Secure in Christ 13
Intro 1) Sometimes … preaching is "cutting" and "hard" … I'll admit it
Not that that's "wrong" … sometimes scripture is pretty blunt
Heb 4:12 "Word of God is alive, powerful, sharper …"
2) But that's not ALL there is to that story …
Preacher at barber shop … observes "cutting" tools … "like preaching"
Barber points out "soothing" products as well
3) Notice Mt 28:18-20 Authority – Command – Assurance
Jesus never left us without "Assurance"
4) Eph 2:10 "created in Christ Jesus for good works"
We can do them better with assurance
We can't lead people to heaven if we're not sure of our own salvation
5) Text: I Jn 5:13-15 READ
6) Three points from this text which help us feel … Secure in Christ …
The Promise of Eternal Life
The Prerequisite of Eternal Life
The Privilege of Eternal Life
I. The Promise of Eternal Life … "that you may KNOW"
A. Can you imagine working for a company for very long …
… if … they never told you what your compensation would be?
… or … assure you that you would be compensated?
Wouldn't you eventually get resentful and discouraged?
God does not leave us without reminders of our eternal reward …
"… that you may KNOW that you have eternal life"
B. Is John a trustworthy witness? Can we TRUST this promise he makes?
I Jn 1:1-4 READ
C. Does God really WANT us to be saved?
What has He done? What CLUES has He left us?
1. Eph 1:4-5 He wanted to adopt us before the foundation of the world
Rom 8:32
2. Gen 2:7 God wants man ALIVE … He breathed LIFE into us
I Jn 5:13 is consistent with God's nature … LIFE!!!!!
3. Song: There is a God, He is Alive, In Him We LIVE …
4. Look at nature: Insects, Birds, Animals
Antarctic Ocean … more LIFE per cu ft than anywhere else …
Why? For OUR observation? God Loves Life
5. This tells me that heaven will be an active … lively place
D. Can we TRUST God's promise?
1. Titus 1:2 God cannot lie
2. Eph 1:4-5 Would He deprive us at the last minute?
3. II Pet 3:9 God is not slack concerning His promises
4. Jn 3:16 He loved us so much He gave His Son
Song: "our God, whose Son upon a tree,
a LIFE was willing there to give;
that He, from sin might set man free,
and ever more with Him could LIVE"
5. Rom 5:8-10 READ
II. The Prerequisite to Eternal Life vs 13 … Belief
A. Heb 11:6 You don't really "believe in the name of the Son of God" …
… if you don't Believe There is A Reward for You
B. Not only that … but biblical "Belief" is More Than Just a Thought Process
1. James says there is such a thing as a "dead" faith (Jms 2:17)
a. Let's contrast two biblical phraseologies:
Rom 3:28 vs Jms 2:18
I Jn 5:13 vs I Jn 2:17
Jn 3:16 vs Mt 7:21
b. Biblical "faith" is demonstrated by obedient action
2. James would question the "saving" power
of a non-obedient faith (Jms 2:14)
a. Jms 2:20
b. A "saving" faith is willing to be demonstrated by obedient action
3. "Belief" is demonstrated by "Repentance"
a. Acts 17:30 "the times of ignorance God once overlooked …"
1) Repentance means to "turn around" when you sin
2) It means to "confess" your sin to God (I Jn 1:9)
3) It means to "pray" and ask for forgiveness (Acts 8:22)
4) It means to get back up … to try & try again (Prov 24:16)
b. Repentance requires a determined "attitude"
1) It is a lifestyle
2) It calls on you to be a "fighter" … to keep coming back
3) Do you have what it takes? Are you a fighter?
c. Lk 13:3 "if you don't repent, you will surely perish"
d. If you DO fight back when you sin …
… then be ASSURED of your salvation …
… your "Belief" is demonstrated by repentance
4. "Belief" is demonstrated by "Acknowledgement" (Mt 10:32)
a. We must not be ashamed for anyone to know of our Belief
b. Rom 10:9-10
c. Have you DONE this? Do you DO this?
d. Then be ASSURED of your salvation …
… your "Belief" is demonstrated by acknowledgement
5. "Belief" is demonstrated by "Baptism" (Mk 16:16)
a. I Pet 3:21
b. Acts 22:16
c. Acts 2:38
d. Have you DONE this?
… then be ASSURED of your salvation …
… your "Belief" is demonstrated by baptism
e. If you have NOT done this …
… you should do this RIGHT AWAY …
… for Baptism is the obedient action which …
… unites you with Christ (Rom 6:5)
6. "Belief" is demonstrated by "Steadfastness" (Rev 2:10)
a. I Jn 1:6-7 His blood "continually" cleanses you …
b. Are you TRYING?
… are you a disciple of Jesus Christ?
… have you been baptized into Christ for forgiveness of sins?
… do you acknowledge faith in Christ and repent of sins?
… then be ASSURED of your salvation …
… you are demonstrating your Faith by your daily life
C. Beloved … listen …
… if God gives us a FACT … we must BELIEVE it
… if God gives us a PROMISE … we must TRUST it
… if God gives us a COMMAND … we must OBEY it
D. It's like the song we sing … TRUST and OBEY …
… this is Total Belief
I Jn 5:13 … The Promise of Eternal Life "that you may know"
… The Prerequisite to Eternal Life "if you believe"
III. The Privilege of Eternal Life vss 14-15 … Prayer
A. Prayer … it truly is mankind's "Neglected Privilege"
B. Illustration: Heaven's Gift Room
These presents are all the blessings I was waiting to give you
if you had only asked.
C. Mt 7:7-11
Live a "Blessed Life" … this is God's desire for you NOW
Concl 1) There is Much to Do…and…There are Many Expectations …but …
God Has Left Us with Wonderful Assurance
2) Let's be Sure … that we …
OBEY the Prerequisites
BELIEVE the Promises
USE the Privilege
3) Thus … we will please God by completing the work He has given to us