Confident Fellowship

your exams. If you're finishing college, are you confident that you're going to get a job?

Are you sure? What about if you're single? How confident are you of finding the right

person to get married to? How confident are you of staying healthy and living a long life?

Are you sure you will be okay? What about this question? How confident are you of eternal

life? Are you sure you have eternal life? You see, this is something wonderful because

God has promised us this life. Have a look at verse 11. It's just a couple of verses before

the reading. This is what it says, and this is the testimony. God has given us eternal life.

And look where that life is to be found. Eternal life, this life is in his Son. We don't find life

in ourselves or in other things or in other people. We find life in the person of Jesus.

That doesn't mean to say that we kind of get a little model or a little life, a little model

or a statue of Jesus and put him in our pocket and go, oh, I have Jesus. No, it means to trust

him with your life, to place all your confidence in him. So look at verse 12. He who has the Son

has life. He who does not have the Son of God does not have life. So he has promised us life

and that life is in his Son Jesus. But here's another question. What happens when we sin and turn away

from Jesus? When I sin, do I still have eternal life? When I mess up and fail, will God still accept me?

Now, I know that I've chosen to sin this week. In fact, there are some things that I have said

and done that I am far too embarrassed and ashamed to tell anybody here in this room.

I have done things that are very wrong this week. And I'm sure I'm not alone in that.

So can we still be confident of eternal life, even when we mess up and fail and go off the rails?

Well, look what the writer tells us in verse 13. He says this,

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know,

so that you have confidence that you have eternal life. Isn't that wonderful? We can have absolute

confidence and total assurance that we have eternal life. Now, look who that confidence is for. Look at

verse 13 again. He writes these things to who? To you who believe in the name of the Son of God.

The confidence we have is not based on who I am or how good I am or my ability or my performance.

My confidence is based on who Jesus is. You see, if our confidence is in Jesus,

then that means whatever my sin, whatever my failures, whatever my struggles in life,

I can be confident, 100% assured that I have eternal life.

Now, I think that's incredible. Absolutely sure. No doubts that I have confidence of eternal life.

So let's look at the confidence that we have if our trust is in Jesus. Four things we're going to notice.

If our trust is in Jesus, we have four confidences. Don't know if that's a word, is it? We'll make it up. It is now. That's right.

So, four confidences that we have if we trust in Jesus.

First, we have confidence that God hears us. Look at verse 14.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

What an amazing privilege that we can approach God.

We actually have access to God.

We've been accepted by him.

The access to God is not because of us, but because of his love for us.

Let's have a flick back to chapter 3, verse 1.

Just turn the page, perhaps, to chapter 3, verse 1.

Here it reminds us why we have access to God.

Some great verses.

Chapter 3, verse 1.

How great is the love the Father, that is, the Father God,

has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God.

And that is what we are.

We have become children of God because of God's love,

and therefore we have access to God.

We are accepted by God.

Now, baby Emma, who we had introduced to us just a moment ago,

has a unique relationship with Connor and Sarah.

Because she is their child, she can call out to her parents,

knowing that they will listen and they will answer,

whatever the time of day or night.

Another child may be crying in the corner,

but they don't necessarily respond.

Emma has that unique privilege,

and she can continue to call out to her parents

because she is their child.

Now, because of God's love to us,

because God has removed the barrier of sin,

he has made us children of God

so that we too have a unique relationship with him.

And we can talk to our Father in heaven

anytime, anywhere, about anything.

We have been accepted by him through our faith.

Have a look at verse 15.

And if we know that he hears us,

whatever we ask,

we know we have what we asked of him.

Do you see what it says there?

We can ask God for anything,

and we have confidence that he will give it to us.

Ask him for anything,

and we have confidence that he will give it to us.

If, underline,

if it's according to his will.

Look at the end of verse 14 again.

We need to read it carefully.

That it says,

if we ask anything according to his will,

he hears us.

Our children ask us for all kinds of things.

New phones, new clothes.

Can I stay up late?

They even have the cheek of asking us for lunch and dinner.

Now, we don't give them everything they ask for.

We do feed them, by the way,

just in case you're not sure.

But we only give to them what we think is best and right.

What's going to benefit their life.

The same as Emma.

She asks her mum and dad,

they will only give to her

what is going to be good for her life.

In the same way,

God doesn't give us everything we ask for,

but only what is according to his will.

In other words,

what is best and right for the children of God.

