Refresco for July 31 – August 6

Dear church family and friends.

I imagine that many of you, as I have, have been involved in some sort of sports activity. You realize that you need a certain amount of confidence in the sport you are involved in. Without confidence or assurance, you will doubt yourself and likely not perform well.

Back in “the day”,  I used to be a javelin thrower. I actually wasn’t bad at it. I even had the opportunity to try out for Cal-Poly’s track and field team, which I made. I beat out their number one javelin thrower!

But back in high school, that was another story. I had to compete against one of my high school rivals across town who was one of the biggest and strongest opponents in the state! I remember preparing to take my throws at the 1972 state track meet lacking assurance. In fact, I was so nervous about that day as a sophomore and my opponent being a senior that I wore myself out with warm-up throws before my actual time to throw. Assurance, confidence is vital not only to our everyday life but to our Christian life. Lack of assurance/confidence will hinder our performance and walk with the Lord.

A common question Christ-followers often ask is, “Can I know for sure that I really know God?” Or to put the question in another way, “Can I know for sure that I am saved?” We live in dangerous times. We have false teachers who will argue that you can never know for sure!. In fact, many “cults” would go as far as to tell you that there is no way to know for sure if you are going to heaven or hell. And that is assuming that they believe in a literal Heaven or Hell. However the Bible does say, “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).

There isn’t a more important issue in your life than the issue of knowing whether your sins have been forgiven and you are in right standing with God. I know it sounds hokey, but your eternity is at stake!

In our text this week, the Apostle John continues to press the implications of that message from Jesus to stop sinning and start loving one another. Apparently, he links both of these actions to evidence of really knowing Him. Here’s the point: Jesus forgives our sins so that we can be free to love one another.

My prayer is that these questions help you prepare your mind and heart for this coming Sunday’s message. Please take a moment to read our text (1 John 2:3-6) before you jump into answering the questions.

  1. In your own words, define the word “commandment”.  What do you think John is trying to convey when he says, (v. 3) “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments?” Who is the “him” that John is referring to? What commandments is John making reference to? Assurance of salvation is possible and John gives us a means of self diagnosis in v. 3. What is it?
  1. v. 4 says, 4 Whoever says “I know him: but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him” 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.”  These are harsh words! Why would John call the person who is not keeping the commandments a liar? What’s the implication? In contrast, why would “keeping his word” be a sign that God’s love is exemplary in us? What does John mean when he says, “… in him truly the love of God is perfected?”
  1. v. 5 “… but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him.” The love John is talking about is not just a feeling, but also involves an ethical response. What are the ethical responses that John is looking for? What does John mean by, “By this we may know that we are in him” and what does he mean when he says, “By this?
  1. v. 6 “… whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” “… the same way in which he walked”  led Jesus to the cross. His followers don’t need to repeat Christ’s unique atoning death, but we can mirror His “walk”. List the ways that He walked that we are also called to walk. Why does this pattern of life give us assurance of salvation?

What has God revealed, taught you or called you to action from our text? Would you take a moment to pray about it as you surrender to God’s prompting?

I do hope to see you for worship this Sunday. And as always, feel free to interact with me over email. I love engaging you over these questions. Be blessed and be a blessing!