100:00:00,700 –> 00:00:13,320How can I be sure? The real question. Now this first letter of John was written to200:00:13,320 –> 00:00:18,620answer that question. John states it quite clearly in chapter 5 and verse 13300:00:18,620 –> 00:00:24,700towards the end there, he says I write these things to you who believe in the400:00:24,700 –> 00:00:34,439name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. Welcome to500:00:34,439 –> 00:00:38,599open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick, thanks for joining us600:00:38,599 –> 00:00:43,380today. And Colin I’m sure that in your many decades as a pastor questions700:00:43,380 –> 00:00:48,139around assurance and salvation must have come up many times. You’re absolutely800:00:48,160 –> 00:00:54,240right? In fact I think that that is probably the single most frequently900:00:54,240 –> 00:00:59,580asked question. Believers who are not sure if they’re going to be in heaven1000:00:59,580 –> 00:01:04,019and it’s not surprising that that’s the case because the the verse with which1100:01:04,019 –> 00:01:08,900the program opened today, John the Apostle actually makes a distinction1200:01:08,900 –> 00:01:14,260here. He says he’s writing to people who believe that you may know that you have1300:01:14,980 –> 00:01:19,500And so, clearly he’s envisioning that there are believers or were believers1400:01:19,500 –> 00:01:24,260even in the early church who needed help to get to a place where they were1500:01:24,260 –> 00:01:29,360confident and settled and assured that they really do have eternal life, so I1600:01:29,360 –> 00:01:33,279think this is a problem that’s always with us and the wonderful thing is that1700:01:33,279 –> 00:01:38,000there is an entire letter in the New Testament that’s given to us precisely1800:01:38,000 –> 00:01:41,320to address this question. And that’s where we’re going today. In the first1900:01:41,419 –> 00:01:46,360letter of John chapter one starting at verses five to seven. As we begin the2000:01:46,360 –> 00:01:49,900message, assurance grows as you walk in the light.2100:01:49,900 –> 00:01:50,639Here’s Colin.2200:01:50,639 –> 00:01:57,559We’re beginning a new series today. The aim of this series is to answer a single2300:01:57,559 –> 00:02:07,080question. How can I be sure? How can I be sure? I think this may be the number one2400:02:07,360 –> 00:02:14,520question that believers ask and it’s a good question and it is rightly asked by2500:02:14,520 –> 00:02:20,000thoughtful believers. We sometimes refer to this as the question of assurance. How2600:02:20,000 –> 00:02:26,740can I be sure? And it is pressed on us for several reasons. One is that we live2700:02:26,740 –> 00:02:31,419at a time when many people are abandoning the faith that they once2800:02:31,559 –> 00:02:37,940professed and a thinking person might reason, well if other people who have2900:02:37,940 –> 00:02:41,779professed faith have walked away how can I be sure that that will not happen to3000:02:41,779 –> 00:02:48,960me? How do I know that I am the real deal? Second reason that this question is3100:02:48,960 –> 00:02:55,699pressed upon us is that thoughtful believers see the limits in our own3200:02:55,820 –> 00:03:02,100pursuit of holiness. Perhaps you know what it is to be frankly dismayed by3300:03:02,100 –> 00:03:04,979your own lack of progress in the Christian life. You think for all the3400:03:04,979 –> 00:03:08,320years I’ve been a Christian I should be doing better, I should be further on3500:03:08,320 –> 00:03:14,860than this, or perhaps you know what it is to struggle with a stubborn sin. You3600:03:14,860 –> 00:03:19,580fall into a sin that you’ve fallen into too many times before and you3700:03:19,580 –> 00:03:24,580wonder, therefore, well was my repentance real and if it was then why am i back3800:03:24,600 –> 00:03:26,119here again?3900:03:26,119 –> 00:03:32,679We know that our righteousness is in Christ and not in ourselves but we live4000:03:32,679 –> 00:03:37,740with the sneaking suspicion that a true Christian would be doing better than we4100:03:37,740 –> 00:03:45,259are. The third reason that this question is pressed upon us is that when we read4200:03:45,259 –> 00:03:52,740the