Eternal Life: Fact Or Fiction?

Eternal Life: Fact or Fiction?

03/19/2000 (1John 5:11-13) RPBC a.m.

Let Him In

A little girl began to learn all of the traditional fairy tales, like Goldilocks and the Three Bears and the Three Little Pigs. Her mother and father taught her the familiar Bible stories as well. The little girl’s mind was like a sponge, absorbing everything she heard.

One day her mother read the Bible to her. The passage was Revelation 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." When she finished reading the verse she asked the little girl, "If Jesus is knocking at your heart’s door, will you open and let Him in?"

Without a moment’s hesitation she responded, "Not by the hair on my chinny-chin-chin."

That describes the simplicity of a child’s mind. Sometimes they cannot tell the difference between fact and fiction. Do you remember when you discovered that some of the characters you thought existed as a child actually didn’t? Wasn’t it a little disappointing? Didn’t you think that someone was pulling the wool over your eyes?

Somehow that is the way it is for many people. They are confused about the matter of salvation, especially the security of the believer. They are not sure whether they are saved or not. They don’t know for certain if anyone can know it. They cannot tell the difference between fact and fiction.

This week we had many decisions. Seven people came forward to profess Christ as their Savior. That is wonderful. Still, others came not knowing if they were really saved. I thought this would be an opportune time to speak to you on the subject of eternal life. I want you to be 100% sure of your salvation experience. I don’t want anyone here to doubt as to whether they are going to Heaven or Hell.

There are many subjects you can be wrong on and it really doesn’t matter much, but where you are going to spend eternity is not one of them.

You see:

BI - "WHEN IT COMES TO ETERNAL LIFE YOU’RE EITHER DEAD RIGHT OR DEAD WRONG, THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND, AND NO ONE CAN AFFORD TO BE WRONG ON THIS SUBJECT."

Let me share three simple thoughts from this passage about eternal life.

Please mark them down either in your Bible or on a piece of paper. They may come in handy one day when a friend cannot tell the difference between fact and fiction. Concerning eternal life, it is important to understand:

I. THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURES - (10-13)

(1 John 5:10-13) He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 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. (KJV)

As John wrote this letter he made certain he emphasized the authority of the Bible. In verse ten he called the Bible the "record." The word record means "witness, or record of truth." In verse 11, again he called the Bible the "record." In verse thirteen, he emphasized the things he had written to them so they might "know" they had eternal life.

If you don’t get anything else from the message this morning get this: The Bible is God’s record to us. What He wishes us to know is in the Bible. If it’s not in the Bible don’t worry about it, but if it is, don’t neglect it. The Bible is God’s source for revealing Himself and the things of His kingdom to us.

The Bible is authoritative because it is inspired. Because it is inspired it is inerrant. Because it is inerrant it is infallible. The copy of the Bible you hold in your hands this morning is your authority for Christian faith and practice. Everything you need to know is in the Bible. Everything you need to do is in the Bible. Consider some Scriptures that assure us that God’s record is reliable.

(2 Timothy 3:15-16) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (KJV)