1 John 4:13 - 16 Abiding Assurance

Written By Joshua Eden

13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world.

15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Explore the text

4:13 abide, refers to our proximity to God, that we are in him and He in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. Abide points to an unbroken fellowship, 1 John 2:19; and a constant state, unable to become another or different, John 12:24;

4:15 Confesses (homologéō) to speak the same thing, i.e. "assent, agree with” He who confesses doesn’t just confess their sin, they agree with what the scriptures say about Jesus being the Son of God, Saviour and Messiah.

4:16 God is love.  God’s essence is pure and infinite love (Ex 34:6). His laws are reflective of loving nature and character (Matt 22:37)

Key doctrine: Attributes of God

The Lord our God is but one only living and true God; whose subsistence is in and of Himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but Himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; who is immutable, most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, while also hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.

See 1 Cor. 8:4,6; Deut. 6:4; Jer. 10:10; Isa. 48:12; Exod. 3:14; John 4:24; 1 Tim. 1:17; Deut. 4:15–16; Mal. 3:6; 1 Kings 8:27; Jer. 23:23; Ps. 90:2; Gen. 17:1; Isa. 6:3; Ps. 115:3; Isa. 46:10; Prov. 16:4; Rom. 11:36

Apologetics Question : “The Bible is mythology and the apostle’s testimony cannot be trusted”

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Fellowship discussion points

1.        In light of verse 12, why is it crucial for Christians to love one another? Is it ever right to go public with a dispute with another Christian? If so, when and why?

2.       How can a Christian be filled with the Holy Spirit? Can we know if we are filled? Are there degrees of fullness?

3.       Why is it important to affirm that Christianity rests on eyewitness testimony, not on subjective personal feelings?

4.       Why is assurance important? What consequences may follow if we lack it or if we have it?

 

Thoughts for Personal / Family Worship

Some ask, “I do believe in Jesus as the Son of God and as my Saviour, but I don’t have strong faith. Why do I lack assurance? 

To that I would respond with a question of my own:

  • What do you do when your faith wavers?

  • Do you come before the Lord in confession, asking Him to strengthen your faith?

  • What do you do when selfishness dominates your life, rather than God’s love?

  • Do you grieve over your hardness of heart and ask God to fill you with His Spirit and to produce the fruit of His Spirit in you?

    Just like fruit on  a tree, faith and love take time to grow (Phil. 1:9; 2 Thess. 1:3). The growth is dependent on how much nutirent’s you take in. Keep it simple: Read the Word; do what it tells you to do; and share it with other people. Then you will see your faith grow

    If you do not see faith and love growing in your life, then do as Isaiah (55:6-7) directs: “Seek the Lord while He may be found.

Joshua Eden https://dayslanebaptistchurch.org.uk