New Testament we read descriptions of experience that sometimes seem to be4300:03:52,860 –> 00:04:00,460beyond what we have known. You open your Bible and you read Peter speaking about4400:04:00,460 –> 00:04:08,940rejoicing with an inexpressibly glorious joy. You read Paul speaking about4500:04:08,940 –> 00:04:14,839a peace of God that passes understanding, guarding your hearts and your minds4600:04:14,839 –> 00:04:19,440in Christ Jesus. A thoughtful Christian reads things like this and then says4700:04:19,440 –> 00:04:26,619well can I really say that that is my experience, am I a true Christian? It’s a4800:04:26,619 –> 00:04:37,839real question. How can I be sure? Now this first letter of John was written to4900:04:37,839 –> 00:04:42,579answer that question. John states it quite clearly in chapter 5 and verse 135000:04:42,579 –> 00:04:48,980towards the end there he says, I write these things to you who believe in the5100:04:49,260 –> 00:04:57,760name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. Here’s some5200:04:57,760 –> 00:05:03,260good news God wants you not only to have eternal life God wants you to know that5300:05:03,260 –> 00:05:08,339you have eternal life, and John says that’s why I’m writing this letter I5400:05:08,339 –> 00:05:15,839want you to have the peace I want you to have the joy of knowing that Christ and5500:05:15,980 –> 00:05:24,179all that he promises is yours. So how can that be? How can I be sure? Well, the5600:05:24,179 –> 00:05:28,160answer to that question is we’re going to see from this first letter of John is5700:05:28,160 –> 00:05:36,859really a cord of at least three strands that is kind of woven together. The first5800:05:36,859 –> 00:05:44,079is to gain gospel clarity the second is to cultivate gospel fruit and the third5900:05:44,339 –> 00:05:51,179is to practice gospel faith. Now here’s where we begin, that if you are to be6000:05:51,179 –> 00:06:03,260sure of your standing in Christ you must gain gospel clarity and we begin here6100:06:03,260 –> 00:06:08,720at verse 5 that was read to us where John makes a marvelous statement about6200:06:09,579 –> 00:06:18,880this is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you that God is6300:06:18,880 –> 00:06:31,320light and in him is no darkness at all this is the message6400:06:32,320 –> 00:06:36,459Now if we were to do a straw poll and to ask the question where does the6500:06:36,480 –> 00:06:43,600Christian message begin where does the gospel begin I think on a straw poll6600:06:43,600 –> 00:06:49,540we’d probably get many people would say well it begins with the love of God and6700:06:49,540 –> 00:06:56,440John’s writings are full of the love of God it’s John’s Gospel where we read6800:06:56,440 –> 00:07:03,399that God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son and it’s in this6900:07:03,480 –> 00:07:09,160letter of John the first letter of John that John says not once but twice in7000:07:09,160 –> 00:07:16,760chapter 4 that God is love we were going to see that this letter is full of the7100:07:16,760 –> 00:07:25,239love of God but the first thing that John tells us this is the message he7200:07:25,239 –> 00:07:32,940says the first thing is not that God is love but that God is light this is the7300:07:32,940 –> 00:07:43,019message that God is light and in him is no darkness at all7400:07:43,019 –> 00:07:48,140now Martin Lloyd-Jones makes the point that if we do not start with the7500:07:48,140 –> 00:07:56,100holiness of God we will never understand the gospel God saves us through the7600:07:56,100 –> 00:08:02,279cross the death the shedding of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ but the7700:08:02,279 –> 00:08:09,239obvious question that a person would ask is why do we need the cross why is7800:08:09,239 –> 00:08:14,480this the only way that people can be saved you hear that question I’m sure7900:08:14,480 –> 00:08:18,600all the time and Martin Lloyd-Jones says this and i8000:08:18,600 –> 00:08:24,679quote if God is only loved and compassion and mercy then the cross is8100:08:24,679 –> 00:08:31,299surely meaningless for if God is love alone all he needs to do when a man8200:08:31,299 –> 00:08:38,200sins is forgiven