The Assurance of Fellowship

1 John 5:6-15

Introduction

Anyone traveling by train, bus, or plane must trust the conductor, driver, or pilot to know what they are doing. To go from the place of departure to the point of arrival, travelers must rest knowing that someone else can navigate with assurance and guide them to their destination. The same is true of how Christians must rest in God as the conductor, driver, and pilot of their lives.

When you have a confident and settled belief that Jesus died, was buried, and then rose from the dead for your salvation – when you believe that He lives as Lord of your life – you will begin to operate in the assurance of fellowship. Many Christians suffer from a lack of assurance. They are not sure of their salvation or their personal relationship with God. However, God wants us to be sure and not guess!

Our confidence and assurance do not come from man. The Bible teaches us that the basis of our assurance is the witness of the water, the blood, and the Spirit. All of these relate to Christ. His baptism is the water, the cross is the blood, and the Spirit confirms that when we are in fellowship with Christ, the same Christ who was baptized and shed His blood operates within us! We can have assurance because we have “two or three witnesses” confirmed by the Spirit.

God is Spirit, and He cannot lie. The promise of God is eternal life for those who believe in Him. God also makes provision for intimacy with Him because He loves us. God also confirms His love for us through His Word, the authority of Christ in our lives, and with answered prayer. When we are in concert with God’s Word and submit to Christ’s authority, we will see prayers being answered, demonstrating that we are in fellowship with God. Assurance is the right of every believer. So when we find ourselves traveling on a path of uncertainty, we need not be anxious but know that we can rest in His assurance of fellowship.

Getting Started

1. Tell about a time in your life when you were uncertain about your future.
2. How do you bring calm to yourself or others in a season of uncertainty?

Let’s Get Personal

1. What steps have you taken to project your confidence in Christ outwardly?
2. What have you done with God’s provision for intimacy with Him? How has this affected your assurance in fellowship with him?
3. Tell us about a time when God answered prayer. How did this grow the assurance of your faith?

Take the Next Step

1. Are there areas in your Christian life that you need assurance? What did you learn from this week’s message that will help you grow your confidence in Christ?
2. Who is in your sphere of influence that lacks confidence in Christ? How can you encourage him or her to have assurance of their fellowship with the Savior?
3. Want to go deeper? Take time to look at the following passages: John 5:24; 2 Timothy 1:12; Luke 10:20; Mark 9:20-24; John 20:25-29; Romans 8:16; Luke 3:22; Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15; John 8:17-18

Renew Your Mind

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word,
and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life,
and does not come into judgment,
but has passed out of death into life.”

John 5:24