When Our Heart Condemns Us

Last time, we talked about 1st John 3:17 which said, “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” This, we said, was a test – a test of our salvation. Those who show love demonstrate evidence of being saved. Those who don’t show love lack evidence of salvation.

“But, now pastor,” some of you will say, “We can never do enough for people. There will always be more people than we can help.”

Yes, that’s true. There are millions of starving people around the world, and not a one of us with our puny resources could make a dent in world poverty levels. We could never have enough to give away.

But, Satan is sure to make you feel guilty about your inadequacies. “You hard-hearted so-and-so, how can you ignore all those hurting, starving people? And you yourself ate well today. How can you call yourself a Christian?” He whispers that in your ear, and you feel condemned – guilty as charged.

Well, that’s where this next verse in 1st John comes in. John obviously knows that his words will cause some genuine believers to doubt, because 1st John 3:20 continues: “For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.”

How does our heart condemn us? Our heart condemns us through a guilty conscience. It pricks us and torments us for all the times we could have done more, telling us we should have done more.

The New International Version translates that verse as “when our hearts condemn us.” – No “if.” In other words, whenever we get that guilty conscience, which can be quite often. So, what do we do? We remember that God is greater than that, and He knows all things; whereas, our hearts can be wrong. Jeremiah 17:9 tells us, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?”

Who can know our heart? God can know it; and He does. And it’s His Word that says: Romans 8:1 – “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”

In that same chapter, it tells us this:
Romans 8:31-34
31 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”

There’s no need to doubt our salvation, not if there is some evidence, because God is on our side, and only He has the power to condemn - not your tender conscience. False doubts are just as wrong as false security. So take yourself by the hand and confront your doubts.

When Satan points out those millions of starving people in the world, and he wants to know what you’ve done, and he tells you it could never be enough; simply recount what you have done. Then have confidence. That’s what John wants to accomplish with this book. Trust that God saves inadequate sinners like us who never do quite enough. But at least we’re trying, so gain some confidence.