Title: How Can I Know I’m Really Saved?
Text: Hebrews 10:19-25
Introduction
A famous tightrope walker once strung a cable across Niagara Falls from the American side all the way to the Canadian side. To the applause of thousands of people, he would walk across that tightrope right on the very edge of the falls, the rushing, cascading waters thundering underneath him. He would walk back and forth, people applauding wildly. Then to further wow the crowds, he would put a blindfold on and go back and forth. Then he would ride a bicycle back and forth, and then he would push a wheelbarrow back and forth. Every day, people came out to watch him. He quite simply was the greatest.
As the story goes, one day while pushing the wheelbarrow back and forth, he called out to the crowd on one end, inquiring whether or not they thought he could successfully push the wheelbarrow across with a human being riding in the wheelbarrow. The crowd went berserk: "Surely you can. You’re remarkable. We’ve watched you for days. We understand and appreciate your skills. We believe in your abilities. You are the greatest."
On and on they went, to which he responded, "Then someone volunteer. You come right up here, single file, form a line, and get in the wheelbarrow to prove your trust in my ability."
A deafening silence overtook the crowd. There were no takers. (Bill Hybels, "Christianity 101," Preaching Today, Tape 43.)
This illustration points out with amazing clarity the quality of the relationship many Christians have with the Lord. They say they trust Him, but they’re not really sure how far that trust can go. They say they are going to heaven, but often wonder if they’re really going to make it.
The reason many Christians do not live victorious lives is because they don’t really have complete confidence in the Lord. They have doubts and fears about whether or not they’re really good enough to make it to heaven. But Jesus has not given us a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7), and we can know with complete assurance that we have eternal life (1 John 5:13). If we trust in Christ, and trust in His Word, we can know with absolute certainty, according to the writer of Hebrews, that we really have been saved.
I. I CAN KNOW I’M SAVED BECAUSE I HAVE A BOLD CONFIDENCE TO ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE. (Hebrews 10:19-22)
Illustration: Holding A Confirmed Ticket
Sometime when you’re in an airport, observe the difference between passengers who hold confirmed tickets and those who are on standby. The ones with confirmed tickets read newspapers, chat with their friends or sleep. The ones on standby hang around the ticket counter, pace and smoke, smoke and pace.
The difference is caused by the confidence factor. If you knew that in fifteen minutes you would have to stand in judgment before the Holy God and learn your eternal destiny, what would your reaction be? Would you smoke and pace? Would you say to yourself, “I don’t know what God’s going to say--will it be ‘Welcome home, child,’ or will it be ‘Depart from me; I never knew you’? (Too Busy Not To Pray, Bill Hybels, IVP, p. 113. Contributed by: Sermon Central Pro.)
A. My Confidence Is In The Blood Of Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:6-7)
Note: We enter into His presence by a “new” and living way. MacArthur points out that “new” (prosphatos) in verse 20 is used only once in the New Testament. Its original meaning was "freshly slaughtered." Jesus is the new way, the freshly slaughtered sacrifice, who opens the way to God. It seems contradictory that the freshly slaughtered way would also be the living way. But Jesus’ death conquered death and gives life. His death is the only way to life that is everlasting. (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, (c) Moody Press and John MacArthur, Jr., 1983-2002.)
Illustration: Precious Blood
Several years ago in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, George and Vera Bajenksi’s lives were changed forever. February 16, 1989, a very normal Thursday morning. The phone rang at 9:15 a.m. "There’s been an accident..." It involved their son Ben.
As they approached the intersection of Adelaide and Simcoe Streets near the high school, they could see the flashing lights of the police cars and ambulance units. Vera noticed a photographer and followed the direction of his camera lens to the largest pool of blood she had ever seen.
All she could say was, "George, Ben went home--home to be with his Heavenly Father!"
Her first reaction was to jump out of the car, somehow collect the blood and put it back into her son. "That blood, for me, at that moment, became the most precious thing in the world because it was life. It was life-giving blood and it belonged in my son, my only son, the one I loved so much."
The road was dirty and the blood just didn’t belong there. George noticed that cars were driving right through the intersection--right through the blood. His heart was smitten. He wanted to cover the blood with his coat and cry, "You will not drive over the blood of my son!"
Then Vera Bajenksi understood for the first time in her life, one of God’s greatest and most beautiful truths.
Why blood? Because it was the strongest language God could have used. It was the most precious thing He could give-- the highest price He could pay.
