At this point in his letter, John knew his readers were ripe for feelings of condemnation. He'd written to them about believing in Jesus, obeying God, and loving other Christians. And on this last point, many might have felt terrible weakness.
They may have looked into their own lives and hearts and felt little confidence about the way they'd loved others. I think many of us can relate.
I mean, I bet no one walked out of here last week thinking, I am nailing it when it comes to loving other Christians. Jesus laid down His life, and so do I! Nate talked about taking care of the needs of others and loving in deed and truth. Praise God. I've got that one covered!
Instead, the heart's message often sounds like this: You have hardly laid down your life for others. You have been very unloving. Remember how you treated so-and-so? Think about how you feel about him? Remember what you did to her?
And the exhortation from John, and Jesus, to love one another always resonates with us but is often complicated. Questions like these come pouring out of our minds and mouths:
- How can I show my love?
- Where is the time for love?
- What about difficult people?
- How can I love my spiritual siblings and still have time for all my regular life responsibilities?
- How can I resolve conflict with someone else in the church?
- What if I don't like someone?
Scripture provides answers to some of these questions. Then the Spirit comes along and leads our lives, answering more of these questions. Still, some are left unresolved. In that space, our hearts often condemn us: You aren't doing love right.
John knew this, and he will help us by giving us God's thoughts on the matter. In our passage today, we will consider:
- How to deal with a condemned heart (19-20).
- The results of a heart free of condemnation (21-22).
- A basic description of the uncondemned life (23-24).
How To Deal With A Condemned Heart (19-20)
19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before Him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and He knows everything.
Subject: Condemned Hearts
We can know (19). We can reassure our heart before Him (19). And sometimes reassurance is exactly what our heart needs. We need to know and believe we are God's children.
But, in light of John's tests, it is sometimes difficult. Do I believe Jesus? Do I obey God? Do I love God's people? These are simple tests, but they can mess with our heart (20). Because of this, John says, our heart might condemn us (20).
So how can I deal with my condemned heart? There are three things I think John wants us to say; three things I hope you'll say.
1. God Put Love In My Heart.
The passage looks backward a little before it looks forward. John said, "By this we shall know..." (19). And what had come before was John's teaching on Christian love. He said we should love in deed and truth (19). He said we should not close our heart from those in need (18). He said we ought to lay down our lives for the church (17). Often, John has told us to love one another.
And, in looking back on all that, for many of us, our first response will be more condemnation. I want to love like that, we might think, but find it so hard to do so.
But this is the point: the very desire to love is evidence of God's work in our lives.
And, though none of us has loved with the infinite perfection Christ did, there have been moments. If we're honest, we can recall times when love flowed from our lives and actions. And we know, sometimes very deep within, we care for God's people. Even if our love is not ultra-evident, we know God put love in our hearts.
Parents understand this concept. When your child was born, love flooded into your heart. Something happened. You were radically altered, changed. When you looked at that little baby, you discovered love's ability to multiply.
Then, one day, fourteen years later -- or eleven or seven or four or two -- that same little baby talked back to you. Love was the last thing on your mind. And maybe you went into flesh autopilot, and anger came out of your mouth and heart. Perhaps your response was anything but love.
Then, alone, your heart begins to condemn you: What kind of parent are you? Do you even love your child?
Then you remember how something happened to you at their birth. You recall how you've, in general, laid down your life for them. Yes, of course, you love them! At that moment, you behaved unlovingly, but your heart's general trajectory is one of love.
True believers can say something similar, for it is God who put love in our hearts for others. I can recall my first months in Christ. It was an introduction to love for God's people. God put His love in my heart.
Believers know God has changed us. He's given us His love for others. Our expression of that love isn't always perfect and is often lacking, but if we're honest, when we look backward, we know it's there.
2. God Is Greater Than My Heart.
But John also looks forward in the passage. He realized there would be times, even after that backward glance, our heart would still condemn us (20). Sometimes the condemnation comes because of the backward glance, as our performance isn't what it should have been.
In those times, we feel rotten about ourselves and have a hard time confessing that God put His love in our hearts. We feel, in that condemned moment, like anything but loving.
Jesus set a high standard. We want to love like Him, but His agape love is often not our practice. So our hearts condemn us.
