I John 3:21 KJV Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. [Condemn=pronounce guilty of crime or wrong; confidence=firm belief and trust]
I John 3:21-24 NCV My dear friends, if our hearts do not make us feel guilty, we can come without fear into God’s presence. And God gives us what we ask for because we obey God’s commands and do what pleases Him. This is what God commands: that we believe in his Son, Jesus Christ and that we love each other, just as he commanded. The people who obey God’s commands live in God, and God lives in them. We know that God lives in us because of the Spirit God gave us.
Peter is a good example. He denied Christ three times and he felt terrible. He repented. At times he may felt unworthy to come to Christ. The women who came to the empty tomb of Jesus, saw an angel who told them that Christ had risen and that they were to tell the disciples and Peter that Jesus would meet them at Galilee. When Peter heard that his name was mentioned, he felt hope and confidence.
When the disciples were at the boat, Jesus was at the beach and He asked them if they had caught any fishes. They came to the beach and met with Christ. After they had eaten the fishes and bread, Jesus turned to Peter and asked him three times if he love Jesus. Peter was grieved because he remembered he denied Christ three times. Jesus gave him a new confidence that his heart will no longer condemn him because Jesus forgave Peter and gave him a new ministry to “feed his sheep.”
When we pray, John is telling us that when we know that Christ has forgiven us, our heart should not feel guilty or condemn that we cannot go to God in prayer. Remember, Satan is the accuser of the brethren day and night before the throne of God. So let us come to God with confidence through the blood of Jesus who has already forgiven us.
Heavenly Father, we come to You through the blood of Jesus, knowing that we are forgiven and we have the confidence that you hear our prayers. Thank you for the Word of God that helps us to conquer against our enemy who tried to “condemn us” and keep us from coming to You in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. God loves you so much.