Through God’s amazing love we were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ. May we never treat lightly nor trample underfoot the blood of God’s Son
Hebrews 10:28-29
“Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?”
"Amazing love! How can it be? That though, My God, shouldst die for me!" (Charles Wesley). (Source: --Victor Knowles, Peace on Earth Ministries, Joplin, MO. George and Vera Bajenski minister with Global Missionary Ministries, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Contributed by: SermonCentral PRO.)
1. We cannot enter into God’s presence on the basis of our own merits. (1 Peter 1:18-19)
2. We cannot enter into God’s presence on the basis of a mere verbal profession. (Matthew 7:21-23)
3. We cannot enter into God’s presence except through faith in Jesus Christ. (Romans 14:23b)
B. My Confidence Comes From Being Absolutely Clean And Spotless. (1 John 1:9)
Illustration: A Business Man Of Doubtful Reputation
One of the powerful figures in Wall Street fell in love with an actress. For many months he was always seen escorting her about in the fashionable circles of town. Deciding to marry her, he first put a private detective to the job of looking into her former dealings and friends in order to guard himself against any rash mistake.
At last he received his agent’s report. “Miss Blank enjoys an excellent reputation. Her past is spotless. Her associates have been above reproach. The only breath of scandal is that, in recent months, she has been much seen in the company of a business man of doubtful reputation.” (Contributed by: Peter Thelander. sermoncentral.com.)
II. I CAN KNOW I’M SAVED BECAUSE I HAVE BOLDNESS TO CONFESS CHRIST. (Hebrews 10:23)
Illustration: Believing Anything
The Simple Fool tends to go with the flow. He believes whatever he hears. It reminds me of the way Garrison Keilor described members of the Unitarian Church: They believe whatever book they just finished reading. Too many people live that way. They’ll go to church on Sunday, try to contact dead Aunt Tilly in a séance on Monday, attend a “Self-Help Seminar” on Tuesday, go to a Neighborhood Bible Study on Wednesday, call the Psychic Hotline on Thursday, go out drinking and partying on Friday, wake up feeling guilty on Saturday and go to Confession. But then Saturday afternoon a Jehovah’s Witness comes to the door, so they’re off to the Kingdom Hall on Sunday. (Contributed by: K. Edward Skidmore. sermoncentral.com.)
A. I Confess That He Is My Risen Lord And Savior. (Mark 8:38)
Illustration: Whom Would You Believe?
A Muslim in Africa became a Christian and some of his friends asked him, “Why have you done such a thing?”
He answered, “Well, its like this: Suppose you were going down the road and suddenly the road forked in two directions. You didn’t know which way to go; and there at the fork were two men—one dead, and one alive—which one would you ask to show you the way?” (From a sermon by Bruce Howell, The Gospel Vs. Religion. Contributed by: Tom McCrossan. sermoncentral.com.)
1. He is the perfect sacrifice for sins.
2. His sacrifice makes it possible for God to forgive our sins.
3. He is our High Priest who is seated at the right hand of God.
4. He is the perfect Mediator and Intercessor who makes us acceptable to God.
5. He presents us as sinless and perfect before God.
B. I Confess That He Is My Savior And Risen Lord Without Wavering. (1 John 2:19)
Illustration: Where Is Your Carpenter God?
When the army of Julian the Apostate was on the march to Persia some of the soldiers got hold of a Christian believer to torment and torture him in brutal sport. After they wearied of it, they looked into his eyes and said to their helpless victim, with infinite scorn in their voices, "Where now is your carpenter God?"
The prisoner looked up through pain, blood, and agony to say, "Where now is my carpenter God? He is building a coffin for your emperor." (R. Geoffrey Brown, "Look! A Great White Horse!" Preaching Today, Tape No. 111.)
1. We confess Christ without wavering to a world that is dying in sin.
2. We confess that Christ died for us, and that He rose from the dead.
3. We confess Him when others claim there is some other way to heaven.
4. We confess Him in the face of doubt and false teaching.
5. We confess Him in spite of our circumstances.
III. I CAN KNOW I’M SAVED BECAUSE I LOVE GOD’S PEOPLE. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Illustration: Encountering God
"Eternal life in the future tense is eternity in heaven with God. Eternal life in the present tense is knowing God personally now. Eternal life in the present breaks through limitations and experiences the best that life can offer. Many Christians miss that. We do our duty as believers, but no passion drives us; no power enables us. Sometimes our very busyness for God masks the emptiness we still experience. And we feel guilty for being Christian and having those feelings.
