Assurance: False And Genuine

False Assurance in Matthew 7

We'll be discussing the issue of assurance. I know pastor Mike covered it in the evenings when he was covering common questions. But for those of you who weren't here in the evenings, and this is such a important issue I wanted us to look at it again.

Why is assurance so important assurance of our salvation? Why is it so important? Let me just quote you something from R .C. Sproul. That will kind of wet our appetites and get us going on this on the issue of assurance why it's important.

In his book grace unknown Sproul writes quote one thing however is certain. There is clearly a link between our assurance in our sanctification. Catch that there is clearly a link between our assurance in our sanctification.

He continues the person who lacks assurance of salvation is vulnerable to myriad of threats to his personal growth. The confident Christian certain of his salvation is free from the paralyzing fear that can inhibit personal growth.

Without assurance we are assailed by doubt and uncertainty with respect to God's Promises which serve as an anchor for our souls. And any further continues in this paragraph talking about new Believers, and he says it is of utmost importance that new Christians become certain of their personal salvation.

Such assurance is a mighty boon to the growth of faith to maturity. So he's in essence saying is this is an essential issue everyone who needed a sheet got one, okay? Because there is a direct link between our assurance and our sanctification our progress in our spiritual growth and Becoming more Christlike there is a direct link so this is very very important turn with me and you to the The book of Matthew the gospel of Matthew chapter 7.

I have the references as you'll see in your notes but we're not going to be looking at him all. I'll just Share some of them, but some of them we will look at together and we'll start with Matthew chapter 7 first.

We're going to look at false assurance, and then we'll get into genuine assurance. Matthew chapter 7 classic passage part of the Sermon on the Mount verses 21 to 23. The greatest sermon ever preached by the Prince of preachers Christ himself.

Matthew 7 verse 21. Not everyone who says to me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. But the one who does the will of my father who is in heaven on that day many will say to me Lord Lord. Did we not prophesy in your name and cast out demons in your name and do many mighty works in your name?

And then will I declare to them. I never knew you depart from me you workers of lawlessness. Four points on this I want to highlight on the issue of false assurance. Noticing this text number one and you're outlining your notes under false assurance.

These are people who are assured Yet not saved. They were assured. But yet they weren't saved. That's the first point so a person can be assured have assurance. They're sure that they're going to heaven and they're in a right standing before God.

But not say because obviously they were sure because they at the end on that day verse 22 they come to the Lord and say did we not do all these things in your name and It turns out by the Lord's response.

We see that they weren't saved in the end. So these are people who are assured But yet not saved. Number two. Second point I want to highlight from this text. It's not the words of man But the will of God.

Not the words of man But the will of God Not the words of men. It says in verse 22 on that day many will say to me Lord Lord many will say to me notice also in verses 24 to 27 it talks about The two builders one built on sand and one built on the rock.

We're singing recently a song with the children. They I don't know where they learned it, but they were saying about on this song that the rock was Jesus Christ. Well, really the rock is not Jesus Christ in this context.

The rock is obedience in Luke's account of the two builders on the house and on the sand. He says in Luke's account Luke 6 46. Why do you call me Lord Lord and do not do? What I say. What is the difference between the man who built on the rock and the man who built on the sand they both were bombarded by the same storm.

Circumstances they both heard but only one did obeyed and that's why even earlier in our text. It says not everyone verse 21 who says to me Lord Lord will unto the kingdom of heaven. But only the one who does the will of my father obedience, so it's not just the words of man.

But it's doing the will of God. Spurgeon put it this way as only Spurgeon puts it. If the profess speaking of assurance. This is interesting if the profess convert distinctly and deliberately declares that he knows the Lord's will.

But does not mean to attend to it. You are not to pamper his presumptions. But it is your duty to assure him that he is not saved. Spurgeon had a ministry of telling people. Assurance of not salvation not assurance of salvation.

So it's not what men say, but it's the will of God. That's not how we are saved, but that's the proof and evidence of our salvation. Number three notice in our text. It's not few but many. It's not few but many.

Verse 22 on that day few will say to me. No, many will say to me look at the previous context verse 13. Same sermon chapters 5 through 7 one message verse 13 Jesus said of Chapter 7 enter by the narrow gate for the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction and those who enter by.

