We Know
We Know
1 John 3:11-24
Before we were married, Marsha’s family attended a church in Beaverton. We were married in that church and attended there for a month or so before we moved to Kansas City for seminary. We returned to Beaverton and attended there for a few months until I was invited to take a teaching fellowship at Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho. But that Beaverton church was led by a man who employed two of his sons as associates, one as music minister and the other as a teaching pastor. The second, and older of the two, often used a phrase in his teaching, particularly in his interpretation of the Scripture – “I think that I think ...” Or, “I think that I know ...”
I didn’t think much of it at the time, other than that it was perhaps a statement of humility, that he didn’t want to discourage discussion by coming off sounding like the expert. But, over the years, as I’ve looked back on it, that phrase injects a note of doubt, that he really wasn’t sure of what he believed, or that he wasn’t really sure that he was offering anything other than opinion. It’s one thing to say, “I think that ...” but it rather doubles the doubt with, “I think that I think ...” In other words, I’m not sure what I think. There was, I’ve come to realize, a real sense of uncertainty in his teaching. He couldn’t say that he believed anything with any degree of certainty. “I think that I know ...” but I don’t know if I really know. “I think that I think ...” but I don’t know if I can trust what I think. He seemed to be hedging his bets, and, in reality, dodging giving any answers to questions that his students might have. Whatever his reason for saying what he did, I look back on it now and wonder that I took anything he said at face value. Why should I believe someone who isn’t certain of their own thinking, their own knowledge, or their own belief? Why should I listen to what Paul calls an uncertain sound – For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? (1 Cor 14:8, KJV), or, in the NIV, Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? Where we know the truth, there must be no uncertainty, no hesitation.
In our text this morning, John issues that clarion call with clarity and certainty. No own can mistake what John is saying. In contrast to that teacher, John declares, “We know.” And, lest you have questions, This is how we know ... In these few verses, John says three times, This is how we know ... and another three times, we know; once, you know. No I think, or I think that I think. But clear and direct, I know. Here is truth. Here is certainty. Here is assurance. We know. And we can know with certainty and assurance.
John begins this section by repeating what you heard from the beginning. The message you’ve heard is still the message you hear. That old command you know so well still stands - we should love one another. And John lays down the crooked stick to show the straight – Do not be like Cain, who was from the evil one, and murdered his own brother. The NIV says that Cain belonged to the evil one; KJV says Cain was of that wicked one.
The story of Cain and Abel is in Genesis 4. The writer of Genesis does not attribute Cain’s rage to evil, but to jealousy. Cain’s careless offering was not honored by God; while Abel’s select and precious offering was. It even appears that God tried to calm Cain’s angry spirit - unsuccessfully, because Cain invited his brother into the open field where he struck and killed him. John would have us understand that such rage is itself evil, motivated by evil, and indicates one’s possession by the evil one, the devil. Cain belonged to Satan, John says, and that is why he murdered his brother. But the murder was the final step in a process that began with anger, reminding us of Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:21 that it’s not just murder, but the anger that precedes it – “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother will be subject to judgment.”
And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. Cain came carelessly, recklessly, and disrespectfully to worship, while Abel was prepared, careful, and with a worthy offering. Abel honored God with his offering while Cain was going through the motions, offering the sort of thoughtless offerings that led God to speak through Amos, “I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me” (Am 5:21). And Malachi excoriates his people for their unworthy offerings of diseased animals (Mal 1).
But it’s not the offerings that John cares about, but the spirit revealed by Cain. It was the hatred for his brother, John says, that brought Cain’s wickedness. And just like Cain, the world still hates the righteous, and we shouldn’t be surprised about it. In fact, we ought to expect it. Jesus told us that his followers would be persecuted and hated in the same way he was, and prayed that the Father would protect us while we are in the world.
We know that we have passed from death to life because we love each other. If love is the hallmark of the Christian to the world, it is also the proof of salvation for the Christian. Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples: if you love one another.” That means us, too. We can know. And let me add, in contrast to my pastor friend, we can know that we know. We don’t need to have any doubt. If the love of Christ rules your life, you know that you are a child of God and that you now have eternal life. Anyone who does not love remains in death. And like Cain, anyone who hates a brother is a murderer, at least in his heart, and you know that no murderer has eternal life ... By the way, John is not adding anything new. He is repeating, for emphasis, what he said in chapter 2, verses 9-11. One who hates is in darkness and death. One who love as Christ loved walks in light and in life.
