Sixteen Signs Of A Believer Part 2 Series

Series: Things That Accompany Salvation

Hebrews 6:9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

REVIEW:

Message #1: An Argument in Eternity. Mt. 7:21-23 Many who say “Lord, Lord ...”

Message #2: The Cost of Freedom in Christ. John 8:31-37 True believers continue in the Word!

Message #3: Let’s go to supper! Luke 14:15-24. We must accept Jesus’ invitation.

Message #4: The Cost of Serving Christ Luke 14:25-35 Following Jesus has serious demands!

Message #5: Sixteen Signs (#1) 1 John 1 True Believers fellowship with God and with other believers, and they are not comfortable with sin!

Message 6: Sixteen Signs of a True Believer (Part II)

(2 Cor. 13:5; 1 John 1:3-10)

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

• “Examine” - peirazo = to test, to scrutinize.

• We are to examine our faith.

• But with what are we to test it?

• We are to examine ourselves by the revealed word of God.

• 28 times in 23 verses John tells us that we can “KNOW” that we are saved!

• We cannot afford to ignore what John, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is telling us!

• There is the danger that we may be “reprobates.”

“reprobate” - to be tested by God and rejected as unapproved, found to be worthless and cast away.

ILLUS: These are the gauges on the dash of your life!

NOTE: These tests are not for you to judge your fellow church member’s salvation. They are to be applied by each person to himself!

I. Sign #3: The Cleansing Test (1:9)

NOTE: We included this on our first handout but did not finish that sermon.

• Have I experienced forgiveness, cleansing, and restoration after confession? (1:9)

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

A. The Condition of Our Forgiveness (1:9A)

“confess our sins”

• To confess means not just to admit our sins, but to say the same thing about them that God says.

• It is to stop excusing sin, stop winking at sin, and deal with it.

• We must stop putting band aids on places where God knows we need a cast!

ILLUS: Wiersbe tells of a counselor who was trying to help a man who had come forward during an evangelistic meeting. "I’m a Christian," the man said, "but there’s sin in my life, and I need help." The counselor showed him 1 John 1:9 and suggested that the man confess his sins to God.

"O Father," the man began, "if we have done anything wrong—"

"Just a minute!" the counselor interrupted. "Don’t drag me into your sin! My brother, it’s not ’if’ or ’we’—you’d better get down to business with God!"

The counselor was right.

—Bible Exposition Commentary - New Testament

• Confession is not praying a lovely prayer, or making pious excuses, or trying to impress God and other Christians.

• True confession is naming sin—calling it by name what God calls it: envy, hatred, lust, deceit, or whatever it may be.

• Confession simply means being honest with ourselves and with God, and if others are involved, being honest with them too.

• It is more than admitting sin.

• It means judging sin and facing it squarely. (BEC)

B. The Confidence of Our Forgiveness (1:9B)

• “He is faithful and just”

• You can count on Him and what He does for you will be right!

ILLUS: You ever play a game with someone who is distracted. You cough, or clear your throat, or touch them. When they finally look at you, you say, “It’s your move.”

• Friend, if you want cleansing this morning, “It’s your move.”

• God is faithful!

Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy.

C. The Completeness of Our Forgiveness (1:9C)

Psalms 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

• One may say, “I can never forgive myself.”

• You must understand that you are using the wrong criterion.

• Yes, there is restoration to be made where possible.

• Yes, there is asking the offended party for forgiveness where possible.

• But ultimately, you must accept that GOD has forgiven you!

1 John 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

• The true believer will have experienced and accepted the forgiveness of God!