One of the problems that many Christians face is that they are not sure about their relationship with God. John writes to remind us that we can have assurance despite our heart’s misgivings.
5. How do I
KNOW?
But let him ask in faith, with no
doubting, for the one who
doubts is like a wave of the sea
that is driven and tossed by the
wind. For that person must not
suppose that he will receive
anything from the Lord; he is a
double-minded man,
unstable in all his ways.
(James 1:6-8, CB NT p. 400)
6. How do I
KNOW?
But let him ask in faith, with no
doubting, for the one who
doubts is like a wave of the sea
that is driven and tossed by the
wind. For that person must not
suppose that he will receive
anything from the Lord; he is a
double-minded man,
unstable in all his ways.
(James 1:6-8, CB NT p. 400)
7. How do I
KNOW?
By this we shall know that we
are of the truth and reassure our
heart before him
(1 John 3:19, CB NT p. 422)
8. How do I
KNOW?
By this we shall know that we
are of the truth and reassure our
heart before him
(1 John 3:19, CB NT p. 422)
persuade or
to trust, have confidence,
be confident
9. The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick; who can understand it?
“I Jehovah search the heart and test the mind,
to give every man according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds.”
(Jeremiah 17:9-10, CB OT p.)
10. Brothers,
I have lived my life
before God in all good
conscience up to this day.
(Acts 23:1, CB NT p. 252)
11. So I always
take pains to have a
clear conscience toward
both God and man.
(Acts 24:16, CB NT p. 254)
12. “I myself was convinced
that I ought to do many things in
opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
And I did so in Jerusalem.
(Acts 26:9-10, CB NT p. 257)
13. I not only locked up
many of the saints in prison after
receiving authority from the chief priests,
but when they were put to death I cast
my vote against them.
(Acts 26:10, CB NT p. 257)
14. And I punished them often in all the
synagogues and tried to make them
blaspheme, and in raging fury against them
I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
(Acts 26:11, CB NT p. 257)
15. But I received mercy for this reason,
that in me, as the foremost, Jesus
Christ might display his perfect
patience as an example to those who
were to believe in him for eternal life.
(1 Timothy 1:16, CB NT p. 365)
17. the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us
from all sin.
(1 John 1:7, CB NT p. 419)
How did I become a child of God?
18. Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the
propitiation for our sins, and not for
ours only but also for the sins of the
whole world.
(1 John 2:1-2, CB NT p. 420)
How did I become a child of God?
19. See what kind of love the Father has
given to us, that we should be called
children of God; and so we are.
(1 John 3:1, CB NT p. 421)
How did I become a child of God?
20. By this we know love, that he laid
down his life for us
(1 John 3:16, CB NT p. 422)
How did I become a child of God?
21. In this the love of God was made
manifest among us, that God sent his
only Son into the world, so that we
might live through him. In this is love,
not that we have loved God but that
he loved us and sent his Son to be the
propitiation for our sins.
(1 John 4:9-10, CB NT p. 423)
How did I become a child of God?
22. how much more will the blood of
Christ, who through the eternal Spirit
offered himself without blemish to
God, purify our conscience from
dead works to serve the living God.
(Hebrews 9:14, CB NT p. 390)
How did I become a child of God?
23. Examine yourselves, to see whether
you are in the faith. Test yourselves.
Or do you not realize this about
yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?
—unless indeed you fail to
meet the test!
(2 Corinthians 13:5, CB NT p. 390)
24. for whenever our heart
condemns us,
God is greater than our
heart, and He knows
everything.
(1 John 3:20, CB NT p. 422)
25. for whenever our heart
condemns us,
God is greater than our
heart, and He knows
everything.
(1 John 3:20, CB NT p. 422)
26. My Father, who has
given them to me, is
greater than all, and no
one is able to snatch
them out of the Father's
hand.
(John 10:29, CB NT p.183)
27. If we had forgotten the
name of our God or
spread out our hands to
a foreign god, would not
God discover this? For
He knows the secrets of
the heart.
(Psalm 44:20-21, CB OT p. 882)
28. for whenever our heart
condemns us,
God is greater than our
heart, and He knows
everything.
(1 John 3:20, CB NT p. 422)
29. Search me, O God, and
know my heart! Try me
and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any
grievous way in me, and
lead me in the way
everlasting!
(Psalm 139:23-24,
CB OT p. 987)
30. Beloved, if our heart
does not condemn us,
we have confidence
before God
(1 John 3:21, CB NT p. 422)
31. Far be it from me
to say that you are
right; till I die I will
not put away my
integrity from me. I
hold fast my
righteousness and
will not let it go;
my heart does not
reproach me for
any of my days.
(Job 27:5-6,
CB OT p. 809-810)
32. Beloved, if our heart
does not condemn us,
we have confidence
before God
(1 John 3:21, CB NT p. 422)
33. Let us then with confidence
draw near to the throne of
grace, that we may receive
mercy and find grace to
help in time of need.
(Hebrews 4:16, CB NT p. 385)
34. let us draw near with a true
heart in full assurance of
faith, with our hearts
sprinkled clean from an
evil conscience and our
bodies washed with pure
water.
(Hebrews 10:22, CB NT p. 392)
35. and whatever we ask we
receive from him,
because we keep his
commandments and do
what pleases him.
(1 John 3:22, CB NT p. 423)
36. Therefore I tell you,
whatever you ask in
prayer, believe that you
have received it, and it
will be yours.
(Mark 11:24, CB NT p. 84)
37. And I tell you, ask, and it
will be given to you; seek,
and you will find; knock,
and it will be opened to
you.
(Luke 11:9, CB NT p. 128)
38. If you then, who are evil,
know how to give good
gifts to your children, how
much more will the
heavenly Father give the
Holy Spirit to those who
ask him!”
(Luke 11:13, CB NT p. 128)
39. and whatever we ask we
receive from him,
because we keep his
commandments and do
what pleases him.
(1 John 3:22, CB NT p. 423)
40. And this is his
commandment, that we
believe in the name of his
Son Jesus Christ and love
one another, just as he has
commanded us. Whoever
keeps his commandments
abides in God, and God in
him. And by this we know
that he abides in us, by the
Spirit whom he has given
us.
(1 John 3:23-24, CB NT p. 423)
43. Light
How do I
KNOW?
If my heart
condemns me...
God is greater and
knows everything.
If my heart does
not condemn me...
confidence,
answered prayer,
abiding in Him, the
Spirit
45. Photo Credits: (All photos from istockphoto.com are copyright protected. Please do not use without permission.)
Girl looking up: Crestock: 162649-org
Man looking up: Crestock: 56460600
Thought bubble: http://pixabay.com/en/black-icon-cloud-food-outline-24152/
Woman folded arms: Crestock: 1794067-org
Man looking in mirror: iStock_000000462901
Paul before council: http://distantshoresmedia.org/images/rg/44/44_Ac_23_01_RG.jpg
Paul before Felix: http://distantshoresmedia.org/images/rg/44/44_Ac_24_06_RG.jpg
Paul before Agrippa: http://distantshoresmedia.org/images/rg/44/44_Ac_26_03_RG.jpg
Cowboy: iStock_000010948766
Job: http://www.visualbiblealive.com/stock_image.php?id=75890
Paul writing: http://distantshoresmedia.org/images/rg/55/55_2Ti_01_01_RG.jpg