so you see if you do not start with the holiness of God which8300:08:38,200 –> 00:08:43,840is what John does here God is light you will not understand the Gospel and John8400:08:43,840 –> 00:08:49,299wants us to grasp the gospel because he wants us to know that we have eternal8500:08:49,299 –> 00:08:56,520life and grasping the gospel begins with the holiness of God God is light and in8600:08:57,080 –> 00:09:05,599is no darkness at all then John introduces us to this glorious8700:09:05,599 –> 00:09:13,719possibility staggering possibility that we should have fellowship with this Holy8800:09:13,719 –> 00:09:24,380God verse six if we say that we have fellowship with him fellowship with him8900:09:24,380 –> 00:09:28,219our friends this is the greatest blessing their human being can possibly9000:09:28,219 –> 00:09:36,059know this is the very purpose for which we were made God has called us we read9100:09:36,059 –> 00:09:44,260in first Corinthians chapter 1 and verse 9 into fellowship with his son we live9200:09:44,260 –> 00:09:50,780in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship9300:09:51,739 –> 00:09:57,840spirit and here Jon says in chapter 1 and verse 3 our fellowship is with the9400:09:57,840 –> 00:10:02,820father and with his son Jesus Christ what does that mean fellowship means9500:10:02,820 –> 00:10:13,299that you are a friend of God fellowship means that you share in his life and God9600:10:13,460 –> 00:10:22,979himself shares in your life and eternal life itself is a life of fellowship with9700:10:22,979 –> 00:10:29,260God remember Jesus said to the father in John 17 in verse 3 this is eternal life9800:10:29,260 –> 00:10:37,500that they know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent now9900:10:37,500 –> 00:10:43,580John tells us two things about fellowship with God and we’ll come back10000:10:43,580 –> 00:10:47,979and look at those two things in just a moment you’re listening to Open the10100:10:47,979 –> 00:10:52,380Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called assurance grows as you10200:10:52,380 –> 00:10:55,859walk in the light it’s the first message in our series how10300:10:55,859 –> 00:10:59,059can I be sure all about having that assurance of10400:10:59,059 –> 00:11:03,080salvation if you ever miss one of the series you can always catch up or go10500:11:03,080 –> 00:11:09,400back and listen again online at our website openthebible.org.uk or you can10600:11:09,400 –> 00:11:14,080find us as a podcast on all the main podcast sites search for open the Bible10700:11:14,080 –> 00:11:19,479UK and subscribe if you want to receive regular details you can also find a link10800:11:19,479 –> 00:11:24,260to the podcast on our website back to the message now we’re in the first10900:11:24,260 –> 00:11:30,200letter of John in chapter one here again is Colin now John tells us two things11000:11:30,260 –> 00:11:37,659about fellowship with God and they are our focus today and the first is that11100:11:37,659 –> 00:11:44,840fellowship with God is impossible for a person who walks in darkness look at11200:11:44,840 –> 00:11:51,859verse 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him that is with the God11300:11:51,859 –> 00:11:57,140Who is light and in Whom is no darkness at all if we say that we have fellowship11400:11:57,380 –> 00:12:11,719with Him while we walk in darkness we lie and do not practice the truth. Now11500:12:11,719 –> 00:12:18,859here is a person who claims to have fellowship with God speaks often about11600:12:18,859 –> 00:12:27,700God likes to talk about his or her faith speaks often about how God leads11700:12:27,700 –> 00:12:38,659me speaks about how God shows me what to do but at the same time this person is11800:12:38,659 –> 00:12:45,559walking in darkness notice the word while it’s very important if we say we11900:12:46,039 –> 00:12:52,239have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness. So here’s a person on the12000:12:52,239 –> 00:12:56,159one hand they claim to have fellowship with God on the other hand this person12100:12:56,159 –> 00:13:01,000he or she is walking in darkness and these two things are happening at12200:13:01,000 –> 00:13:10,099precisely the same