That Ye May Know

That Ye May Know

Text: (I John 5:13)

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.

Introduction:

1) Many lack assurance because of dependence on their feelings.

2) The Bible maintains a profound silence on feelings.

3) There can be no assurance outside the testimony of the Word of God.

a. Uncertainty concerning salvation brings about fear and doubt.

Illustration: When Peter took his eyes off of Christ he began to sink. ..

b. Assurance is not vocal, audible, voice or revelation

c. Assurance comes from the willingness to take God at His Word.

aa. God’s word never changes.

bb. To doubt God’s promises is to make Him a liar.

(I John 5:10) He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar;

d. Assurance is an inner light that is turned on by the Holy Spirit.

Listen to the assurance that the Apostle Paul had… (II Timothy 1:12)

I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Illustration: R.A. Tory- It is the Blood of Christ that makes us safe, it is the Word of God that makes us sure!

I. Examine yourself- (II Corinthians 13:5)

5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.

II. Are you sensitive to sin? (I John 1:6)

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

A. Does it bother you to watch what God hates on TV?

1) Sexual Encounters, nakedness, lust 2) Dirty Jokes 3) Murder and Violence, stealing and robbing 4) Disrespect for what is Sacred 5) Drunkenness and revelry 6) Lies and unfaithfulness 7) Cursing 8) Praising the Pride of Life 9) Worshiping the creature/not creator

B. Those who have pleasure in the things are enemies of God. (Romans 1:8)

8 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

C. If you have pleasure in sin, or have pleasure in those who do, you may be lost.

III. Are you keeping his commandments? (Are His commandments a burden?) (1 John 2:3)

3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

(I John 5:3) 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

A If it’s a burden to be in church, you might be lost. B. If it’s a burden to pray/ read God’s word, you might be lost. C. If it’s a burden to share the Gospel, you might be lost. D. If it’s a burden to care for your brethren, you might be lost.

IV. Are you walking as Jesus Walked? (I John 2:6)

6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

V. Do you hate or not love your brother? (John 2:9)

9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

A. If you say you love God, but you don’t love the Brethren, you may be lost.

B. If you are unwilling to help your brother in time of need, you may be lost. (James 2:15-17)

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone

C. If you hate and talk about your brother, or defraud your brother, you may be lost.

VI. Do you love the world? (I John 2:15)

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

A. The world- Anything contrary to the attributes of God. (James 4:4) know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

B. If your all your friends are lost people, you may be lost.

B. You will be loyal to who you love. Where do your loyalties lie? (Matthew 16:24) 24  “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

C. If you are not loyal to Christ, you may be lost.

D. If your life is full of the Lust of the flesh, you may be lost.

E. If your life consists of always wanting, (coveting), something new, you may be lost. (Debt is a good indicator)

F. If your life displays the characteristic of pride, you may be lost.

1) Position 2) Possessions

G. If you love the World, you may be lost.

VII. Do you seek after God’s Will? (I John 2:16)

he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (James 4:13) 13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

If you don’t seek God’s Will, and not your own, you may be lost.

VIII. Do you strive to be pure? (I John 3:3)

3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure

If you don’t strive to be pure, you may be lost.

Illustration: The difference between when a pig gets muddy and when a sheep get muddy is like the difference between a lost man and a saved man. They both sin, the lost man loves it, but the saved man hates it when he sins and longs for repentance. Illustration: The old man how cussed his mule.