It are few. No those who enter by it are many. So it's not the few but it's the many that Jesus is highlighting here. And last but not least Number four under false assurance from this text. Matthew 7 the ground of their assurance.

What was the ground of their assurance? It was works done notice in the name of the Lord in the name of the Lord. They mentioned that three times. Do we not verse 22 prophesy in your name? Did we not cast out demons in your name and do many mighty works in your name?

It's not in the name of somebody else. It's the name of the Lord. They did all these things in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord and Yet that Lord who they were saying they did it in his name said depart from me.

That was the grounds of their assurance. But yet they were assured as I highlighted number one and yet not saved. Question. Number four the ground of their assurance. Was that their works were done in the name of the Lord.

The ground of their assurance? It was a false assurance as we saw was that their works were done in the name of the Lord. So number one they were assured yet not saved. Number two to them. It was the words of man, but Christ says no it's doing the will of God.

That's the contrast. Number three. Christ did not talk about a few not few. But many that's the third point and number four the ground of their assurance those who had this false assurance was they did things in the name of the Lord.

Not in the name of some other false God. Some good and say it's from pastor MacArthur's book hard to believe and I'll mention them to you here. He gives three reasons people are self-deceived and they'll just listen for you and then just quote some stuff.

He said the first one number one in your notes is false assurance false assurance. And under that he says somebody has told them that as long as they ask Jesus into their hearts or pray this prayer. Perform this little ceremony.

They're safely in the kingdom. I was tempted to do that with my daughter recently boy. Somebody told me the other day boy your children make good illustrations for you for your messages. I said so I said to my.

I told my daughter that I I had mentioned her name. But I said I have never made the commitment that pastor Mike made so I don't owe you a dollar. I said. She was distraught over the fact that she was sinning that particular night.

She was being disobedient to her mom and myself to her parents and she was not behaving well towards her sister. And she didn't know what to do with this inner struggle. I want to get rid of this sin and she says how did you do it there?

How'd you stop with your bra? I said, I don't have any siblings. I didn't have that issue. So which is true, I mean I sinned in other ways, but and so he she turned to her mother and said well How about you mom you have a my aunt?

How did you do it? And my wife said you what wasn't you know, we've fought also like you and your sister. But then God saved me and she says well, I want to be saved too. I Put that desire in your heart.

I Said so pray this prayer after me repeat now. I said what does the Bible say Romans 10 9 and 10, right? We've gone over that with her before if you confess with your mouth Jesus is who Lord Kyrgios not just Savior and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead.

You will be saved for everyone who calls in the name of the Lord will be saved. I believe Dad I believe good sweetie. Keep on trusting keep on believing in Jesus Christ. So it's not just walking through some Religious ceremony.

I call it jumping through the religious hoops. That's false assurance. Number two MacArthur mentions he calls it fixation. That's the second key word in your outline from MacArthur's hard to believe. Fixation this is what he means by this.

Another thing that causes people to be under the delusion. They're saved when they're not is fixation on religious activity. They go to church hear sermons sing songs read the Bible go to a Bible study.

Take a class and because they're all wrapped up in religious activity. The illusion becomes convincing that they are believers. Fixation on religious activity. And the third thing he highlights for those who are deceived self-deluded is he calls it fair exchange just to Keep the alliteration going.

These are right from his book fair exchange. What does he mean by this quote whenever this deceived person sees something wrong in his life. Instead of dealing directly with it and examining whether he is a true Christian.

He finds something right with his life and makes a fair exchange. It is like swapping around Weight Watchers points. Oh I can't be that bad. I mean look what I did over here and he's always trading off the negatives and the positives.

So instead of evaluating his life, honestly with integrity and saying if I'm a believer Should I be doing this? He says well, I know I do that. But look what else I do. He makes a fair exchange and whitewashes the deal.

So a sense of delusion sense of assurance like the people in Matthew 7 had they were assured in the end. It was a shocker. I mean, it's one thing I have friends who say, you know, they want to live it up.