time. Now what does it mean to walk in darkness? To walk in12300:13:10,099 –> 00:13:19,200darkness is to hold on to what God calls sin and refuse to let it go. No12400:13:19,200 –> 00:13:33,580confession, no repentance just excuses or explanations or concealments or12500:13:33,580 –> 00:13:39,719self-justifications. That of course is what Adam did you remember, his first12600:13:40,059 –> 00:13:43,500instinctive response when he sinned against God by breaking his commandment12700:13:43,500 –> 00:13:52,080he hid in the presence of the Lord among the trees of the garden and of course we12800:13:52,080 –> 00:13:57,179may speculate on why he did this was it pride was it fear maybe it was shame12900:13:57,179 –> 00:14:02,099whatever it was the fact and the reality of the matter was that instead of coming13000:14:02,099 –> 00:14:07,419out into the light and confessing his sin to God what Adam did was that he13100:14:07,520 –> 00:14:13,260and you cannot have fellowship with God while you’re hiding from him13200:14:13,500 –> 00:14:21,719now notice that John says while we walk in darkness13300:14:21,719 –> 00:14:28,820so John is not saying and very clearly he’s not saying if there’s any sin in13400:14:28,820 –> 00:14:33,179your life you’re not a Christian if there’s any sin in your life you cannot13500:14:33,179 –> 00:14:36,900have fellowship with God he cannot mean that because he says in verse 813600:14:36,900 –> 00:14:41,479if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us13700:14:41,479 –> 00:14:49,320he’s talking about walking in darkness and walking by definition is a13800:14:49,320 –> 00:14:59,500continuing action walking in darkness means staying in darkness and fellowship13900:14:59,520 –> 00:15:06,599with God is impossible John is saying for a person who walks or stays in14000:15:06,599 –> 00:15:13,419darkness now this theme is very important and it runs through poet first14100:15:13,419 –> 00:15:21,000John for example chapter 3 in verse 6 John says no one who abides in him keeps14200:15:21,000 –> 00:15:28,679on sinning notice the walking the staying in darkness keeps on sinning no14300:15:28,700 –> 00:15:37,840one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him so think about the14400:15:37,840 –> 00:15:43,500prodigal son when he was in the far country when he was in the far country14500:15:43,500 –> 00:15:50,859his father loved him when he was in the far country the father was ready to14600:15:50,859 –> 00:15:58,000welcome him home but the prodigal son did not have fellowship with his father14700:15:58,039 –> 00:16:03,380while he was in the far country living among the pigs it was only when he14800:16:03,380 –> 00:16:09,979returned home only when he came out of the darkness and into the light that his14900:16:09,979 –> 00:16:14,799fellowship with his father was so wonderfully restored now John is saying15000:16:14,799 –> 00:16:19,640something very important that we need to hear today Fellowship with God is15100:16:19,640 –> 00:16:28,940impossible for the person who walks in darkness John says if we say we have15200:16:28,940 –> 00:16:36,380Fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness we lie and do not practice the15300:16:36,380 –> 00:16:44,900truth now the lie here is to the suggestion or the idea that sin doesn’t15400:16:44,900 –> 00:16:51,419matter that’s the lie and it’s a lie that still grips the minds of many15500:16:51,419 –> 00:16:59,380people that somehow we can have Fellowship with God irrespective of how15600:16:59,380 –> 00:17:07,459we choose to live and John says if you think that you can have Fellowship with15700:17:07,459 –> 00:17:11,199God irrespective of how you live if you think that you can have Fellowship with15800:17:11,739 –> 00:17:18,560you are walking in darkness you have bought into a lie and your claim to15900:17:18,560 –> 00:17:27,520have Fellowship with God is empty it’s an illusion you have in fact deceived16000:17:27,520 –> 00:17:37,900yourself it’s a very important fellowship with God is impossible for16100:17:37,900 –> 00:17:45,060the person who walks in darkness that’s the first thing the second thing is that16200:17:45,060 –> 00:17:52,880fellowship with God is the joy of a