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TITLE: Confident Salvation
TEXT: 1 John 5:11-13
PROPOSITION: We can be confident about our salvation.
QUESTION: How?
KEY WORD: Attitudes
SCRIPTURE READING: Same

INTRODUCTION:

  1. Many Christians lack the confidence and assurance of their salvation.

  2. We often treat salvation as “wishful thinking”

  3. AND we think that we are presumptuous to believe we are really saved

  4. Without some feeling of confidence and assurance:

    1. We lack holiness and sanctification in our lives

    2. We are not dedicated to the work

    3. We don’t proclaim the gospel to others

    4. Even our worship suffers

  5. John is a source of assurance

  6. John 20:30-31 - 30And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

  7. 1 John 5:13 - These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Age of Doubt and Insecurity

  1. Our world is filled with doubt – about everything – God, Bible, Jesus, Heaven and Hell

  2. If you died tonight, do you know for sure that you would be saved and go to heaven?

  3. Your answer to this question shows your:

    1. Insecurity about what to believe

    2. Unsure about believing wrong things

    3. Hesitant to believe right things

    4. Failure to understand the promises of God

  4. I hear some statements often

    1. “I don’t know what to believe so that I can be saved.”

      1. 1 John 1:1-3 1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—2the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—3that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

      2. Romans 1:16

    2. “I am a believer but what happens when I sin?”

      1. Was the sin intentional or through weakness and temptation?

      2. Have you repented of the sin?

        1. 1 John 1:8-9 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

        2. 1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

    3. “There are so many contradictory teachings that I am not sure what to believe.”

      1. 1 John 4:1-3 1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

      2. Don’t believe the preacher – even Paul

      3. Acts 17:11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

    4. “How can I know that I am doing the will of God?”

      1. 1 John 2:3-6 3Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

      2. 1 John 2:15-17 15Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

      3. 1 John 4:7-8 7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Do you KNOW that you are saved?

  1. Let me change the question: Do you have Eternal Life?

  2. Some view salvation like a light switch – ON / OFF / ON / OFF

  3. Thus we are never sure at any moment if the light just flickered

  4. You don’t have to live in doubt – you can know

Conclusion:

  1. Do you know that Jesus saves?

  2. Do you believe that He offers eternal life to those who believe?

  3. Salvation is not subjective jumping through hoops

  4. Salvation is faith and trust in Him

 

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