They want to party eat drink and be merry right? They could care less about their soul. It's even worse for people who think that they're saved and have that false assurance in the end. They'll have this shock over their lifetime.

Genuine Assurance and the Promises of God

False assurance. Okay, let's turn over in your notes if you have them there. Let's look at genuine assurance. Genuine assurance, but before we look at the scripture just a little historical background.

Now you understand in the history of the church. Some godly men differed on this issue and part of it was because of what they were facing at. Their day and age in terms of what heresies they were facing.

So John Calvin, for example, he fought against the. This monstrosity called the Roman Catholic Church. Who talked about justification not by faith, but by works by the ritualistic sacraments. So he came against that to oppose that and thus we have justification by faith.

So to John Calvin a sure of faith brought with it as part of assurance of salvation. It was part of the essence of faith to him later reformers because they dealt with antinomian ism. Just you know, I'm saved by grace.

So then I just live my life the way I want to. They emphasize the importance of practical Evidence in a person's life in a believer's life. The Puritans most of them primarily except for John Owen. Their congregations had a lot of lack of assurance many times because they felt that they needed to show extended life of faithfulness in the believer in a in The reach almost an attainable sense of holiness in this life.

Westminster confession, for example, I mean I could go through all the creedal confessions, but I'll just highlight this one says this quote this infallible assurance. Doth not so belong to the essence of faith, which I mentioned.

That's what Calvin said but that a true believer may wait long and conflict with many difficulties before he be a partaker of it and. Therefore it is the duty of everyone to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure.

But again, let me remind you from the intro. This is important because your assurance is directly linked that Sproul said to your sanctification. Your progress in becoming more like Christ in your growth in maturity.

So, let me give you six biblical grounds for assurance and you know, it's there under genuine assurance. What are the biblical grounds for assurance number one? I'll mention it in a couple different ways.

Number one is they call it the promises of God or the Word of God. The promises of God are found in the Word of God. The essentially it's what does God say about the matter? That's all that really matters.

It's not my opinion. It's not your opinion. And what does God have to say about the issue? That's what really matters. What does God have to say about our security now? Let me just differentiate a little bit.

Assurance has to do with our assurance whether I am assured of my own salvation. Security is not have to do with us. That's on God's part. So the issue I'm looking at in this first point our first grounds of assurance the promises of God what has God said in his word about how secure we are in our salvation and God is the one who provides a security that can lead us to have that assurance.

Don't turn here and we'll turn to one of the passages the passages We're going to be turning to. I have boldened in your outline, but John 10 the words of Christ is a familiar words. This is a chapter of the great the Good Shepherd and the sheep Christ says in John 10 28 to 29.

I give them eternal life and they will never perish right? No one will snatch them out of my hand. My father who has given them to me. That's a consistent theme in the book of John. That God the Father gives them to Christ my father who has given them to me is greater than all and no one is Able to snatch him out of my father's hand and of course the next verse I and the father are One when he claimed deity and they wanted to stone him.

But he says that in the context of here where he says no one can snatch him out of my hand and no one can Snatch him out of the father's hands. By the way, I and the father are one father is greater than all no one.

When you look at the Greek when you look at the original context of your thorough intent, you know what no one means. No one. Okay, it means no one. Turn with me to Romans 8 if you will. Romans 8 beginning in verse 31 another one of what does God say in his word and his promises about our security?

Romans chapter 8. God remember Romans. We did a nice jet tour of Romans, right? Romans chapter 8 verse 31. Paul typical in Romans just ask questions after questions after questions. Like a biblical lawyer and he begins in verse 31 what then shall we say to these things what things.

Well, of course. The full context of what he's been saying up until then but more immediate context. Verse 28 these things we know that for those who love God all things were together for good for those who are what?

Called verse 29 for those whom he foreknew for knowledge of God. He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Verse 30 those whom he predestined.

He also called those whom he called. He also justified and those whom he justified. He also glorified. Well, did what was Paul doing? He skipped sanctification in there thought it was justification. Sanctification and glorification.

Well, it's point is it's from beginning justification to end to glory. What are we going to say to these things. And his response is this verse 31 if God is against us if God is for us who Can be against us.

