100:00:00,140 –> 00:00:04,220Quick Old Testament Intro200:00:04,220 –> 00:00:08,720By this we know that we have come to know God.300:00:08,720 –> 00:00:12,200Now you see that’s assurance.400:00:12,200 –> 00:00:16,040To know that you know God.500:00:16,040 –> 00:00:19,400To know that your faith is genuine.600:00:19,400 –> 00:00:22,340To know that you are not self deceived.700:00:22,340 –> 00:00:29,459To know that God is Yours and You are His forever and forever.800:00:29,520 –> 00:00:33,139Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick.900:00:33,139 –> 00:00:38,119Glad you could be with us today, and Colin, I think all of us would say yes to that .1000:00:38,119 –> 00:00:40,340I want to know that I know God,1100:00:40,340 –> 00:00:45,220and when that’s settled what kind of impact does that have on the life of a believer?1200:00:45,220 –> 00:00:49,919Well, it’s going to bring much greater peace and it’s going to bring much greater joy.1300:00:49,919 –> 00:00:54,040I mean this subject that we’re looking at in First John, the subject of assurance,1400:00:54,840 –> 00:00:56,279is a wonderful, wonderful, subject.1500:00:56,279 –> 00:01:01,459And the whole letter has been written because it’s possible to be a believer,1600:01:01,459 –> 00:01:05,739and yet not to be sure that you really belong to the Lord.1700:01:05,739 –> 00:01:10,519And John wants to teach us how we can grow in assurance.1800:01:10,519 –> 00:01:15,400How we can come to a greater degree of confidence and peace and joy1900:01:15,400 –> 00:01:19,300that Christ really is ours and that we really do belong to him,2000:01:19,300 –> 00:01:21,239and that heaven lies ahead of us.2100:01:21,239 –> 00:01:23,239These are wonderful things.2200:01:23,360 –> 00:01:28,040And John is very, very clear in pointing to the path2300:01:28,040 –> 00:01:31,220in which these are increasingly found.2400:01:31,220 –> 00:01:34,139So, yeah, when you know what’s down the path,2500:01:34,139 –> 00:01:37,440that gives you every incentive to go and to pursue it,2600:01:37,440 –> 00:01:40,919and we’re going to do that together in the message again today.2700:01:41,160 –> 00:01:47,360So, that’s what we’re going to be hearing about today in 1 John, chapter 2, verses 3 to 6.2800:01:47,360 –> 00:01:52,480As we begin a message, assurance grows as you obey God’s commands.2900:01:52,500 –> 00:01:53,519Here is Colin.3000:01:53,559 –> 00:01:58,639It is a joy to be able to turn to 1 John and chapter 23100:01:58,639 –> 00:02:03,279as we return to a series that we began here earlier in the year.3200:02:03,279 –> 00:02:06,660The series title is a question,3300:02:06,660 –> 00:02:09,779how can I be sure?3400:02:10,440 –> 00:02:13,380Now, this question of assurance,3500:02:13,380 –> 00:02:14,960how can I be sure,3600:02:15,259 –> 00:02:19,059it’s really pressed on us, I think, for a number of reasons.3700:02:19,059 –> 00:02:23,580It’s probably the single most frequent question3800:02:23,580 –> 00:02:28,679that in some form or another is asked of pastors.3900:02:29,100 –> 00:02:30,279Why is it asked so often?4000:02:30,300 –> 00:02:32,779Well, I think one reason is that4100:02:32,779 –> 00:02:35,619we live at a time when many people are abandoning4200:02:35,619 –> 00:02:37,839the faith that they once professed.4300:02:37,839 –> 00:02:41,559You probably know someone who seemed to be a very bright Christian4400:02:41,559 –> 00:02:44,179and now does not profess the faith at all4500:02:44,179 –> 00:02:46,979and it might have occurred to you if that has happened to them,4600:02:46,979 –> 00:02:47,979they’ve walked away.4700:02:48,259 –> 00:02:51,440How do I know that that will not happen to me?4800:02:52,479 –> 00:02:55,139And then the question I think is pressed upon us4900:02:55,139 –> 00:02:57,100because thoughtful believers,5000:02:57,100 –> 00:02:59,940and I think we are a group of thoughtful believers,5100:03:00,660 –> 00:03:04,759we do see the limitations in our own pursuit of