Embracing Assurance: Confidence in Our Faith Journey
Summary
### Summary
In our journey through marriage, Amber and I have attended numerous conferences that have enriched our relationship. One of the most impactful lessons was understanding the fundamental differences between men and women. Men often seek respect and recognition, while women seek security in various forms. At the core of these needs is the universal desire for assurance. Assurance brings peace, confidence, and stability, which are essential in our lives and faith.
John, the beloved disciple, addresses these needs for assurance in his letter, 1 John. He emphasizes the importance of believers having complete confidence in their salvation and relationship with God. Throughout the letter, John provides foundational truths about sin, genuine faith, righteous living, and love. As we conclude our study in chapter 5, John offers five critical assurances for believers.
First, we have the assurance of our salvation, which is not based on our actions but on God's unchanging promises. This assurance brings peace and confidence, freeing us from the fear of judgment. Second, we have the assurance that our prayers are heard. When we align our prayers with God's will, we can approach Him with confidence, knowing that He hears and answers us. Third, we have the assurance that we are not alone. We are part of a supportive community of faith, called to pray for and uplift one another. Fourth, we have the assurance of our ultimate victory in Jesus. Our relationship with sin changes, and we are protected from the evil one. Finally, we have the assurance that we belong to God. Jesus' life, death, and resurrection reveal God's love and invite us into an intimate relationship with Him.
These assurances are built on the foundation of John's teachings throughout the letter. As we reflect on these truths, we are called to practical steps: reflecting on our salvation story, aligning our prayers with God's will, praying for one another, claiming our victory in Jesus, and seeking after God. By embracing these assurances, we can live with unshakable confidence in our faith.
### Key Takeaways
1. Assurance of Salvation: Our assurance of salvation is rooted in God's unchanging promises, not our actions or feelings. This assurance brings peace and confidence, freeing us from the fear of judgment and allowing us to live with holy confidence. Reflecting on our salvation story and reaffirming our faith in Jesus daily helps us anchor our assurance in His finished work. [23:15]
2. Assurance that Our Prayers are Heard: When we align our prayers with God's will, we can approach Him with confidence, knowing that He hears and answers us. This involves seeking to understand God's desires and shaping our prayers accordingly. Praying scripture is an effective way to ensure our prayers align with God's will, as His word reveals His will. [27:12]
3. Assurance that We Are Not Alone: We are part of a supportive community of faith, called to pray for and uplift one another. Our love for each other is demonstrated through our prayers and support, reinforcing the idea that we are not alone in our struggles. Embracing the community God has placed around us and praying for one another brings life and healing. [31:06]
4. Assurance of Ultimate Victory in Jesus: Our relationship with sin changes when we are followers of Jesus, and we are protected from the evil one. This assurance of ultimate victory gives us the courage and strength to live out our faith boldly. Declaring God's promises over our circumstances and actively resisting the enemy's attempts to discourage us helps us claim our victory in Jesus. [34:22]
5. Assurance that We Belong to God: Jesus' life, death, and resurrection reveal God's love and invite us into an intimate relationship with Him. Our belonging to God comes with the promise of eternal life, and this relationship deepens our understanding of His character and will. Seeking after God through scripture and prayer strengthens our assurance and leads us to worship Him for who He truly is. [37:27]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[18:31] - Understanding Men and Women's Needs
[19:44] - The Need for Assurance
[20:42] - John's Letter to Believers
[21:14] - Foundational Truths in 1 John
[22:18] - Five Assurances in Chapter 5
[23:15] - Assurance of Salvation
[27:12] - Assurance that Our Prayers are Heard
[31:06] - Assurance that We Are Not Alone
[34:22] - Assurance of Ultimate Victory in Jesus
[37:27] - Assurance that We Belong to God
[42:06] - Practical Steps for Assurance
[50:12] - Seeking After God
[51:45] - Conclusion and Invitation to Reflect
[53:12] - Closing Prayer and Farewell
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. 1 John 5:13-21
2. 1 John 4:18
3. Hebrews 4:16
### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 John 5:13, what is the purpose of John's writing to the believers? How does this relate to the concept of assurance? [23:15]
2. In 1 John 4:18, what does John say about fear and love? How does this verse contribute to our understanding of assurance in our faith? [26:19]
3. Hebrews 4:16 encourages believers to approach God's throne with confidence. How does this align with the assurance that our prayers are heard as discussed in the sermon? [28:22]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the assurance of salvation, as described in 1 John 5:13, impact a believer's daily life and confidence in their faith? [23:15]
2. What does it mean to align our prayers with God's will, and how can this practice enhance our confidence that our prayers are heard? [27:36]
3. How does the concept of community and praying for one another, as mentioned in 1 John 5:16-17, reinforce the assurance that we are not alone in our faith journey? [31:06]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own salvation story. How has remembering your journey with Jesus helped you reaffirm your faith and assurance in His promises? [42:25]
2. When you pray, do you feel confident that God hears you? What steps can you take to align your prayers more closely with God's will? [27:36]
3. Think of a time when you felt alone in your struggles. How did the support of your faith community help you through that period? How can you be that support for someone else now? [31:34]
4. In what ways can you actively claim your victory in Jesus over sin and the enemy's attempts to discourage you? What specific promises from Scripture can you declare over your life? [48:15]
5. How does knowing that you belong to God change the way you live your daily life? What practical steps can you take to seek after God more intentionally? [50:12]
6. How can you incorporate praying Scripture into your daily prayer routine? Choose a specific verse and write a prayer based on it to use this week. [45:05]
7. Identify one person in your faith community who might be struggling. How can you reach out to them and offer your support and prayers this week? [31:34]
Devotional
### Day 1: Assurance of Salvation
Theme: God's promises anchor our salvation.
Description: Assurance of salvation is a cornerstone of Christian faith, providing believers with peace and confidence. This assurance is not based on our actions or feelings but on God's unchanging promises. Reflecting on our salvation story and reaffirming our faith in Jesus daily helps us anchor our assurance in His finished work. This assurance frees us from the fear of judgment and allows us to live with holy confidence, knowing that our salvation is secure in God's hands.
John, the beloved disciple, emphasizes this assurance in his letter, 1 John. He reminds believers that their salvation is rooted in God's promises, not their own efforts. This assurance brings peace and confidence, freeing us from the fear of judgment. By reflecting on our salvation story and reaffirming our faith in Jesus daily, we can anchor our assurance in His finished work. [23:15]
Bible Passage: "And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." (1 John 5:11-12, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your salvation story. How can you reaffirm your faith in Jesus today and anchor your assurance in His finished work?
### Day 2: Assurance that Our Prayers are Heard
Theme: Aligning our prayers with God's will.
Description: When we align our prayers with God's will, we can approach Him with confidence, knowing that He hears and answers us. This involves seeking to understand God's desires and shaping our prayers accordingly. Praying scripture is an effective way to ensure our prayers align with God's will, as His word reveals His will.
John assures believers that their prayers are heard when they align with God's will. This assurance brings confidence and peace, knowing that God is attentive to our needs and desires. By seeking to understand God's will and shaping our prayers accordingly, we can approach Him with confidence. Praying scripture is a powerful way to align our prayers with God's will, as His word reveals His desires for us. [27:12]
Bible Passage: "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him." (1 John 5:14-15, ESV)
Reflection: How can you align your prayers with God's will today? Consider praying a specific scripture that reflects God's desires.
### Day 3: Assurance that We Are Not Alone
Theme: Embracing the community of faith.
Description: We are part of a supportive community of faith, called to pray for and uplift one another. Our love for each other is demonstrated through our prayers and support, reinforcing the idea that we are not alone in our struggles. Embracing the community God has placed around us and praying for one another brings life and healing.
