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1 John 4:19-24
I like to refer to this section of I John 4:19‑24, by asking the question, “How do you treat your conscience?”
V.19 starts out stating that Christians know something, “hereby we know”. This knowledge is based upon the action of verse 18. So we know that we are of the truth if we ‑ love in deed and in truth. (verse 18). We love and know God by keeping His commandments (vs 22:5:3, etc.).
We assure or persuade our hearts if we obey God’s commandments.
V.20 ‑ On the other hand if we violate our conscience (right or wrong) we sin (cf. Rom. 14:14). God is superior to a conscience and yet condemns us if we violate our conscience (cf. Rom. 14:14).
V.21 – But again we can know and have confidence when we obey God, because (1) His commands are not grievous (5:3) ‑ we can keep His commandments. and (2) This book was written so that those who obey God might have such confidence (5:13), when they sin not (2:1) and obey.
V.22 ‑ How can we have confidence? Because we ask in Jesus name (or correctly with His authority) and because we keep His commandments. Because we please God when we keep His commandments!
V.23 ‑ Commandments we must keep because God commanded; (1) Believe on the name of Jesus (cf. with condemnation of Gnostic teachers ‑ cf.5:9). (2) We should love another in deed and truth (by action 3:18).
V.24 ‑ If we keep God’s commandments we dwell with Him (in the light (1:5). And we have assurance of fellowship with God (1:3) because He tells us in by these very words (cf. 5:13)!
Conclusion: The meaning of the text can only be that if we violate our conscience we violate God’s will. The book of 1 John is written so that Christians would (1) deal properly with sin when they sin (1: 9), (2) quit sinning (2:1), and (3) only after properly dealing with sin to have assurance of fellowship with God (5:13).
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