Full Assurance

Living a Full Life - Message 8 - Full Assurance - 1 John 3:19-24

Outline

Doubt is overcome by knowledge, not experience; by faith, not fear; by confidence, not condemnation.

I. Confronting Doubt – vs. 19-20

A. Assure Your Heart (vs. 19)

1. Do I Really Love the Brethren? – 1 John 3:17-18
2. Don’t Look at Your Failures – Heb 10:16-22
3. Look at Specific Examples of Obedience – 1 John 3:14, 16

B. God Knows Better (vs. 20)

1. A Condemning Heart – Jer 17:9
2. No Condemnation in Christ – Rom 8:1, 31-34; Heb 10:23-25

II. Confidence Before God – vs. 21-22

A. Confidence Defined: The right of a citizen in a free state to speak his mind without fear or shame.
B. Access to God (vs. 21) – Rom 5:2
C. Answered Prayers (vs. 22) – John 16:23-24

1. Obey His Commands
2. Do What Pleases Him
3. Surrender to the Will of the Father

III. Concerning Christ and His Church – vs. 23

A. One Command (singular)
B. Faith in Christ – accomplished in the past – John 6:29; Mark 12:28-30
C. Love for One Another – present and continuing to the future – Gal 5:6

IV. Comforted by the Spirit – vs. 24

A. Abiding is Evidence
B. By This We Know
C. The Spirit Given to Us

1. Aware of His Presence and Power – Phil 2:12-13; Rom 8:5
2. Bearing the Fruit of the Spirit – Gal 5:22-23
3. Conviction of Sin – John 16:8
4. Our Relationship by Adoption – Rom 8:15-16