holiness.5200:03:05,500 –> 00:03:08,139If you don’t see that, you’re not a very thoughtful believer.5300:03:08,800 –> 00:03:11,699There are stubborn sins that we struggle to overcome5400:03:12,320 –> 00:03:16,479and when you fall into a sin that you’ve fallen into before,5500:03:16,820 –> 00:03:18,279you may find yourself wondering,5600:03:18,279 –> 00:03:21,320well then, was my repentance real?5700:03:21,320 –> 00:03:22,759And if I truly repented,5800:03:22,759 –> 00:03:26,320then why am I back here all over again?5900:03:27,160 –> 00:03:29,259And then I think a third reason6000:03:29,259 –> 00:03:33,300why this question of assurance keeps pressing in on us6100:03:33,960 –> 00:03:39,000is because the Bible describes a level of Christian experience6200:03:39,639 –> 00:03:42,399that sometimes seems beyond what we have known.6300:03:43,399 –> 00:03:44,899Peter speaks, for example,6400:03:44,899 –> 00:03:48,940about rejoicing with an inexpressible and glorious joy.6500:03:49,820 –> 00:03:52,720You read that, you say, now what do I know of that?6600:03:52,720 –> 00:03:55,360Or Paul speaks about a peace of God6700:03:55,360 –> 00:03:57,479that passes understanding,6800:03:57,479 –> 00:04:00,779and you may read verses like that and say,6900:04:00,779 –> 00:04:04,100now, what do I really know of that?7000:04:04,100 –> 00:04:06,559And so, as you look at these things,7100:04:06,559 –> 00:04:08,399you begin to ask the question,7200:04:08,399 –> 00:04:11,500now, am I really a Christian?7300:04:12,600 –> 00:04:15,919And how can I be sure?7400:04:15,919 –> 00:04:17,220Well, that is the question.7500:04:17,220 –> 00:04:19,399It’s a very important question.7600:04:19,399 –> 00:04:21,880And this first letter of John7700:04:21,880 –> 00:04:26,000was specifically written to give us the answer.7800:04:26,000 –> 00:04:29,720So, First John chapter five and verse 13, it’s quite clear.7900:04:29,720 –> 00:04:33,480John says, I write these things to you who believe.8000:04:33,480 –> 00:04:35,540So he’s writing to believers,8100:04:35,540 –> 00:04:37,679and I write these things to you who believe8200:04:37,679 –> 00:04:39,179in the name of the Son of God.8300:04:39,179 –> 00:04:40,040Why?8400:04:40,160 –> 00:04:45,160You may know that you have eternal life,8500:04:45,459 –> 00:04:48,119and that’s what this book is all about,8600:04:48,119 –> 00:04:50,839that you may have assurance,8700:04:50,839 –> 00:04:55,640that you may know that eternal life really is yours.8800:04:55,640 –> 00:04:58,799And in this book, John tells us8900:04:58,799 –> 00:05:02,660how we can grow in assurance.9000:05:02,660 –> 00:05:06,279There are things that you can pursue and must pursue9100:05:06,279 –> 00:05:08,600that will lead to you being more confident9200:05:08,600 –> 00:05:11,399that you really do belong to Christ.9300:05:11,399 –> 00:05:12,600Cultivate these things,9400:05:12,600 –> 00:05:15,600and you will have greater peace and greater joy.9500:05:15,600 –> 00:05:19,420You will grow in assurance.9600:05:19,420 –> 00:05:22,480Now, what, then are these things that we are to pursue9700:05:22,480 –> 00:05:25,140if we are to grow in assurance?9800:05:25,140 –> 00:05:28,459Well, earlier this year, we made a beginning in this book,9900:05:28,459 –> 00:05:30,200and we saw three things.10000:05:30,200 –> 00:05:34,940The first was that assurance grows as you walk in the light.10100:05:34,940 –> 00:05:36,279That’s where John begins.10200:05:36,279 –> 00:05:40,459God is light, chapter one, and verse five.10300:05:40,459 –> 00:05:44,859And in him, there’s no darkness at all.10400:05:44,859 –> 00:05:46,720If we say we have fellowship with him10500:05:46,720 –> 00:05:49,619while we walk in darkness,10600:05:49,619 –> 00:05:52,500then, we lie, and we do not practice the truth.10700:05:52,500 –> 00:05:56,880But if we walk in the light as he is in the light,10800:05:56,880 –> 00:05:59,480well, we have fellowship with one another,10900:05:59,480 –> 00:06:04,480and the