us is the problem of doubt! The problem, the naggin questions, “Am I really a Christian? Have I been truly saved?”

One day Jesus was making His way down from a mountain where, before the eyes of Peter, James and John – the same John, by the way, who wrote this letter – Jesus had been radiantly transfigured before their eyes... Still over awed by what had happened on that mountain, Peter, James and John walk with Jesus to meet the rest of the disciples and find them there, at the foot of the mount, striving with the religious leaders and, more importantly, struggling to help a man and his son, his demon-possessed son. Pick up the account with me, if you would, beginning at verse 17 of Mark chapter 9.

Mark 9:17-24, “Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.” He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Now, go back to 1 John 5:13, and read the text with me, one more time.

1 John 5:13, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Why did the Holy Spirit direct the Apostle John to write what he did, in the way that he did? To confront the problem of easy believism, yes. But, I think even more significantly, to confront the problem, the difficult, gut-wrenching problem of doubt.

A moment ago we read in the gospel of Mark the account of a desperate father and his anguished cry for help, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.” As we close, allow me to point you in the direction of a faltering disciple, a faltering disciple, named Peter, and in both cases, the case of the desperate father and, the case of the faltering disciple, allow me, most of all, to remind you of the Faithful Savior! The faithful Savior – Luke 22:31-34.

Luke 22:31, 33, 34, 32, “And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” 34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.” 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

You walk down this aisle, you sincerely confess Christ as your Lord and Savior, you step joyfully into that watery grave and are raised to walk in newness of life... And, about the time your feet reach the top step of the baptistery – BAM! BAM!

“Cock-a-doodle-do!” “Lord, I am ready to go with you, both to prison and to death!” “Didn't I just declare something like that a few minutes ago? And, haven't I just been joined with Christ in Christian baptism? I though I was saved? What's going on here? What went wrong?”

The problem, the deep, anguish-inciting problem of doubt! We've been there, haven't we? We have! But, look! We are not there, in that dark and dreadful place called 'doubt' alone! No! The one to Whom desperate fathers and faltering disciples cry out, “Lord, help my unbelief!” He's there! In that dark place! Yes, He's there! And, look at what He's doing for us there! Luke 22:32, 1 John 2:1, Hebrews 2:16, Hebrews 4:15 and Hebrews 7:25 – There in that deep, dark, dreadful place called doubt, Jesus our Advocate, our Great High Priest, our Mediator, is praying for us, that our faith may not fail! Amen? Amen!

Assurance and assistance! This Book, this portion of Scripture that we have come to love so much, the Holy Spirit directed the Apostle John to write it, so that desperate fathers and faltering disciples might have what they need: assistance and assurance, in their walk of faith with Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:13, “1 John 5:13, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

The Certain Witness

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, October 31, 2010

Image credit.

1 John 5:6-13, “This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

“I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” How many of you have made that 'Good Confession' as it is called? How many of you have spoken those words, before an audience of witnesses such as this one, and the, a few moments later been immersed into Christ for the remission of your sins?

“I believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God.” The Lord willing, in just a little while, my youngest son, Jaden, will step onto this aisle, and walk up here to make that very confession of faith and to join Christ in Christian baptism. And, to say the least, we're very thankful. We praise God for how He's been working in Jaden's heart and mind, leading him to this point of decision, quickening him to trust in Christ, convincing him of his sin, and his need of a Savior – THE one and only Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ - calling him to repent and believe the gospel, and giving him courage to make that step. And, you're here, our dear Northwest Church family, and so are many other dear ones we've invited for this special day in Jaden's life, to share in it with him, and with us.

But, while I have your attention, allow me to point out something to you. According to this Book - this Book that declares itself to be God's book, and that, through many unique, and convincing proofs, shows itself to be God's book – Jesus Christ, believing Him or believing in Him, receiving Him for whom He claims to be, confessing Him, as the Lord-willing Jaden will do in a few moments, it is THE dividing line, the line in the sand, so to speak, between life and death. Life and death. For several of us, those words have come to have new and deeper meaning, just in the last few days, haven't they?

