Knowing That You Know

1 ONE NIGHT AT A PARTY • AS IT WAS GETTING LATE • AND THE PARTY WAS WINDING DOWN • A RATHER FAMOUS ACTOR WHO HAPPENED TO BE AT THE PARTY • WAS ASKED TO RECITE SOMETHING • HE AGREED AND ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING SPECIAL • THAT HIS AUDIENCE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR • AFTER A MOMENT'S PAUSE, AN ELDERLY PASTOR SAID: • "COULD YOU, SIR, RECITE TO US THE TWENTY-THIRD PSALM?" • A STRANGE LOOK PASSED OVER THE ACTOR'S FACE; • HE PAUSED FOR A MOMENT, AND THEN SAID: "I CAN, AND I WILL, • UPON ONE CONDITION; AND THAT IS THAT AFTER I HAVE RECITED IT, • YOU, MY FRIEND, WILL DO THE SAME." • “ME?" SAID THE PASTOR, IN SURPRISE. • "BUT I AM NO GREAT PERFORMER. • HOWEVER, IF YOU WISH IT, I WILL DO SO." • IMPRESSIVELY, THE GREAT ACTOR BEGAN THE PSALM. • HIS VOICE AND HIS INTONATION WERE PERFECT. • HE HELD HIS AUDIENCE SPELLBOUND; • AND AS HE FINISHED, A GREAT BURST OF APPLAUSE BROKE FROM THE GUESTS. • THEN, AS IT DIED AWAY, THE OLD PASTOR STOOD AND BEGAN THE PSALM. • HIS VOICE WAS NOT REMARKABLE; HIS INTONATION WAS NOT FAULTLESS. • WHEN HE HAD FINISHED, NO SOUND OF APPLAUSE BROKE THE SILENCE • BUT THERE WAS NOT A DRY EYE IN THE ROOM, • AND MANY HEADS WERE BOWED. • THEN THE ACTOR ROSE TO HIS FEET AGAIN • HIS VOICE SHOOK AS HE LAID HIS HAND • UPON THE SHOULDER OF THE OLD PASTOR AND SAID: • "I REACHED YOUR EYES AND EARS, MY FRIENDS; HE REACHED YOUR HEARTS. • THE DIFFERENCE IS JUST THIS—I KNOW THE TWENTY- THIRD PSALM, • BUT HE KNOWS THE SHEPHERD (PAUSE) • WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT CAN MAKE • WHEN WE KNOW THE SHEPHERD, WHEN WE KNOW GOD • WE CAN REACH PEOPLE WITH HIS WORD • WE CAN LOVE AND SERVE OTHERS • WE CAN GROW TO BE MORE LIKE CHRIST • BUT, THE TRUTH IS WE CAN KNOW GOD IN THE SENSE • THAT WE HAVE TRUSTED IN JESUS CHRIST AND HIS WORK ON THE CROSS • AND NOT LIVE LIKE IT, NOT ACT LIKE IT • WE CAN BE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD • AND NOT BE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM • ONE WAY THIS HAPPENS IS WHEN PEOPLE • WHO HAVE TRUSTED IN CHRIST • HAVE NO ASSURANCE OF THEIR SALVATION • THEY PLACED THEIR FAITH IN CHRIST’S DEATH TO PAY FOR THEIR SIN • BUT THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO EARN THEIR WAY TO HEAVEN • AS CHRISTIANS WE CAN BE ASSURED OF OUR SALVATION • BECAUSE IT IS BASED ON A PROMISE FROM GOD • THIS ASSURANCE IS PART OF FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD • ONLY WHEN WE STOP TRYING TO EARN A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD • CAN WE TO WALK WITH GOD AND SERVE HIM TO THE UTMOST • TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT JOHN EXPLAINING ASSURANCE • HELPING HIS READERS UNDERSTAND • THAT THEY HAVE A PROMISE FROM GOD • THAT THEY DO NOT NEED TO LISTEN TO FALSE TEACHERS • WHO ARE TRYING TO DECEIVE THEM ABOUT THEIR SALVATION • THAT THEY CAN IN FACT KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT THEY ARE SAVED • TURN TO 1 JOHN 2:25 • JOHN HAD JUST INSTRUCTED THEM • TO NOT LOVE THE WORLD OR THE THINGS IN THE WORLD • HE HAD