A Healthy Heart Before God - A Basic Description of the Uncondemned Heart (1 John 3:23-24)

Each week throughout 2021, I will share a Bible study blog post taking us through the letter of 1 John. Only five chapters long, this brief book is worthy of our consideration. Whether you drop in for one post or many, I pray that you enjoy them. Access all posts here.

1 John 3:23 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.

1. Belief in Jesus' Name

John has been helping us learn to deal with our hearts when they condemn us (3:19-20). He has shown us what happens when God sets our hearts free of condemnation (3:21-22). Now John will describe the uncondemned life and heart. 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).

2. 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 a 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.

3. 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 of 1 John 3:19-24

"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 could look like in your town.

What would it look like if the Christian community in your area grew by twenty or thirty percent in the next ten years? 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.