Confessing Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, is MORE than a religious ceremony or the reciting of some theological magic formula! Way more! To put it simply and soberly, it is a matter of life and death. Why is that? Well, as the apostle John would say it, as he has communicated it in the Scripture text we read a moment ago, it has to do with the issue of testimony, or testifying. God's testimony about His Son, Jesus Christ, first and foremost, and then our 'testimony' that hopefully follows thereafter.

Before we explore the gravity, the serious nature of this 'Heavenly' and 'Human' activity of testifying, allow me to sort of lay out the 'facts' pertaining to this testimony.

To begin with, going all the way back to the legal code of the Old Testament - the Law of Moses as we often call it – the idea of testimony or testifying is crucial.

Deuteronomy 19:15 indicates that every matter, every legal action must have at its root, it must be based upon the testimony of at least two or three witnesses. Such is the situation here in what the apostle John is proclaiming to us. The 'point of law' under discussion is this 'testimony' – 1 John 5:11&12 - “that God has given eternal life, and this life is in His Son”. And, that “[those] who have the Son have life [eternal life]; [but] [those] who do not have the Son of God do not have life.”

Now if you think about it, that 'testimony', that legal and theological 'claim' is quite a claim indeed. As I said a moment ago, there is nothing gray-colored here, is there? This 'testimony' puts things in very black and white terms. “He who has the Son, has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life...”

But, legal claims, declarations of this sort have to be backed up, they have to be established, according to Deuteronomy 19:15, by more than just one person's words, by more than one witness.

Look here – scan across this passage again with me, and what do you see? You'll see that this declaration about God and Christ and eternal life is not made merely by a single witness. But by multiple witnesses, or perhaps I should say, multiple layers of witnesses. Let me show you have I mean.

First of all, this witness, this testimony is a surpassing witness, a supreme kind of testimony, because, ultimately, it is given by, spoken by, God Himself. Verse 9: “IF we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.”

Now, to observe that fact about this testimony, the surpassing nature of this testimony because it is God's testimony, might seem like an odd place to start. But allow me to make this observation with you: what kind of 'case', what kind of claim, what kind of testimony, do we have here, if we have here the testimony of One who never, ever lies?! The editors of one particular edition of the Bible I own put it well in their summation of this section of this letter of the apostle John, when they inserted this heading over it: “God's witness is certain.” God's witness, what makes it a supreme or surpassing witness? The fact that His testimony, what He proclaims from His heavenly 'witness stand' is certain! It is sure! Why? Because it is TRUE!

Secondly, please note with me that this witness, this testimony could also be called a Spiritual testimony. A spiritual testimony. Look again at verses 6, 7 and 8, and you'll see it rather clearly. Verse 6 – Jesus Christ, how did He come? In what ways did He manifest Himself? “He came by water and blood”... who says? End of verse 6 – The Spirit, the Spirit – look at this – who is Truth! Furthermore, take a look at verses 7 and 8, and note WHO is testifying: In heaven, all 3 member of the God-head – the Holy Trinity – including the Holy Spirit. And then, the earthly witness – verse 8. The same three mentioned in verse 6, “the Spirit, the water and the blood.” The claim, the declaration that “God has given eternal life – that that life is in His Son, that whoever has the Son has life, and that whoever does not have the Son of God doest not have life...” That legal claim is backed up by the SURPASSING witness of God Himself. It was His voice that declared at Jesus' baptism (Matt. 3:13-17), at Jesus transfiguration, and by means of His resurrection power at work 3 days later (Romans 1:3-4) – it was God's voice at Jesus' death, when water and blood flowed freely from the soldier's piercing of Jesus' side. It was God's voice, on all three of of these momentous occasions that made this magnificent declaration: “This is my beloved Son, in Him I am well pleased!” And that claim about God, and Christ, and eternal life is backed up by the Spirit, the testimony of the Spirit, the Heavenly Dove who descended at Jesus' baptism, the Glory cloud of God's Holy presence who descended so heavily and so powerfully on the mount of transfiguration, and the “Spirit of Holiness” as the apostle Paul calls Him in Romans 1:4, mightily at work at Jesus' death, and especially at Jesus' resurrection! It is a spiritual witness that we are learning about here! And it is a supreme, a superior Witness, the testimony of God Himself, that we are learning about here.