person who walks in the light notice the16300:17:52,880 –> 00:18:04,479contrast now in verse 7 but but but if we walk in the light as he is in the16400:18:04,479 –> 00:18:12,579light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his son16500:18:12,579 –> 00:18:20,939cleanses us from all sin now this theme of16600:18:20,939 –> 00:18:28,140walking in the light is really important and it is often misunderstood so let’s16700:18:28,140 –> 00:18:33,500clear away to miss understandings before we get to what Jon is saying here the16800:18:33,500 –> 00:18:38,339first misunderstanding to clear away simply this that walking in the light is16900:18:38,339 –> 00:18:42,900not perfection walking in the light is not perfection17000:18:42,900 –> 00:18:48,859thank God this is really really good news because of course if walking in the17100:18:48,859 –> 00:18:54,140light meant that we had to be completely free from all sin before any of us could17200:18:54,140 –> 00:18:56,599have fellowship with God none of us would ever have fellowship with God in17300:18:56,599 –> 00:19:00,780fact no one would ever have fellowship with God if we say we’re without sin17400:19:01,079 –> 00:19:09,540deceiving ourselves is the very next verse the Bible never teaches that we17500:19:09,540 –> 00:19:16,079must be free from all sin in order to have fellowship with God john state says17600:19:16,079 –> 00:19:19,739quite clearly in verse 8 if we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves and17700:19:19,739 –> 00:19:27,500the truth is not in us fellowship with God is promised to people who know and17800:19:27,500 –> 00:19:36,040confess their sins think about this it is very wonderful though the impulse17900:19:36,040 –> 00:19:44,780towards sin remains in us and though we never move beyond our need to confess18000:19:44,780 –> 00:19:50,540our sins and seek God’s forgiveness yet by his grace through Jesus Christ it is18100:19:50,540 –> 00:19:55,219possible for sinners like us to have fellowship with God that’s the heart of18200:19:55,319 –> 00:20:01,300walking in the light is not perfection you can breathe a huge sigh of relief18300:20:01,300 –> 00:20:06,380with that there’s another thing that I think is worth mentioning walking in the18400:20:06,380 –> 00:20:11,260light is not transparency sometimes misunderstood in that way as well18500:20:11,260 –> 00:20:17,020notice John says we are to walk in the light as he that is God is in the light18600:20:17,439 –> 00:20:25,500now the Bible tells us that God is pure the Bible tells us that God is holy that18700:20:25,500 –> 00:20:31,420God is true and that God cannot lie18800:20:32,420 –> 00:20:39,579but God is not transparent there are many many things that we do not know18900:20:39,579 –> 00:20:48,239about Him many things that He has not chosen to reveal about Himself and so19000:20:48,239 –> 00:20:58,020God calls us to a life that is pure that is honest and is true but the Bible19100:20:58,020 –> 00:21:06,020never suggests that we are all under an obligation to tell everyone everything19200:21:06,239 –> 00:21:11,939about ourselves. So let’s clear away these misconceptions walking in the19300:21:11,939 –> 00:21:15,939light is not perfection and walking in the light19400:21:15,939 –> 00:21:21,020is not transparency the Bible never commands that you are under an19500:21:21,020 –> 00:21:26,199obligation to tell everybody everything about yourself. You are called to be19600:21:26,199 –> 00:21:31,900pure and true and you are called to be honest and not to live a lie. So what19700:21:31,900 –> 00:21:37,739does it mean to walk in the light? Well we’ve got to pause the message there but19800:21:37,739 –> 00:21:41,260we’ll be back with the second part of this message in our next broadcast19900:21:41,260 –> 00:21:45,839the message is called assurance grows as you walk in the light and it’s part of20000:21:45,839 –> 00:21:51,380our series how can I be sure? all about how to have assurance of salvation.20100:21:51,380 –> 00:21:55,599You’ve been listening to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and don’t forget20200:21:55,599 –> 00:21:59,459if you ever miss one of the messages you can catch up or go back and listen