blood of Jesus, his son, cleanses us from all sin.11000:06:04,799 –> 00:06:07,000And we saw that to walk in darkness11100:06:07,000 –> 00:06:11,000is to stay in darkness, and John says,11200:06:11,000 –> 00:06:13,000if you want to have fellowship with God11300:06:13,000 –> 00:06:15,320and know that this wonderful gift is yours,11400:06:15,320 –> 00:06:18,160you have to come out of the darkness,11500:06:18,160 –> 00:06:21,279and you have to walk in the light.11600:06:21,279 –> 00:06:23,359And then, we saw that assurance grows11700:06:23,359 –> 00:06:26,000as you confess your sins.11800:06:26,000 –> 00:06:29,100If we confess our sins, chapter one, in verse nine,11900:06:29,100 –> 00:06:31,920he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins12000:06:31,920 –> 00:06:35,399and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.12100:06:36,459 –> 00:06:41,339So the point here is that however disciplined you are12200:06:41,339 –> 00:06:44,559in the pursuit of a holy life,12300:06:44,559 –> 00:06:46,760it will never go so well with you12400:06:46,760 –> 00:06:49,920that you’re completely free from all sin.12500:06:49,920 –> 00:06:52,359Sin hides in our hearts, and that’s why12600:06:52,359 –> 00:06:56,779it breaks out and manifests and shows up in our lives.12700:06:56,779 –> 00:06:59,380And the clearest evidence actually12800:06:59,420 –> 00:07:02,619that a person really is walking in the light12900:07:02,619 –> 00:07:05,260is that we see our own sins13000:07:05,260 –> 00:07:08,700and therefore have a deep desire to overcome them.13100:07:08,700 –> 00:07:11,660And so John gives us this marvelous promise13200:07:11,660 –> 00:07:15,339that as we see our own sins, if we confess them,13300:07:15,339 –> 00:07:18,320he is faithful and just to forgive them13400:07:18,320 –> 00:07:21,980and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.13500:07:21,980 –> 00:07:24,579And then we saw thirdly last time13600:07:24,579 –> 00:07:27,739that assurance grows as you trust the Savior.13700:07:27,739 –> 00:07:30,040Chapter two in verse one John says,13800:07:30,040 –> 00:07:35,040I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin,13900:07:35,619 –> 00:07:39,500but if anyone does sin,14000:07:39,500 –> 00:07:41,679we have an Advocate with the Father,14100:07:41,679 –> 00:07:43,459Jesus Christ the Righteous,14200:07:43,459 –> 00:07:46,459he is the propitiation for our sins14300:07:46,459 –> 00:07:48,260and not for ours only,14400:07:48,260 –> 00:07:51,000but also for the sins of the whole world.14500:07:51,980 –> 00:07:54,220And here’s how you’re going to grow in assurance14600:07:54,459 –> 00:07:56,600is to grasp this wonderful truth14700:07:56,600 –> 00:08:01,600that God has provided for the many sins and failures14800:08:01,899 –> 00:08:05,260that are in our Christian lives.14900:08:05,260 –> 00:08:06,799He’s provided in Jesus,15000:08:06,799 –> 00:08:09,660who is the propitiation for our sins,15100:08:09,660 –> 00:08:13,000that is he took the punishment for them on himself15200:08:13,000 –> 00:08:16,739and He is our Advocate before the Father.15300:08:16,739 –> 00:08:20,500And so you will grow in assurance as you look to Him,15400:08:20,500 –> 00:08:22,179as you listen to Him,15500:08:22,239 –> 00:08:25,619as you trust Him in all that He has done,15600:08:25,619 –> 00:08:28,200all that He is doing now is our Advocate15700:08:28,200 –> 00:08:29,540and all that He will do15800:08:29,540 –> 00:08:34,239when He brings His glorious work now begun to completion.15900:08:34,239 –> 00:08:36,380So that’s what we’ve learned so far16000:08:36,380 –> 00:08:37,659as we made a beginning16100:08:37,659 –> 00:08:41,380in this wonderful first letter of John.16200:08:41,380 –> 00:08:42,940We’re going to take it up today then16300:08:42,940 –> 00:08:45,719in 1 John 2 and verse three,16400:08:45,719 –> 00:08:48,299where we find now a fourth way16500:08:48,299 –> 00:08:51,460in which we can grow in assurance.16600:08:51,460 –> 