But then, thirdly, not very carefully the content of this testimony, not only WHO is giving it, but WHAT these witnesses – God the Father, and God the Spirit are saying! Verses 9-13. God the Father's witness, the Holy Spirit's testimony about Jesus is what? Simply, that He is God, the Son, that He is the Son of God. And, listen, despite what the false teachers of John's day, and our day would have us believe otherwise, God the Father's witness, and God the Spirit's witness, is that God the Son is both fully God and fully man!

I mentioned a few moments ago that, in keeping with the legal principle of Deuteronomy 19:15, that every matter be established by the testimony, the unified, not divided or disagreeing, but unified testimony of at least two or three witnesses, the declaration of verses 11 and 12, “that God has given eternal life that eternal life is IN His Son, Jesus Christ, that having – possessing and being possessed by the Son of God means that life, eternal life is your possession. And that to fail to have, to refuse to have the Son is to do without, to reject eternal life. This monumental declaration is backed up, established by not just one witness, or even two witnesses, but by multiple witnesses, or we might say, multiple layers of witnesses. Allow me to explain this a little further. By means of His own words, and the powerful presence of His Spirit at Jesus' baptism, transfiguration, death and resurrection, God the Father and God the Spirit have said OF Jesus of Nazareth, He's the One, He's my Son. These are what we might call God's testimonies about His Son, to us.

Now, here's where things get interesting, exciting, and yes, even sobering – that 'line drawn in the sand' kind of stuff! Not only has God testified, provided His CERTAIN witness about His Son – to us!

Listen, if you're a Christian – if you HAVE boldly, unashamedly, sincerely testified, made your own humble and joyful declaration, “Yes! Yes! I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God” and been joined to Him in His death, burial and resurrection in Christian baptism – then, guess what? These very same witnesses, the Spirit, the water and yes, even the blood of Jesus, are at work, testifying, in you! In you!! Verse 10 – It's there in black and white, “He who believes in the Son of God has the witness IN himself.” Christian, do you know what that is? That's a 'hallelujah verse'!! That's a 'glory to God' verse! What God has declared of Jesus by means of the Spirit, the water and the blood, “this is my beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased.” He has also declared, loud and clear, about you!

But, listen. As joyful and exciting a truth as this is, God's witness to our Son-ship written and established in us, in our hearts by His Holy Spirit, as joyful and exciting as all that is, for the Christian – what if you are NOT a Christian?

Sobering – that what this is, or ought to be – sobering, because it is a line-drawn-in-the-sand kind of stuff. Verses 10 through 12 – the Good news, “He who believes in the Son of God has this witness in himself” is set off in stark contrast to the BAD news, namely that “he who does NOT believe God” - not only is such a person calling God, the Certain Witness, a liar! How dare we do such a thing!! But “he who does NOT believe God” - believe what God has said about Jesus, does not have Jesus, God the Son, and in Him, possess eternal life...

“I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” That Good Confession, that testimony made by folks like you and me that sets the stage for Christian baptism, this most sobering of life and death matters – let me ask you just this as we close.

If you do not have eternal life, because you do not have the Son of God, then what DO you have? What DO you have?

“He who as the Son, has life; he who does not have the Son of God, does not have life.”

Why Do You Obey God?

Image credit.

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, September 26, 2010

1 John 4:20-5:5, “If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world––our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

I have a question for each of you today. It's not an easy question – you know – one of the 'yes' or 'no' variety. Nor, is it a question of little importance. Rather, it is a question that will not only be difficult because of its complexity, but also difficult because of how it may impact our lives. Here is the question: Why do you obey God? Why do you do what Jesus commands?

As I said, this is not an easy, one word, fill-in-the-blank kind of question. Neither is it of light weight significance . Rather, it is a question that goes to the core of who we are, and asks, 'Why do we do what we do?' In other words, it is a question that prompts us to consider our motivations, what drives us in our obedience to Christ.

Someone has said that Christian obedience, Christ-like obedience to God is not merely driven by duty, but by delight! Christian obedience is not duty, but delight. I want you to contemplate that statement, as we press on in our study this morning.

