God's not an Indian Giver.

Rom 6:23

Romans 6:23 KJV 1900

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Do you have personal life assurance (not "insurance" but "assurance")? 

  Do you know for sure that you will spend eternity in heaven with Christ?

  Are you certain that you are saved or is there some doubt? 

The term "assurance" means "the state of being SURE or CERTAIN."

  God wants us to be certain about our eternal future.

            In 1 John 5:13, John tells us why he wrote the book of 1 John.

Did he write this book to believers or to unbelievers?

______________________________ He wrote this book so that these people might (circle the correct answer):

1 John 5:13 KJV 1900

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

a. Feel like they have eternal life.

b. Think that they have eternal life.

c. Hope that they have eternal life.

d. Know that they have eternal life.

            According to 1 John 5:13, is it possible for a person to KNOW that he is really saved or is this something that no one can know until he dies?

_______________________________________________

The word "KNOW" is a word of assurance.

The person who has assurance of his salvation is able to say, "I know that I am saved and I know that my sins are forgiven and I know that I have eternal life!"

But how can I know? Remember this:

We can KNOW SO because GOD SAID SO!

            The Bible says in 1 John 5:9, "If we receive the witness (testimony) of men, the witness (testimony) of God is greater."

1 John 5:9 KJV 1900

9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

Do you receive the testimony of men?

Do you usually believe what men tell you?

Do you most often take men at their word, or do you suspect them of being liars?

Do you believe the news reports on the radio?

Do you normally accept the reported statements of fact which you read in your newspaper?

If your neighbor came to your door and said that there was a car accident down the street, would you accept his word?

If you heard on the radio that the president was shot, would you believe it?

Sometimes the testimony of men proves to be false, but normally we take the statements of men at face value!

We believe what men tell us!

            If we believe what men tell us, how much more should we believe what God tells us, because "the witness (testimony) of God is ___________________ (1 John 5:9).

1 John 5:9 KJV 1900

9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

If we take men at their word most of the time, how much more should we take God at His Word all of the time, because HE ___________________ LIE (Titus 1:2)!

Titus 1:2 KJV 1900

2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

            If we do not believe what God says (especially about His Son), then we are actually accusing God of being a ______________ (1 John 5:10).

1 John 5:10 KJV 1900

10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

How great is the sin of unbelief! How our unbelief shames the God of truth!

            What is the record (witness, testimony) that God has given to us concerning His Son? It is found in 1 John 5:11.

1 John 5:11 KJV 1900

11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

What has God given to us? ________________(eternal life is a gift--Romans 6:23).

Romans 6:23 KJV 1900

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Where is this life found? ________________________ Do you have the Son of God (have you ever personally received Him as your Saviour and Lord--John 1:12)? _______

John 1:12 KJV 1900

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

What is true about the person who has the Son of God (1 John 5:12)? _________________________

1 John 5:12 KJV 1900

12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

What is true about the person who does not have the Son of God (who has never received Him) according to this same verse? ___________________________________

DO YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE? _______ How do you know this?

Because I feel like it. Because my friends think I'm a Christian. Because GOD SAID SO in 1 John 5:12.

I have the Son because I have received Him as my Saviour and God clearly says that those who have the Son have life.

He cannot lie, and this is how I know that I have eternal life (1 John 5:13).

Because five years ago I went forward at the close of a church service wanting to be saved.

   I KNOW SO because GOD SAID SO!

God in His Word has given us certain salvation promises.

These are conditional promises which means that if the sinner does something, then God promises to do something.

In other words, before God will fulfill the promise, the sinner must fulfill the condition.

As soon as the sinner does what he is supposed to do, then God will surely keep His promise.

Let us look at ten of these salvation promises.

First we want to see what the sinner's responsibility is.

This is exactly what the jailer wanted to know in Acts 16:30 when he cried out, "What must I do to be saved?"

Acts 16:30 KJV 1900

30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

Secondly, we want to see what God promises to do for the sinner when the sinner responds in the right way.

The first two promises are already completed for you:

1) John 1:12a) The sinner must receive Christ and believe on His name. b) God promises the sinner that he will become a son (child) of God.              

John 1:12a KJV 1900

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

2) John 3:16a) The sinner must believe in Him (God's Son).                              b) God promises the sinner that he will not perish but will have everlasting life.              

John 3:16a KJV 1900

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

3) John 3:36a) The sinner must ____________________________________________b) God promises the sinner _____________________________________

John 3:36a KJV 1900

36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

4) John 5:24a) The sinner must____________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________b) God promises the sinner _____________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

John 5:24a KJV 1900

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

5) John 6:35a) The sinner must ____________________________________________b) God promises the sinner _____________________________________

John 6:35a KJV 1900

35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

6) John 6:47a) The sinner must ____________________________________________b) God promises the sinner _____________________________________

John 6:47a KJV 1900

47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

7) John 11:25a) The sinner must ____________________________________________b) God promises the sinner _____________________________________ 8) Acts 10:43a) The sinner must ____________________________________________b) God promises the sinner _____________________________________("remission" means "forgiveness")

John 11:25a KJV 1900

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Acts 10:43a KJV 1900

43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

9) Acts 16:31a) The sinner must ____________________________________________b) God promises the sinner ____________________________________

Acts 16:31a KJV 1900

31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

10) Romans 10:9a) The sinner must ____________________________________________ __________________________________________________________b) God promises the sinner _____________________________________

Romans 10:9a KJV 1900

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

     As you have looked at these promises, have you done your part? _________

Can you think of one word that sums up man's responsibility (that which God requires the sinner to do) according to all these verses? _____________________

Have you done this ? ______

If you have done your part, do you think God will do His part? ________

Do you KNOW God will do His part? _______

How do you know?

