How do I know if I'm saved?

Intro

Arab event?

Body

Many times we ask general questions, but not personal

What does the Bible say about Politics

Predestination/Free Will

Woman at well- 5 husbands, switch topic to Politics!

What is most common personal question?

How do I know if I’m saved?

What do you think? (what evidence)

Based on fact, or feeling?

Here’s what the Bible says:

Ephesians 2:8 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

What it doesn’t say: feelings

If you don’t feel saved, this means you’re having difficulty with trust

Trusting what? Trusting that:

God loves you

God’s ways are better than your ways

If I don’t feel loved by my wife, even though she objectively loves me, what will happen?

She’ll still love me, we’re still married!

My marriage does not depend on whether I feel loved or not

Depends on the covenant we made

What covenant did Jesus make with us?

Body given up, blood of the New Covenant

It’s all about Jesus, not about feelings

1 John 3:20 ESV

for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

Encouraging

Can you tell the difference between a saved person and an unsaved person?

Those who ARE NOT saved

What do they look like?

, but ALSO morally decent individuals (Ethiopian Eunich in )

None of this:

Romans 10:9 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Those who might be saved

Romans 10:9 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

However, they can look like us:

Matthew 7:21–23 ESV

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Matt 7:15

Isn’t that kinda scary?

Those who might be saved

What do you think it looks like for someone who might be saved?

2 Peter 1:9 ESV

For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

2 Pet 1:9

1 Cor 3:

1 Corinthians 3:15 ESV

If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Not a good place to be.

Those who really ARE saved

Have you ever just met someone, and you’re like WOW they know Christ?

What does it look like for someone you’re SURE is saved?

1 John 2:6 ESV

whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Ephesians 5:18 ESV

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Matthew 7:20 ESV

Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

What fruits are those?

Questions

If we depended on feelings as the source of truth, how might that hurt our relationships, our jobs, and even our society?

What are some examples of someone’s feelings misleading him?

Have you ever met a Christian who says they follow Jesus, but they clearly don’t? How do you think God handles situations like this? Are they God’s children who are struggling with disobedience, or unbelievers who think God will forgive them for whatever they do?

Have you ever doubted your salvation? What did you do about it?

Read . How does possession of these traits affect someone’s confidence in being saved? What would it mean to “confirm your calling and election” from v.10?

Closing

Sitting in kitchen, lighting matches as a kid

Afraid of wrath or being in trouble

I eventually told my parents, and they laughed!

We’re afraid of God sometimes in an unhealthy way

Afraid we haven’t done enough, or we’re not perfect enough

Romans 5:1 ESV

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

You want to know

You’re saved if you answer yes to this question:

Do you trust in Jesus with your life and sin, to forgive you and to instruct you on how to please Him?

If you’re struggling with doubt after answering yes, this is what you should do:

2 Peter 1:10 ESV

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

2 Pet

Be diligent to confirm your calling and election

What does it look like to confirm your calling?

2 Peter 1:9 ESV

For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

What qualities must I possess?

2 Peter 1:5–8 ESV

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Pet 1:

You doubt because you’ve been growing down, not up.

Let us confirm our calling and election by approaching Jesus and filtering every thought and choice through what would please Him.

Announcements

No L.A. meeting this Sunday, but the next!

Let me know if you’d like to go to the Arab meeting tomorrow!

SPEAK WITH WINSTON