Why do folks like you and me obey God? What kinds of factors are behind our obedience, and are all of those factors godly and acceptable to God? Let's look...

Well, first of all, there are some folks - perhaps some of us - that are driven, when you get right down to it, to obey God by fear! Now while fear is a motivator, don't get me wrong, the threat of a spanking, or even worse, has kept many a child, or former child, on the straight and narrow. While fear is a motivator, and certainly, we ought to fear God, to reverence, Him to be in awe of Him, and yes, even to be afraid of Him – for, as Proverbs indicates, the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge – to be driven to obey God ONLY by fear may not be the level of the quality of obedience toward which our God, ultimately, wants to lead us.

In fact, looking at it from strictly a human point of view, one wonders if fear, if that is all that motivates a person to obey God, might eventually lead such a person to actually resenting God and the DEMANDS He makes on one's life. What is it that motivates you to do what God says? Why do you obey Christ as your Lord? Is it because of fear? Or, perhaps is it because of pride? 'Whew! Preacher, you're swinging pretty low this morning, don't you think?' What do I mean, I am, you are or may be motivated to obey God out of pride?

Well, let's look at it this way, shall we? Everybody likes to do a good job at what they do, right? Right? But, why? Why do some folks do a good job at their teaching, or mechanicing, or bookkeeping, or housewifing, or bus-driving, or salesman-ing? Well, some people do a good job at those kinds of things because they want to bring honor to their Boss, their company, their profession, or even to their King! But, others – perhaps even including some of us – they do, we do what we do – why? Because they are the ones who want the praise! Because they are the ones who want to be noticed! In other words, some people, perhaps like Saul, obey God – you know, fast and pray and give to the needy – not ultimately to honor God or to help the hurting, but to blow the trumpet of salute for themselves!

Why do you obey God? Why do I do what Jesus commands? For some of use, perhaps the answer, the bottom-line real reason is because we are afraid of God and, particularly afraid of what God might do to us, if we don't obey Him!

Yes, indeed, fear – reverence, awe, and yes even a healthy dose of dread – finite creature toward the in-finite Creation – dread is in order. It is appropriate as a starting place, for obedience as the outcome. But, does fear go far enough? Is it ultimately where God intends to lead our hearts, in terms of this matter of obedience? Is fear why you obey God? Or, is it pride that motivates us?

Luke 18:9-14 – Remember the parable Jesus told, the one about the Pharisee, and the tax collector? “God, oh you really ought to listen to Me, God, You ought to pay attention to Me, God, because after all, I'm not like everybody else, like those people who extort others, and take advantage of others, and commit adultery. And, I'm certainly not like this tax collector! No! God, you really ought to look my way, because you see, I fast twice a week, and I give tithes of all that I possess... and I... I... I...” Why do we do what we do? Is it Pride? And, if it is, is that an acceptable-to-God motivation? Will He be pleased with our obedience, if that I is in the center, is what drives us?

Come back to our text with me for a moment, and sort of walk through it with me. And, as we do, I want to ask you to be on the lookout for what is an acceptable, and, in fact, ultimate, motivating factor for obedience.

1 John 4:20-5:5, “If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world––our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

We read it more slowly that time, and you and I were on the lookout for something as we read it again this time. Okay, so what did we see? What did we notice?

Here's what I noticed. I observed that not once or twice, or even three times, these verses refer to loving God, loving God – verse 20, “I love God”, verse 21, “He who loves God”, chapter 5 verse 1, “Everyone who loves Him who begot”, “everyone who loves the Father”, verse 2, “we love God”, and verse 3, “this is the love of God.” 5 times in 7 short verses the apostle John points us in the direction of loving God, love for God, and at least 3 of those times, he connects it with guess what? Obeying God...

So, what's the point? Where are we going with this? We're talkin about obedience, obeying God, aren't we? And, we're going deeper than that, aren't we? We're ultimately holding up this mirror (the Bible), and asking ourselves, 'Why?' 'Why do I obey God?' Is it because I'm afraid of Him? Is it because I want the praise and honor of men? Or, is it because I love God?

