ASCC Blog

God is Greater Than Our Heart

You’ve probably heard it: the judge within you whispering (and maybe sometimes shouting) doubt and condemnation. But, rest assured: that's not the final word on you, believer.

The book of First John is a lighthouse bright for the darkness and brimming with rich Gospel assurances. You can’t read that letter from pastor-apostle John without being both challenged and comforted.

John was probably Jesus’ bosom buddy of all the Twelve. Peter might have been the leader entrusted with the birth and formation of the new covenant Church, but John got Jesus’ heart and pastored like him. We get 5 of the 27 New Testament books from this John (Gospel, 3 letters and the Revelation). St. John was a “specialist” in Christian assurance (Gospel of John 20:31; 21:24). Right knowledge is vital to a living, assured faith. He uses the word ‘know’ A LOT. For instance, he states:

“By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for if 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 3:19-21

 True faith is an abiding reality no matter how small or mature it is. The measure of one’s faith is not dependent on the object of their faith.  True faith never goes beyond the pale into rank, damnable unbelief. Though related, however, assurance of faith and grace isn’t always a steady state. Just notice the two “ifs” above. It doesn’t mean we’re less saved. It just means that due to one or multiple variables (like personality, health, sin or circumstances), we may be less sure at times than at others. Often a believer’s doubt or self-condemnation is a result of a guilty conscience. Real, damnable guilt was dealt with once and for all on the cross. Yet, that is precisely one of the ongoing struggles for the Christian— distinguishing between guilt and genuine conviction of sin.

John helps pacify the troubled conscience with two assurances. In fact, some Bible versions (NET and CSB) viably translate ‘heart’ (cardia) as ‘conscience’:

1. Looking Back: If we look back to the previous verses (3:18), it talks about how true faith demonstrates in visible sacrificial deeds towards the brothers; not just talks about it. If we can look back and see that we have shown love for God’s children, then, we can take that as a mark of divine love at work within us. We’re assured!

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2. Looking Up: As Doug O’Donnell quips: “Our hearts don’t always align with our heads.” We go looking within or listening to ourselves or other accusations more often than not. John intercepts us as we’re headed into yet another one of our tailspins of guilt. The late Dr. James Boice summarized this as ‘faith must be fed by knowledge of what is true about God.’ In other words, we should look forward or out and up at God and his verdict; not our experiences. When our hearts pound the gavel again and again, must take comfort in God’s greatness and omniscience. God is greater than our hearts. He knows us better than we know ourselves. God’s omniscience usually (and rightfully) is a deterrent to sin, but here in 1 John it is a comfort over our condemnation. Yes, God knows your woefully repeated failures. Yet, God knows what he has done for you, and that is so much greater than anything you’ve committed or omitted. Instead of defensively telling yourself or others the usual ‘God knows my heart’, tell your Accuser (which is what Satan means): “You are right. I am that and worse, but God through Christ has forgiven me, and I am dressed HIS righteousness alone. God is greater than my heart.” Resist the accusations like that.

“When Satan tempts me to despair

And tells me of the guilt within,

Upward I look and see Him there,

Who made an end to all my sin…”

(Before the Throne of God Above)

 And then, be at ease when there aren’t those accusations (verse 21). Enjoy confidence before God. Timidity, fear and guilt are not the emotions that our good Father wants us to have. Go ahead, beloved child of God dressed like Jesus the Son, hop into your Father’s lap and ask away.

Dear Saint, rest— assured.

Part two on Christian assurance from First John… next week.

Why a Benediction?

Christian worship is no secret. The Church is not a private society with our own clandestine practices. We are a family trying to grow, and our family ways may be strange to some. With love and truth being at the core of who we are, we do well to have reasons ready (1 Peter 3:15). But as it goes sometimes in a family, we get too familiar with each other and our practices. To some, our gathered worship could be strange. Some people are completely new to Christian worship. While others may come from another tradition or from a more “freely” expressed style of worship. Whatever the degree of unfamiliarity, we the family should know why we are the way we are and do the things we do so we can be all the more hospitable and thoughtful when we do them. So for starters, what is the ditty at the end of the service often referred to the ‘benediction’?

 Simply broken down, benediction is ‘a good word’. It means ‘blessing’ and is especially a blessing given to others  in the context of a religious service. When you reply to someone’s sneeze, technically, you’re giving them a benediction. But spiritually, it’s not true at all. It’s just a common courtesy which probably even has a superstitious origin. Maybe it’s just best to say gesundheit; unless, of course, you want to turn a ‘God bless you’ into a jarring  evangelism opener. =+)

It also differs from a doxology which is a liturgical formula of praise to God.  You see the difference?

Biblically speaking, there is no mandate on churches or their worship leaders to give a benediction at the end of a worship service. The words of benedictions are often found in the Scriptures, but the practice, per se, is not. That, however, has not stopped churches over the majority of the Church’s history to employ these spiritual “formulas” as public pronouncements or prayers. The benediction is not merely a signal that the worship service is over. If we think of a benediction like movie credits, then, we’ll check out or leave. The benediction isn’t a sermon recap or even a continuation of the sermon. It’s more like the liturgical echo to the ‘call to worship’ (at the beginning of the service). This ‘sending blessing’ from God is offered by the minister topping off the congregation's tank as they scatter to their diverse vocations as Gospel ambassadors. Mike Cosper in his book Rhythms of Grace nails it this way: “The benediction has a centrifugal force to it— spinning us out from the gathering to our scattered lives where worship continues as before, but in our varied corners.”

The Bible has several benedictions that  are less obvious in the Old Testament than they are in the New Testament letters. While there is no strict formula for a benediction, you will notice language of conferral or wishing (“may…”); or, matter-of-fact, direct statement of God’s promises and presence. And often, they are trinitarian. The two most well-known biblical benedictions are:

• “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26, ESV).
• “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ [Son], and the love of God [the Father], and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV).

 It also isn't uncommon to paraphrase a biblical benediction or to even fuse a couple together, but it should be done carefully,  respecting their original contexts. This benediction based on Philippians 4:7 comes from Anglican and Presbyterian traditions:

• “The peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.”

 Again, no hard and fast rules on the ‘who’, but most of the time, the benediction is offered by the elder who has just preached or officiated the communion sacrament.  He will often do so with an arm (or both) outstretched over the congregation as a symbol of priestly service and shepherd-like generosity.  So then, it isn’t uncommon or inappropriate for congregants to respond to the benediction by reaching out their hand(s) as a visual way of receiving the blessing.

Would a congregation somehow be less blessed or slighted if the minister didn’t offer a benediction from God on their behalf? Probably not. We have all the blessings we need in Christ (Ephesians 1:1-4). The value of a well-planned benediction is worth the  extra minute in the worship service. 

Just think about this: You're not just leaving a worship service week after week; you are being sent. You have not just earned your weekly church attendance badge. Brothers and sisters, you are King Jesus’ servants being recharged and receiving a blessing for the road; a road that for you winds  Monday through Saturday and leads right back every week to the blessedness of Lord’s Day gathering.

 “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

-Hebrews 13:20–21 ESV

(See the article length version of this post here)