00:08:55,919And it is very clearly that assurance grows16700:08:55,919 –> 00:08:59,739as you obey God’s commands.16800:08:59,739 –> 00:09:01,640That’s our title today.16900:09:01,640 –> 00:09:03,739Now I want us to see in these wonderful verses17000:09:03,739 –> 00:09:08,739a glorious promise, a clear path and a beautiful freedom.17100:09:08,820 –> 00:09:12,640First then, a glorious promise.17200:09:12,640 –> 00:09:15,479And by this, verse three,17300:09:16,419 –> 00:09:21,419we know that we have come to know him17400:09:23,359 –> 00:09:27,820if we keep his commandments.17500:09:29,280 –> 00:09:32,500Now let’s think about this glorious promise for a moment.17600:09:33,979 –> 00:09:38,599To know God, to know God,17700:09:39,820 –> 00:09:43,659that is the very reason and purpose17800:09:43,719 –> 00:09:45,080for which you were made.17900:09:46,000 –> 00:09:48,200It will be the heart of everything18000:09:48,200 –> 00:09:51,640that you enjoy for all eternity.18100:09:52,580 –> 00:09:56,659Jesus said, this is eternal life,18200:09:56,659 –> 00:10:01,659that they should know you, the only God,18300:10:01,919 –> 00:10:04,380and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.18400:10:05,880 –> 00:10:08,419Now, God is infinite, God is eternal,18500:10:08,419 –> 00:10:12,599so no one can possibly ever know him fully,18600:10:12,599 –> 00:10:16,799but God’s plan and purpose is that we, finite as we are,18700:10:16,799 –> 00:10:19,760should truly know him,18800:10:19,760 –> 00:10:22,679and that we should enjoy him forever,18900:10:23,539 –> 00:10:28,119but I want you to notice that here, John goes even further.19000:10:29,000 –> 00:10:33,239Not only that we should know God,19100:10:33,239 –> 00:10:37,859but that we should know that we know him.19200:10:37,859 –> 00:10:42,859By this we know that we have come to know God.19300:10:43,940 –> 00:10:46,260Now you see, that’s assurance,19400:10:46,260 –> 00:10:50,140to know that you know God,19500:10:50,140 –> 00:10:53,500to know that your faith is genuine,19600:10:53,500 –> 00:10:56,460to know that you are not self-deceived,19700:10:56,460 –> 00:10:58,659to know that God is yours19800:10:58,659 –> 00:11:03,179and you are his forever and forever.19900:11:04,440 –> 00:11:05,700It’s a wonderful promise.20000:11:06,559 –> 00:11:10,479Another way to describe this glorious promise20100:11:10,479 –> 00:11:15,099of assurance is that your faith20200:11:15,099 –> 00:11:18,739will not depend on someone else.20300:11:19,940 –> 00:11:22,700Now, all of us have received in many wonderful ways20400:11:22,700 –> 00:11:24,820from other people who may have taught us the way,20500:11:24,820 –> 00:11:26,059led us into the faith,20600:11:26,059 –> 00:11:27,739opened the Bible with us and so forth.20700:11:27,739 –> 00:11:29,380It may be your parents,20800:11:29,380 –> 00:11:30,500it may be your friends,20900:11:30,500 –> 00:11:32,299it may be a pastor, a teacher,21000:11:32,299 –> 00:11:33,880may be a Bible study group21100:11:33,880 –> 00:11:35,419and you say it was through them21200:11:35,559 –> 00:11:38,380that God brought me into the way of truth.21300:11:39,400 –> 00:11:40,799That’s a wonderful thing.21400:11:41,960 –> 00:11:44,840But you see if God has used another person,21500:11:44,840 –> 00:11:47,059especially if it’s a very strong person,21600:11:48,159 –> 00:11:52,599God has used another person to show you the way,21700:11:52,599 –> 00:11:57,599you may sometimes have this troubling question21800:11:57,599 –> 00:11:59,219at the back of your mind.21900:12:00,460 –> 00:12:04,159Do I really know God for myself?22000:12:05,859 –> 00:12:10,859Or am I just kind of living off someone else’s experience.22100:12:13,119 –> 00:12:16,799Now, God has specifically promised22200:12:16,799 –> 00:12:20,559that all of his people will know him directly.22300:12:20,559 –> 00:12:22,200It’s a wonderful promise.22400:12:22,200 –> 00:12:25,979Jeremiah chapter 31 and verse 34.22500:12:25,979 –> 