OUR HEARTS BEFORE GOD

1 JOHN 3:19-24

1 Th. 3:13 [ESV]. So that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

  I. Condemnation from accusation (3:19-20)

Zech. 3:1 [ESV]. Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.

      A. Origin (heart)

      A believer might experience false condemnation in the heart. True conviction leads to repentance, but false condemnation leads to guilt.

          1. Self-condemnation (Rom. 8:33-34)

              a. Conscience (Heb. 9:14)

      David Brainerd (May 13, 1742) recorded in his diary–“Saw so much of the wickedness of my heart, that I longed to get away from myself. I never before thought there was so much spiritual pride in my soul. I felt almost pressed to death with my own vileness. Oh what a body of death is there to me! Lord, deliver my soul.” George Whitefield said, “When I see myself I seem to be half devil and half beast.”

              b. Commandments (Col. 2:23)

      A. T. Robertson explained, “Overregulation intensifies the evil.”

Rom. 8:1 [NIV]. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

          2. Satanic condemnation (devices)

Rev. 12:10 [GNB]. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, "Now God's salvation has come! Now God has shown his power as King! Now his Messiah has shown his authority! For the one who stood before our God and accused believers day and night has been thrown out of heaven.

      William R. Newell wrote, “Satan’s greatest device is to drive earnest souls back to beseeching God for what God says has already been done.”

              a. Discouragement

      Hannah W. Smith wrote, “They make the mistake of looking upon temptation as sin, and of blaming themselves for what in reality is the fault of the enemy only. This brings them into condemnation and discouragement; and discouragement, if continued in, always ends at last in actual sin. The enemy makes an easy prey of a discouraged soul; so that we fall often from the very fear of having fallen.”

              b. Distraction

      Satan subtly attempts to trap believers to focus on sinful failure rather than finished salvation.

          3. Spirit of condemnation (1 Cor. 4:5; legalistic teaching)

      B. Overcome (1 Jn. 4:4, 5:9; by this–1 Jn. 2:3-5, 3:10-16-19-24, 4:2-9-10-13-17, 5:2)

Is. 54:17 [GW]. No weapon that has been made to be used against you will succeed. You will have an answer for anyone who accuses you. This is the inheritance of the LORD'S servants. Their victory comes from me," declares the LORD.

      The ongoing intercession of Jesus Christ completely answered all condemnation, accusation, or introspection (1 Jn. 2:1). Jesus sits at God’s right hand to plead the case.

•          Jesus answered the condemnation of the law (Rom. 8:1).

•          Jesus answered the accusation of the devil (Rev. 12:10).

•          Jesus answered the introspection of the soul (1 Jn. 3:20).

          1. Know the truth (1 Jn. 4:6)

Jn. 8:32 (HCSB). You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

      A believer must learn the difference between sensitivity to the Spirit’s conviction of sin versus false guilt arising from Satan’s accusation over resisted temptation.

              a. Conviction (Jn. 16:8)

              b. Temptation (Eph. 6:14)

          2. Knowledge to trust (assure–Rom. 8:38; Phil. 1:6; 2 Tim. 1:12)

2 Tim. 2:13 [ESV]. If we are faithless, he remains faithful-- for he cannot deny himself.

      God knows the heart. Believers who confess sins to God must also trust in God’s mercy when the heart accuses.

      Watchman Nee said, “Never look at yourself as though you were not in Christ.” William Newell said, “To believe, and to consent to be loved while unworthy, is the great secret.”

      John Wesley said, “Frames and feelings fluctuate; These can ne’er thy savior be! Learn thyself in Christ to see: Then, be feelings what they will, Jesus is thy Savior still!”

      Phillip P. Bliss wrote, “Free from the law, O happy condition, Jesus hath bled, and there is remission; cursed by the law and bruised by the fall, grace hath redeemed us once for all. Now we are free–there’s no condemnation, Jesus provides a perfect salvation. . . .”

 II. Confidence to ask (3:21-22; 1 Jn. 2:28, 3:21, 4:17, 5:14; Heb. 10:19)

Eph. 3:12 [CEV]. Christ now gives us courage and confidence, so that we can come to God by faith.

Heb. 4:16 [ESV]. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

      A. T. Robertson said, “Satan trembles when he sees, the weakest saint upon his knees.”

      A. Access to His throne (21; Heb. 2:17, 5:1; 1 Jn. 2:1, 3:21)

      B. Abide in His will (22; ask, receive–Mt. 7:7, 21:22; Mk. 11:24; Jn. 16:24; Jas. 4:3)

      Ronald Dunn wrote, “It is the life that prays. . . . The prayer life rests upon the pray-er’s life, and if that is weak, the prayer life will collapse.”

          1. Surrender to the will of God (keep commandments–Jn. 14:15, 15:10; 1 Jn. 2:3-4, 3:22-24, 5:2-3)

          2. Sweetness of the will of God (pleasing–Rom. 12:1-2; Col. 1:10; Heb. 13:21)

Heb. 13:21 [CEV]. I pray that God will make you ready to obey him and that you will always be eager to do right. May Jesus help you do what pleases God. To Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever! Amen.

III. Conditions for answers (3:23-24)

      J. Oswald Sanders said, “It is easier to regard unanswered prayer as the will of God than to deliberately reason out the causes of defeat.”

      A. Obey the Word (Ps. 66:18)

Jn. 14:14-15 [HCSB]. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

 15. "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

      Without obedience, the throne in heaven can become like iron (Lev. 25:19) or a thick cloud (Lam. 3:44).

      B. Believe the Name (Jas. 1:7)

1 Jn. 5:13-14 [ESV]. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

 14. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

      C. Love one another (Job 42:10)

1 Jn. 4:21 (GNB). The command that Christ has given us is this: whoever loves God must love others also.

      D. Walk in fellowship (Ps. 34:15)

Jn. 15:7 [MSG]. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon.

      E. Hear the Spirit (Eph. 6:18)

1 Jn. 4:13 [NIV]. We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.