Every time one of our children goes in for their annual checkup our pediatrician will humorously—yet carefully—work through a “Development Report Card.” Haddon’s 18-month report card said in the Development Comments, “Great job at growing up.” He evidently achieved all of the medical milestones.

Have you ever considered how concerned God is with our spiritual development and growth in godliness? Over the last four months we’ve journeyed as a people through the book of 1 John and the apostle has given us a clear chart on what kind of spiritual growth ought to be normal in our life together. We know he wants us to have growing assurance, and as we begin to close I want to think about from our text particular marks of growing assurance. Three marks by which we can examine our corporate growth.

Marks of Growing Assurance

Growing trust in God’s word. I told you all the way back in January, when we started our series in this letter, that John is surely an apostle for our time. In an age that demands acceptance of virtually every view, an age that up until just recently celebrated doubt and rebelled against absolute truth, John speaks with total, trustful certainty. The drumbeat of our text and his message is, “We know.”

Where might you be tempted to doubt God’s word? Are there any truths, commands, or promises where you are not taking God at His word?

To grow in assurance is to have growing trust in God’s word. A second mark is . . .

Growing confidence in God’s spirit. Our text says “everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning,” and that Jesus “protects” us and “has given us understanding.” All of this happens through the work of His Spirit. Are you confident in God’s spirit? Is secret sin threatening to undo you? Is consistent weariness stealing hope? John means to inject our souls not only with ever deepening trust in God’s word, but ever increasing confidence in the Spirit who resides in us.

A final mark of growing assurance is . . .

Growing joy in God’s son. This is the chief mark. John said in chapter one that one reason he wrote this letter is so that “our joy may be complete.” John continually defends the truth of Christ and exalts in the glory of Christ because, as 5:20 says, “He is the true God and eternal life.” What brings you ultimate joy? What person, place, or people—no matter the difficulty plaguing you at the moment—can seem to lift your spirit in an instance? Oh, how I long for us to increasingly say, individually and corporately, “Jesus is our supreme joy.”

Growing assurance means growing trust in God’s word, growing confidence in God’s spirit, and growing joy in God’s son.

This post is adapted from my recent sermon, “The Love of Assurance,” on 1 John 5:13-21.