John is not leaving it up to us to guess what he means by love. The world will confuse us on this topic if we listen to them. They parade and proclaim, “Love is love.” “All you need is love.” Don’t fall for it! Again, we don’t have to imagine, or think we know. John tells us there is evidence: This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. Jesus is the model, the example, the archetype. He defines love for us. And we should, Peter said, walk in his steps (1 Pet. 2:21). Paul wrote, that we ought to have the same mindset as Jesus (Phil 2:5). If Jesus is our model, then we ought to model our lives on him. If he is our example, then we ought to imitate him. If he is our archetype, then we ought to become like him. If he is our example of love, we ought to love like Jesus. Not, John says, by talking about it, but by doing it – Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and truth. If you have it in you to help, help. If you tell someone you’ll pray for them, pray for them. If you make a promise, keep it. Words are meaningless if they do not lead to action. If you have the means and opportunity to help someone in need, help as best you can. Demonstrate the love of Jesus in any way you are able.
And don’t feel guilty when you are unable to help. Again, this is how we know ... This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: When John says this, what follows is a sort of test. How do we know that we belong to the truth? If the following condition is met. How do we know that we have rest in his presence? If the following condition is met.
First, if we do feel guilty, if our hearts condemn us, we know - not think, not suppose, not hope, not expect – we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. He knows when we feel we’ve missed an opportunity. He knows our questions and our doubts. He even knows our suspicions. That means that we can give our failures to him, and rest knowing he still loves us. We may have failed, but he knows, cares, and his love and grace overcomes our failures. Someone once said that God has already factored in our weakness. He knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust (Ps 103:14). God’s plans are not foiled by our failure. There is grace here. God does not demand perfection, but devotion. What God wants is purity of heart that recognizes when we have failed and need to draw closer to him.
But then, if we do not feel guilty, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God ... There is satisfaction in obedience, in a job done, in love expressed. We keep his commands and do what pleases him. God, in return, blesses us, cares for us, and gives us what we ask. Now, there is a bit of a proviso – God knows what is best and we need to trust his loving wisdom. We ought not ask foolishly. If we do what pleases God, we will ask for what pleases God. If we love God, we will ask out of love for God and not selfishly. God wants my son to come to him. God wants your erring child to come to him. And if our desire is purity and holiness, God will grant those desires. Let me warn you, though, there are things God wants for you that are hard. God wants the fruit of the Spirit in your life, but peace requires storms; patience requires hardship; even love requires testing. The last on the list is self-control. How do we learn self-control? Through situations that test us, maybe even anger us. We need to want what God wants so desperately that we are willing to learn the hard lessons that develop the fruit of the Spirit.
And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. John keeps coming back to Christ’s command that we love one another, but I want you to notice something in this sentence. It is the sequence – faith, then obedience. The second flows from the first. But there’s something vital here. The Greek word for “believe” is the verb form. That means that it is an action, a condition of movement. The word carries more meaning that just agreement or mental assent. It means to have confidence in, to believe in or be convinced of something. We can used those words (carefully, of course) – this is his command: to have confidence in the name of ... Jesus Christ, or to be fully convinced that Jesus is the Son of God and our Savior. And that conviction changes the way we live. That confidence changes how we pray; how we speak; how we behave in every situation. That conviction, that assurance changes our love for one another, and changes our obedience to his commands. We do what he says because we are fully convinced of his authority over us.
The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. John is remembering the words of Jesus he recorded in John 15. Jesus was talking about how grape vines only have life when they are attached to the main trunk. The branches only have life so long as they are connected to the vine. One of Jesus’ “I AM” statements – “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener ... I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:1, 5). Our life is in him, and we live in him only so long as we are connected to him through obedience to his commands. Notice, please, that we are connected through obedience, not through belief. “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love” (Jn 15:10). Christ lives in us through our obedience to his command to love one another. Christ lives in us and through us as we demonstrate in word and action the grace, mercy, and love he has not only commanded us, but shown us. Jesus has modeled for us obedience to the Father. He has modeled for us the sort of love he commands. He has modeled for us the way that love works out in compassion, forgiveness, and grace.
We know that we have passed from death to life ...
This is how we know what love is ...
This is how we know that we belong to the truth ...
We know that God is greater than our hearts ...
One more: And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. Paul wrote, the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace (Rom 8:6), and those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God (Rom 8:14). He added that the Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children (Rom 8:16). In the gospel, John relates Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit as his “in person” replacement. We can’t see Jesus, but we know him by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Holy Spirit does not only empower us to serve, but enables us to keep Jesus’ command and demonstrate his love. He calls us his children and then calls us to bear the “family name” in doing what Jesus would do. We don’t just ask the question; we live the life.
We live the life with assurance, because, John tells us, we know. We don’t just think we know; we have the confidence in the truth of Christ. We know.
And, if you don’t know, you can. You can have the full assurance of your salvation. You can know that you know. Let the Holy Spirit fill you with the confidence of Christ.