Our confidence before God
Dear friends, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive whatever we ask from him because we keep his commands and do what is pleasing in his sight. 1 John 3:21-22 CSB
Previously, John wrote that as a proof of salvation of a believer is a heart that may be condemning, or experiencing guilt, due to sin. Continuing on, in order to not have the heart free of condemnation, we must confess our sin to God, who is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (see 1 John 1:8-9). From the text, John included himself when he said, “if our hearts don’t condemn us.” John knows that many believers do not always accuse them of sin. Once the heart is not condemning the believer, they can have “confidence before God,” there is no shame before the throne of the Father. This is what the writer of Hebrews wants the believers do. “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” (Hebrews 4:16). Following up to that, John writes that believers then can “receive whatever we ask from Him because we keep His commands and do what is pleasing in His sight.” Because of our relationship with God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, we now have the confidence to approach God’s throne of grace. Does this mean that God will give anything we ask for, such as millions of dollars or an easy life? He can, but not necessarily will He do so. Jesus says in John 14:13-14, “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” When we ask in “Jesus’ name,” we are asking according to His will and plan for the glorification of the Father. Jesus commissioned His disciples to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that He had commanded (see Matthew 28:18-19). This is the will of the Father, so by asking according to His will, aligning His wants with our wants, we can receive what we need to fulfill this purpose, through our obedience to Him.
Blessings,
Isaac De Guzman