00:12:29,719Promising the new covenant, God says no longer shall22600:12:29,719 –> 00:12:34,479each one teach his neighbor and each his brother22700:12:34,479 –> 00:12:39,479saying know the LORD, for they shall all know me.22800:12:41,140 –> 00:12:46,140From the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord.22900:12:46,479 –> 00:12:48,919Do you see what that wonderful promise is saying?23000:12:49,960 –> 00:12:54,059Your knowledge of God will not be secondhand.23100:12:56,299 –> 00:12:59,400Other people may have led you into a knowledge of the truth,23200:12:59,400 –> 00:13:02,520but it will not depend on other people.23300:13:02,520 –> 00:13:04,380It won’t be a matter of other people23400:13:05,200 –> 00:13:06,039telling you about God.23500:13:06,039 –> 00:13:08,299You will know Him for yourself.23600:13:08,299 –> 00:13:09,979That’s a glorious promise,23700:13:09,979 –> 00:13:12,599and John says not only will you know Him for yourself,23800:13:12,599 –> 00:13:16,979you will know that you know Him for yourself.23900:13:16,979 –> 00:13:21,979By this we know that we have come to know Him.24000:13:23,380 –> 00:13:26,400Now just try and take in and savor for a moment24100:13:26,400 –> 00:13:29,739the joy and the blessing that he’s describing here.24200:13:29,820 –> 00:13:34,820To know that you really have come to know the living God.24300:13:37,539 –> 00:13:40,179Could there be anything more glorious than that?24400:13:41,780 –> 00:13:44,179What a great place to pause and reflect24500:13:44,179 –> 00:13:45,679that it’s a great thing that24600:13:45,679 –> 00:13:48,059we can know that we know God.24700:13:48,059 –> 00:13:50,099Our message today is called24800:13:50,099 –> 00:13:52,500Assurance Grows As You Obey God’s Commands.24900:13:52,500 –> 00:13:54,059And it’s part of our series,25000:13:54,059 –> 00:13:55,219How Can I Be Sure?25100:13:55,219 –> 00:13:58,580all about having assurance of salvation.25200:13:58,580 –> 00:14:00,419And if you’ve missed any of the series,25300:14:00,419 –> 00:14:02,020don’t forget you can always catch up25400:14:02,020 –> 00:14:05,619or go back and check them again online at our website,25500:14:05,619 –> 00:14:08,640that’s at openthebible.org.uk.25600:14:08,640 –> 00:14:11,539Or alternatively you can hear them as a podcast25700:14:11,539 –> 00:14:13,539and those are on all the main podcast sites.25800:14:13,539 –> 00:14:16,039You can search for Open the Bible UK25900:14:16,039 –> 00:14:18,780or follow the link from our website.26000:14:18,780 –> 00:14:19,940Back to the message now,26100:14:19,940 –> 00:14:21,919we’re in 1 John chapter two26200:14:21,919 –> 00:14:23,460verses three to six.26300:14:23,460 –> 00:14:24,640Here again is Colin.26400:14:25,440 –> 00:14:28,260Now if you have ever questioned26500:14:28,260 –> 00:14:31,059your own experience of God,26600:14:32,179 –> 00:14:34,760if you have ever wondered26700:14:34,760 –> 00:14:38,400have I really been converted,26800:14:38,400 –> 00:14:40,599am I really a Christian?26900:14:40,599 –> 00:14:42,380Obviously this verse now27000:14:42,380 –> 00:14:44,479and the verses that follow in 1 John27100:14:44,479 –> 00:14:47,619are going to be a very special interest to you27200:14:47,619 –> 00:14:49,460because John is going to tell us27300:14:49,460 –> 00:14:52,940how we can come to know27400:14:52,979 –> 00:14:55,760that we really do know God,27500:14:55,760 –> 00:14:58,880how we can have assurance,27600:14:58,880 –> 00:15:02,580how we can know that we have been born again,27700:15:02,580 –> 00:15:05,320how we can know that our sins really are forgiven27800:15:05,320 –> 00:15:07,919and we truly are destined for heaven.27900:15:07,919 –> 00:15:10,400That’s a wonderful theme28000:15:10,400 –> 00:15:11,820that is being brought before us28100:15:11,820 –> 00:15:13,659from the scriptures today.28200:15:14,880 –> 00:15:19,719And then John states this marvelous promise28300:15:19,719 –> 00:15:21,000in another way,28400:15:21,000 –> 