John 6:38-40
Baptist Distinctives: Security of the Believer
Introduction
A. Portuguese monastery illustration – how often do you change the rope?
B. Review last week and series intent. Today we’re considering security.
C. Doesn’t sound very interesting or exciting, but if you think security doesn’t matter to anyone then you’re mistaken. Everyone wants it.
1. What are some ways people demonstrate a need for it?
2. Social security, financial, life, health, home, auto insurance, marriage contracts, prenups, Brinks, Norton, Homeland, even bottle seals.
D. Truth is there are no guarantee, no sure deals. Accidents happen, people get hurt, divorced, violated, viruses, and we simple accept it.
E. But when it comes to salvation, heaven, eternity, is there any security?
F. If there is any doctrine dear to Bible believers it is that of security. So what does the Bible have to teach us?
Our Security Is Rooted In God
A. In His Faithfulness / His Promises
B. In His Power / His Ability
C. John 3:16, 36; 5:24; 6:38-40; 10:27-29; 11:23-26
C. Dad and child in swimming pool illustration
Our Security Is Dependent Upon The Judicial Work Of Christ
A. Because of Christ we have been justified, Ro. 3:24
B. Because of Christ we have peace with God, Ro. 8:1, 30
C. Because of Christ we are absolutely secure, He. 7:25
Our Security Is Guaranteed By The Holy Spirit
A. Holy Spirit is our seal, Ephesians 1:13-14
B. Once sealed we are preserved until the last day
C. We are assured that God will finish what He started in us, Phil. 1:6
Conclusion
A. 1936 Golden Gate Bridge safety net illustration
B. I wonder how much time is wasted and energy is spent worrying about whether we are secure in Christ?
C. Eternity is not based on what we do, but rather on a relationship
D. Security is a Bible doctrine as sure as salvation itself, but you may lack assurance that you are in right relation to God. As yourself 3 questions
1. Have I trusted Christ for salvation?
2. Is there evidence of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit?
a. He bears witness with our hearts: Ro. 8:15-16; 1 Jn. 4:13
b. He produces fruit of the Spirit
c. Mt. 7:16-20
d. Jn. 15:4, 7 – continuing abiding / present relationship
e. 1 Jn. 2:4-6 – obedience
3. Do I see a long term pattern of growth?
E. Offer invitation to trust Christ
Monastery
The story is told of a monastery in Portugal, perched high on a 3,000 foot cliff and accessible only by a terrifying ride in a swaying basket. The basket is pulled with a single rope by several strong men, perspiring under the strain of the fully loaded basket. One American tourist who visited the site got nervous halfway up the cliff when he noticed that the rope was old and frayed. Hoping to relive his fear he asked, "How often do you change the rope?" The monk in charge replied, "Whenever it breaks!"
Daily Walk, March 30, 1992.
Out Of Our Depth
The 3-year old felt secure in his father’s arms as Dad stood in the middle of the pool. But Dad, for fun, began walking slowly toward the deep end, gently chanting, "Deeper and deeper and deeper," as the water rose higher and higher on the child. The lad’s face registered increasing degrees of panic, as he held all the more tightly to his father, who, of course, easily touched the bottom. Had the little boy been able to analyze his situation, he’d have realized there was no reason for increased anxiety. The water’s depth in ANY part of the pool was over his head. Even in the shallowest part, had he not been held up, he’d have drowned. His safety anywhere in that pool depended on Dad. At various points in our lives, all of us feel we’re getting "out of our depth" -- problems abound, a job is lost, someone dies. Our temptation is to panic, for we feel we’ve lost control. Yet, as with the child in the pool, the truth is we’ve never been in control over the most valuable things of life. We’ve always been held up by the grace of God, our Father, and that does not change. God is never out of his depth, and therefore we’re safe when we’re "going deeper" than we’ve ever been.
Charles Ryrie, So Great Salvation, Victor Books, 1989, p. 137ff.
A Safety Net
In 1936, when delays slowed construction, Strauss invested over $130,000 in a novel safety feature: a vast net -- similar to a circus net -- suspended under the bridge. The safety net extended ten feet wider than the bridge’s width and fifteen feet further than the roadway’s length. It gave workers an abiding sense of security as they moved more freely -- and quickly -- across the slippery, half-constructed steel. "There’s no doubt the work went faster because of the net," said Lefty Underkoffler, a Golden Gate bridgeman. Some workers were positively giddy about the innovation, so much so that they had to be threatened with dismissal so they wouldn’t dive into the net for thrills.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/goldengate/peopleevents/e_safety.html