TOLD THEM THESE THINGS • ARE NOT FROM GOD, THEY ARE TEMPORARY THINGS • HE HAD TOLD THEM THEY CANNOT LOVE GOD AND THE THINGS OF THE WORLD 1 JOHN 2:25 THIS IS THE PROMISE WHICH HE HIMSELF MADE TO US: ETERNAL LIFE. WE HAVE A PROMISE • THE FALSE TEACHERS TOLD THESE PEOPLE • THEY WERE NOT GOING TO HEAVEN • THE FALSE TEACHERS SAID YOU HAD • TO HAVE SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE TO GET TO HEAVEN • JOHN COMBATS THIS LIE WITH THE TRUTH • HE TELLS THEM THEY HAVE A PROMISE • A PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE • HE IS TELLING THEM; • “YOU DON’T NEED THEIR SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE” • YOU ALREADY HAVE THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE • JOHN HAD PERSONALLY HEARD THIS PROMISE WHEN JESUS MADE IT JOHN 6:40 “FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF MY FATHER, THAT EVERYONE WHO BEHOLDS THE SON AND BELIEVES IN HIM WILL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, AND I MYSELF WILL RAISE HIM UP ON THE LAST DAY.” • THESE PEOPLE NEEDED TO REMEMBER THIS PROMISE • IN THE FACE OF FALSE TEACHERS, AND SO DO WE • WHEN SOMEONE TELLS US WE HAVE TO EARN HEAVEN • TELLS US SALVATION IS BASED • ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST • WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE A PROMISE • AND NOT JUST ANY PROMISE • YOU SEE A PROMISE IS ONLY AS STRONG • AS THE ONE MAKING THE PROMISE WE HAVE A PROMISE FROM GOD • WE TRUST A PROMISE BASED ON WHO MADE THE PROMISE • JOHN DESCRIBES THIS PROMISE • AS ONE: WHICH HE HIMSELF MADE TO US: • “HE HIMSELF” IS TALKING ABOUT GOD • WE CAN LEAN ON, TRUST, BE SURE OF THIS PROMISE • BECAUSE IT IS GOD HIMSELF WHO MADE THIS PROMISE TO US • THE FALSE TEACHERS WERE MAKING OTHER PROMISES • BUT I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THIS FOR A MIN • IS ANYONE OTHER THAN GOD QUALIFIED • TO MAKE A PROMISE ABOUT ETERNAL LIFE? • ARE THESE, OR ANY OTHER, FALSE TEACHERS • QUALIFIED TO PROMISE ETERNAL LIFE? • DO THEY HAVE THE POWER TO BESTOW • ETERNAL LIFE? • ONLY GOD CAN MAKE THIS PROMISE • BECAUSE ONLY GOD HAS THE POWER TO FULFILL IT (PAUSE) • WHEN WE HEAR FALSE TEACHERS TODAY • ARE THEY PROMISING SOMETHING THAT THEY CANNOT DO? • DO THEY PROMISE WEALTH, SECURITY, HEALING? • CAN THEY DO THESE THINGS? • OR ARE THEY PROMISING THINGS BEYOND THEIR POWER TO GIVE? • THE ONLY PROMISE WE CAN TRUST ABOUT ETERNAL LIFE • IS ONE FROM GOD, BECAUSE • HE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN PROVIDE ETERNAL LIFE • THERE ARE THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW • ABOUT A PROMISE BEFORE YOU TRUST IT • WHO IS MAKING THE PROMISE. THIS PROMISE IS FROM GOD • WHO IS BEING PROMISED. THIS PROMISE IS TO BELIEVERS • WHAT IS BEING PROMISED WE HAVE A PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE • SO, WHAT DOES JOHN MEAN BY ETERNAL LIFE • THERE ARE THREE WORDS THAT CAN ARE TRANSLATED LIFE • IF HE HAD SAID ETERNAL, BIOS THAT WOULD MEAN • ETERNAL PHYSICAL LIFE, THAT WE WOULD NEVER DIE PHYSICALLY • IF HE HAD SAID WE HAD ETERNAL PSUKE, THAT WOULD MEAN • ETERNAL MENTAL