00:15:22,760if you look at verse five,28500:15:22,760 –> 00:15:26,020he says something similar, but distinct again.28600:15:26,020 –> 00:15:30,900By this we may know that we are in him.28700:15:32,619 –> 00:15:34,080Now put these two statements28800:15:34,080 –> 00:15:36,760in verse three and in verse five together,28900:15:36,760 –> 00:15:39,640and you really have a perfect definition29000:15:39,640 –> 00:15:43,119or description of assurance.29100:15:43,119 –> 00:15:48,119The gift of assurance is to know that you know God29200:15:48,799 –> 00:15:51,919and to know that you are in Christ.29300:15:51,919 –> 00:15:56,140That’s what it is, to know that you know God29400:15:56,140 –> 00:15:59,820and to know that you are in Christ.29500:15:59,820 –> 00:16:02,280Could anything be more wonderful?29600:16:02,280 –> 00:16:07,280If anyone is in Christ, he or she is a new creation,29700:16:09,760 –> 00:16:14,760the old has gone, behold the new has come.29800:16:15,559 –> 00:16:19,900If you are in Christ, you are no longer the person you were.29900:16:19,919 –> 00:16:22,640You really are a new creation30000:16:22,640 –> 00:16:24,000and John is going to tell us30100:16:24,000 –> 00:16:29,000how we can know that we are in Christ.30200:16:29,000 –> 00:16:34,000By this we may know that we are in him.30300:16:36,119 –> 00:16:38,880Now, notice one important thing before we move on.30400:16:39,880 –> 00:16:44,880John does not see by this you may be in him.30500:16:46,359 –> 00:16:48,239In other words, he’s not telling us30600:16:48,239 –> 00:16:50,820how a person becomes a Christian.30700:16:51,799 –> 00:16:54,700He’s writing, as we saw from chapter five and verse 13,30800:16:54,700 –> 00:16:56,739he is writing to Christian believers.30900:16:56,739 –> 00:16:58,559He’s quite clear about that31000:16:58,559 –> 00:17:03,559and he’s telling us how we may know as believers31100:17:04,099 –> 00:17:07,819that we are truly in Christ.31200:17:09,640 –> 00:17:11,619What a glorious promise this is.31300:17:12,819 –> 00:17:14,619And I was just meditating on it this week,31400:17:14,619 –> 00:17:17,680some words that we used to sing31500:17:17,680 –> 00:17:20,140growing up in Scotland, they had paraphrases,31600:17:20,140 –> 00:17:22,540they called them, of the psalms.31700:17:22,540 –> 00:17:25,459And there’s a lovely paraphrase of the 23rd psalm31800:17:25,459 –> 00:17:27,979that you all know well.31900:17:28,859 –> 00:17:30,780The king of love.32000:17:30,780 –> 00:17:32,959My shepherd is,32100:17:32,959 –> 00:17:36,280whose goodness faileth never.32200:17:36,280 –> 00:17:40,000I nothing lack if I am his32300:17:40,000 –> 00:17:43,000and he is mine forever.32400:17:43,880 –> 00:17:45,180Isn’t that what we want?32500:17:46,099 –> 00:17:48,420To know that we are his32600:17:48,420 –> 00:17:51,699and he is ours forever?32700:17:53,520 –> 00:17:54,880Because if that is true of you,32800:17:54,880 –> 00:17:57,060you will have all that you ever need32900:17:57,060 –> 00:17:59,459in anything you will ever face33000:17:59,459 –> 00:18:00,660in the whole of life.33100:18:02,140 –> 00:18:05,640So this is truly a glorious promise.33200:18:06,900 –> 00:18:09,680And, of course, the obvious question then is how?33300:18:09,680 –> 00:18:10,819How? How?33400:18:10,819 –> 00:18:12,219How can I know33500:18:12,219 –> 00:18:14,660that I know God?33600:18:14,780 –> 00:18:17,339How can I know33700:18:17,339 –> 00:18:19,619that I am in Christ?33800:18:19,619 –> 00:18:23,579And how very wonderful that what John then presents to us33900:18:23,579 –> 00:18:26,400is a very, very clear path.34000:18:26,400 –> 00:18:28,280Look at what he says in verse three,34100:18:28,280 –> 00:18:32,500we know that we have come to know him34200:18:32,500 –> 00:18:37,500if we keep his commandments.34300:18:37,819 –> 00:18:39,479How will it be clearer than that?34400:18:40,540 –> 00:18:44,020And then he says the same thing in another way in verse five,34500:18:44,079 –> 00:18:46,579by