Three Little Letters

Here is a link to last week’s series, Three Little Letters.

Don’t be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 

1 John 3:13 (WEB)

As we continue to search for God’s Word about assurance of our faith, I am reminded of just how hard it is for unbelievers to pretend to really know Christ. One of the tells that reveal their hearts is their disdain for the Biblical world view.

If that describes any person’s beliefs about even one of the commands of God, even a professing believer, then there is a serious spiritual concern.

The more that you walk with God in a close personal relationship the more you should just know this.

Think back to the story of Cain and Abel. Why did Cain really murder his brother?

When it all boils down to the problem, Cain was envious, angry and filled with pride. He presented an insulting offering to Holy God. It was not a sacrificial gift. Abel’s gift was a righteous sacrifice. Abel’s gift was the blood sacrifice of an animal.

Do you recall why a blood sacrifice was required in the first place?

Simply, it was a reminder of the cost of sin. Going back to Genesis 3, in order to cover Adam and Eve, after they sinned, God had to kill an innocent animal to provide the new sinners with a covering for their nakedness. This is a picture of the Gospel-of Jesus’ atonement for you and me.

By Abel’s sacrifice, he was proving that he understood the holiness of God and his need for redemption and grace.

Abel’s righteous heart really stuck Cain out before God. He had no one to blame but himself.

So, he blamed Abel. Then he killed him.

God always knows the intent of our hearts, doesn’t He? Because He knows, He helps us face the truth about the state of our salvation.

In Genesis 4:7 (WEB), after Cain presented God with a substandard sacrifice, God tells him this:

“If you do well, won’t it be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.” 

It sounds to me like Cain still had an opportunity to repent. But he didn’t. In the very next verse Cain commits the first murder.

So, how can that help a believer who is struggling with the question of faith?

Look further into this passage.

My little children, let’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth.  And by this we know that we are of the truth and persuade our hearts before him, because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things. 

1 John 3:18-20 (WEB)

Our very actions as believers or as unbelievers will always reveal the truth about the condition of our hearts before God. When a believer is living in sin before God, the grief of that is so tangible.

Believers who walk closely with God find their joy and peace complete in God and no matter the darkness around them, even though there are hardships and trials, contentment and satisfaction of the soul is secure.

When an unbeliever walks through life without God, if the Spirit is not pursuing them or if they have successfully hardened their hearts to God, then there is no moral dilemma.

The Bible tells us that they pursue things of the flesh and are carnally minded. Their end is death. There is never enough of whatever they are searching for. There is no satisfaction.

Look at John’s next encouraging thoughts.

Beloved, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have boldness toward God; so, whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. 

1 John 3:21 – 22 (WEB)

When believers walk in a right relationship with Jesus, we can come boldly before Him, knowing that He will never leave us or forsake us. Because we walk in such a relationship, the things we ask Him for will only ever line up with His will for us. And our greatest joy will be in keeping His commands and pleasing Him in big and small ways.

Unbelievers can’t even pretend to understand that. They misunderstand this passage, believing it is a description for merit or prosperity-based religion and feeling good about our own abilities.

Finally, as John closes this little portion of the letter, take a look at this-

This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he commanded. He who keeps his commandments remains in him, and he in him. By this we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.

1 John 3:23-24 (WEB)

Do you believe in the name of Jesus as the one and only Savior of mankind? The Savior of your soul?

Do you love other believers and want to see Jesus working and living through them as we fellowship together and bring the Gospel to the lost world?

Do you love His commands?

Do you know that the Spirit of God is alive in you and He is teaching and guiding you into all Truth?

Then if you answered yes, your heart should be full of praise because you have the assurance of your salvation.

But no person can convince you of this. This is not emotional on any level. This is known between you and the Spirit of God.

Share the Gospel in your world!

Isaiah 52:7

World English Bible (WEB)

by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.