Sermon 042698

1Jn. 5:11-17                         Eternal Life, Do You Have it with Certainty?                      4/26/98

                                                                                                                             ABCC

I.    Introduction                                                                                                                      622

·        If someone asks “Do you have eternal life & how do you know?”, what’s your answer?

·        The Apostle John says he writes these things “in order that you may know…” but he never mentions anything about a spectacular conversion; never mentions where you were or who was involved; whether you prayed the sinner’s prayer or been baptized, but he maintains that by “these things” that he has written you can know with certainty…

·        He is only concerned with the fact that you have it & that you know you have it!

II.    Confidence That You Possessing Eternal Life (v. 13)

·        God intends for all Christians to know that they have eternal life “to you who believe”

·        Everyone & anyone who has Jesus then has eternal life (v. 11-12)

A.      Loving obedience to God & the scriptures (5:3) = humble attitude

B.      Prayer (v. 14-15; 3:21-22; Lk. 18:1)

1.      Prayer is the means of securing the benefits of eternal life – we ask God

2.      Prayer is where the saint & God meet together

3.      Prayer is the means through which God proves that He is our Father & we are His children (3:1)

C.     Genuine love for other people

1.      Leads you to pray for the ones that are committing sin (v. 16).  Because we know the consequences of sin; that no good can come from it, that God is displeased & dishonored, that the brother is harming himself.

2.      Leads you to help people who have genuine physical needs (3:14-18)

D.     Honestly address sin in your life

1.      There is sin that does not lead to spiritual death & sin that does lead to spiritual death (v. 16)

2.      Believers & unbelievers commit sins knowingly & unknowingly (v. 17) = there are no perfect people!

3.      Believers will ultimately repent & confess their sin (1:9,12; 3:4-9; 4:10)

4.      Pretender & unbelievers attempt hide their sin & make excuses to justify it (1:6,8,10; 2:19).  There is a sin that leads to spiritual death – what is it?  It is the sin of rejecting Jesus Christ; rejecting the teaching that Jesus Christ is the one & only savior & redeemer; rejecting the teaching that Jesus Christ is the only beloved Son of God; the Way, Truth & Life…

So there it is my brother/sister – God plans for everyone of us to know with certainty whether you have eternal life or not.  Jesus summed it up this way, you can know that you have eternal life if you “…love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.”  And if you “…love your neighbor as yourself.”  Do you love God; do you love your neighbor?  If you love God, you will obey Him & pray to Him.  If you love your neighbor, you will pray for him & help meet his needs.  If you have eternal life, thank God for this great blessing of blessings – it is almost indescribable; to be forgiven, saved, redeemed, delivered, child of God…If you do not have eternal life, the way is very straightforward & uncomplicated (1Jn. 5:12a; Matt. 11:28-30; Jn. 14:6; 17:3…)  Come to Christ, Only believe & you can have eternal life & know it with certainty!