this we may know that we are in him,34600:18:46,579 –> 00:18:50,800whoever says he abides in him ought to walk34700:18:50,800 –> 00:18:55,800in the same way in which he, that is Jesus, walked.34800:18:57,020 –> 00:18:59,060Now do you see what he’s saying here?34900:18:59,060 –> 00:19:03,459The means by which we can come to know that we know God,35000:19:03,459 –> 00:19:06,280the means by which we will come to know35100:19:06,280 –> 00:19:08,939with a settled assurance that we are in Christ35200:19:08,939 –> 00:19:12,479is to keep his commandments or to say it another way,35300:19:12,479 –> 00:19:16,239to walk as Jesus walked.35400:19:16,239 –> 00:19:18,339He’s laying down this principle,35500:19:18,339 –> 00:19:21,260we’re asking the question, how can I grow in assurance,35600:19:21,260 –> 00:19:22,959and he’s giving us this answer,35700:19:22,959 –> 00:19:25,979walk in obedience to God’s commands35800:19:25,979 –> 00:19:30,260and you will grow in assurance, walk as Jesus walked35900:19:30,260 –> 00:19:33,939and you will know that you are in him36000:19:33,939 –> 00:19:36,060because of course the way that Jesus walked36100:19:36,060 –> 00:19:38,859was to obey the commandments of God.36200:19:38,920 –> 00:19:43,920He said, I do as the Father has commanded me36300:19:45,439 –> 00:19:48,560so that the world may know that I love the Father.36400:19:48,560 –> 00:19:49,920The way in which the world would know36500:19:49,920 –> 00:19:51,920that Jesus truly loves the Father36600:19:51,920 –> 00:19:55,199is that he does what the Father has commanded.36700:19:55,199 –> 00:19:56,640The same is true for us of course,36800:19:56,640 –> 00:19:59,359how will the world know that we truly love the Father?36900:19:59,359 –> 00:20:01,219Well, the evidence that we truly love the Father37000:20:01,219 –> 00:20:02,819is we do what he commanded.37100:20:04,000 –> 00:20:07,239Jesus says this, I have come down from Heaven37200:20:07,239 –> 00:20:09,239not to do my own will.37300:20:09,239 –> 00:20:11,339What a statement that is.37400:20:11,339 –> 00:20:16,140Not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.37500:20:17,500 –> 00:20:20,640And then he says my food, what nourishes me,37600:20:20,640 –> 00:20:25,640what’s life to me, is to do the will of him who sent me.37700:20:28,839 –> 00:20:33,839So the way that Jesus walked was to keep God’s commandments37800:20:34,699 –> 00:20:39,699and if we are in him, that is if we are in Christ,37900:20:41,739 –> 00:20:44,219then clearly we will do the same.38000:20:45,400 –> 00:20:48,800And John says we know that we have come to know God38100:20:48,800 –> 00:20:52,400if we keep his commandments.38200:20:52,400 –> 00:20:56,579That little word keep is a fascinating word,38300:20:56,579 –> 00:21:01,579commentators tell us that it was used of the Captain38400:21:01,599 –> 00:21:03,880of a ship navigating.38500:21:03,880 –> 00:21:05,140I find that very helpful.38600:21:05,140 –> 00:21:08,900So imagine a Captain of a ship38700:21:08,900 –> 00:21:12,979before the time of modern technology.38800:21:12,979 –> 00:21:15,339And this Captain doesn’t have any sonar,38900:21:15,339 –> 00:21:18,260he doesn’t have any Doppler radar, anything like that,39000:21:18,260 –> 00:21:21,979all he has are his own eyes and his own ears.39100:21:23,300 –> 00:21:25,239And so he’s always watching.39200:21:26,680 –> 00:21:29,099He’s always scanning the skies.39300:21:29,099 –> 00:21:31,959He’s always watching the waves.39400:21:32,939 –> 00:21:36,180He’s always looking for any change in the weather above,39500:21:36,180 –> 00:21:39,040any change in the currents below.39600:21:41,420 –> 00:21:43,219Now, the word translates,39700:21:43,219 –> 00:21:46,839keep here was used of the Captain39800:21:46,839 –> 00:21:49,459scanning the skies above39900:21:50,719 –> 00:21:53,400and scanning the waters below.40000:21:55,040 –> 00:21:56,000And you know,40100:21:57,000 –> 00:21:58,599that is a beautiful picture40200:21:58,599 –> 00:22:00,599of how to live the Christian life.40300:22:00,599 –> 00:22:03,479Why is the Captain scanning the skies in the seas?40400:22:03,479 –> 00:22:07,319He’s saying, what do I have to consider here40500:22:07,319 –> 00:22:09,400in order to chart our right course?40600:22:09,400 –> 00:22:11,060That’s what he’s asking.40700:22:12,439 –> 00:22:17,439And you see, this is why we need an open Bible40800:22:17,880 –> 00:22:21,400and we’re constantly scanning the Word of God40900:22:22,520 –> 00:22:25,319because we’re always asking the question41000:22:25,319 –> 00:22:27,180in any circumstance of life,41100:22:27,180 –> 00:22:32,180what principle do I need to apply here from the scriptures?41200:22:32,280 –> 00:22:36,680What promise do I need to believe here from the scriptures?41300:22:39,439 –> 00:22:42,900Keeping God’s commands always before you,41400:22:42,900 –> 00:22:47,119what does God say that relates to this?41500:22:48,060 –> 00:22:49,359You’ve been listening to Open The Bible41600:22:49,359 –> 00:22:51,660with Pastor Colin Smith and the message called41700:22:51,660 –> 00:22:54,560Assurance Grows as you Obey God’s Commands.41800:22:54,819 –> 00:22:56,199It’s part of our series, all about41900:22:56,199 –> 00:23:00,160Assurance of Salvation called How Can I be Sure?42000:23:00,160 –> 00:23:02,219And if you’ve missed any of the series to date42100:23:02,219 –> 00:23:04,339or if you want to go back and listen again,42200:23:04,339 –> 00:23:06,339that’s easy to do by coming online42300:23:06,339 –> 00:23:10,339to our website openthebible.org.uk.42400:23:10,339 –> 00:23:11,680There you’ll find all the messages42500:23:11,680 –> 00:23:14,099that have already gone out on air.42600:23:14,099 –> 00:23:15,619You can also find them as a podcast42700:23:15,619 –> 00:23:18,339and those are on all the main podcast sites.42800:23:18,339 –> 00:23:22,119Open The Bible is supported financially by our listeners.42900:23:22,119 –> 00:23:24,099By many groups and individuals43000:23:24,280 –> 00:23:28,040who make generous donations regularly, or just once.43100:23:28,040 –> 00:23:30,880If you’re considering becoming one of our contributors,43200:23:30,880 –> 00:23:32,599thank you so much.43300:23:32,599 –> 00:23:34,880You can give online at our 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book isn’t about rules.44800:24:14,199 –> 00:24:17,760It’s about finding real freedom and purpose.44900:24:17,760 –> 00:24:20,439Plus, there’s a great study guide at the back.45000:24:20,439 –> 00:24:22,520Perfect for reading on your own45100:24:22,520 –> 00:24:24,839or with a small group at church perhaps.45200:24:24,839 –> 00:24:26,920We’d love to send you a copy45300:24:26,920 –> 00:24:30,800along with five beautiful Psalm 23 note cards45400:24:30,800 –> 00:24:33,920when you give a one-off gift of £5045500:24:33,920 –> 00:24:38,920or set up a new direct debit of £5 or more this September.45600:24:38,920 –> 00:24:41,400Just don’t forget to include your address45700:24:41,400 –> 00:24:42,800when you donate.45800:24:42,800 –> 00:24:45,020This offer is available all this month45900:24:45,020 –> 00:24:48,199when you set up a new direct debit for £5 or more46000:24:48,199 –> 00:24:51,219or a one-off gift of £50 or more.46100:24:51,400 –> 00:24:53,839Full terms and conditions are on our website46200:24:53,839 –> 00:24:56,479openthebible.org.uk46300:24:56,479 –> 00:24:59,020and you can give directly online.46400:24:59,020 –> 00:25:01,760Please remember to include your full name and address46500:25:01,760 –> 00:25:04,439so that we can send you your free gift.46600:25:04,439 –> 00:25:06,939For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,46700:25:06,939 –> 00:25:08,000I’m David Pick,46800:25:08,000 –> 00:25:10,300and I homem you’ll join us again next time.46900:25:16,839 –> 00:25:19,719How can you know that you know God?47000:25:19,719 –> 00:25:20,719Find out next time47100:25:20,719 –> 00:25:22,219on Open The Bible.