He is a generous father

who gives good gifts to his children

so that we can live in a good relationship

and right relationship with him.

So first, if our trust is in Jesus,

we have confidence that God hears us.

Here's the second one.

If our trust is in Jesus,

we have confidence that God forgives us.

Look at verse 16.

Here we are given an example

of what to ask God for when we should pray.

It's a hard one.

What should I pray for?

Well, he goes on to tell us in verse 16.

If anyone sees his brother or sister

commit a sin that does not lead to death,

he should pray

and God will give him life.

So, through prayer,

we should ask God for forgiveness.

But, not everyone can experience forgiveness.

Read on in verse 16.

I refer to those whose sin

does not lead to death.

There is a sin that leads to death.

I am not saying that he should pray about that.

Are you confused there with that statement?

Because I was for a long time

as I was reading it.

What's all this about this

leads to death

and something that does not lead to death?

Well, I think there's two things here.

There's the prayer of the believer.

First, we have the sin

that does not lead to death.

Verse 16.

Again, let's read it.

If anyone sees his brother commit a sin

that does not lead to death,

he should pray

and God will give him life.

So, there's a promise there

that for the believer,

the person who trusts in Jesus,

when we pray in repentance

with each other

and for each other,

he will forgive us.

We are assured

of eternal life.

We are assured of forgiveness.

Keep your finger there

and just flick back

to chapter 1 of 1 John.

Look at this wonderful promise

that we have

in chapter 1, verse 9.

Maybe you're thinking,

maybe there are sins

that God cannot forgive

or that God will not forgive.

Well, look at this

in chapter 1, verse 9.

If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

and will forgive us

and purify us

from all unrighteousness.

And the reason he will forgive us,

if we look at chapter 2, verse 2,

a couple of lines down,

he, that's Jesus,

is the atoning sacrifice

for our sins,

not only for ours,

but also for the sins

of the whole world.

Jesus died on the cross

taking the blame

for all the things

that we have done wrong

so that we can be forgiven.

So, let's put this

into practice.

If I commit a sin,

if you see me

drunk one night,

or if you hear me

speaking unkindly

to someone,

rather than look down

on me and go,

isn't that terrible,

and start gossiping,

you should get alongside me

as it says,

if you see your brother

commit a sin,

you should pray for him.

Pray with him

that we would receive

God's forgiveness.

So, we have confidence

that God forgives us.

We can pray

and he will forgive.

But that was just

one side of the prayer.

Have a look back

at 1 John chapter 5,

1 John 5:16

verse 16.

So, we've looked at the sin

that does not lead to death,

whereby we receive forgiveness,

assurance of life,

but then we have the sin

that does lead to death.

Do you see it there

at the end of verse 16?

He said,

there is a sin

that leads to death.

I am not saying

that you should pray about that.

You see,

for the person

who does not believe,

there is no promise

of forgiveness

because they have rejected

the very one

who makes forgiveness possible.

If Jesus is the person

who is the one

who deals with our sin,

but if I reject him

and turn against him

and say,

I want nothing to do

with Jesus,

then how could I possibly

be forgiven?

If I reject Jesus,

I cannot be forgiven.

All we face

is death.

That's what it means,

the sin that leads to death.

To refuse Jesus

means an eternal separation

from God.

It is the fearful reality

of hell itself.

There is no assurance

of life

for those

who turn against Jesus.

But for the believer,

even when we do sin,

even when we mess up

and fail,

we can be confident

that our sins

are forgiven.

Every single one

of them can be forgiven

because of our trust

in Jesus.

So if you see

another believer

who has fallen,

don't gossip about them,

don't look down at them

and criticise them,

get alongside them,

pray with them

and for them

in repentance

and confession

that we might be

forgiven.

So we have confidence

that God hears us

and that God forgives us.

Here's the third one,

we have confidence

because God

keeps us.

If our trust

is in Jesus,

we have confidence

that God will keep us.

You see,

the promise

of eternal life

isn't just a gift

from God

saying,

here you are,

but you better

hold on to it.

No,

it is something

that God holds on to

for us.

Remember the illustration

at the beginning?

Whether you're tickled

or punched,

life will be held on to

by God.

Look at verse 18.

We know that anyone

born of God

does not continue

to sin.

You know,

when Emma was born,

she received two things

from her parents.

She received natural,

physical life

and she received

something of the nature

of her parents.

Now,

I'll let you decide

if that's a good thing

or a bad thing.