Sounds like John 10 echoes of the words of Christ. No one he continues in verse 32. He do he who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him graciously give us all things by the way in that verse 31.

He's not questioning if God is for us. Well if he's for us, I'm not sure if he is but literally he's saying since God is for us. Not if he is well, maybe he is maybe he isn't. No since he's for us who can be against us.

Then he asked three questions all in the form of who? Sounds again like the echoes of Christ's words. No one notice the three questions. The who questions. Verse 33 who shall bring any charge against God's elect.

The verse 34 who is to condemn? Verse 35 who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Three questions beginning with a who and they they are answered. Clearly verse 33 who shall bring any charge against whom.

How does he classify Christians there again God's elect? Gentle reminder that we were chosen after all he spent first three chapters of the book talking about how depraved we are. Who shall bring any charge against God's elect it is God who justifies.

In The Greek this is it does the kind of justice say also the key on meaning God the one justifying. The emphasis is who's doing the justification? God. God in his eternal Court of Heaven as the judge as the king He has made a verdict and because God is the one who is justifying.

There can be no charge laid against us. And who brings that charge typically revelation 12. Who is the accuser of the brethren? Who's the accuser of the brethren Satan? But God in his eternal courtroom God is the one who's justifying.

It is God who justifies. Verse 34 second question who is to condemn? He began the chapter with there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. His answer to this question is Christ. Jesus is the one who died more than that who was raised who is at the right hand of God who indeed is interceding force.

The intercessory work of Christ continuing our assurance. And then who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distress or Persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

And of course he finishes don't have the time to go through all of it. I am sure that neither death nor life and all the rest in that list can separate us from the love of God in his References in there nor anything else in all creation Human or of Those in the domain of darkness and the devil himself.

Nothing can separate us from the glove of God. Paul had that assurance. He was sure as he finishes that great song of security in Romans 8. So the biblical grounds of our assurance, what does the Bible say?

What does God himself say about how secure we are? I mean we can go to a myriad of other passages and want to highlight those two and that's where grounds begin of assurance number two under genuine assurance.

Looking to Christ looking to Christ. John 6 chapter verse 40. The bread of life discourse. John chapter 6. For this is the will of my father. What's the will of the Father Lord? He clarifies it very clearly that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life.

Spurgeon again remember therefore it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee it is Christ. It is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee it is Christ. It is not even faith in Christ though that be the instrument it is Christ blood and merits.

Therefore look not so much to thy hand with which thou art grasping Christ as to Christ. Look not only to thy hope but to Jesus the source of thy hope. Look not to thy faith. But to Jesus the author and finisher of thy faith.

We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers our doings or our feelings. It is what Jesus is not what we are that gives rest to the soul if We would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God.

It must be by looking unto Jesus. Keep thine eyes simply on him. Let his death his sufferings his merits his glory his intercession. Be fresh upon thy mind. When thou wakest in the morning look to him.

When thou lies down at night look to him. Oh, let not thy hopes or fears come between thee and Jesus. Follow hard after him and he will never Fail thee. End of quote. I love those vows and these and I'm not a King James only person but Look to Christ.

He's the only Savior. That's the grounds of our assurance. My looking to Christ number three. This one I struggle with early on in my Christian life. Regeneration precedes faith. Regeneration precedes faith and this really goes back to having the Basic understanding of the initial doctrine of total depravity that it's not partial depart to poverty, but it's total.

We're not depraved in part, but we're depraved totally. Regeneration precedes faith. 1st John chapter 5 verse 1 says everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ. Okay, there's faith. Everyone who believes in the object that Jesus is the Christ.

Has been tense of the verb born of God already. Cause and effect. We've been born of God. The effect we able to believe in Jesus Christ. We don't have the time to look at the John 3. That's what Christ's message in John 3 was to Nicodemus.

Born again is to be born of the Spirit not of the will of man. Right nor the will of the flesh but born of God. The instrument is faith, but faith comes because there has been a regenerating work by the Spirit of God.

Number four. Because if the other by the way, if the other way is true that because of my faith I'm the cause my faith is a cause for the Holy Spirit to do a regenerating work in my life. Then there wouldn't be much assurance but knowing that the work of the Spirit regenerating us.

