A Note from Michael Gossett
The Commandment Test
Carefully read this verse…. 1 John 2:3 says, “This is how we know that we know Him: if we keep His commands.”
Christmas has a way of bringing out some really great questions….. If your home is anything like ours (full of children), then your house is constantly filled with questions. At the time of writing this article, our kids are actively asking, “What time are Nana and Pawpaw going to be here?” I believe it is a really great question, but the what the two youngest don’t seem to understand is that the answer remains the same, no matter how many times you ask it. Some kids are asking about Santa, some are asking about the Elf on the Shelf. Some kids are asking for another Christmas cookie, and some are asking (or demanding) certain items on their Christmas list.
Right now, I am studying the gift of Myrrh from the Magi for Sunday’s sermon and it automatically makes me ask the question, “Why?” Why these particular gifts? Of all the questions in the world to ask, there is one question that is the most important question that you will ever ask: Are you confident that you belong to Jesus? Our verse at the beginning of the article says, “This is how we know that we know Him.”
Life’s Most Pressing Question
This is by far life’s most pressing question. Life can get really busy, especially this time of year. Christmas parties, Christmas performances, shows, shopping, and Worship on Sunday morning at 9:30am or 11:00am at GABC!!! And also the incredible Christmas Eve service at 4:00pm or 6:00pm that I keep hearing so many wonderful things about and I can’t wait to see you there…. I digress. In the middle of all the busy, wonderful, fun things in life, we can easily experience amnesia when it comes to what is most important. The question posed by John is one that every single one of us must come to terms with. John is not asking the question to cause fear and anxiety in your life, but rather, being able to answer confidently actually provides hope, peace, and assurance about your future and the future of those you love around you. I believe in the Lord’s kindness, John provides for us a test that you cannot cheat on, but you will certainly need to answer. This commandment test helps provide clarity on where we truly stand with the Lord.
The Commandment Test challenges us to examine our lives not through the lens of perfection but the lens of transformation. At its core, the Commandment Test reflects the relationship between grace and obedience, a topic that many have wrestled with through the centuries.
Is Assurance of Salvation really possible?
Throughout Christian history, the question of assurance has been the center of many debates. The Roman Catholic Church traditionally emphasized the uncertainty of salvation, teaching that one could not presume upon God’s grace. This was one of the results of the Council of Trent (1545–1563), which condemned the “vain confidence” of assurance apart from sacramental participation. If anyone was confident in their salvation, they are now struggling with pride and arrogance.
The Reformation reclaimed the biblical teaching that believers can and should have assurance of salvation. John Calvin emphasized that assurance is the fruit of genuine faith, writing, “Faith is a firm and certain knowledge of God’s benevolence toward us, founded upon the truth of the freely given promise in Christ” (Institutes of the Christian Religion, 3.2.7). Very similar, the Westminster Confession in 1646 affirmed that assurance is attainable, though not infallible, stating that it is “founded upon the promises of salvation” and “the inward evidence of those graces unto which these promises are made.”
Southern Baptists have also historically affirmed assurance as central to the believer’s faith in Christ. The Baptist Faith and Message (2000) declares: “Those whom God has accepted in Christ and sanctified by His Spirit will never fall away from the state of grace but shall persevere to the end.” Assurance in today’s language is more commonly understood as “Perseverance of the Saints.” This means that because of the work of Christ, we can have full assurance that God will see the believer through to the end unto glory.
Obedience as Evidence NOT Requirement for Faith
A distinction must be made and we should clarify our understanding of assurance of salvation and provision for salvation. 1 John 2:3 says, “This is how we know that we know Him: if we keep His commands.” This verse has been used to a degree to teach that obedience is a requirement for salvation. Although it is easy to get there, we must be careful to maintain the order of salvation. This verse reminds us that obedience is not the requirement of salvation but the response to salvation given. This distinction is vital in understanding the role of works in our lives. Ephesians 2:8–10 says, “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.”