Take a look with me, will you? 1 John 4:17-19 – the verses just prior to our study text. Notice what they have to say about obedience, and the motivating factors of fear and love.

1 John 4:17-19, “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.

Fear as a motivator, ultimately, has to do with punishment. It involves torment of some kind or other, but what does love do? It cast out fear! Love casts out fear, so that we, loved by God, can respond in love and loving obedience toward God!

Come back to that one-liner I dropped on you several minutes ago. It went something like this: Christian obedience, Christ-like obedience is not mere duty, but delight! In other words, Christian obedience is not, ultimately, driven by law, but by love! One day, according to Luke 7:36-50, one day, Jesus was having lunch in the home of a Pharisees by the name of Simon. And while He was there, visiting with Simon, a sinful woman, a 'woman of the street' as we might call her, slips in and begins to weep at Jesus' feet. And those tears of humble repentance and gushing joy, with them she washes Jesus' feet, and with her long, flowing hair – ladies, there's a reason for long hair – with her long hair she wipes Jesus' feet and the, she anoints Jesus' feet with fragrant oil, and begins to kiss His feet! Wow! Amazing! Incredible! What would motivate this woman to do such amazing, and we might even say, outlandish things?

Well, before we answer that allow me to remind you that what this sinful woman DID, Simon, the Pharisee, Jesus' host, SHOULD HAVE done. Simon, as Jesus' host, at the very least, according to custom, should have seen to Jesus' feet being washed. And, he should have greeted Jesus with a kiss, and anointed Jesus' head with oil. But, he didn't! Now here's the $64,000 question - the one that goes back to our key word – motive, why? Why didn't Simon, the Pharisee, do what all good hosts do? And, what motived the sinful woman to do what she did? Luke 7:47 – One simple word – love. Love. Simon didn't do ultimately because he didn't love. But this woman - wow! What an example she is to all of us – man or woman! She did what she did out of love. And, as Jesus concludes, in His final words to her, and in Simon's hearing, no less – her, this sinful woman's faith (linked up with her lavish love for Jesus) saved her!

My dear ones, what are we trying to say here? What is the lesson this meaningful passage of Scripture from first John is intending to communicate to us?

Let me say as clearly as I know how: it is possible to try to obey Christ without loving Christ. But, it is IM-possible to love Christ, without obeying Christ!

Christian obedience – what is it? What drives it? Duty? Fear? Pride? Drudgery? No – Christian obedience is delight. It is driven, ultimately, by love, and expressed by the sincere tears and kisses of a life revolutionized by Jesus' amazing forgiving grace!

“For this is the love of God, namely that we keep His commandments...” And, one more, “We love Him because He first loved us.”

How My Ever Present God Makes Me Secure

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, September 12, 2010.

Image credit.

1 John 4:12 - 21: “No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.”

We live in a world where many people’s lives are marked by worry and fear – doubt and insecurity and loneliness. How can this be? I mean, the inventions of man – pass codes to protect our valuable identity and information – padlocks to secure our belongings and even the omnipresent cell phone to make certain that we are never stranded – certainly these things are sufficient to calm our fears, aren’t they? Certainly these things are enough to alleviate our doubts and worries, aren’t they?

How is it that, in a world that is full of gadgets and tactics meant to cause us to fee safe and at peace, we don’t and we aren’t? What’s missing? What have we overlooked?

The psalmists – the sons of Korah – I believe, had their fingers on the pulse of this dilemma we face, when they wrote these words – listen closely to them as I read them for you.

Psalm 46:1-11: “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has made desolations in the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow an cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

In a world – our world – where many people – yes, even many Christians are living lives filled with worry and read, insecurity and loneliness – what’s the solution? What’s the cure?

Sometimes my cell phone says, ‘No Service Available Here’. Uh, oh! Sometimes our padlocks and pass codes fail and are defeated. Uh, oh! What then?

“Oh, David, you are making me more afraid! You are making me feel more insecure! Can you offer me any hope – any help?”

I want you to do something with me, if you would, please. I want you to scan back across the passage from First John chapter four that we read a moment ago, and every time you read the words, “God abides in me – in us” and, “I – we abide in Him” – I want you to whisper to yourself, “There’s my solution! There’s the hope and help I need!” Do it with me, will you, please?

