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?