Grace Fellowship Church Pastor/Teacher Jim Rickard Sunday, October 5, 2008

1 John Series 1 John 4:12-17 Confidence in the Lord

The believer can see God, not in the visible realm, but in the spiritual minds eye. Mat 5:8, “Blessed (Happy) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

“The pure in heart” are those that strive to apply the Word of God daily through the filling of the Holy Spirit - washed by God’s Power System (GPS). 1 Cor 2:9-13

Acts 15:9, “And He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.”

Heb 10:22, “Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

Heb 9:14, “How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

In 1 John 4:13, “Given us His Spirit”. A reference to Gal 5:22-25 where the fruit (i.e. resultant work of the indwelling and filling) of the Spirit is AGAPE Love.

1 John 2:5, “But whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him.”

In verse 14, “We beheld and witnessed”. Literally witnessed the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, which demonstrated the self-sacrificial love of God, which we too should have.

In verse 15, “Confessing Jesus is the Son of God”. True faith in Christ as the God / Man, creates a union with God to live the transfigured self-sacrificial life.

In verse 16, “And we have come to know”. Knowledge precedes faith. Faith leads to “seeing” God. You must have knowledge of a thing before you can believe in it.

Knowledge Faith Seeing, confirms in our hearts that God is in us and with us; "God abides in him".

In verse 17, “by this” is a summary of all the preceding knowledge:

1) Knowing the self- sacrificial love of God for us from eternity past,

1) Knowing the self- sacrificial love of God for us from eternity past, 2) Having faith in Christ as the Son of God,

1) Knowing the self- sacrificial love of God for us from eternity past, 2) Having faith in Christ as the Son of God, 3) Knowing that we are the temple of God, “abides in”,

4) Knowing that we should also love our neighbors as Christ loved us, and

4) Knowing that we should also love our neighbors as Christ loved us, and 5) Knowing that God's love is fulfilled in us when we operate in the transfigured life.

Knowledge Faith Seeing

Knowledge Faith Seeing “Confidence”

“The day of judgement”, The BEMA seat of Jesus Christ. The evaluation of every believer of the Church Age. 1 Cor 3:10-16; 2 Cor 5:10-11

1 John 2:28, “Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.”

“Confidence in tomorrow breeds confidence for today” Confidence / boldness in both time and eternity:

1) In our salvation: Heb 3:6, “But Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope (confident expectation) firm until the end.”

2) In Witnessing: Eph 6:19, “And pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.”

3) In Prayer: Heb 4:16, “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

4) At the BEMA Seat: 1 John 2:28, “Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.”

Communion

Offering

Grace Fellowship Church Sunday, October 5, 2008 Tape # 08S-038 Confidence in the Lord Communion 1 John Series 1 John 4:12-18; 2:28; 1 Cor 2:9-13 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2008