LIFE, OUR THOUGHTS WOULD NEVER DIE • BUT HE SAID WE HAVE ETERNAL ZOE, THAT MEANS • ETERNAL SPIRITUAL LIFE, BUT IT HAS A MUCH BIGGER MEAN • ETERNAL ZOE LIFE MEANS A FULFILLED LIFE, A FULL LIFE • AND IT MEANS A LIFE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD WHO IS SPIRIT • IT MEANS MUCH MORE THAN JUST EXISTING FOR ETERNITY • ALL SOULS WILL EXIST ETERNALLY • THE QUESTION IS WHERE • WE HAVE A PROMISE OF LIVING WITH GOD FOREVER (PAUSE) • JOHN IS TELLING THEM THIS • BECAUSE HE WANTS THEM TO HAVE ASSURANCE ABOUT • THEIR ETERNAL DESTINY • HE WANTS THEM TO LIVE OUT THEIR ASSURANCE • AND NOT LIVE IN DREAD AND FEAR OF CHRIST’S RETURN • SOMETIME WHEN YOU’RE IN AN AIRPORT, • OBSERVE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN • PASSENGERS WHO HOLD CONFIRMED TICKETS • AND THOSE WHO ARE FLYING ON STANDBY • THE ONES WITH CONFIRMED TICKETS • READ NEWSPAPERS, CHAT WITH THEIR FRIENDS OR SLEEP • THE ONES ON STANDBY HANG AROUND • THE TICKET COUNTER, PACE BACK AND FORTH, SIT ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEAT • THE DIFFERENCE IS CAUSED BY THE ASSURANCE FACTOR • KNOWING THE OUTCOME CHANGES HOW WE LIVE IN A SITUATION • JOHN WANTS HIS AUDIENCE TO KNOW THEIR FINAL DESTINATION IS CERTAIN • THEY DO NOT NEED WORRY OR FRET ABOUT IT • THEY HAVE A PROMISE FROM GOD • A PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE • HE WANTS THEM TO TRUST IN THIS PROMISE • NOT THE WORDS OF THE FALSE TEACHERS 1 JOHN 2:26–27 THESE THINGS I HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU CONCERNING THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO DECEIVE YOU. AS FOR YOU, THE ANOINTING WHICH YOU RECEIVED FROM HIM ABIDES IN YOU, AND YOU HAVE NO NEED FOR ANYONE TO TEACH YOU; BUT AS HIS ANOINTING TEACHES YOU ABOUT ALL THINGS, AND IS TRUE AND IS NOT A LIE, AND JUST AS IT HAS TAUGHT YOU, YOU ABIDE IN HIM. WE HAVE FALSE TEACHERS • THERE HAVE, AND ALWAYS WILL BE FALSE TEACHERS • WE FIND THEM IN THE OLD TESTAMENT • THEY ARE CALLED FALSE PROPHETS • WE FIND THEM IN THE GOSPELS • THEY ARE CALLED PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES • WE FIND THEM ALL THROUGH OUT CHURCH HISTORY • THEY ARE CALLED HERETICS (PAUSE) • ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT HAVING THE BIBLE • IS THAT THE BIBLE HELPS US TO NOT BE DECEIVED BY THE FALSE TEACHERS. • JOHN TELLS HIS REASON FOR WRITING THIS LETTER; • THESE THINGS I HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU CONCERNING THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO DECEIVE YOU. • JOHN’S WRITINGS AND ALL THE OTHER WRITINGS IN THE BIBLE • TELL US WHAT TRUTH IS • KNOWING WHAT TRUTH IS HELPS US TO SPOT A LIE • BUT WE HAVE SOMETHING ELSE WHICH HELPS US GREATLY • IN NOT BEING DECEIVED BY FALSE TEACHERS WE HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT • KNOWING OUR BIBLE CERTAINLY HELPS PROTECT US FROM FALSE TEACHERS • BUT KNOWING WE HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A GREAT PROTECTION • FROM FALSE TEACHING • JOHN TELLS THEM; • AS FOR YOU, THE ANOINTING WHICH YOU RECEIVED FROM HIM ABIDES IN YOU, AND YOU HAVE NO NEED FOR