This book has been about assurance. It’s about this question, “How do I know that I’m a Christian?” What he wants them to know is you’re a real Christian. So of course it makes sense. He’s told them in so many ways. He wants them to have confidence and you conclude you are the real thing, therefore don’t go after phony gods.
The Spirit, the Spirit of truth, the Spirit of Christ who tells us that Jesus is the Christ, who magnifies the Son, the Father’s perfect and beloved Son, and the waters of baptism testify that He is God’s Son and the blood tells us He is the lamb of God to take away the sins of the world.
But even more than that this passage is here to be an encouragement, to tell you who you are. You’re in Christ, you have been changed. Yes, the change is stumbling, it’s imperfect, it’s full of temptation, and it’s struggle, but it’s there. It’s real, it’s heartfelt. It’s slower than you would like, but it’s discernible and your faith will be the victory. Don’t give up. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God, and that, I hope, is most of you.
God’s love is seen in our love because our love is His love, which has been imparted to us by the Holy Spirit. What other love do we have to give one another than the love He has given us. If it is truly His love among us, may that love never end in us but redound to His glory as a display of His matchless, unending love.
If you want to have permanence, make your life about permanent things. If you say more than this book or less than this book, if you lead people to step away from this book, then this book says you are not from God.
Do I see the works of the Spirit in my life? The bearing of fruit, however small, growing. The loving of others. The progression of growth in Christ’s likeness. Are they there? Are these good evidences present in my life? If so, John would say to the doubtful heart, to the person whose assurance ebbs and flows with life experiences, he would say rest assured in Christ’s presence.
Beloved, the wonderful truth is that if you are a believer, then you are a new creation, and His love remains in you. It abides in you. It is an inexhaustible source, an unfailing fountain of love, we just need to abide in it.
We’re called to examine ourselves and see if we’re in the faith. What is the main flowing trend in your life? Is it characterized by the fruits of righteousness? Of faith, obedience to Jesus Christ? Or is characterized by a pattern of sin?
God wants you and me to live with that eternal horizon in view. He wants us to see the promise of that, that we will see Jesus, not only have we been adopted, we will be glorified. We will be with Him. We will be like Him.
Let not the lies of the false teachers drive you to despair or distract you from the grace, from the glory of your Lord and Savior. Dwell on your anointing. Let the confession of Christ dwell within you, so dwell in Him.
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