John emphasizes the importance of community in the life of a believer. We are not alone; we are part of a supportive community of faith. This community is called to pray for and uplift one another, demonstrating love and support in tangible ways. By embracing the community God has placed around us and actively praying for one another, we can experience life and healing. [31:06]
Bible Passage: "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your faith community can you pray for and support today? How can you demonstrate love and support to them in a tangible way?
### Day 4: Assurance of Ultimate Victory in Jesus
Theme: Living boldly in the victory of Jesus.
Description: Our relationship with sin changes when we are followers of Jesus, and we are protected from the evil one. This assurance of ultimate victory gives us the courage and strength to live out our faith boldly. Declaring God's promises over our circumstances and actively resisting the enemy's attempts to discourage us helps us claim our victory in Jesus.
John assures believers of their ultimate victory in Jesus. This victory changes our relationship with sin and protects us from the evil one. With this assurance, we can live out our faith boldly, knowing that we are victorious in Christ. By declaring God's promises over our circumstances and actively resisting the enemy's attempts to discourage us, we can claim our victory in Jesus. [34:22]
Bible Passage: "We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him." (1 John 5:18, ESV)
Reflection: What promises of God can you declare over your circumstances today? How can you actively resist the enemy's attempts to discourage you?
### Day 5: Assurance that We Belong to God
Theme: Deepening our relationship with God.
Description: Jesus' life, death, and resurrection reveal God's love and invite us into an intimate relationship with Him. Our belonging to God comes with the promise of eternal life, and this relationship deepens our understanding of His character and will. Seeking after God through scripture and prayer strengthens our assurance and leads us to worship Him for who He truly is.
John assures believers that they belong to God, a relationship made possible through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. This belonging comes with the promise of eternal life and deepens our understanding of God's character and will. By seeking after God through scripture and prayer, we can strengthen our assurance and grow in our relationship with Him, leading us to worship Him for who He truly is. [37:27]
Bible Passage: "And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." (1 John 5:20, ESV)
Reflection: How can you seek after God through scripture and prayer today? What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Him and understand His character more fully?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Assurance brings peace and it brings confidence and it brings a sense of stability to how we are feeling. Yet, when we think about our lives and especially when we think about our faith, a lot of times, we think about our life and a lot of us don't necessarily feel that sense of assurance." [20:12] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When you know without a doubt that you are saved, it changes everything. When you know without a doubt that you are rescued for now and forever, your whole life begins to look different. You live with a holy confidence, free from the fear of judgment, and you walk in that freedom." [25:50] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Prayer is a powerful tool that God has given you to support and uplift each other. So when we pray for one another, we are not asking God to intervene in the lives of our brothers and sisters but also aligning ourselves with his will." [47:10] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We are called to stand in the gap for one another. We are not called to do this life alone. We are called to lift each other up in prayer and to seek God's intervention on behalf of our brothers and sisters." [32:05] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Victory is a word that inspires hope. It inspires courage. And the followers of Jesus, we have this promise of victory over sin. There are times when we don't feel like we have any shot, but in Christ, you have everything you need to have victory over the sin and have protection from the evil one." [34:48] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "John, in just such a loving way, and it's just so important to us believers, those who trust in Jesus Christ with their lives, to have complete confidence in their salvation and in their relationship with God." [20:42] (11 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Our assurance of rescue doesn't depend on our feelings or actions. You see, assurance rests in God's unchanging promise to us. Earlier, if you look at chapter 2, verse 25, John reminds us that we need to have assurance in our lives. And this is what he promised us: eternal life." [24:18] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When we live in obedience to God and align our hearts with his, we can approach him with the confidence of this assurance. And John continues, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And that is where our assurance ultimately comes from, not in the prayers we pray, but in the fact that we pray in his will." [28:47] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Our relationship with sin fundamentally changes when we are followers of Jesus. When we are born of God, we receive a new nature. If you've been around this year at all, you have heard us talk about this over and over and over again. We are new creations. We are not what we used to be. We are new." [35:15] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Jesus came to reveal the true nature of God to us. He was God in human form. We could look to him. And back in chapter 4 verse 9, this is emphasized when it says, 'This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.'" [38:23] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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