Herein is our Confidence - That We Believe In The Son of God

Confidence is a rare and precious gift in the Christian life, and it is not something that can be manufactured by our own efforts or self-worth. True confidence comes from knowing, deep in our souls, that we have eternal life—not because of what we have done, but because of what Christ has accomplished. Since the day I trusted Christ, I have never doubted my standing before God, not because I am perfect, but because my confidence rests in the reliability and sufficiency of Jesus, the Son of God, who died and rose again for us.

Many people try to find confidence in their own self-worth or in their religious performance, but both are ultimately empty. The world tells us we are “good enough,” but Scripture is clear: all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Others look to their own efforts, hoping that if they do enough religious things, God will accept them. But this leads only to exhaustion and uncertainty, because we can never know if we’ve done enough. The only solid ground for confidence is the testimony of God Himself, who declares that eternal life is found in His Son.

John writes so that we may know—not hope, not guess, but know—that we have eternal life if we believe in Jesus. This confidence is rooted in three testimonies: the atoning work of Christ (His baptism and crucifixion), the abiding witness of the Holy Spirit, and the authoritative word of the Father. The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children, and our conscience, though it may accuse us, is overcome by the greater testimony of God’s grace.

The evidence of genuine faith is not just a feeling, but a transformed life. Those who truly believe in Jesus possess the Holy Spirit, trust Christ above all else, walk in the light, keep His commandments, and love others. These are not the means by which we earn salvation, but the fruit that grows from a life rooted in Christ. Even so, our confidence does not rest in our performance, but in Christ’s finished work. Like Adam and Eve, who were clothed by God after their failure, we are covered by the righteousness of Christ. Our confidence, both now and forever, is in His saviorship, not our followership. Whoever has the Son has life.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Confidence in eternal life is not based on self-worth or religious performance, but on the finished work of Christ. When we look to ourselves, we find only failure and uncertainty; when we look to Christ, we find assurance and rest. The gospel frees us from the exhausting cycle of trying to earn God’s favor and invites us to trust in what Jesus has already accomplished. [01:15]
• 2. The testimony of God is greater than any human opinion or feeling. God Himself bears witness that eternal life is found in His Son, and to reject this testimony is to call God a liar. Our assurance is anchored in the unchanging word and character of God, not in the shifting sands of our emotions or experiences. [09:25]
• 3. The Holy Spirit provides an inner witness that we belong to God. This is not merely a subjective feeling, but a supernatural assurance that comes from being born again. The Spirit’s presence produces fruit in our lives and gives us confidence, even when our conscience accuses us or we feel unworthy. [17:38]
• 4. The evidences of genuine faith—believing in Jesus, possessing the Spirit, loving others, walking in the light—are not the entrance requirements for salvation, but the natural outflow of a life united to Christ. These “birthmarks” of faith give us human confidence, but they are always rooted in grace, not law. [28:33]
• 5. Our ultimate confidence before God rests not in our ability to follow, but in Christ’s ability to save. Like Adam and Eve, who were clothed by God after their failure, we are covered by the righteousness of Christ. When our conscience is burdened, the answer is not to try harder, but to repent and trust in the sufficiency of Jesus, who is God’s appointed remedy for our sin. [33:24]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:22] - The Need for Confidence
• [01:15] - False Sources of Assurance
• [03:13] - The Problem of Self-Worth
• [04:19] - The Futility of Self-Effort
• [05:37] - Confidence in Christ Alone
• [06:18] - The Testimony of God
• [08:09] - Water, Blood, and the Spirit
• [12:24] - Threefold Witness Explained
• [16:05] - The Atoning Work of Christ
• [17:38] - The Witness of the Spirit
• [19:21] - The Role of Conscience
• [21:42] - Evidences of Genuine Faith
• [25:21] - Walking in the Light
• [28:33] - Evidences vs. Entrances
• [30:51] - Adam, Eve, and the Garments of Grace
• [33:24] - Resting in Christ’s Saviorship

Bible Reading

1 John 5:6-13 (ESV) — 6 This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. 9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. 11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 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.

Observation Questions

1. According to 1 John 5:11-12, what is the testimony that God gives about His Son?
2. In the sermon, what are the three sources of testimony that give us confidence in our salvation? ([12:24])
3. What does John say is the purpose of writing these things to believers in verse 13?
4. How does the sermon describe the difference between “evidences” and “entrances” when it comes to faith and salvation? ([29:28])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that many people try to find confidence in their self-worth or religious performance, but both are empty. Why do these sources ultimately fail to give lasting assurance? ([02:20])
2. What does it mean that “the testimony of God is greater than any human opinion or feeling”? How should this affect the way we deal with doubts about our salvation? ([08:44])
3. The pastor mentions that the Holy Spirit provides an “inner witness” that we belong to God. How does this inner witness work, and what role does it play when our conscience accuses us? ([17:38])
4. The sermon uses the story of Adam and Eve being clothed by God as a picture of our confidence in Christ. What does this illustration teach us about where our assurance should rest? ([31:50])

Application Questions

1. The world often tells us to find confidence in being “good enough.” Have you ever tried to base your assurance on your own goodness or religious activity? What was the result? ([02:20])
2. When you examine your life, do you see the “birthmarks” of genuine faith mentioned in the sermon—believing in Jesus, possessing the Spirit, loving others, walking in the light? Which of these is most evident in your life, and which is hardest for you? ([27:34])
3. The sermon says that our confidence should rest in Christ’s finished work, not our performance. Is there an area where you are still trying to “earn” God’s favor? What would it look like to rest in Christ instead? ([05:37])
4. When your conscience accuses you or you feel unworthy, what do you usually do? How can you remind yourself of the greater testimony of God’s grace in those moments? ([19:31])
5. The pastor said, “If you live like the devil, you will have no confidence in your salvation.” Are there patterns in your life that rob you of confidence before God? What is one step you can take this week to walk more in the light? ([26:23])
6. The story of Adam and Eve shows that God covers our shame with His grace. Is there a failure or area of shame in your life where you need to accept Christ’s covering instead of hiding or trying harder? ([32:22])
7. The sermon challenges us to repent and trust in the sufficiency of Jesus when our conscience is burdened. Is there something you need to bring to God in repentance today? What would it look like to trust in Jesus’ sufficiency for that specific area? ([33:48])