Notice the order of salvation. We are saved by grace (1), through faith (2), NOT YOU (reminder), it is God’s gift (another reminder), created in Christ Jesus (1), good works (2). The act of Christ in salvation will always precede the good works of God’s people.Salvation and the work of Christ in us cause us to love Him. We love because He first loved us, and this affects our good works through obedience. The Puritan, Thomas Watson wrote, “Obedience without love is like a body without a soul; it is a lifeless form.” Faithful obedience flows from a heart that is captivated by the grace of God, not to gain God’s grace. John 14:15 says, “If you love Me, you will keep My commands.” Again, thisis not the basis or the cause of salvation but allows the believer to have evidence of their salvation given as a gift from God.
A Heart Transformed by Grace
The word “keep” in 1 John 2:3 also helps us understand that obedience is not about changing external behaviors in and of themselves. It suggests willful and joyful obedience out of love for The Lord and His word, guarding it as the true treasure it is. Psalm 19:10 reminds us that God’s commands are “more desirable than gold—than an abundance of pure gold.”
But how can this transformation truly take place in your life? The transformation that leads to obedience and a new desire? Ezekiel 36:26–27 says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place My Spirit within you and cause you to follow My statutes and carefully observe My ordinances.”
Regeneration is the work of the Holy Spirit, awakening a sinner to spiritual life and creating a new desire to obey God. This transformation, described by Jonathan Edwards as “holy affections,” also serves as an indicator in our own life of salvation. Edwards wrote, “True religion, in great part, consists in holy affections” (Religious Affections). When Jesus saves you, His Spirit fills you, and your heart is completely transformed. This transformation builds new desires, and your desire will grow as you continue to surrender to Him in obedience rooted in love.
Obedience Rooted in Love
Obedience to God’s commands flows from a heart devoted to Christ. John connects keeping God’s Word with love in 1 John 2:5: “But whoever keeps His Word, truly in him the love of God is made complete.” This reflects the Apostle Paul’s teaching in Galatians 5:6 that “faith works through love.”
Historically, theologians have distinguished between legalistic obedience and gospel-induced obedience. Martin Luther emphasized that good works do not precede justification but follow as its fruit. He stated, “Good works do not make a man good, but a good man does good works.” Adrian Rogers put it this way: “Obedience is the greatest proof of love.” This echoes the heart of 1 John 2:5—obedience is not merely an outward act but an inward devotion to Christ.
Consistency in Life
John challenges believers to align their lives with Christ’s example: “The one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6). This call to walk as Jesus walked is echoed in 1 Peter 2:21: “For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.”
As you continue to surrender daily, the consistency of Christlikeness in your life will continue to grow. St. Augustine emphasized the importance of following Christ’s example, particularly in His humility and sacrificial love. John Calvin urged believers to “set before [their] eyes Christ as their only goal.” Imitating Christ is not centered on what is flowing to us or what is gained for us. A growing consistency of imitation is the work of the Spirit in us from the point of regeneration. Paul says in Ephesians 5:1, “Therefore be imitators of God.” Our imitation cannot be manufactured by our own initiative or our own merit, nor will our willpower ever suffice. It is only the work of Christ in us, our surrender to Him, that our imitation and our walk with Jesus can be consistent.
The Tension of Assurance and Obedience
It would be wise to caution ourselves against two realities that often creep into our lives as we pursue Jesus. Think of Christlikeness as the road we are driving on, and on each side, there are two guard rails from which to stay away. Throughout church history, Christians have wrestled with the tension between assurance and obedience. The two guard rails are antinomianism and legalism. Antinomianism is the belief that grace eliminates the need for obedience. God is gracious, I cannot earn it, therefore there is nothing for me to do. This view eliminates any need for surrender and obedience being that we cannot cause righteousness in our own lives. This view was clearly rejected by Paul in Romans 6:1-2. Paul clearly recognized the error of his day of this view and showed us how this undermines the gospel’s transformative power in the believer’s life.The second guardrail is legalism. Legalism is the belief that obedience earns salvationor is at minimum required for salvation. This error was condemned by the Reformers, who upheld justification by faith alone.
As seen in 1 John, the biblical view upholds both the sufficiency of God’s grace for salvation and the believer’s response in obedience. Obedience is not the cause of salvation but its inevitable result that will be seen in our lives. As the Westminster Confession states, “Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and His righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification; yet it is not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces” (WCF 11.2). This commandment test is a true gift from God as we await our eternal circumstance.