ANYONE TO TEACH YOU; • THE ANOINTING HE MENTIONS IS THE HOLY SPIRIT • AND IN THE HOLY SPIRIT WE HAVE INSTRUCTION • THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES US ALL TRUTHS • ABOUT SALVATION AND FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD • JOHN WANTS THEM TO UNDERSTAND • THAT THEY DO NOT NEED TO LISTEN TO THE FALSE TEACHERS • SO HE TELLS THEM; • BUT AS HIS ANOINTING TEACHES YOU ABOUT ALL THINGS, AND IS TRUE AND IS NOT A LIE, AND JUST AS IT HAS TAUGHT YOU, YOU ABIDE IN HIM. • THESE FALSE TEACHERS WERE TELLING THEM LIES • HE WANTS THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY DON’T NEED • THESE FALSE TEACHERS, THAT THEY HAVE A TEACHER WHO IS TRUE • JESUS HAD TOLD JOHN AND THE OTHER APOSTLES THIS SAME THING JOHN 16:13 “BUT WHEN HE, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, COMES, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL THE TRUTH; • HERE JESUS REFERRED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AS THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH • AND HE TOLD THE APOSTLES THAT THE SPIRIT WOULD • GUIDE THEM TO ALL THE TRUTH • THIS IS THE SAME SPIRIT THAT INDWELLS EVERY BELIEVER • IF WE HAVE TRUSTED IN CHRIST FOR OUR SALVATION • WE HAVE THIS SAME SPIRIT OF TRUTH IN US • BUT I WANT YOU TO NOTICE SOMETHING CRUCIAL HERE • AT THE END OF TELLING THEM THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES THEM • HE SAYS THESE THREE LITTLE WORDS “ABIDE IN HIM” • SEE IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL, WE MIGHT MISS THAT PART • THERE IS A CONDITION, A REQUIREMENT FOR THE SPIRIT TO TEACH US • WE HAVE TO BE ABIDING, WALKING WITH, LIVING IN THE SPIRIT. • IF WE ARE NOT WALKING IN THE LIGHT, • WALKING WITH AND LIKE JESUS, • WE CANNOT RECEIVE THE SPIRIT’S TRUTH • THERE IS ONE OTHER THING WE NEED TO NOTICE HERE • WHEN JOHN SAYS; HIS ANOINTING TEACHES YOU ABOUT ALL THINGS • HE MEANS ALL THINGS IN RELATION TO SALVATION AND FELLOWSHIP • THAT IS SOMETHING WE KINDA MISS IN THE ENGLISH HERE • IT IS NOT ALL THINGS AS IN EVERY THING ABOUT EVERYTHING • IT IS ALL THINGS RELATED TO THE TOPIC JOHN IS DISCUSSING • SO, IF WE ARE LIVING LIKE GOD WANTS US TO LIVE • IF WE ARE CONFESSING WHEN WE SIN • IF WE ARE LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR • IF WE ARE SERVING OTHERS, FORGIVING THOSE THAT WRONG US • THEN THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL INSTRUCT US IN ALL THINGS • ABOUT SALVATION, RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD • AND ALL THINGS ABOUT SANCTIFICATION, FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD • BUT LIVING THIS WAY IS A LIFE TIME EFFORT • NONE OF US WILL EVER DO IT PERFECTLY • WE HAVE TO WORK AT IT DAILY PABLO CASALS WAS CONSIDERED THE GREATEST CELLIST TO EVER LIVE. • WHEN HE WAS 95 YEARS OLD • HE WAS ASKED WHY HE CONTINUED TO PRACTICE 6 HOURS A DAY. • HE ANSWERED, “BECAUSE I THINK I’M MAKING PROGRESS.” • THIS IS KINDA WHAT IT IS LIKE TO ABIDE IN CHRIST • NO MATTER HOW LONG WE HAVE BEEN AT IT • WE NEED TO PRACTICE IT EVERY DAY • THAT IS REALLY WHAT ABIDING IN CHRIST IS ALL ABOUT • PRACTICING