are you sure? you sure...are you sure? i john 5: 10 - 13 - the most important thing that we can...
TRANSCRIPT
Are You Sure?I John 5: 10 - 13
- The most important thing that we can possess is salvation.- Mathew 13:44- God desires all of creation to be saved. (2 Peter 3:9)- God does not want anyone to have a doubtful
mind. (Phil. 4:6; 2 Tim. 1:12)- No condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1)
Salvation
1. It comes from “WHAT IS WRITTEN.”- I John 5:13- We can know that we are saved.- It is not based on feelings and emotions.- Feelings cannot be trusted as evidence of salvation.
Feelings are uncertain.- Feelings constantly come and go.- Sometimes based on chemical balances in our body- Assurance rest on God’s unchanging Word
(Psalms 119:89; I Peter 1:25)
Assurance of Salvation
Feelings can produce false concern.- Can feel bad about something and yet be warned- Jacob FELT that Joseph was dead, but was wrong.
(Gen. 37:34)- God is greater than our heart of emotions. (1 John 3:20)
Feelings can produce false confidence.- Acts 23:1- Paul felt that he was obeying God.- Paul felt saved, but was lost!- Luke 18:11- The Pharisee felt good about himself, but
was not justified.
Assurance of Salvation
2. Assurance depends on the Spirit’s testimony, not man’s assurance.- Many feel saved because someone told them they were saved.- They have never taken time to search the scriptures.- Acts 17:11
There are many false prophets in the world. (I John 4:1)- Many are being led astray because they won’t and don’t learn
the Word of God.- Many are told that salvation is based on having Jesus in their
hearts.NO WORD, NO JESUS, NO GOD!!!
Assurance of Salvation
The Spirit of truth gives us assurance.- Romans 8:16- Assurance is not based on some whispering in your mind.- We must not confuse our spirit with God’s Spirit.
How does the Spirit bear witness?- He inspires scripture, the Word of God.- He uses the Word to convict and convert the heart of man.- The Spirit testifies through the Gospel that a Christian is saved. - Man’s spirit testifies whether he is in harmony with the Spirit of
God.
Assurance of Salvation
1. It requires that we become a Christian by obeying the gospel.- John 14:6, Acts 4:12- The Ethiopian Eunuch is a good example. (Acts 8:31-39)- Acts 10:34. God is no respecter of persons.- He requires all people to do the same thing to be saved.
2. The Ethiopian Eunuch:- Learned about Jesus from reading God’s Word.- Believed in Jesus as the Son of God.- Turned from (repented) of sins.- Confessed Christ’s deity.- Was immersed (baptized) in water.
What does the Spirit Require?
1. I John 1:6 - 10.- Christians must sincerely attempt to walk in the light of
the Word of God.2. How do we walk in the light?
a. We keep Christ’s commandments. (I John 2: 2 - 5)b. We must practice righteousness. (I John 2:29)c. We must stay pure. (I John 3: 3 - 10)d. We must love thru both deed and truth. (I John 3: 14 - 19)e. We must overcome worldliness (I John 5: 2 - 4)
Walk in the Light
3. Walking in the Light allows us to have fellowship with God.a. We must avoid walking in darkness (I John 1:6)
- No assurance when we continually live in sin daily.- No assurance = doubt in salvation.- Math 6:24, I Kings 18:21
b. It also requires that we never claim that we have no sin inus.- No Christian has been able to live completely without SIN!- Romans 3:23.
Walk in the Light
3. Walking in the Light allows us to have fellowship with God.b. It also requires that we never claim that we have no
sin in us.- John says “If WE say we have no sin.”
- This helps to keep us at the foot of the cross.- It reminds us that we need a Savior everyday of our
lives.
Walk in the Light
SIN
4. We must both recognize and confess sin in our lives. (1 John 1:10)
- Jesus knew that His followers will always be affected bysin.
- Christians do slip (sin) through weakness over and over again.
- It is only when we cease to try to overcome sin that we begin to lose our assurance of salvation.
- I Cor. 3: 10 -15)
Fellowship with God
4. We must both recognize and confess sin in our lives. (1 John 1:10)
- Gal. 5:4- I Tim. 1: 19 - 20
When we fall, we must not lose hope.- God is always anxious for us to get up and fight on.- God is always anxious to forgive us of our trespasses.
Fellowship with God
- Conclusion.- Do you know that you are saved?- What are you basing this assurance known?- Are you walking in the Light?- What is your evidence?- Are you walking in darkness?- How do you change this?- Do you know where you will spend eternity?- What is your assurance based upon?
Are You Sure?