again20300:21:59,540 –> 00:22:06,180online at our website openthebible.org.uk or find us as a podcast and those20400:22:06,180 –> 00:22:11,219are on all the main podcast sites search for Open the Bible UK or follow the link20500:22:11,219 –> 00:22:15,699from our website while you’re on our website have a good look around at all20600:22:15,699 –> 00:22:20,599the resources we have for Christian individuals groups and churches and20700:22:20,599 –> 00:22:25,560don’t forget open the Bible daily which is our series of short two to three20800:22:25,599 –> 00:22:30,479minute daily reflections based on Pastor Colin’s teaching and read in the UK by20900:22:30,479 –> 00:22:34,680Sue MacLeish there’s a new one every day and many Christians find it’s a great21000:22:34,680 –> 00:22:39,099way to start the day. Open the Bible is supported by our listeners and if you’re21100:22:39,099 –> 00:22:42,979thinking about doing that for the first time this month we would like to offer21200:22:42,979 –> 00:22:47,839you something in return if you’re able to set up a new direct debit of five21300:22:47,839 –> 00:22:53,280pounds per month or more or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more we’ll send you21400:22:53,479 –> 00:22:58,780pastor Colin Smith’s book the ten greatest struggles of your life finding21500:22:58,780 –> 00:23:04,400freedom in God’s commands along with five beautiful Psalm 23 note cards21600:23:04,400 –> 00:23:08,839Colin what are you hoping that readers will take away from reading this book21700:23:08,839 –> 00:23:14,599well there are so many people who have only heard a message that is basically21800:23:14,599 –> 00:23:18,800do this and don’t do that and have become tired of it21900:23:18,800 –> 00:23:22,060and may even have walked away from it folks who are listening to us right now22000:23:22,060 –> 00:23:26,839and that’s been your experience do this do this do this don’t do that don’t do22100:23:26,839 –> 00:23:31,839that and so forth and so on and the wonderful thing that’s at the very heart22200:23:31,839 –> 00:23:37,859of the gospel is that God gives what he commands so when we look at the ten22300:23:37,859 –> 00:23:43,739Commandments we’re looking at what God actually offers to give to us by the22400:23:43,739 –> 00:23:49,260power of his Holy Spirit when we put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ he’s able22500:23:49,459 –> 00:23:54,920to give us a new life in which it’s possible to pursue purity in which it’s22600:23:54,920 –> 00:23:58,479possible to find contentment in which it’s possible22700:23:58,479 –> 00:24:03,640for us to make wise and good use of our time all of these issues are addressed22800:24:03,640 –> 00:24:07,979in the Ten Commandments and therefore they point to a new life that is full of22900:24:07,979 –> 00:24:13,599the most wonderful hope if you’ve only heard a bunch of do’s and don’ts you23000:24:13,599 –> 00:24:18,420haven’t yet discovered the good news of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and23100:24:18,540 –> 00:24:22,140so my open prayer for this book is that it will help many people to have their23200:24:22,140 –> 00:24:26,119eyes opened to the new life that’s possible through faith in the Lord Jesus23300:24:26,119 –> 00:24:31,099Christ so that’s our gift to you this month of September if you’re able to set23400:24:31,099 –> 00:24:36,060up a new direct debit of five pounds per month or more or a one-off gift of fifty23500:24:36,060 –> 00:24:40,979pounds or more to the work of open the Bible full terms and conditions on our23600:24:40,979 –> 00:24:45,780website that’s at open the Bible or official website and you can give online23700:24:46,560 –> 00:24:50,219you’d like us to send you this gift please don’t give anonymously and23800:24:50,239 –> 00:24:55,160remember to include your address so that we can send you your gift for open the23900:24:55,160 –> 00:24:59,060Bible and pastor Colin Smith I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us again24000:24:59,060 –> 00:25:06,459next time on open the Bible24100:25:06,459 –> 00:25:12,459what does it mean when the Bible talks about walking in the light find out next24200:25:12,459 –> 00:25:16,020time on open the Bible
