Legacy of Love

How would you like to have a deep, unwavering assurance in your faith? To confidently say, “I know that I know that I know I’m Heaven-born and Heaven-bound”? And what if you could pray with such boldness that you knew, without a doubt, that your prayers would be answered? How would you like to experience a daily, intimate communion with the Lord, where Jesus isn’t just someone you read or hear about but a bright, burning, loving reality in your life? Wouldn’t you want that? Today, we're going to talk about the key to all of that—and that key is love.

Love, unfortunately, has become a word we often pass by, almost worn out by overuse. But today, I want you to rediscover the profound legacy of love as revealed in God’s Word. When you do, you’ll realize that even if we were utterly selfish—though true love and selfishness can never coexist—we would still yearn to love. Look at God’s Word, and you’ll understand why.

There are four levels of life. Let’s start with the lowest, and that is murder. In verse 11, we read, “This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of the wicked one and slew his brother” (1 John 3:11-12). Cain and Abel, the first brothers, are a stark contrast—one a martyr, the other a murderer. Cain’s act of murder was rooted in religion, showing how false religion, driven by hatred and jealousy, can lead to destruction. Jesus himself said in John 8:44 that Satan is a murderer and a thief who comes to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10).

The next level, just above murder, is hatred. You might say, “I’ve never killed anyone,” but John tells us that harboring hatred is equivalent to murder in God’s eyes. Jesus echoes this in Matthew 5:21-22, where he says that anger and hatred toward a brother are as serious as murder. If your heart harbors hatred, you’re on a dangerous path, far from God’s will.

Though slightly higher, the third level is still far from where we’re called to be—indifference. Verse 17 warns against indifference: simply going your way without concern for others. This, too, is not of God. Jesus highlighted this in the parable of the Good Samaritan, where those who passed by the injured man were guilty of indifference. The world is full of those who beat others down or pass them by, but Christ calls us to be the ones who lift others.

Finally, we come to the highest level—the level of love—where we, as children of God, are meant to live—not in murder, hatred, indifference, or love. Before we dive into our text, let’s take a moment to understand the immeasurable value of love.

Love is the greatest virtue, the greatest commandment, the greatest testimony, the greatest motivation, and the greatest investment.

A legacy of love will leave us with a good conscience (1 John 3:19). In 1 John 3:19, we encounter the concept of a good conscience. Although the term “conscience” isn’t explicitly mentioned in the verse, John uses the word “heart,” which is often interchangeable with “conscience” in the Bible. When John writes, “If our heart does not condemn us,” he’s essentially saying, “If our conscience does not condemn us.”

The connection between love and a clear conscience is profound. When you harbor love in your heart, it naturally leads to a clear conscience. Love compels us to make things right with others, to seek forgiveness, and to forgive. This process of reconciliation and restoration creates transparency in our lives—a lightness that comes from knowing that we are in the right standing with God and others. It’s a freedom that allows us to sleep peacefully, knowing nothing is unresolved in our hearts.

However, if you’re struggling with doubt about your salvation, even after giving your heart to Jesus Christ, it’s wise to examine whether any unresolved bitterness or sin is lingering in your heart. Bitterness and unresolved sin can cloud our conscience, leading to guilt and condemnation. These feelings can undermine our assurance in Christ, making us question our standing with God.

When we allow love to guide our actions, we maintain a clear conscience, strengthening our assurance of salvation. A good conscience, rooted in love, brings peace and confidence in our relationship with God. It’s a vital aspect of the Christian life that allows us to live in the freedom and joy that Christ has secured for us.

A legacy of love will leave a great confidence (1 John 3:22). In 1 John 3:21-22, we find a powerful legacy of love—a great confidence before God. This confidence, or boldness, stems directly from a clear conscience. When our hearts do not condemn us and our conscience is clear, we can confidently approach God. This confidence is deeply rooted in love. Love purifies our hearts, clears our conscience, and ultimately enables us to stand before God without fear or hesitation.

But why is this confidence so important? What does it accomplish in our lives? The answer lies in our relationship with God, especially in our prayer life. When we have this great confidence, it transforms the way we pray. We can boldly come before God, expecting Him to hear and answer our prayers. This is not a presumptuous boldness but one grounded in a life aligned with God’s will—a life where love reigns, and our conscience is clear.

Answered prayer, however, is not for everyone. It’s not for those living in rebellion or harboring bitterness. The Bible is clear: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18). This is a sobering truth we must take seriously. A heart filled with hate, unresolved sin, or bitterness cannot experience the fullness of God’s grace in prayer.

The key to effective prayer is the great confidence that comes from a clear conscience and a heart of love. When we live in love, our conscience is clear, and we can approach God with the boldness that brings real, tangible answers to our prayers. This prayer life is not just about asking for what we want; it’s about aligning our hearts with God’s will, loving as He loves, and then boldly approaching Him with our requests, knowing He hears and answers us.

A legacy of love will leave a gracious communion with the Lord (1 John 3:23-24). In 1 John 3:23-24, we encounter the third legacy of love—a gracious communion made possible through the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. This communion is not just a distant relationship with God but a deep, personal connection where the Holy Spirit continually whispers to our hearts, affirming that we belong to God and He to us. This is the essence of what it means to have a gracious communion with God.

The Holy Spirit's role is to make Jesus's presence real in our lives, taking Jesus's truths and revealing them to us in an intimate and transformative way. When we live by love, that love creates a cascade of blessings in our spiritual life. It starts with a good conscience, where we live in alignment with God’s will and are free from unresolved guilt. This clear conscience leads to great confidence, allowing us to approach God boldly in prayer, knowing He hears us.

But it doesn’t stop there. This great confidence naturally flows into a gracious communion with God, where the Holy Spirit’s presence is not just a doctrine we affirm but a daily reality we experience. The Holy Spirit continually ministers to our hearts, reminding us of our identity in Christ and our unbreakable bond with Him. This communion is marked by a sense of peace, assurance, and joy, knowing that we are in fellowship with the living God.

When we live in love, we remain in constant communion with God. This abiding relationship is the fruit of a life lived in love—love for God and others. The more we love, the more we experience this gracious communion, where the Holy Spirit affirms our relationship with God and deepens our understanding of His love for us.

This gracious communion is the culmination of a life transformed by love. It’s the Holy Spirit’s way of assuring us that we are not alone, that we are His, and that He is with us every step. In this communion, we find the strength to continue loving, the courage to remain confident in our faith, and the peace that comes from knowing we are securely held in God’s love.

As we prepare for our worship gathering, let this be our focus. Love is the key to assurance, confidence, and communion with God. Let it be the foundation of our lives as we seek to follow Christ more closely.