"The Three Anchors of Assurance"
1 John 5:1-21
INTRODUCTION: "Go!" Said the old reformer to his wife, as he lay a-dying, and the words were his last, "go, read where I cast my first anchor!" She needed no more explicit instructions, for he had told her the story again and again. It is Richard Bannantyne, Knox's serving-man, who has placed the scene on record. "On November 24, 1572," he says, "John Knox departed this life to his eternal rest. Early in the afternoon he said 'Now, for the last time, I commend my spirit, soul, and body' (pointing upon his three fingers) 'into thy hands, O Lord!' Thereafter, about five o'clock he said to his wife, 'Go, read where I cast my first anchor!' She did not need to be told, and so, she read the seventeenth of John's evangel." Let us listen as she reads it! "Thou hast given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou has given Him; and this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou has sent."
Here was a strange and striking contract! "Eternal life! Life eternal!" says the Book. Now listen to the laboured breathing from the bed! The bed speaks of death; the Book speaks of Life Everlasting! "Life!" The dying man starts as the great candences fall upon his ears. "This is life eternal that they might know Thee!" "Life Eternal!" "It was there," he declares with his last breath, "it was there that I cast my first anchor."
There is nothing that is more important than to know that you are going to heaven and make no mistake the Bible assures us that we can know. Verse 13 is the definitive verse in this regard and it points us to other truths that we can rest our faith on. In verses 1-5 there are three great certainties for our faith to anchor too!
I. APPRECIATION OF THE SAINTS (v. 1).
a. The operation of faith
John is the "whosoever" apostle for all may believe even if all don't believe.
b. The object of faith
What are we to believe? We are to believe that Jesus is Christ or Hebrew "Messiah."
"Whosoever -- Greek, "Everyone that." He could not be our "Jesus" (God-Savior) unless He were "the Christ"; for He could not reveal the way of salvation, except He were a prophet: He could not work out that salvation, except He were a priest: He could not confer that salvation upon us, except He were a king: He could not be prophet, priest, and king, except He were the Christ [Pearson, Exposition of the Creed]." JFB Commentary
c. The offspring of the Father
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
II. APPLICATION OF THE SCRIPTURE (vv. 2-3).
a. The confidence
"By this we know..." verse 2, is John's word of assurance to all those who believe.
b. The connection
There is a connection between love for God and keeping his commandments. Genuine faith produces a result and that result will be a desire and determination to obey God. Twice John declares that those who love God will "...keep his commandments..."
c. The commendation
To the unregenerate man God's commandments seem "grievous" (burdensome) but not to those who "love God".
Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
III. APPROPRIATION OF THE SAVIOR (vv. 4-5).
a. Our creation
"Whatsoever is born of God..." speaks of the new birth. It is unfortunate that in our day and age the word "Christian" has come to be applied to almost any kind of behavior or thing. This word only appears 3 times in the Scriptures. It was first used to describe believers at Antioch who were "Christlike in behavior" but today it has lost its meaning. Jesus makes it plain that you cannot enter the kingdom without being "born again," and Paul writes about this "new creation" in his letter to the Corinthians.
John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
b. Our confession
It is our faith in Jesus Christ as shown by our confession (1Jo_5:1) and by our life (1Jo_5:2). John declares that "faith" is the victory. This is the refrain of the hymn writer.
To him that overcomes the foe,
White raiment shall be giv'n.
Before the angels he shall know
His name confessed in Heav'n.
Then onward from the hill of light,
Our hearts with love aflame,
We'll vanquish all the hosts of night,
In Jesus' conqu'ring Name.
Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.
c. Our conviction
John closes the section with a question. "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God."
This is not merely a rhetorical question but a statement of affirmation. Who are the "victors?" Who is it that has "overcome" the world? It is the man who believes in the humanity (Jesus) and the deity (song of God) of our Lord.
Conclusion: Recently I shared an experience that I had in the ICU unit of a local hospital where an individual was removed from life support and passed away within 6-7 minutes. Now that I have had the opportunity to reflect on what I felt and observed it has given me a new sense of the urgency of not just thinking or hoping but knowing we have had a genuine faith experience with Jesus Christ.
GOING NO WHERE FAST
In his book "Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life", the author Charles Swindoll tells a story about the 19th Century agnostic Thomas Huxley (some of you might know that it was Huxley who promoted Darwinism and Humanism in his attacks on Christianity). Huxley was in Dublin and was rushing to catch a train. He climbed aboard one of Dublin's famous horse drawn taxis and said to the driver -"Hurry, I'm almost late ... drive fast". Off they went at a furious pace and Huxley sat back in his seat and closed his eyes. After a while Huxley opened his eyes and glanced out the window to notice that they were going in the wrong direction. Realizing that he hadn't told the driver where to take him he called out 'do you know where you're going?' The driver replied "No, your honour, but I am driving very fast'.
SOURCE: "Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life" by Charles Swindoll
ILL - Charles E. Fuller once announced that he would be speaking the following Sunday on "Heaven." During that week, a beautiful letter was received from an old man who was very ill. The following is part of his letter: "Next Sunday you are to talk about Heaven. I am interested in that land, because I have held a clear title to a bit of property there for over fifty-five years. I did not buy it. It was given to me without money and without price. But the donor purchased it for me at tremendous sacrifice. I am not holding it for speculation since the title is not transferable. It is not a vacant lot. For more than half a century I have been sending materials out of which the greatest architect and builder of the universe has been building a home for me which will never need to be remodeled or repaired because it will suit me perfectly, individually, and will never grow old. Termites can never undermine its foundations for they rest on the rock of ages. Fire cannot destroy it. Floods cannot wash it away. No locks or bolts will ever be placed upon its doors, for no vicious person can ever enter that land where my dwelling stands. It is now almost completed and ready for me to enter in and abide in peace eternally, without fear of ever being rejected. I hope to hear your sermon on heaven next Sunday from my home in Los Angeles, but I have no assurance that I shall be able to do so. My ticket to heaven has no date marked for the journey -- no return coupon -- and no permit for baggage. Yes, I am all ready to go and I may not be here while you are talking next Sunday, but I shall meet you there some day."
(Ency of 7700 Illust. P. 545, #2183)
