Lechem Panim #84 ”Living in Confidence” (1 John 4:17-21) Pastor Cameron Ury

Greetings! Welcome to Lechem Panim. 

Before we begin today, I’d like to give you an update regarding the show. A couple of weeks ago we aired a special episode where I interviewed a very dear friend and mentor of mine name Bennette Ash. And one of the things we talked about was the difference it makes having a life that is built on the foundation of Christ. And not long after that we received an encouraging email from a gentleman named Thomas, expressing his thanks for her testimony of what a difference it means to be rooted in Biblical principles and in a relational experience of God. He said, “I caught this broadcast while flipping stations on my radio. So in some manner I took it as a message of encouragement from God to me during a tough time in my life right now. And of course we are glad to hear that the Lechem Panim broadcast is reaching people who need that hope and encouragement. There are many ways to listen to the broadcast; via our website (LechemPanim.org), as well as on our Facebook page and YouTube channel. But we are excited to announce that we are now available to listen to via Podcast; and you can subscribe to us through Apple Podcasts or your favorite Podcast provider. And so we want to invite you to do so. And thank you for listening (click here to subscribe).

Airport Nervousness— This past Christmas season, I traveled with my family to go to my sister Lauren’s wedding. And so we found ourselves in a number of airports. And coming from a person who has flown quite a bit in his lifetime, I can say that airports are very interesting (and at times stressful; and at other times even very stressful) places, especially when you are traveling with kids. And if you are ever in an airport, {(as someone once pointed out)] one interesting thing to note is the the [the difference between passengers who hold confirmed tickets and those who are on standby. The ones with confirmed tickets read newspapers, chat with their friends or sleep. The ones on standby hang around the ticket counter, pace and … pace. The difference is caused by the confidence factor. If you knew that in fifteen minutes you would have to stand in judgment before the Holy God and learn your eternal destiny, what would your reaction be? Would you… pace? Would you say to yourself, "I don't know what God's going to say--will it be 'Welcome home, child,' or will it be 'Depart from me; I never knew you'?]

That is a question every one of us must at some point ask ourselves. Yet if we have placed our faith in Christ and chosen to follow Him, we can (and ought) to have assurance that we are indeed saved. And that is what our passage today is all about. In 1 John 4:17, we circle back to this theme of confidence. It says…

1 John 4:17 (ESV)— 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.

And this word “confidence” shows up a number of places in John’s epistle.

1 John 2:28 (ESV)— 28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.

1 John 3:21 (ESV)— 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;

1 John 5:14 (ESV)— 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

Abiding, Complete Love, & Confidence— So we see that this theme of confidence is and important theme in 1 John, and one that John emphasizes very strongly as we draw nearer to the close of his epistle. John wants his readers to be abiding in Christ, to have that relationship authenticated by having demonstrated in themselves the fruit of a transformed life (a love that that is “complete”); and lastly to have a life that is marked not by fear, but by confidence; and particularly a “confidence for the day of judgment ”.

Not Arnold’s Judgment Day— Now if were to google image search “judgment day” right now (and I did just recently) you would find that most of the pictures you would be greeted by are not Biblical pictures. Instead of pictures of Jesus you are greeted by photos of Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator looking back at you. As cool as he may have looked in that movie (and as much as I have been told I look like him;…….okay that’s not true) we are talking about a very different kind of Judgment Day.

Day of Judgment— [The day of judgment is that time when all people will appear before Christ and be held accountable for their actions. {However, for Christians} With God living in us through Christ, we have no reason to fear this day because we have been saved from punishment.]

Romans 8:1 (ESV)— 8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Looking Forward To Judgment Day— And so this means that [Instead, we can look forward to the day of judgment because it will mean the end of sin and the beginning of a face-to-face relationship with Jesus Christ.] We can have assurance during and leading up to that day; an assurance that produces a confidence; a boldness in how we live, how we pray, and how we witness. Now how do we get that assurance and confidence?

1 John 4:17a (ESV)— 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment:…

So first of all, we see that we need to have a love that is complete. Well what does it mean to have a love that has been made complete?

1 John 4:17 (ESV)— 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.

Now this is a stunning and powerful statement. And what it is pointing us to is the marvelous reality that the true believer is clothed with the righteousness of Christ.

Romans 3:21-22 (ESV)— 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)— 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Philippians 3:9 (ESV)— 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

Imparted Righteousness— Now John is clearly talking about more than our being covered by the righteousness of Christ (imputed righteousness) where God sees us through the blood of Jesus. As important as that doctrine is, John is careful to communicate that Christ’s imputed righteousness must also become our imparted righteousness; we can be made righteous as God Himself is righteous. A strong statement? Yes, but one that is in perfect accord with what God has always said was both possible and necessary.

1 Peter 1:14-16 (ESV)— 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Now with our being being clothed with the righteousness Christ as we experience His love for us and reflect that love back on Him, our former fear is replaced with confidence. John writes in…

1 John 4:18 (ESV)— 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 

Not Just Emotional Fear— Now I want to point out that what we are talking about here is more than just a feeling of fear or anxiety; which we all struggle with from time to time. We are talking about a significant doubt in our salvation.

John Wesley’s Doubt— Before Wesley’s famous Aldersgate experience where he receive assurance of his salvation, Moody writes how [After John Wesley had been preaching for some time, someone said to him, "Are you sure, Mr. Wesley, of your salvation?" "Well," he answered, "Jesus Christ died for the whole world." "Yes, we all believe that; but are you sure that you are saved?" Wesley replied that he was sure that provision had been made for his salvation. "But are you sure, Wesley, that you are saved?" It went like an arrow to his heart, and he had no rest or power until that question was settled.]

What the Apostle John is teaching us is that fear is banished by the confidence that comes to us in and through the love of Christ. And scripture teaches us that [we do not love God and come to Him in love, and at the same time, hide from Him in terror (cf. Rom. 8:14, 15; 2 Tim. 1:7).] We don’t have to fear the future judgment (and the moment or punishment that goes with it) because our sins have been forgiven through faith in Christ; and we have been redeemed and are being perfected in love. That is what it means to live by faith. And that faith is rooted (ultimately) in the love of God. As verse 19 says…

1 John 4:19 (ESV)— 19 We love because he first loved us. 

And [If we ever are afraid of the future, eternity, or God’s judgment, we can remind ourselves of God’s love. We know that He loves us perfectly (Romans 8:38-39).]

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)— 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And so [We can resolve our fears first by focusing on his immeasurable love for us, and then by allowing him to love others through us. {In doing so} His love will quiet your fears and give you confidence.] Now if we have that confidence in His love for us and our belonging to Him, that love will move us to love those around us. And that love is one of the clearest evidences of the fact that we truly belong to Jesus. John writes in…

1 John 4:20-21 (ESV)— 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

And so I want to encourage you today to ask God to create that kind of love in you in a deeper way. With that love will come righteousness; and with that righteousness will come the assurance that you belong to Him and a confidence and a boldness that will allow God to use you in a powerful way in your family, in your church, and in your community. Ask Him for that today. Amen.