Confidence!!

It was the middle of October, and the Detroit Lions were in Dallas, Texas, to play America’s team. The Cowboys are a team with a rich heritage and legacy. The Lions, on the other hand, were happy if they could play their opponents and keep the score close. The hopeless Lions were perennial losers. One Thanksgiving Day in the 80’s, it was said the Lions won the toss and elected not to play. Yet in week six of this season the Lions won big time by a score of 47-9. The confidence level of the Lions was obvious. In contrast, the Cowboys played like a team on a mission to lose. 

Many Christians approach life with the same attitude. The definition of confidence is simply, “The feeling of trust or belief that you can rely on yourself or something else.” Now, for the secular world, we know why they wake up every day with uncertainty and doubt and fear. They rely on themselves and “lean on their own understanding.” For the disciple of Christ, that “or something else” is the Holy Spirit living and guiding our every move. 

During the fall of 2024, I was teaching a class at Kissimmee Christian Church on the book of 1 John. I noticed in 1 John 3:16-22, the Apostle John explicitly shares ways for the Christian man or women to live with absolute confidence. In verse 16, John shares with his readers that they can be absolutely confident as to what Love is. In John 3:16, we are reminded of how much Jesus loves us. In 1 John 3:16, John reminds us how we, the church, can love others: “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”i  

The love mentioned here is what we know as agape love. In the Greek, it is defined as a selfless, unconditional, and sacrificial love. It was considered the highest form of love offered. Nine times in this chapter, John drives home what real love looks like. In verse 14, John writes, “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren.” 

Dr. Shane Capps writes we can know what real love looks like and how we can replicate that love in our lives by using these standards: [1] True love is derived from Jesus Himself. [2] True love is always practical. Love of Jesus and good deeds always go hand in hand. [3] True love is genuine in nature. Paul writes in his letter to the church at Corinth, “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13.4-7). 

John states we can know what is True. Look at 1 John 3:19: “And by this we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before Him.” Paul writes Timothy and reminds him, “I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). Paul refers to truth as both the pillar and foundation to a healthy life and faith. Chuck Colson wrote: 

When morality is reduced to personal preferences and when no one can be held morally accountable, society quickly falls into disorder. Entertainers churn out garbage that vulgarizes our children’s tastes; politicians tickle our ears while picking our pockets; criminals terrorize our city streets; parents neglect their children; and children grow up without a moral conscience. 

He goes on to say, “Either we embrace a worldview that maintains that we are inherently good or a worldview that acknowledges a transcendent standard and our accountability before a holy God for our sin.” 

We don’t have to go through life wondering if we are good or evil. We don’t have to wonder if there is such a thing as objective truth. Are ethics based on situations or is there such a thing as an absolute? If there is such a thing as a hierarchy of truth, then who defines what that is? John says we can be absolutely confident there is such a thing as absolute truth. Biblical truth shapes every square inch of our lifestyle and worldview. 

Having absolute truth set the tone for our worldview is essential to living an accomplished life. It is the lens through which we see circumstances, events, and life in general. If this much weight rides on my having a healthy, sound, comprehensively impactful worldview, then my worldview better be accurate. The Apostle John tells me the Bible guarantees that. 

Finally, John says I can be absolutely confident about my Eternal Future. I don’t have to guess as to where I will live after death. In 1 John 3:20-21 John writes, “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.” 

Clinton Gill shares this insight, “Any honest person can think of a million reasons why God should not claim him as a child. That is why so many Christians, when asked if they are saved, respond with ‘I hope so, or I’d like to think I am.’” I believe this weak and apologetic response is totally unnecessary for men and women who truly love God and keep His commandments. Gill hits the nail on the head when he says, “God is greater than our feeble hearts.” I have little to no confidence in the American people’s ability to collectively make wise decisions. We have so many “low information thinkers” serving this country. Yet, I am absolutely confident in my God and in His ability to save me. Try and grasp the wonder and immensity of God’s love and grace. 

Paul reminds us in Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” God’s people should be the most confident people on planet earth. We can know what love is, what truth is and where we will spend eternity. Thanks, John, for that great reminder—I needed that.