Faith and Love: The Assurance of the Spirit
I John 4:13-21

1. The Spirit assures us that we belong to God:

A. By creating within us a deep assurance of faith in Jesus Christ, the only Savior (vss. 13-16a).
Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. - I Corinthians 12:3(ESV).

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. - Galatians 4:6–7(ESV).

“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.” - John 15:26–27(ESV)

“And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” - Acts 5:32(ESV)

B. By nurturing within us a confidence in God’s unbreakable love for us and a welcoming love for others (vss. 16b-21).

But the fruit of the Spirit is love. - Galatians 5:22a(ESV)

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. - Romans 8:14–17a(ESV)

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. - I John 1:6(ESV)

Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. - I John 2:4(ESV)

Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. - I John 2:22(ESV)