Verse 12 – “If we love one another, God – abides – in – us.” ‘There’s my solution! There’s my hope and help!’ Say it with me, will you?

Verse 13 – “By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us – because He has given us of His Spirit.” ‘There’s my solution! There’s my hope and help!’

Verse 15 – “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” ‘There’s my solution! There’s my hope and help!’

You’re getting the hang of it now!

One more – verse 16: “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love, abides in God and God in him.” One more time, ‘There’s my solution! There’s my hope and help!’

Christian, do you see it? My Brothers and Sisters, have you caught on to it yet?

The solution to our fear problem – and our doubt and worry and insecurity dilemma – is right here!

If you are a Christian – I mean, not just one in name only – but truly and really a Christian – then you have the ‘cure’ – the abiding presence of your refuge, your strength, your ever present help in trouble – in your life – the LORD of hosts with you – in you, and you – YOU – in Him!

Going all the way back to chapter 3, verse 24, the apostle John lays out before us a question of extreme importance, and of incredibly practical significance for each one of us. That question is this: ‘How can you and I know that God – the LORD of hosts – really does live – in us?’

1 John 3:24: “Now he who keeps God’s commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know [Look at that again with me, will you?] – And by this we KNOW that He abides in us – by the Spirit whom He has given to us.”

How CAN you and I know that God REALLY DOES live in us? I mean, no one has ever SEEN God, right? 1 John 4, verse12 – He is Spirit – spiritual, not physical. So, no one has ever SEEN Him or touched Him, like you are seeing me, or could reach out your hand and touch me. But does that mean that we have no way of knowing for sure that He is in us, and with us, and that we are in Him?

To me, one of the greatest needs that many, many Christians have in their day-to-day lives – no, not just their ‘Sunday-go-to-meeting’ lives – but their Monday through Saturday lives – is the need for assurance. The need to know – really KNOW – that what God says they have – in Christ – IS – in fact, what they have!

Can I let you in on a little secret? One of the primary purposes the Spirit of God had in mind, when He prompted the apostle John to write what he did in this letter – is that very purpose. 1 John 5:13 – The apostle John wrote to assure us – through these points of EXAMINATION – these ‘self-tests’ that we have looked at for the last several weeks – the Relational test – and the Doctrinal test – and the Behavioral test – through these points of EXAMINATION – the apostle John seeks to provide numerous points of CONFIRMATION – arrow after arrow pointing us in the direction of assurance for our day-to-day, Monday through Saturday lives! 1 John 5:13 – would you read it with me, please?

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

How can you and I KNOW . . .? Are you looking for some certainty – some security in a world full of that which prompts you to feel uncertain and insecure? How can you and I KNOW – FOR SURE – that God really does live in us?

Allow me to suggest to you a new set of ‘glasses’ to wear beginning today. No one has seen God, right? That’s what the Bible says, isn’t it? But, did you know that if He lives in you – did you know that if you live in Him – He IS seen! He WILL BE seen – IN YOU! He will! You’ve just got to have the right ‘glasses’ on.

1 John 4, verses 14 and 15 – How can you know that God – the LORD of hosts – who says that He is with you – who claims to be your ‘ever present help in trouble’ – how can you know that He really does live – in you?

The apostle John supplies us with three ‘tests’ – three points of self- examination – in order to provide us with three means of confirmation – designed to give us that assurance we all need.

Notice with me what they are: first of all, verses 14 and 15, the apostle John, in effect, says that the unseen God – you can test yourself to determine whether or not He is with you – by looking through the lens of your testimony.

A long time ago, Jesus asked His disciples a question that will forever reverberate with all who know God and are indwelt by the Spirit of God. The question was simply this: “Who do you say that I am?” (see Matthew 16:15). Who is Jesus? In your own words – as you express what you believe and understand about Him – who is He?

Some would say that He is – or was – a good man – a superior moral example. Some would say that He was a great teacher, or a great magician/miracle worker, or some would even say that He was fraud!