Regeneration precedes faith. Number four. This is a strong one. You're familiar with this text, but it's good to remind ourselves of it. Number four. I say this the work of each member of the Trinity in salvation.

The work of Each member of the Trinity in salvation. We believe in the triune God and every member of the Trinity has a work in our salvation. Ephesians 1 you can turn there. Ephesians chapter 1 you're familiar with this text.

The work of each member of the Trinity number 4. I Will I'll give you the fill-ins for now at least in your outline there if you want. God the Father elects God the Son redeems and God the Holy Spirit seals.

God the Father elects God the Son redeems and God the Holy Spirit seals. Of course he begins his great song of praise in verse 3. One full sentence through verse 14 and he begins with a general way blessed to be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Who has blessed us? We bless him we say a blue. Yeah eulogy is whether we get the the English word eulogy we say something good about the character of God because He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ.

And then he outlines those blessings with the work of each member of the Trinity beginning with God the Father. Even as he God the Father chose us in him before the foundation of the world. We were chosen before the foundation of the world.

As Spurgeon said he chose me before the foundation of the world because he would never show within me after. Before I was born never after I was born. That we should be what holy and blameless verse 4 before him in love.

Election is a loving thing on God the Father. Because knowing that I would never in and of myself choose God that he would dare to choose me. It's not because of anything in me, but because of his love.

I mean, that's what we won't turn to Deuteronomy 7. He did to Israel. It's not you be where he said Deuteronomy 7 because you were the greatest nation. You were the fewest in number actually. But why did I chose you then there was nothing intrinsically in you for me to choose you.

But because of me God said because I love you same thing here in love. He did what verse 5? He predestined us for what for adoption as sons. God the Father elects that brings assurance knowing this truth God the Son redeems.

Verse 7 in him we have redemption through what his blood the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace as the hymn writer said Christ is our Redeemer. God the Son redeems and finally God the Holy Spirit seals.

I want to camp on this a little bit. I did a class on pneumatology and IBS and I think he is a neglected member of the Trinity. And of course, we've done that a lot of times because we're people of the pendulum because of the charismatic movement we say, okay.

But what does the scripture teach about his role in salvation besides that? He regenerates here. Paul says what in verse 13 in him you also when you heard the word of truth the gospel of your salvation.

Believed in him were sealed with a promised Holy Spirit who is the what? What does the seal of the Spirit do. It gives us the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it? He's a guarantee of our inheritance because he sealed us with the Holy Spirit.

That term seal has three significant things. Which I have in your notes if you want to mark there to understand what the sealing of the Holy Spirit is. Well, you might be familiar with the sealing you might not be.

It was Hot wax that was done with a signet ring and was embossed on a letter to close it. Okay, and it meant three things it was kind of elevated back in the day. First of all number one the sealing of the Holy Spirit or a seal in general.

Which is applying to the Holy Spirit here that terminology that Paul is using number one. It authenticates the genuineness of our faith. Authenticates the genuineness of our faith. We don't we won't turn there but there's a story of Jezebel and King Ahab in the first Kings 21 and She wanted to get Naboth killed because he wanted to give his vineyard over to King Ahab.

So it says in verse 8 of first Kings 21. She wrote letters in Ahab's name and did what and sealed them with his seal. That was the authentication that it was coming from the king. So when the leaders got the letter.

Oh, it's coming from King Ahab. They killed Naboth, but he never wrote that letter. He never sealed that she was manipulative and used to seal the seal to the leaders was an Authentication that it was coming from the king.

And when God the Spirit seals us that authenticates His work. Number two of the seal marks us as God's possession. It marks us as God's position. A great illustration is from the Prophet Jeremiah chapter 32.

I bought the field and an anathoth from the hammam. Hammam L my cousin and weighed out the money to him. 17 shekels of silver. I signed the deed and sealed it got witnesses and weighed the money on scales.

Then I took the sealed deed of purchase containing the terms and conditions and the open copy. It marked it as his position. He signed the deed seal that got witnesses and we are marked because of the Holy Spirit his sealing work in salvation.

