Getting What You Want From God

Assurance of Truth in 1 John 3:19-24

John paints a black-and-white picture in 1 John of what counts as a Christian and what does not. He does this not only to prove our testimony but also to give us assurance. By this we know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before Him.

By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before Him. 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; and whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him. And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another just as He has commanded us. Whoever keeps His commandments abides in God, and God in him, and by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. (1 John 3:19-24)

Here, truth is not mere facts like 2+2=4, but the reality of God’s existence, salvation, sin as a problem, and our need for Jesus Christ as propitiation for our sins. As John said earlier, we lie if we claim no sin; we do not practice the truth.

This gives internal assurance of salvation, publicly displayed to others. John provides clear marks of a true Christian—walking in light, not darkness. Last week, we saw that claiming Christianity while closing your heart to a brother in need means your profession is empty. Love must be in deed and truth, aligned with the gospel, calling all to change through Christ.

When Your Heart Condemns You

John addresses the heart’s role: whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and He knows everything.

As Christians, we may doubt our salvation due to the weakness of our flesh. Your heart accuses: “How could God love you after this sin?” This is common, especially among youth raised in church whose faith isn’t yet their own. Statistics show most abandon Christianity by 25, either unsaved or wrestling with doubt.

John equips us: reassure your heart before God by recognizing God’s omniscience surpasses your ignorant, emotional heart. God knows your name in the book of life, your sins laid on Christ, Jesus as your advocate. Your heart doesn’t know; God does.

Imagine a three-year-old accusing you of a crime you didn’t commit versus the judge declaring you not guilty after full examination. Trust the omniscient Judge, not the clueless child.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:31-34)

Paul describes salvation’s full chain—predestined, called, justified, glorified—all in past tense because God transcends time and cannot fail. No one, not Satan, not your heart, can charge God’s elect. Christ died, rose, intercedes. Nothing separates us from God’s love.

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Even in tribulation, persecution, famine—we are more than conquerors through Christ. Feelings change nothing; God knows your eternal state.

A key question when condemned: Do you desire God more than your accusing heart? Value His knowledge over emotions.

When Your Heart Does Not Condemn You

If our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God. Even without condemnation, don’t trust self-sufficiency—recall we all have sin. Confidence comes not from feelings but from your advocate, Jesus, and God’s work.

Salvation depends on God, not emotions. With heart reassured and confidence secured, verse 22 follows: whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him.

Receiving from God: Obedience and Pleasing Him

Without heart assurance, this promise twists God into a genie granting any wish. But with gospel-centered confidence and salvation’s reality—I don’t want sin, I want good—obedience aligns desires with God’s.

You receive because your life obeys and pleases Him. Disobedient hearts ask wrongly. As in Psalm 37:

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

Delight reshapes desires to godly ones. Ask: Is this obedient? Does it please God? Obedient lives ask for Christlikeness, holiness, repentance—not sin.

In counseling, some claim God wants divorce without biblical grounds. If sinful, repent. The obedient pray: “Grant repentance; help me love my spouse.” They seek more of God, like Moses craving God’s face or David panting for Him.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5)

God lavishes wisdom liberally to faith-filled askers.

The Commandment Summarized

John simplifies: This is His commandment—that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another just as He commanded.

Believing His name means trusting His authority to forgive sins (as proven in healings) and His mission: “You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21)—Yahweh saves.

Love in deed, not just word—caring for one another. Whoever keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in us, by the Spirit He has given us.

Obedience confirms abiding, as Jesus said: “If you abide in me... you bear much fruit.” The Spirit assures, unlike the condemning heart, teaching as we obey.