"But when we encounter God as He is, our lives are irrevocably transformed. As we craft our lives to better know Him, we move from religion to relationship, from duty to passion, from frustration to power." (Tim Ritter, A Passionate Pursuit of God [InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL., 1999], 12. Contributed by: Bart Leger. sermoncentral.com.)
A. I Care About You.
Illustration: The Depth Of Friendship
One could not but be moved by the story of the soldier who asked his officer if he might go out into the "No Man’s Land" between the trenches in World War I to bring in one of his comrades who lay grievously wounded.
"You can go," said the officer, "but it’s not worth it. Your friend is probably dead, and you will throw your own life away."
But the man went. Somehow he managed to get to his friend, hoist him onto his shoulder, and bring him back to the trenches. The two of them tumbled in together and lay in the trench bottom.
The officer looked very tenderly on the would-be rescuer, and then he said, "I told you it wouldn’t be worth it. Your friend is dead and now you’re wounded."
"It was worth it, though, sir," he said.
"How do you mean, ’worth it’? I tell you your friend is dead."
"Yes, sir," the boy answered, "but it was worth it, because when I got to him he was still alive, and he said to me, ’Jim, I knew you’d come.’" (James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 226.)
Galatians 6:1-3
“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
B. I Want To Worship With You. (Acts 2:46)
Illustration: The Reason For Weak Fellowship
Recently this word—fellowship—has been in the headlines of our daily experience, thanks to the popular movie adaptations of J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.
In the first book and movie, entitled, Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien describes the camaraderie of a diverse group of people who came together around a central purpose. Called "the fellowship of the ring," their goal is to destroy the power of the Dark Lord that is somehow resident in his ring. The persons in this fellowship are different in many ways, yet they are united in their opposition of the Dark Lord. That is the source of their fellowship.
The reason the fellowship of the church is so weak today is not because we do not have enough fellowship events. [It’s not because the worship or preaching is weak. It’s not because we don’t pray. And it’s not because we don’t spend enough time in Bible study.] Rather our weak fellowship is due to the lack of time we spend together doing the hard work of the kingdom, sharing time together in the foxholes of ministry, together making a difference in the lives of the hurting people of our world. (Contributed by: Galen Hackman. http://www.sermoncentral.com.)
IV. I CAN KNOW I’M SAVED BECAUSE I AM HOMESICK FOR A PLACE I HAVE NEVER BEEN BEFORE. (Philippians 1:19-26)
Illustration: Assurance Of Heaven
Charles Fuller once announced that he would be speaking the following Sunday on “Heaven.” During that week, a precious letter was received from an old man who was very ill. Here is part of his letter:
“Next Sunday you are to talk about Heaven. I am interested in that land, because I have held a clear title to a bit of property there for over fifty-five years. I did not buy it. It was given to me without money and without price. But the donor purchased it for me at a tremendous sacrifice.
I am not holding it for speculation since the title is not transferable.
It is not a vacant lot. For more than half a century I have been sending materials out of which the greatest architect and builder of the universe has been building a home for me which will never need to be remodeled or repaired because it will suit me perfectly, individually, and will never grow old.
Termites can never undermine its foundations for they rest on the rock of ages. Fire cannot destroy it. Floods cannot wash it away. No locks or bolts will ever be placed upon its doors, for no vicious person can ever enter that land where my dwelling stands.
It is now almost completed and ready for me to enter in and abide in peace eternally, without fear of ever being rejected.
I hope to hear your sermon on heaven next Sunday from my home in Los Angeles, but I have no assurance that I shall be able to do so. My ticket to heaven has no date marked for the journey—no return coupon—and no permit for baggage.
Yes, I am all ready to go and I may not be here while you are talking next Sunday, but I shall meet you there some day.” (Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7,700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (Rockwell, Maryland: Assurance Publishers, 1979), p.545-546. Contributed by: Richard Tow. sermoncentral.com.)
Conclusion
On the authority of God’s Word I can state without reservation that I know I am going to heaven when I die. I don’t believe I might go there. I don’t hope I’ll go there. I don’t think I might have a shot at it. I know without a doubt and with complete and full assurance that the blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed me from my sins. I have complete faith and trust in Him to perform all that He said He would do. I know that I am saved.