Other translations say it well:
- Our hearts may judge us (New International Readers Version)
- Even if we feel guilty (New Living Translation)
- Debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it (The Message)
The picture here is of the accused, the accuser, and a great defender. We are the accused. Our heart is the accuser. And God is our great defender. His verdict is greater than our hearts.
A friend of mine recently told a touching story about his father. When he was only a kindergartner, older boys teased him and his friends. After school, he told his dad. The next day, his dad barged into class after class until he found the boys who'd teased his son. "Don't bother my son again," he said to the bullies. His dad was a big guy, an imposing figure, and my friend was never bothered again.
God is greater than the little bully my heart can sometimes be. It terrorizes. It argues. It slings accusations at me. It punishes me with its shouts of condemnation. But God is greater than my heart. He's greater than your heart. He's greater than our hearts.
He's greater than our hearts because He's never wrong. Our hearts can be in error, but God is always right. What He says is always true. What our hearts says is often untrue.
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9, ESV).
He's greater than our hearts because He's longsuffering. Our heart is often impatient with us. It wants perfection. It demands much of us. But God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness (Exodus 34:6). He is longsuffering when our hearts aren't.
He's greater than our hearts because He atones. Our hearts cannot cleanse us from our sins. Self-atonement isn't possible. But God sent His Son to die for us, to make us new.
And when your heart condemns you, remember God is greater than your heart. Remember the woman caught in the act of adultery. Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more" (John 8:11).
Remember the woman at the well, divorced five times and cohabitating with a sixth man. Jesus told her she could drink of the Living Water and never thirst again (John 4:10, 14).
Remember the "sinful woman," likely a prostitute, and how she wept over Jesus because of her forgiveness. Jesus said her sins, which were many, were forgiven, which is why she loved Him so much (Luke 7:47).
Jesus forgave them all. If their hearts ever condemned them, their hearts would be wrong. They belonged to Jesus.
When I run, I use a running watch. Many runners use them. Conveniently, they connect to satellites and track things like pace and distance. They have become very accurate over the years. Still, there are times I've run in a dense forest or through a tunnel. In those moments, the watch's connection with GPS diminishes, and soon my readings are erratic. The watch might tell me I'm moving at a world record pace, or not moving at all, when I'm merely going at my normal speed.
In those moments, I know the watch cannot tell me the truth. I cannot trust its information.
And there are moments when the dense forest or dark tunnels of condemnation come upon our hearts. In those seasons, we must trust God, who is greater than our hearts.
3. God Knows More Than My Heart
Finally, in dealing with a condemned heart, there come moments when we must say, God knows more than my heart. John said it this way: God is greater than our heart, and knows everything (20).
This means God knows our secret motives and deepest resolves. God sees the true you, even when your heart cannot.
Think of how Jesus treated Peter. The night before Jesus' crucifixion, Peter denied Jesus three times. There, in the courtyard of the high priest, by a roaring fire, Peter had sworn, "I don't know the man" (Mark 14:71). And, after the rooster crowed, Peter ran out and wept bitterly. His heart condemned him. He thought, in that moment, he'd seen his true self: a failure, a backstabber, a betrayer. His heart had spoken.
But Jesus saw the true Peter. He knows everything. He is greater than our heart. So, after His resurrection, Jesus built another fire and called Peter to it. Three times, He asked Peter, "Do you love me more than these?" Peter said, "You know that I love you."
There are subtle nuances to the story, but notice this: Jesus saw something wonderful in Peter. He saw a world-changer, an evangelist, a courageous messenger for Christ. Peter's heart couldn't see those things, but Christ's could.
He told Peter:
- Feed my lambs (John 21:15).
- Tend my sheep (John 21:16).
- Feed my sheep (John 21:17).
You see, God knows you better than you know yourself. He sees what you could be, what you're called to be, what you've been redeemed to become. And He also sees your truest intention, your innermost heart's desire. He see the best intentions within you, the desires of the new nature He's placed in you. He knows everything (20).
Again, we say:
- God put love in my heart.
- God is greater than my heart.
- God knows more than my heart.
Results Of A Heart Free Of Condemnation (21-22)
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.
Now that we've spent some time thinking about how to deal with a condemned heart, John moves on to recount some of the results of a heart free of condemnation. Here, he assumes we've gone through the work of getting our hearts set on God. So, now, our heart does not condemn us (21).
What does this person look like?
