John’s First Epistle

1 Jno. 3:19-24 

Confidence Before God

¹⁹ By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; ²⁰ for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. ²¹ Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; ²² and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. ²³ And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. ²⁴ Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. – 1 Jno. 4:19-24

There is one phrase in this passage that identifies what each of us want: Confidence before God. We want to know we are right, even if there are times when we condemn ourselves. We want to overcome that negative self-evaluation by serious attention to what we do, what we know, and of course, the redeeming sacrifice of Christ.

John speaks to this, and part of what he says is: KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. Our confidence before God is directly associated with our obedience before God. If we abide in Him, the promise is, He abides in us.

This confidence is enhanced by answered prayer: Whatever we ask, we receive from Him.

There is solid knowledge we can have of our good relationship with God. Confidence before God as connected to our obedience before God, enhanced by answered prayer.

Excuses based on doubt are banished. Abide in Him. He will abide in you.