Who do you say that Jesus is? My Friends, did you know that your assurance, or perhaps, your lack of assurance, has everything to do with your answer to this question?

1 John 4:14 and 15 – Does God really live in you? Take a look! If your confession – the testimony of your lips and your life – is – “Jesus is the Son of God” – “Jesus is the Savior of the world” – then, guess what? Then, God dwells in you, and you in God. 1 John 4:14 – 15 “And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God..”

There’s a second ‘lens’ through which you can see the unseen God – a second ‘test’ John urges us to use that we might examine ourselves, that through that examination, we might experience confirmation and assurance. It is what he refers to in 1 John 4, verse 17. Please read it again with me, will you?

“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17).

“As He is, so are we – in this world!” My Loved Ones, have you ever wondered what the name - the title ‘Christian’ really means? 1 John 4, verse 17 – jot it down in the margin of your Bible, will you? Make a note to yourself on the back of your worship bulletin, will you? 1 John 4, verse 17 – the definition of a Christian: “As He is, so are we – in this world!”

No one has ever seen God, right? 1 John 4, verse 12 says so! He is Spirit – spiritual, not physical! We cannot see – Him! Oh, but think about it with me, will you? By means of this ‘lifestyle test’ – “As He is, so are we in this world!” – by means of Spirit of God-filled PEOPLE – like you and me – God IS seen – in this world!

1 John 4, verse 17 – God’s love for us is perfected in us – it has reached its goal – accomplished the purpose God had in mind for it. It has made us – He has made us – like Him! “As He is, so are we – in this world.”

How can you and I know that God – the LORD of hosts – the One who claims to be our ever present help in trouble – how can we know that He REALLY DOES live – in us?

Examination point number one – Confirmation point number one – take a look – through that new set of glasses – and see Him. He IS there – if you believe that Jesus is the Son of God – if you confess that He is the Savior of the world.

Examination point number two – confirmation point number two – take a look – through that new set of glasses. Do you see Him? You OUGHT to see Him, if you are a Christian! “As He is, so are we – in this world!”

If your lifestyle is more and more aligned to that of Jesus Christ – if God is daily conforming you to the image of His Son (see Romans 8:29), then guess what? He is there! He really does live – in you!

Finally, one more ‘lens’ to look through, in hopes that the unseen God might – in fact – be VISIBLE – in you, through you. What ‘lens’ are we talking about here? 1 John 4, verse12 – 1 John 4, verse 20 – we’re talking about the ‘lens’ of love! The ‘lens’ of love.

1 John 4:12 - “No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.” 1 John 4:20 - “If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?”

Just like with ‘test’ number one, and ‘test’ number two – this third point of examination – the ‘lens’ of love – is actually meant to be a point of confirmation. In other words, these verses – 1 John 4:12 and 1 John 4:20 – and many others found elsewhere in this letter – what are they? Why are they included in the Word of God?

They are here – in God’s Word – to prompt us to seek, to look, to ask: ‘Am I loving my brother – my fellow Christian?’ I mean, I say that I love God – I claim to love the unseen One – the One who gave me new life in Jesus Christ. But, do I love those whom I have seen – the rest of those to whom He has given new life in Christ?

The ‘love test’ – My Friends, do you realize that if you and I ‘pass’ this ‘test’, we will have our answer! The solution to our insecurity and fear, our worry and doubt – knowing that God really does live in us, and that we really do live in Him. If we ‘pass’ these ‘tests’ – the love test, the lifestyle test and the test that pertains to our testimony – our confession of Christ – guess what? If we pass these tests – these ‘examinations’ – we will experience the confirmation God promises! We will!

If – if we do so, in faith - 1 John 4:16. And, we will, if we do so out of genuine love for Christ - 1 John 4:19.

Take a look, as we close, at these two verses – 1 John 4:16 and 1 John 4:19 – and notice that right at the heart and center of these points of examination, and these means of confirmation – are two ‘givens’ – two assumptions – two ‘musts’ – faith in God – faith in Christ and, love for God and Christ. Let’s read these verses, and then we will close in prayer.

1 John 4:16 - “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” We will, if we do so out of genuine love for Christ - 1 John 4:19 - “We love Him because He first loved us.”