Freedom Before God
First, this person has freedom before God. John says: we have confidence before God (21). The Message translation says it this way:
"And friends, once that's taken care of, and we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we're bold and free before God!" (1 John 3:21, The Message).
Now, as we've already seen, this isn't works-based confidence before God, but grace-based confidence from God. None of us stands before Him in assurance because of our amazing performance. We long for fruit, yes, and we hope our fruitfulness is evidence of His grace in our lives, but we stand confidently before Him because of the blood of Jesus.
Later, John will write:
"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." (1 John 5:13, ESV).
And this assurance leads us to great freedom and confidence before God. Though He is the ultimate lawgiver and our Father in heaven, we feel we are under His love and grace. We are His, and He is ours.
I see this at play with so many of your children. It is clear they know where they stand with you. They are loved. On the church patio, they tug on your leg and ask for donuts. They ask you to pick them up (when they're younger) and for money (when they're older). They joke with you and laugh with you (or at you). They feel free.
So the first thing John shows us an uncondemned heart has is freedom before God. This freedom leads to another result.
Full Prayer Life
Second, this person can have a full prayer life. Our freedom or confidence or assurance before God should lead to prayer. And John says: Whatever we ask we receive from Him (22).
Now, I don't like giving qualifications to statements like these, because they are worthy of celebration. But the flesh wants what the flesh wants, and it's easy to see how promises of God's faithfulness in prayer could be misunderstood as a license to selfishness.
Later, John will qualify this promise about prayer by saying:
"If we ask anything according to His will He hears us." (1 John 5:14, ESV).
But when you are walking in the light and asking according to God's will, He is moved by your prayers. Whatever you ask you receive from Him when your prayers are in line with His will.
This is not another way of saying God is going to do whatever God wants to do, that there's no point to prayer. No! It's a way of saying God has a desire, a will, a longing for this world. And He is looking for people who will pray in line with His will. For them, He will move!
Jesus taught us our first prayer, our main prayer, should be: hallowed be Your name (Matthew 6:9). Or, Your name be honored as holy (HCSB). And when this desire colors our prayers, God will move on our behalf.
But the condemned heart won't ask, thinking itself unworthy to go to God with any petitions. So once we deal with the heart, and realize we are only able to go to God because of His grace, we become free to pray.
To this end, I thought I would briefly give you a handful of aids to your prayer life.
- First, Be honest with God. The Psalms model prayers of all kinds. Most praise God, at least eventually, but a few remain dark and discouraged. This helps us understand how much God wants to hear our cry, even when it's not well put together.
- Second, make time for prayer. Jesus arose in the morning to get into prayer and often went into the wilderness to be alone with His Father. In the hectic pace and scattered attention of modern life, we must fight for time to pray. I recently heard one father describe the season his house was full of babies, toddlers, dirty diapers, and sleepless nights. For him, his prayer closet consisted of five minutes alone in the bathroom.
- Lastly, ask for kingdom stuff. Yes, ask for provision. Yes, ask for strength. Yes, ask for spiritual cleansing. But don't forget to pray for the advancement of the kingdom here on earth. Pray for the church. Pray for missions. Pray for your pastors. Pray for those you know are without Christ. Pray for the kingdom to expand.
Holy Living
But John tells us one more thing about a heart free of condemnation. It is not only free before God and full of prayer, but a person without condemnation lives a holy life. John said: We keep His commandments and do what pleases Him (22).
Make no mistake. This is not the cause of the free heart or full prayers. We don't pray boldly because we've been so obedient. Instead, because God is greater than our hearts and has shown us such grace, we then seek to live holy lives that glorify and honor Him. Our holiness flows from His favor and grace.
We see this principle, that holiness follows grace, exemplified in many environments, but I will point out two important ones: the home and the workplace.
In the home, we know our children do better when loved well. When a child is confident in their parent's love, they become better behaved. Since they are secure in their mother and father's care, they can more readily receive correction. They don't need to act out to get their parent's attention or find someone else's love. They are already loved.
And in the workplace, it has become common practice to at least believe a positive and encouraging environment leads to a better workforce. Rather than toil under threats and condescension, workers who are praised and honored tend to put forth their best work. They feel safe, so they take risks that end up benefiting their organizations.
And God's love and favor lead His people to respond with holy lives. Paul said:
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age." (Titus 2:11–12, ESV).
The results of the heart being set free from condemnation are good. Confidence before God, a thriving prayer life, and personal holiness all flow once we stand before God as we truly are, uncondemned in Christ.
