One of the most profound principles of the Bible is the divine blessing bestowed upon those who give—be it time, resources, or aid to others. Yet, we are called not to become entangled in our acts with the mere expectation of receiving blessings in return. Instead, it should be Christ’s love in action through us.
If we help someone for the blessings, we don’t express Christ, but the flesh. In the previous blog, we discussed about how love is an expression of every believer. In this blog, we will discuss the benefits John has outlined.
And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.
We Will Know Who We Are
John writes:
“By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him.” (1 John 3:19)
The phrase “by this” connects to the practical acts of love mentioned in verses 17-18. When believers love others through deeds and truth, they know experientially that they belong to the truth. This knowledge is not theoretical but deeply personal. It’s the inner conviction that comes from living out Christ’s love.
- Loving in Action Reveals Christ Within Us: Practical love is contrary to human nature, which is often transactional. Helping someone in need without expecting anything in return is evidence of Christ at work in us. John highlights this in 1 John 3:17, where he challenges believers not to close their hearts to a brother in need.
- The Assurance of Truth: Love in action assures us that we are living out the truth of the gospel. This aligns with Peter’s response in John 21:17, when he said, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
When love becomes tangible, it reassures us that Christ’s nature is alive in us, which takes us to our second point.
Assurance Before God
John continues:
“For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God.” (1 John 3:20-21)
The assurance of love in action impacts how we approach God. Confidence before Him is crucial for us—not for God. The moment you were born again, you are perfect in the eyes of God. However, the flesh, and the devil tries to deceive us into condemnation. This passage reminds us of several truths:
- Condemnation Comes from the Heart, Not the Holy Spirit: Many believers mistakenly think the Holy Spirit convicts them of sin, but John 16:8-11 clarifies that the Spirit convicts the world of sin and believers of righteousness. When a believer’s heart condemns them, it is often because they focus on their failures rather than their identity in Christ. The Holy Spirit reminds us of our righteousness, not our sin.
- Adam’s Example: In the Garden of Eden, Adam hid from God after sinning. God already knew Adam had sinned, yet He still called out, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). This demonstrates that it is not God who moves away from us but guilt and condemnation that cause us to retreat. Practical love reassures our hearts and draws us closer to God.
- Sacrificial Love Builds Confidence: Love in action—especially when it costs us something—assures us of our standing before God. It is contrary to human nature to give selflessly. For instance, when giving becomes transactional, as is common in mainstream Christianity, it loses its purity. In one experience, a lady confronted me after a sermon about giving. She had always given expecting something in return and was challenged when I preached that true giving should come from love, not from an expectation of ROI (Return on Investment). True love gives without calculating rewards.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son…” (John 3:16)
God’s giving was motivated by love, not by any expectation of return. As believers, when we emulate this sacrificial love, it reassures our hearts and strengthens our relationship with God. As mentioned in Heb 4:16
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb 4:16)
Conclusion
The old saying goes “the idle mind is the devil’s workshop”, and so it is. When we are helping out people, expressing Christ in us, we give no room for condemnation to slip in. It reassures our hearts, aligns us with God’s truth, and deepens our relationship with Him. If our hearts condemn us, know that as Romans 8:1 says that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.
Let us live out this love, not in words alone but in deeds and truth, reflecting the heart of God to the world, without condemnation and with full assurance before God.
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