Certain Eternity Part 32 – Commanded and Confirmed
1 John 3:23-24 June 22, 2025
Introduction
1 John 3:23-24 “23 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. 24
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.”
John cycles back to one of his main points in writing, that we put our faith in the
person and work of Jesus (see 1 John 5:13)
2 Parts: 1) Commandment and 2) Confirmation
Commandment (v23)
Commandment (repeated twice in v23 “this is his commandment”, “just as he has
commanded”: believe and love – note that “commandment” is singular, yet it has
2 parts – faith and love are inseparable aspects of what it means to be a
submitted follower of Jesus, you cannot truly have one without the other.
o “Believe” (Gk. pisteuō) = to have faith, trust, to submit to the truth and
surrender to the authority of something such that the life I now live is
consistent with that in which I have placed my faith
first use of believe in this letter…has previously used fellowship (1:6),
confession (2:22), being “in him” (2:6), hope (3:3), of the truth (3:19),
as conceptual equivalents
Faith in what? “the name of his Son Jesus Christ”
The Name Jesus (Gk. iēsous, Heb. Yeshua – meaning Yahweh
Saves), was very common in Israel, which is why our Jesus is
regularly referred to as Jesus of Nazareth.
o Yahweh Saves or the Lord is Salvation beautifully
captures work Jesus came to accomplish.
o The Lexham Survey of Theology eloquently captures
this dual significance in the name Jesus: “He was, from
one angle, ‘just another Joshua,’ and yet, in another
sense, he was the true Joshua—the one who would live
up to the meaning of this name in ways that no others
could.”
By referring to Jesus Christ, John emphasizes His humanity, His
earthly ministry, and work He alone could accomplish; and the title
Christ (Gk. Christos – anointed one) emphasizes His divinity and the
reminder of His victorious resurrection and ascension to the right
hand of the Father.
Spurgeon “We must look upon Jesus as “Christ,” the anointed of the
Father, sent into this world on salvation’s errand, not that sinners
might save themselves, but that He, being mighty to save, might bring
many sons to glory. We must believe that Jesus Christ, coming into
the world to save sinners, did really accomplish His mission; that the
precious blood that is shed on Calvary is mighty to atone for sin, and
therefore, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven, since
the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s dear Son, cleanses us from all sin.”
Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other
name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
The “Name” is a metonymy, which means using the part (Name) as a
reference for the whole. Here Jesus’ “Name” is a reference to His
whole person and work.
Other common metonyms for Jesus throughout NT: “blood of
Christ”, “Word”, “body”, “lamb”, “lion”, are metonyms and “I am”
statements (bread of life, light of the world, door, resurrection
and life, way/truth/life, true vine, good shepherd) are
metaphoric metonyms, each emphasizing an aspect of Jesus,
but keeping the whole of His person and work in view.
Belief in the Name is obviously tantamount to belief in Jesus
and stands for all that He is.
o The double designation represents the earliest Christian
confession of faith, “Jesus is the Christ” (see Acts 2:36;
3:20; 5:42).
o John 20:30-31 “30 Now Jesus did many other signs in
the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this
book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by
believing you may have life in his name.”
o To believe in Jesus’ Name is to receive Him as Savior,
John 1:11-12 “11 He came to his own, and his own
people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive
him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to
become children of God…”
o Those who do not believe in His Name are judged, John
3:18 “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but
whoever does not believe is condemned already, because
he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
John wanted to make sure that his readers understood that
neither secret knowledge nor moralistic living would save
anyone, only faith in Jesus as the living God can save anyone.
o Megiddo Mosaic: The Megiddo Mosaic is a remarkably
preserved mosaic floor discovered in Megiddo, Israel,
dating back to around 230 AD. It’s significant as the
earliest known physical evidence of Jesus being
proclaimed as God and for being part of the earliest
known Christian house of prayer. The mosaic is currently
on display at the Museum of the Bible in Washington,
D.C. (where we saw it)
Early Evidence of Jesus as God: The mosaic
includes an inscription declaring “God Jesus Christ,”
providing rare, early archaeological evidence of this
belief.
Earliest Christian Prayer Hall: It was the floor of a
Christian worship hall, likely the earliest discovered,
predating the Edict of Milan (which legalized
Christianity) by almost a century.
Roman Military Camp Context: The worship hall
was part of a building within a Roman military camp,
suggesting the presence of Christians even within
the Roman army.
Philippians 2:8-11 “8 And being found in human form, he
humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven
and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
o “Love” (Gk. agape) unconditional, self-sacrificial action of always seeking
the best for another (in deed and truth v18) (See Part 25, 29 of series for
more explanation)
Confirmation (v24)
1 John 3:23-24 “23 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. 24
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.”
Abiding – see Part 24 on abiding – (Gk. menō) to remain
o Already talked a lot about abiding in God, now John gives an
encouragement as to how you know God abides in you
“Know” (Gk. ginōskō) experiential knowledge (as opposed to intrinsic
knowledge from the Spirit (Gk. eidō) (See Part 23 for more teaching
on the two types of knowledge used throughout this letter)
How do we know: Holy Spirit’s presence and power in your life
o Previously, (2:20) John reminds his readers that if they are in Christ then
they have been anointed by the Holy One, that is, you have been set apart
and sealed by the Holy Spirit as a guarantee.
o 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 “21 And it is God who establishes us with you in
Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and
given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
o 2 Corinthians 5:5 “He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who
has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.”
o Ephesians 1:13-14 “13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the
promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we
acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”
o Ephesians 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you
were sealed for the day of redemption.”
Guarantee (Gk. arrabōn) part of the purchase money or property
given in advance as security for the rest – down payment, deposit for
the future promise of our full inheritance in Christ upon our coming
into His presence
The seal of the Spirit is that unbreakable guarantee
To be sealed in Greco-Roman culture was significant:
o Was sign of ownership
o Was sign of security
o Was sign of authority
o Was sign of a finished transaction
o Was sign of authenticity
How do we know we are sealed by the Spirit:
Growing in the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23)
Conviction of the Spirit (John 16:8-11)
Comfort/Help of the Spirit (John 14:26, Acts 9:31)
Illumination/teaching of the Spirit (John 16:13)
Indwelling/Empowering of the Spirit (John 14:15-18)
Leading/guidance of the Spirit (Galatians 5:18)
Refining/sanctification of the Spirit (2 Thessalonians 2:13)
Unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:3)
Boldness of the Spirit against fear and doubt (2 Timothy 1:7,
Romans 8:15)
Confidence of the Spirit that we are loved by God (Romans
5:5)
Conclusion -> Lord’s Supper
Remember what Jesus – The Lord is Salvation – has done for us – give Him
thanks and praise as we learn to fully trust, submit, and surrender to Him and His
truth
Remember the ministry of Holy Spirit to us and ask the Lord to grow your
confidence as you see His presence and power at work in your life, knowing that
you are sealed as a guarantee for your eternal inheritance
Think and pray these things over one another as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
Amen. Amen.