And once there, life takes on a specific look. Let's read of John's basic description of the uncondmened life.
A Basic Description Of The Uncondemned Life (23-24)
23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as He has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps His commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
Belief In Jesus' Name
The first thing John notes is that life without condemnation just keeps on believing in the name of (God's) Son Jesus Christ (23). This has been and will continue to be a major theme of the letter. John knew there were many who claimed Jesus but didn't believe in Jesus' identity or mission.
That's why John mentioned belief in Jesus' name (23). For them, a name meant character and reputation. Your name was your mission. And the early church believed in Jesus' name. They believed the historical person, Jesus of Nazareth, is also the Christ-Messiah, the Son of God, who is Savior of the world.
And every person must decide for themselves to put their trust in the name of Jesus. You see, it is not enough for you to believe things about Jesus. To know He died on the cross is not enough; you must trust what He did on the cross. Because He died for you. And you must rely on or cling to Him and His work. You must decide He is the only way for you to be right and renewed by God, part of His forever family. And you must ask Him to save you.
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13, ESV).
Love For Jesus' People
The second thing John notes is that life without condemnation keeps on loving other Christians. He wrote that we should love one another, just as He has commanded us (23).
I don't need to belabor the point. Instead, I will draw your attention to how often John tells us to love one another. John has said it, keeps saying it and will say it again. Love one another.
Why? Because it's hard. But, as we saw last week, it is a good life.
But allow me to give you a few quick pointers on loving one another.
- Get into a Life Group or onto a Serve Team. In both of these environments, you get a chance to know others more intimately. This will give you a chance to direct your love to them.
- Be brave. When you are around your church family, try to get to know others. Say hi. When you pick up your kids, introduce yourself to other parents. When you grab coffee, ask for the name of the person next to you in line. When you see someone eating alone in The Grille, see if you can join them. Be brave.
- As a general rule, give yourself buffer time on Sundays. If you regularly arrive five minutes after service starts and have somewhere to be five minutes after it ends, you'll have a hard time knowing anyone enough to love on them. But if you build some buffer time in for conversation or service or mingling, you'll be surprised at the ministry that could occur. Plus, you won't pull any hamstrings sprinting to your car after service.
Walking In The Spirit
The third thing John notes is that life without condemnation is one in step with the Spirit. John uses the word "abide" again (24). People who abide in God end up keeping His commandments (24). God abides in them (24). The Spirit is proof. By Him , we know that (God) abides in us (24).
You see, John has a vision for you. Believe in Jesus. Obey God. Love His people. And for this, all of us need the Spirit. His presence assures us we belong to God, but He is also the way we can live out Christlike obedience and love. We need His help.
"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16, ESV).
Applications
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1, ESV).
1. Make a list of the people you've loved over the years.
This little list might help your heart settle down. Through this exercise, you'll realize God has started a good work in you.
2. Decide to believe God more than your heart.
We must say, "God is greater than my heart." The thing is, we often think our heart is infallible and omniscient, and act as if God isn't. But it's the other way around. God is greater than our hearts.
3. Dream about the potential in others.
I remember, as a new Christian, praying the Beastie Boys (a band) would come to Christ. It helped me see their potential. This exercise will help you see what God could do in others. Perhaps it will then translate to you, helping you see how God might envision you.
4. Go on a prayer walk.
Get outside and spend some time talking with God like you would a friend. If you're uncomfortable with people watching, wear some headphones to make it look like you're on the phone. But pour out your heart to Him.
5. Dream about what revival on the Monterey Peninsula could look like.
What would it look like if the Christian community in this area grew by ten or twenty thousand people in the next ten years? Fifty thousand? How many churches would need to start? How many laborers (pastors, worship leaders, life group leaders, hosts, servants, etc.) would need to be raised up? This type of dreaming will help you pray more in line with God's will.
6. Pray about serving in an area of the church.
If loving Jesus' people is a basic of the uncondemned heart, perhaps it's time for you to go to calvary.com/volunteer to see what God has for you. The leaders of each ministry will walk you through the process to see if you're a right fit.
7. Think of Sunday church in an old-fashioned way.
Back in the day, in some cultures, church was an all-day event. The Sabbath was completely set apart for God. I know we have full plates and busy lives, but if you give yourself more fully to your church life, I don't think you'll regret it.