We are marked as God's own Possession. And finally, what does the seal do in our salvation. Number three? It renders our salvation. Secure renders our salvation secured. Two illustrations one from the Old Testament Daniel chapter 6 verse 17 a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den.

Right and the king did what he sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his Lord's that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. It made the den secure. Matthew 27 they did it of Jesus tomb.

Pilate said to them you have a guard of soldiers go make it as secure as you Can. So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard. Remember. They were complaining all the disciples are gonna come at night and say that you know He was gonna rise from there.

They're gonna take the body. No make it secure. What the sealing of the spirit does. It renders our salvation secure the work of the Holy Spirit. Number five this leads us neck into the next one pretty naturally monergism.

Salvation is a monergistic work versus Synergism. Monergism very simply mono from the Greek meaning only edible meaning the work. Salvation is solely the work of God. In my younger days as a Christian.

I used to say I used to Synergistically say to people in my evangelism say look God has done everything for you now. It's up to you. Well boy if it was up to them forget it nobody would come to Christ.

Now the balls in your court, right? Well, it has to be monergism because after all total depravity John 1 13 and we highlighted that earlier. Born not of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

I love the passage in Luke 18 and the other synoptics highlighted the rich young ruler right who comes running to Jesus. What must I do to have eternal life? The prime candidate for evangelism he can't lose this fish.

And after Jesus went through the whole scenario and Addressed his God of riches and the guy said well in the law. I've obeyed the law since I was a kid and he left. Saddened. The disciples were there and the text says in Luke 18 those who heard it said then who can be saved.

Who can be saved the came in came running to? The one who is eternal life as 1st John 5 says at the end of his book. And he went away without eternal life. Then who can be saved. Here's a clincher. Christ said to them what is impossible with man and it is.

It's possible with God. It's impossible with man. We don't cooperate with God. God does the work only monergism and That's why even Peter said at the opening of his letter first Peter 1 3 blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

According to his great mercy. He has caused us to be born again. He is the cause. It's done monergistically. And we didn't go into it in Ephesians 1 because of the work of the member of each of the triune God Father Son and Holy Spirit three times.

Paul mentions in that Ephesians 1 opening to the praise of whose glory. His glory. It's the praise of his glory to the praise of his glorious grace. He gets the glory because of that. And last but not least We can turn to 1st John the last one I have.

I call it the fruit or evidence or change in a person's life. The fruit or change or evidence in a person's life. 1st John 5 13. You can turn there. John writes his authorial intent and he says this. I write these things to you.

Who is he writing to. Who believe in the name of the Son of God? That purpose clause that you may hope that you may think know that you may know that you have eternal life. Well throughout his epistle, what does John point us to?

To an experience in the past that happened. Let's see what he points us to. What are the fruit or evidences John highlights. Let me mention them for you. Number one in your notes under six. The fruit of a changed life.

The evidence for it. Number one under that is obedience. 1st John chapter 2. 1st John chapter 2 verses 4 and 5. Whoever says I know him, but does not keep his commandments as a liar and the truth is not in him, but Whoever keeps his word in him.

Truly the love of God is perfected. Go back actually to even verse 3 and by this We know assurance that we have come to know him knowing him as eternal life, right? Jesus said in John 17 3 and this is eternal life that they may know thee.

So John says. And by this we know assurance that we have come to know him eternal life if we what keep his commandments. Perfectly, of course not but obedience is a fruit number two. Love for the brethren.

Love for the brethren. I saw that when you guys were fellowshipping. Nobody wanted to quit that right. Love for the brethren. 1st John 2 9 through 11 continues in chapter 2. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in the darkness.

Whoever loves his brother abides in the light and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness and does not know where he's going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Jump to chapter 3 verse 10. Love for the brethren still. By this it is evident manifest find it all clear in the Greek. Who are the children of God and who are the children of the devil? Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Verse 14 of the same chapter 3. We know that we have passed out of death into life. John here the Apostle is using the same terminology that Christ used in John chapter 5. We know that we have passed out of death into life.

How because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him by this. We know love that he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

If anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need it closes his heart against him. How does God's love abide in him little children? Let us not love in word or talk but indeed and in truth by this we shall know Assurance that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him by the love.