Hmm?

I'm sure it's a good thing.

She's received life

from her parents

and she received

something of the nature

of her parents.

So because Emma

has simply been born

of Connor and Sarah,

as she grows up,

she will begin

to look like them.

And you'll even discover

that she will

develop behaviours

like them.

Now,

that's a sign

that Emma

is a child

of Connor and Sarah.

That's what makes her unique.

That's what makes her

different to every other child.

Now,

when we are born

of God,

not only do we receive

eternal life

from God,

but we begin

to reflect something

of God's nature

and character.

We begin to behave

like God.

And the sign

that we are born

of God,

the sign that we are

God's children

is our attitude

to sin.

Look again

at verse 18.

He says,

we know that anyone

born of God

does not continue

to sin.

Now,

that's a problem

because I know

that I continue

to sin.

Do you?

No nods.

You can nod away.

It's alright.

We do continue

to sin.

So,

does that mean

we're not meant

to sin at all?

Well,

he's just told us,

didn't he,

in verse 16

that we should pray

for forgiveness.

So,

it can't possibly mean

sinless perfection.

What it does mean,

this not continue

to sin,

is our whole

attitude towards sin.

Rather than tolerate sin,

I now hate my sin.

Instead of hiding my sin,

I now confess my sin

as a sign of the life

that God has given me.

I have been born of God.

I have been given life

and now I have a new way

to live.

And that life

is kept

by God.

Look at the rest

of verse 18.

We'll read 18 again.

We know that anyone

born of God

does not continue

to sin.

The one

who was born of God,

so it's changed there,

I want you to notice that.

So,

the first one,

we know that anyone

born of God,

that's people like us

who trust in Jesus,

do not continue

to sin.

The one

who was born of God,

that's now referring

to Jesus,

keeps him safe

and the evil one

cannot harm him.

Jesus

keeps us safe.

You see,

the only one

that can

keep us

from receiving life,

the only one

that can stop us

from enjoying

eternal life,

is the evil one

or Satan himself.

But,

verse 18 tells us,

he can do nothing

to take away

that life.

The reason is,

in chapter 3,

verse 8,

we read this,

The reason

the Son of God

appeared

was to destroy

the devil's

work.

Through his death

on the cross,

Jesus defeated

our enemy,

the devil,

Satan himself.

He rescued us

from a life of death

and he now

keeps us secure

in eternal life.

So,

not even Satan

can take away

what God

has given to us.

It is like

God writes

his name

on the palm

of his hand

and closes it.

Nothing can

ever take away

the name

from us,

from God,

if we are

trusting in him.

Verse 19 reads,

We know

or we have

this confidence

that we are

children of God

and that the

whole world

is under the

control of the

evil one.

Yes,

we live in a

world where

it is difficult

to be a Christian.

We will struggle

with our sin

every day.

We will battle

with our temptation

every day.

But just as God

has given us

the gift of

eternal life,

he will keep us

in that eternal life.

That is the promise

of God.

The fourth

and the last one.

If our trust

is in Jesus,

we have confidence

because God

is in us.

Eternal life

with God

isn't just

something in the

future to look

forward to.

It is something

that we experience

every single day

as we walk

our life with him.

Not just

an eternal

idea,

but a

today

idea.

God

lives

in us.

Look at

verse 20.

Chapter 5,

verse 20.

We know,

again it's that

word confidence

again,

we have this

confidence that

the Son of God

has come

and has

given us

understanding

so that we

may know

him

who is true.

God is the

one who opens

up our minds

to understand

who Jesus

is.

Not just

intellectually

with our

minds,

but

experientially

with our

hearts.

It tells us

there in

verse 20,

so that we

may know

him who's

true.

That know

is not just

I know

he exists,

an intellectual

knowledge,

but I know

him in a

relational,

experiential

way.

I know

him.

And the

reason why

we know

him is

because God

is in us

by his

spirit.

have a look

back at

chapter 4

verse 13.

Read this

with me

here.

Chapter 4

verse 13.

We know

we have

this life,

we have

this relationship

because,

look at

verse 13,

we know

that we

live in

him and

he lives

in us

because he

has given

us of

his spirit.

Jump down

to verse 15.

If anyone

acknowledges that

Jesus is the

son of God,

and again

that's if you

trust in

Jesus,

God lives

in him

and he

in God.

