Assurance Of Salvation
Blessed Assurance part 2
11/01/09 AM
Text: 1 John 5:11-12
INTRODUCTION:
There is much uncertainty in the world; it is the nature of the world in which we live. We are limited, finite beings which means there will be much in our lives of which we will be uncertain. This is nothing new, the text for our lesson this morning comes from 1 John and was written because of uncertainty or it may be better said that the text was written because of certainty. In the first century church there were those who were causing uncertainty in the minds and hearts of the church concerning Jesus as the messiah, the one true way to the salvation of God. The Apostle John wrote a letter of assurance to the faithful to establish the certainty of the gospel of Jesus. Read 1 John 2:24-26.
The deception came from false teachers who sought to deny Jesus as the way to salvation, the way to eternal life but John sets the record straight: read 1 John 5:11-12.
I. The Testimony
A. It is a statement of fact, a record of truth.
1. From the Greek: marturia (mar-too-ree'-ah) evidence given (judicially or genitive case): - record, report, testimony, witness.
John began this letter with his testimony: read 1 John 1:1-3.
a. John’s testimony was a first person, eye-witness account.
2. But we have a greater witness in God!
a. 1 John 5:9 ( NASB ) If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son.
John 5:36 ( NASB ) “But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.
God’s testimony comes to us by His Son (his life) and by His Spirit (1 John 5:6-7) and those who believe carry this testimony within themselves (v10.)
3. There is the witness of His Word.
a. When Jesus began His ministry it was in fulfillment of God’s Word. (Luke 4:15-21 prophecy of Isaiah 61)
1 John 5:13 (NASB) “These things have I written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life”.
B. The testimony is to the gift of God: eternal life.
1. Eternal life is a gift; it is not something that we earn.
a. Ephesians 2:8 ( NASB ) For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
2 Corinthians 9:15 ( NASB ) Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
II. Eternal Life Is In Christ
A. The gift was necessary because of our sin (Isaiah 59:2)
1. Read Romans 5:8-11
a. 1 Peter 3:18 ( NASB ) For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
John 3:16 ( NASB ) “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Not just life but THE life, eternal life and abundantly (John 10:10)
1) John 12:25 (NASB) "He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.
Paul counted his own life as loss compared to his life knowing Christ (Philippians 3:8)
Galatians 2:20 ( NASB ) “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
B. …he who has the Son, has life.
1. John 17:3 ( NASB ) “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
a. The claim of Jesus as the only way to God was what the false teachers were denying to the first century church.
They wanted to search for God in their own ways. They wanted their philosophies, their gods and goddesses who embodied human passions and reflected the image of man. Today too people demand the right to do their own thing in morals and religion. They reject the idea of an absolute.
b. But John was not concerned with what people want to believe about God. John was concerned with reality. The fact is that God has spoken. He has said that only in Jesus can life be found. You or I may reject what He says, but our rejection will not change the certainty of His Word.
John 14:6 (NASB) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
C. …he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
1. John 5:24 ( NASB ) “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
John 3:36 ( NASB ) “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
CONCLUSION:
We have the blessed assurance of eternal life through the Son of God.
Invitation