Questions to Consider:
- Is obedience to Christ and His word reflected in your life?
- Is your life reflecting a new desire for God’s word?
- Do you experience a need to prove yourself to God in obedience?
Or are you resting in the gift of salvation? - Do you see a growing consistency in your walk with Christ?
- Would others around you recognize the fruit of Christ in your life?
Prayer:
Lord, I first want to thank you for the assurance of salvation that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Transform my heart by your Spirit and create in me a new desire to treasure and obey your Word. Help me walk consistently in the light of your truth and follow the example of Christ in every aspect of my life. Help me today bear the fruit of your grace and glorify you in everything I do, say, and think. Amen.
YEAR-END CHRISTMAS GIFT!
As we approach the end of another incredible year, I want to take a moment to reflect on God’s faithfulness in and through our church. Together, we have seen lives transformed by the truth of Jesus Christ. Through your generosity, people have connected to Jesus and His Church, grown in His likeness, and multiplied their impact for His Purpose! It has been so exciting to see every ministry initiative take place throughout the past year, and it is because of your faithfulness and generosity. Lives are being changed because of your continued financial support and prayers for God’s work.
As we conclude this year, I’m inviting you to prayerfully consider a year-end gift to further the work of the Gospel. This is not just about meeting a financial need-it’s about stepping into the mission that God has called us to: transforming lives with the truth of Jesus. Throughout Scripture, we see God’s people called to joyful and sacrificial giving. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul reminds us: “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” When we give, we are imitating the generosity of our Savior, who gave everything for us. Your gift is a tangible act of worship and an expression of your trust in God’s provision.
For generations, the Church has been built upon the generosity of believers who gave sacrificially so that others might hear the good news of Jesus. From the early church in Acts, who “had everything in common” (Acts 2:44-45), to faithful saints throughout history, to the Saints of Green Acres Baptist Church in 1955, all the way to YOU today! God’s people have always used their resources to advance His Kingdom. Now, it’s our turn to be part of this legacy.
As we close the year, would you join us in prayerfully considering how God might use your generosity to expand His Kingdom? What if we made our greatest Christmas gift back to the Lord? Whether it’s a one-time gift, an above-and-beyond contribution, or a commitment to regular giving in the new year, every act of faith-filled generosity makes an eternal impact.
For your convenience, there are several ways that you can give:
- You can give securely online at GABC.org/give
- Through the Green Acres App
- Or by mailing your gift to 1607 Troup HWY. Tyler, Texas 75701.
Thank you for your faithfulness, church family. Let’s finish this year strong together as we continue transforming lives with the truth of Jesus.
THIS SUNDAY! We continue our Christmas Series, “The Gift.” We will study Matthew 2:1-12, and the title is “Myrrh for Our Prophet.”
We are excited to welcome you this Sunday, December 22, to worship with us! Join us at the Tyler Campus for services at 9:30 or 11:00, the Flint Campus at 9:30 or 11:00, or the Español Campus at 11:00 in Crosswalk. Please note that Connect Groups will not be meeting this Sunday or the following Sunday, December 29. However, we will provide childcare for babies through 4-year-olds during worship services. We hope to see you there as we gather to celebrate and worship together!
One of my most favorite Christmas traditions for our family is to attend the Christmas Eve service together! Tuesday, December 24, our Christmas Eve services will be held at 4 PM and 6 PM and include fun and dynamic worship music, a Kids element, the Lord’s Supper, and a candlelight element.
The current World Mission Offering total is $995,000. That’s 99.5% of our 2024 goal! You can continue giving at www.gabc.org/missions
Next fall, October 26-November 4, 2025, Katie and I will lead a group on one of the most impactful trips you will ever experience! You will get to see the sites of Paul’s second missionary journey. As we’ve all studied the New Testament for years, we may feel very “familiar” with Paul’s journey. The scriptures come to life as we step into the places where these events occurred! It is here that we will learn about the Apostle Paul’s laser focus on making disciples for Christ. Join us on this trip of a lifetime!
You can sign up here! Space is limited, so please sign up as early as possible. Register HERE!
You are loved and prayed for!
Michael Gossett