Saved for Sure?

INTRO: John 5:14 , after Jesus healed the man at the pool of Bethesda, in the classic KJV it reads like this...

John 5:14 KJV 1900

Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

But, be careful if your King James Bible was printed in 1716.

That particular year the printer made a flagrant mistake.

Where Jesus told the man to “sin no more,” the final copy of one printing that years read “sin on more.”

That must have been a good year for Bible sales, and it seems like a lot of people are still heeding the advice of that old errant edition. – Bible Dyslexia from Something to Think About by Raymond McHenry, page 288

Sinning on is, for sure, not a sign of the saved soul.

There is no more important subject for humankind than that of salvation?

Salvation from sin.

Salvation from the penalty of sin.

Salvation from the burdens of the world.

Salvation that allows us to spend an eternity with God.

Sweet, glorious, amazing-grace-filled-salvation.

The subject of salvation seems to complicate the lives of even many who call themselves Christians.

Salvation is a subject that can produce many sermons on its own.

What I really want to talk about today is the assurance of salvation.

For the unsaved, though, this is still important, and still deals with eternal consequences for the unsaved, or the unsure.

“How can I know that I am saved?”

It’s a question that has been asked millions of times since the plan of salvation came to be.

First, know that there is a difference between knowing Jesus intellectually and knowing Him as your Lord and Savior.

James 2:19 NIV

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

We must do something the demons don’t.

We must trust Him as Lord of our life.

We must know that He is the author and finisher of our faith.

About something so important we must be able to come to terms with the assurance of it.

But, can one really know?

Or, do we just have to wait until life plays itself out then see where we wind up?

NO! WE CAN HAVE ASSURANCE!

Definition of...

Assurance means beyond all doubt!

Why is salvation necessary?

Because sin has separated us from a perfect God.

Romans 3:23 NIV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

God is prefect.

In order for us to be accepted by Him we must appear as though we are too.

But, man is sinful how can this be?

Jesus Christ paid the debt of our sin so that when God looks at us he sees us through “blood-colored glasses.”

He sees us after the blood is applied.

Blood from a perfect sacrifice.

But, you say, I thought I had to be good to be saved.

God sees the goodness of Jesus.

But, I thought I had to be perfect to be saved.

God accepts the perfection of Jesus.

But, I thought I had to do good works to be saved.

Jesus said “it is finished” on the cross.

There is nothing left to be done.

Well, there is something to be done...

You must either ACCEPT or REJECT Jesus!

Salvation is by faith alone, grace alone and Christ alone.

Are you one of those grace preachers?

I don’t know how to be any other kind!

Grace: the free unmerited love and favor of God.

Grace is the spring and source of all the benefits we receive from Him.

Nothing I have done, or will do can earn what God has freely given to me.

And, why would I want to earn a gift anyway.

A gift’s value is cheapened when we try to pay for it.

Only accept it!

Jesus is The Gift!

Jesus is Grace!

You can replace Jesus for grace and grace for Jesus and loose nothing in interpretation!

Ephesians 2:8–9 NIV

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

For it is by grace (Jesus) you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Not part grace and part works.

ALL GRACE!!!

Romans 11:6 NIV

And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

And if by grace (Jesus), then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace (Jesus) would no longer be grace (Jesus).

Jesus paid it all…

But, that still leaves the question that so many ask,...

“How can I know that I am one of His? How can I know I am saved?”

2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

Wait a minute! You mean there is a test?

That’s what the Bible says. It’s a short test; only three questions (per the late Dr. Adrian Rogers).

1st Question: Who or what is Lord of your life?

· Is Jesus Lord of your life?

· Who or what comes first in your life?

Matthew 6:24 NIV

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Consider the rich man and Lazarus the beggar;

The Bible doesn’t say the rich man was a bad man.

We know only that his priorities were skewed.

Jesus must be #1 in your life!

1 John 2:3 NIV

We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.

It is very much the doctrine of sanctification.

We are set apart now for God and His purposes.

Our goal is the standard of God.

We try for that standard every time!

Galatians 5:19–23 NIV

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

2nd Question: With whom do you associate (fellowship)?

We’re not talking here, necessarily, whether or not you hang out with non-Christians, or bad people.

And, the question is not “Do you have to go to church to be saved?”

Rather it is “Do saved people go to Church?”

The answer is YES! We have fellowship with church people,... at Church!

1 John 3:14 NIV

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.

What do you do when you love someone?

You spend time with them!

You don’t avoid them!

1 John 4:20–21 NIV

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

1 John 4:7 NIV

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

1 John 5:1 NIV

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.

Hebrews 10:25 NIV

not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Bottom line is this;

· CHRISTIANS GO TO CHURCH!

· CHRISTIANS LOVE WHAT JESUS LOVES!

· CHRISTIANS ASSOCIATE WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS!

3rd Question: How is your relationship with God?

You mean I have to know how my relationship is with God in order to pass a test to determine if I have a relationship with Him?

1 John 5:11 NIV

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1 John 5:13 NIV

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

There are some things that are NOT required for you to be saved that some people would tell you are.

Your haircut doesn’t save you.

Getting rid of your cable doesn’t save you.

Only listening to Southern Gospel music, or Spirit FM, or other Christian music doesn’t save you.

Jesus never sang a Bill Gaither song, or a Jermey Camp song, or a Barney Warren hymn.

Only reading the King James Bible doesn’t save you.

Maybe that’s your preference, and that’s fine, but don’t make it a condition of your, or anyone else’s, salvation.

Demonstrating extra abilities beyond confessing with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believing in your heart that God raised him from the dead does not save you.

In other words...

Romans 10:9–10 NIV

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Praise God, handling a snake doesn’t save you!

You don’t have to be able to say the date and time of your salvation.

Past experience is not proof of salvation.

Time/Date are not important if your current condition is against God.

Present reality is important!

Salvation is by faith alone, grace alone and Christ alone!

Don’t think it less than right to ask often for forgiveness. Check yourself daily.

Paul said, “I die daily!” If you were saved and now not sure ask again. “God forgive me of my sins. I know I’ve asked before. If I was saved I still am. If I wasn’t I am now!”

Isaiah 54:10 KJV 1900

For the mountains shall depart, And the hills be removed; But my kindness shall not depart from thee, Neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, Saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.

The language is beautiful in that Old English style.

I wasn’t bashing the KJV, only the hard, stubborn heart. (Read it again)

CLOSE: A man, carrying a bag of potatoes on his back, was asked by a skeptic: “How do you know that you are saved?”

The man took a few steps and dropped the bag.

Then he said: “How do I know I have dropped the bag? I have not looked around.”

“No,” replied the skeptic. “You can tell by the lessening of the weight.”

“Yes,” went on the man, “that is how I know I am saved. I have lost the guilty feeling of sin and sorrow and have found peace and satisfaction in my Lord and Savior.” - Elim Evange

Are you saved today?

Do you know beyond a doubt that if you died right now you will be with God in heaven?

You can know! And, just like Fanny Crosby knew what she was writing about when she penned that old song Blessed Assurance.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine; Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. This is my story, this is my song,   Praising my Savior all the day long.

Are you saved! You can know, too, just like Fanny’s song says.

Let us pray...