            It is important that we understand the difference between ASSURANCE and SECURITY.

ASSURANCE is that complete confidence and certainty that all is right in my relationship to the living God.

The believer who has ASSURANCE is able to say, "I know that all is well with my soul and I know that I am safe and secure in Christ forever!"

Personal assurance and the enjoyment of my so-great salvation depends on my knowledge of the absolute certainty of the promises of God.

            The story is told of a western traveler in the pioneer days who came one winter night to the banks of a wide river. He had to get across but there was no bridge. The river was coated with a sheet of ice but he did not know how safe it was. After much hesitation he gingerly tested it with one foot and it held. Night was coming on and he must get across. With many fears and with anxious care he crept out on hands and knees, hoping to distribute his weight evenly on the uncertain ice. When he had gone some distance painfully and slowly he suddenly heard the sound of horse hoofs and joyful singing. There in the dusk was a man happily driving a wagon load of coal across the ice, being pulled by a muscular horse. The man was cheerfully singing as he went. He knew the ice was safe and he had no fears.

            Both of these men were absolutely safe on that ice. The ice was thick and solid. It could have borne twice that weight easily. One man was in fear and doubt because he did not know how safe he was and did not realize how solid and thick the ice was. The other man enjoyed his ride across the frozen river because he knew without any doubt that the ice would hold and that the foundation under him was solid and safe. Both men were secure.  Only one man enjoyed the security he had.  Only one man had assurance.

            Every believer is eternally safe and secure in Christ Jesus (SECURITY) and every believer needs to understand how safe and secure he really is (ASSURANCE).

  God knows who is really saved, and everyone who is saved is eternally secure and safe in Christ.

Is a believer really safe forever?

Can a person lose his salvation?

Can a Christian be lost?

I know I am saved now, but will I be saved tomorrow or ten years from now?

If God saved me, will He keep me saved?

These are very important questions and we want to go to God’s Word to see how secure God’s children really are:

Is the True Believer Eternally Secure in Christ?

            The answer to this question is "YES" because of the following ten reasons :

1. The true believer is eternally secure in Christ because it is impossible for God to break His salvation promises.

            Is God a man that He should lie (see Numbers 23:19)? _____

Numbers 23:19 KJV 1900

19 God is not a man, that he should lie; Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Is it possible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18)? ______

Hebrews 6:18 KJV 1900

18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Therefore, God cannot break His promises--it's IMPOSSIBLE

! We have already looked at ten salvation promises.

In John 3:16 God promises that the true believer will never ______________.

John 3:16 KJV 1900

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

In John 3:18 God promises that the true believer will never be _____________________.

John 3:18 KJV 1900

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

According to John 5:24, what are three things that are true of every believer:

John 5:24 KJV 1900

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

            In John 6:37 Christ promises to never cast out the person who comes to Him.

John 6:37 KJV 1900

37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

In John 11:26 Christ promises that the true believer will never ______.

John 11:26 KJV 1900

26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Answer TRUE or FALSE:_______

If a believer sins, then Christ will cast him out._______

A person who truly knows the Lord as Saviour will never perish._______

John 5:24 teaches the same truth as Romans 8:1._______

John 5:24 KJV 1900

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Romans 8:1 KJV 1900

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

It is possible for a true believer to lose his salvation._______

If it were possible for a true believer to perish, then God would be a liar (see John 3:16)._______

John 3:16 KJV 1900

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Since God is not a liar and since John 3:16 is true, we know that the believer shall not perish but shall have eternal life!

John 3:16 KJV 1900

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

2. The true believer is eternally secure in Christ because no one can pluck him out of God's hand (John 10:28-30).

John 10:28–30 KJV 1900

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one.

            In John chapter 10, Christ describes Himself as the good ___________________ (verse 11) and He describes those who are true believers as His _____________ (verse 27).

What does Christ give to His sheep (verse 28)? _____________________    _________

What are two things that are true about Christ’s sheep (verse 27)?

They ____________ Christ’s voice and they ________________ Him.

In John 10:28 our Lord Jesus said that His sheep will never ____________________ (verse 28).

John 10:28 KJV 1900

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

(Note: In the Greek this is a very strong statement. A double negative is used along with the word "forever." 

Literally it says, "They shall never perish forever!" or as we would say it: "they shall never ever perish, no not ever !!!")

            In John 10:28 we learn that the believer is safe and secure in whose hand? ________________________________

John 10:28 KJV 1900

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

  Is anyone able to pluck the believer out of His hand? _________

In John 10:29 we learn that the believer is safe and secure in whose hand? _____________________________________

John 10:29 KJV 1900

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

Is anyone able to pluck the believer out of His hand? ________

In verse 30 we learn that God the Son and God the Father are _________.

In order for the believer to be lost, there would have to be a person stronger and more powerful than God the Son and God the Father!

Is there such a person? _______

Is the God who lives in us (God the Holy Spirit) greater than Satan (see 1 John 4:4)? ________

1 John 4:4 KJV 1900

4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

  A true believer is like a baby cat, not like a baby monkey.

It is said that monkeys carry their young by having the little ones hold onto the mother’s tail.

If the baby monkey is healthy and well, there is little danger, but if the little one, through sickness or weakness loses his hold when his mother makes a sudden leap from one branch to another, then it is "good-by" as far as the tiny, unfortunate creature is concerned.

With a mother cat, the story is entirely different.

She takes hold of her baby kittens with her teeth.

The babies’ safety depends upon the hold of the mother cat, not upon the ability of the weak kitten.

This is much better. So, too, it is not our hold upon Christ that makes us safe, but His hold upon us!

            as er continue we shall study some more reasons why we know that a true believer is eternally safe and secure and not in danger of losing his salvation.