You see,

the spirit

of God

not only

helps us

to understand

Jesus,

but he

makes Jesus

a living

experience

in our

life so

that we

enjoy his

life in

us every

day because

he is

with us.

But it's

not just

that God

lives in

us.

Here's the

other side

of the

coin.

We

live in

God.

Look at

the rest

of chapter

5,

verse 20.

So God

lives in

us,

but we

also live

in God.

Let's

read the

end of

verse 20.

And we

are in

him

who is

true,

even

in

his

son

Jesus

Christ.

We

are in

him.

This is

the deep

personal

and intimate

joy that

we have

with God.

He is

not just

a far

out existing

God who

is away

out there

and who is

uninterested

and uncaring

with our

lives in

this world.

He not

only lives

in us,

but we

get to

live in

him.

That means

we get to

share in

and join

in the

love that

the father

and the

son have

together,

that intimate

personal

relationship.

We get

to enjoy

that with

him.

A love

that's

existed

from

eternity

past,

and a

love that

will exist

for eternity

to come.

We share

in that

deep,

intimate

relationship.

This is

where our

searching for

life ends.

This is

where we

find life

in all

its fullness.

People

are on

the search

to find

life,

and this

is where

it is

in Jesus

Christ,

the one

who lives

in us,

and we

live in

him.

Look at

the end

verse 20.

He is

the true

God

and

eternal

life.

So we

can have

confidence

that God

is in

us.

So the

message is

simply this

as we

come to

a conclusion.

Place

your

confidence

in

Jesus.

You see,

if I

ever doubt

I have

life,

if ever

I am

not sure

that I

have

eternal

life,

do you

know why

I doubt

or why

my confidence

goes?

It's because

I begin

to look

at other

things and

other people

instead of

looking at

the true

and perfect

life of

Jesus

Christ.

That's

why we

have this

final

encouragement.

The

very last

verse,

verse 21.

Dear

children,

dear

children,

keep

yourselves

from

idols.

You

know what

an idol

is?

It

doesn't

have to

be a

statue.

An

idol is

a

replacement

for

God.

It

can

be

anything

that

replaces

God.

So

instead

of

looking

to

God

and

his

son

Jesus

for

confidence,

we

begin

to

look

to

other

things.

We

take

God

out

and

we

replace

him

with

someone

else

or

something

else.

So

he

says

to

us,

keep

yourself

from

idols.

turn

from

trusting

in

your

own

life.

Stop

trusting

in

other

things.

Stop

building

your

life

on

what's

out

there.

and

place

all

your

confidence

in

the

perfect

and

completed

work

of

Jesus

Christ.

In

Jesus

we

are

secure.

Remember

our

illustration

at the

beginning.

Can

you

take

it

out

of

my

hand?

And

God

says

if you

trust

in

me,

I

have

you

in

my

hand.

Nothing

and

no

one

can

open

it.

No

one

and

nothing

can

take

away

that

life.

You

have

it

now

and

for

all

eternity.

A

life

with

the

Father

and

with

the

Son.

A

life

where

we

find

joy

in

all

its

fullness.

We

have

confidence

and

it's

because

of

Jesus

Christ.

Let's

pray

together.

Our

Father

God,

we

thank

you

so

much

for

the

wonderful

gift

of

eternal

life.

We

thank

you

that

you

have

made

that

life

known

to

us

through

your

Son

Jesus

Christ.

And

we

thank

you

too

for

that

incredible

promise

that

for

all

who

believe

in

you

and

trust

you

they

have

confidence

and

assurance

that

that

life

will

be

kept

forever

and

forever.

Thank

you

that

you

hear

us.

Thank

you

that

you

forgive

us.

Thank

you

that

you

keep

us.

And

thank

you

that

you

live

in

us.

Thank

you

for all

that we

have

because

of

Jesus

for

the

life

that

you

have

come

to

give.

We

praise

you.

Amen.

We're

going to

sing

together

as we

come

to an

end of

this

part

of our

gathering.

We

continue

afterwards

with

lunch

and

you're

all

very

very

welcome

to

stay

behind

for

that.

The

song

that

we're

going

to

sing

when

I

was

lost

you

came

and

rescued

me

reached

down

and

lifted

me

oh

Lord

such

love.

This

is

the

life

the

God

who

came

to

us

and

the

life

he

gives

the

life

he

will

keep

for

us.

Let's

stand

together

as

we

sing.

first

indebted

100%

Oh Lord.