SF816 - THE SIGNS OF THE NEW LIFE - 7 of 10 NEW LIFE FOR YOU (1 John 5 13)
1 John 5:13
Introduction
This morning we are going to discover how we can know for certain that we are saved and going to heaven when we die.
You should have a rock, ribbed assurance that you have eternal life. Every Christian ought to have this certainity.
You ought not to be a question mark with your head all bent over wondering whether you are saved. You ought to be an exclamation point. Standing up straight and tall saying, Thank God I know if I died right now, I would go to heaven.
You can be certain that you have eternal life!
How can you know for sure?
Three Tests...
1A. The Lordship Test (2:3-4)
1B. Obedience is not the way of salvation; it is the witness of salvation.
“Keep; obey” = tereo, to guard (from loss or injury, prop. by keeping the eye upon
The Navigator
A navigator when they sailed by the stars at nighttime. The sailor could keep his course by keeping the stars. They would plot the heavens. And the man with his chart would look at the heavens and keep his hand on the rudder, or his hand on the wheel, and he would sail by the stars.
Now, to you as a child of God, those stars are the commandments of God. It is by God’s Word that you steer your life.
Now, a sailor might go to sleep at the wheel. He might get distracted. He might have his attention diverted. He might be blown off course. However, when he recognizes it, he goes right back on course, because the desire of his life is to steer according to that course.
And that's the way it is with a child of God. Yes, sometimes we are blown off course. Yes, sometimes we take our eyes from the stars. Yes, sometimes we may fail. Yes, sometimes we may over steer or under steer, but the great desire of our life is to keep the commandments of God.
2B. For the Christian obedience is not an option to be considered, it is a mandate to completed.
(Luke 6:46 NKJV) "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?"
2A. The Fellowship Test
Our relationship with Christ is...
1B. Validated by our fellowship with His people
(1 John 3:14 NKJV) "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death."
This fellowship is rooted in our love for Christ
(1 John 4:7 NKJV) "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God."
(1 John 4:20 NKJV) "If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?"
This fellowship is a result of our love for Christ
(1 John 5:1 NKJV) "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him."
2B. Demonstrated by our relationship with His church
Our relationship with the church reflects our relationship with Christ.
The church is the body of Christ
Ø You cannot love the head and hate the body.
The church is the bride of Christ
Ø You cannot love the groom and not love his bride
The church is the building of Christ
Ø Christ is the foundation upon which we are built.
3A. The Relationship Test (5:11-13)
Key “believe” = not past tense, present tense...
1B. Refers to a present relationship
It is not as important that you know a day and time, as it is that you know now that you are walking with God.
2B. Rooted in a past experience
You cannot have a present reality without a past experience.
3B. Requires a personal examination
The big question is not did you believe in Jesus but are you believing in Jesus.
Airplane Illustration
Going to Atlanta by airplane. You fly to Atlanta. And get off the airplane. Now, did you cross the state line? Did you know when you crossed the state line? Why? You did not know when you crossed the state line.
You drive to Atlanta, you cross the state line. Do you know it? Yes! Now, you crossed the state line two separate ways. How do you know you crossed the state line? If you get out at the Atlanta airport, beyond a shadow of any doubt, you had to have crossed that line.
If a person sitting in this auditorium right now is saying with all of my heart and soul, I am trusting Jesus. I may not know exactly when it happened, but I know I have a relationship with the Son of God. You see, it is not some distant experience that you had. It is a present reality. It is a relationship.
It is not theology. You say, well I know the plan of salvation. Well, you are not saved by the plan of salvation. You're saved by the man of salvation.
APPLICATION
How is your Lordship?
How is your Fellowship?
How is your Relationship?
The answer is spelled FAITH!
THE SIGNS OF THE NEW LIFE
New Life For You – Part 7 of 10
Sunday, February 21, 1999 - 1 John 5:13
Introduction
This morning we are going to discover how we can know that we are saved and going to heaven when we die.
You can be certain that you have eternal life!
How can you know for sure?
Three Tests...
1A. The _____________________________ Test (2:3-4)
1B. Obedience is not the ____________ of salvation, it is the witness of salvation.
2B. For the Christian obedience is not an option to be considered, it is a mandate to complete.
(Luke 6:46 NKJV) "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?"
2A. The ____________________________ Test
Our relationship with Christ is...
1B. Validated by our fellowship with His ___________
(1 John 3:14 NKJV) "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death."
This fellowship is rooted in our love for Christ
(1 John 4:7 NKJV) "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God."
(1 John 4:20 NKJV) "If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?"
This fellowship is a __________ of our love for Christ
(1 John 5:1 NKJV) "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him."
2B. Demonstrated by our relationship with His church
The church is the _______________ of Christ
The church is the ______________ of Christ
The church is the building of Christ
3A. The Relationship Test (5:11-13)
1B. Refers to a __________________ relationship
2B. Rooted in a ________________ experience
3B. Requires a personal examination
The big question is not did you believe in Jesus but are you believing in Jesus.