BEING LIKE HIM, YIELDING TO THE SPIRIT DAILY 1 JOHN 2:28–29 NOW, LITTLE CHILDREN, ABIDE IN HIM, SO THAT WHEN HE APPEARS, WE MAY HAVE CONFIDENCE AND NOT SHRINK AWAY FROM HIM IN SHAME AT HIS COMING. IF YOU KNOW THAT HE IS RIGHTEOUS, YOU KNOW THAT EVERYONE ALSO WHO PRACTICES RIGHTEOUSNESS IS BORN OF HIM. WE HAVE A COMMAND TO ABIDE • JOHN HAD JUST TOLD THEM THAT ABIDING IN CHRIST • WAS REQUIRED FOR THE SPIRIT TO TEACH THEM • NOW HE GIVES THEM A COMMAND TO ABIDE • JOHN SAYS; “NOW, LITTLE CHILDREN, ABIDE IN HIM, “ • BECAUSE OF THE FALSE TEACHINGS • IT IS A NECESSITY THAT THEY MAINTAIN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST • THAT THEY ABIDE IN, WALK LIKE, LIVE LIKE CHRIST • THIS IS THE GREATEST PROTECTION • FROM FALSE TEACHING… WALKING WITH JESUS • HE REMINDED THEM OF THEIR PROMISE • HE TOLD THEM THEY HAD A TEACHER IN THE HOLY SPIRIT • AND NOW HE HAS TOLD THEM TO ABIDE IN CHRIST • HE TELLS THEM THESE THINGS • SO THAT THEY WILL NOT BE DECEIVED BY THE FALSE TEACHERS • SOMETIMES WE THINK IF WE JUST HAVE A GOOD REASON • TO DO SOMETHING WE WILL DO IT • JOHN HAS PROVIDED SOME VERY GOOD REASONS • TO ABIDE IN CHRIST, ANY ONE OF THESE REASONS • SHOULD BE ENOUGH FOR US • BUT JOHN KNOWS US PRETTY WELL • SO, HE GIVES US ANOTHER REASON • HE SAYS; SO THAT WHEN HE APPEARS, WE MAY HAVE CONFIDENCE AND NOT SHRINK AWAY FROM HIM IN SHAME AT HIS COMING. • WHAT JOHN IS SAYING HERE IS THAT IF WE ABIDE IN CHRIST • WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE WHEN CHRIST RETURNS • THE IDEA OF THIS CONFIDENCE IS THAT • WE WILL KNOW THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE KNOW • IF WE ABIDE IN CHRIST, LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS, FORGIVE AND SERVE OTHERS • WE WILL KNOW THAT WE KNOW CHRIST • AND WILL NOT FEAR HIS SECOND COMING • OH, AND I LOVE HOW IT DOES NOT SAY • IF HE COMES AGAIN.. IT SAYS AT HIS COMING • THERE IS NO IF ABOUT IT, HE IS COMING BACK • THE QUESTION IS ARE WE EXCITED ABOUT HIS COMING BACK • OR ARE WE WORRIED ABOUT IT. • SEE, IF WE ABIDE IN CHRIST, IF WE ARE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM • THEN WE CAN KNOW THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE KNOW • AND WE WILL NOT BE TIMID ABOUT WHAT WE KNOW • WE WILL BE BOLD ABOUT WHAT WE KNOW • WE WILL HAVE THE ASSURANCE OF OUR ETERNAL DESTINY • WE WILL KNOW THAT GOD HAS PROMISED US ETERNAL LIFE • AND WE WILL LIVE LIKE WE KNOW IT BECAUSE WE HAVE ASSURANCE • JOHN WANTS THEM TO BE ASSURED OF THEIR ETERNAL DESTINY • SO, HE TELLS THEM • IF YOU KNOW THAT HE IS RIGHTEOUS, YOU KNOW THAT EVERYONE ALSO WHO PRACTICES RIGHTEOUSNESS IS BORN OF HIM. • THERE IS SOME REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS GOING ON IN THIS STATEMENT • THE FIRST PHRASE IF YOU KNOW THAT HE IS RIGHTEOUS • IS REALLY BETTER TRANSLATED SINCE YOU KNOW THAT HE IS RIGHTEOUS • AND WE DO KNOW THIS, JESUS CHRIST IS RIGHTEOUS, WITHOUT SIN • SINCE WE KNOW THIS, WE CAN KNOW • THAT ANYONE WHO PRACTICES RIGHTEOUSNESS IS • HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST • BUT THE KEY WORD THERE IS PRACTICES • PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS MEANS STRIVING TO SIN LESS • IT IS REALLY ANOTHER WAY TO SAY GROWING IN CHRIST • ABIDING IN HIM, LIVING LIKE HE CALLS US TO LIVE • IT IS NOT ABOUT DOING THIS PERFECTLY • IT IS ABOUT THE PROCESS OF ALL THE THINGS JOHN HAS SAID SO FAR • WALKING IN THE LIGHT, RECOGNIZING AND CONFESSING OUR SINS • AND JOHN TELLS US THAT IF WE ARE DOING THESE THINGS • WE CAN KNOW WE ARE BORN OF HIM, CHRIST JESUS • WE CAN HAVE ASSURANCE OF OUR SALVATION • IF WE ARE WALKING LIKE HE CALLS US TO WALK • LIVING LIKE HE CALLS US TO LIVE • IT IS VITAL THAT WE UNDERSTAND SOMETHING HERE • JUST BECAUSE WE CAN KNOW WE ARE SAVED IF WE ARE • PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS • DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE CAN KNOW SOMEONE ELSE IS • NOT SAVED BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS • LET’S NOT USE THIS VERSE TO DO EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE • OF WHAT JOHN INTENDED IT TO BE USED FOR • THE POINT OF THE VERSE IS THAT WE CAN HAVE ASSURANCE OF OUR SALVATION • JOHN WAS COMBATING THE FALSE TEACHERS • THAT WERE TELLING THESE PEOPLE THEY WERE NOT SAVED • LET’S NOT TWIST THE VERSE AND GO TELL PEOPLE • THEY ARE NOT SAVED (PAUSE) • NONE OF US ARE QUALIFIED TO DECIDE IF SOMEONE • HAS TRUSTED IN JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR • THAT IS REALLY SOMETHING WE CAN ONLY KNOW ABOUT OURSELVES A TWELVE-YEAR-OLD BOY • BECAME A CHRISTIAN DURING A REVIVAL. • THE NEXT WEEK AT SCHOOL • HIS FRIENDS QUESTIONED HIM ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE. • “DID YOU SEE A VISION?” ASKED ONE FRIEND. • “DID YOU HEAR GOD SPEAK?” ASKED ANOTHER. • THE YOUNGSTER ANSWERED NO TO ALL THESE QUESTIONS. • “WELL, HOW DID YOU KNOW YOU WERE SAVED?” THEY ASKED. • THE BOY SEARCHED FOR AN ANSWER AND FINALLY HE SAID, • “IT’S LIKE WHEN YOU HOOK A FISH, YOU CAN’T SEE THE FISH, • OR HEAR THE FISH; YOU JUST FEEL HIM TUGGING ON YOU LINE. • I JUST FELT GOD TUGGING ON MY HEART.” KNOWING IF YOU KNOW THE SHEPHERD • IS A PURELY INTERNAL THING • ONLY WE CAN KNOW IF WE HAVE TRUSTED IN CHRIST • ADDITIONALLY, ONLY WE CAN KNOW IF WE ARE ABIDING IN CHRIST • JOHN HAS TOLD HIS AUDIENCE THEY DO NOT NEED • ANYONE ELSE TO TELL THEM WHAT IT TAKES GO TO HEAVEN • HE HAS TOLD THEM THEY CAN HAVE ASSURANCE OF • BOTH THEIR SALVATION AND THEIR WALK WITH GOD • THEY CAN HAVE THIS ASSURANCE • BECAUSE WE HAVE A PROMISE FROM GOD • A PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE • WE CAN HAVE ASSURANCE BY LISTENING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT • WHO TEACHES US ALL THINGS ABOUT SALVATION AND ABIDING IN CHRIST • WE CAN HAVE ASSURANCE AND CONFIDENCE AT CHRIST’S RETURN • WHEN WE ABIDE IN HIM, WHEN WE PRACTICE RIGHTEOUSNESS • JOHN WANTS THEM TO KNOW THEY ARE SAVED AND HEADED TO HEAVEN • HE WANTS THEM TO NOT BE DECEIVED BY THE FALSE TEACHERS • HE WANTS THEM TO KNOW THAT ALL THAT IS REQUIRED FOR ENTRANCE TO HEAVEN • IS FAITH AND TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST • FAITH THAT HE CAME IN THE FORM OF A MAN, FAITH LIVED A SINLESS LIFE…. 93