How to be sure of your salvation: Biblical Assurances Christ lives within!
Matt 1:18-23(KJV)
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Illustration:
A black choir sang a song on the radio that emphasized how the Christmas message could be real today. They sang, “I got Christmas in my heart, cause I got Jesus in my heart!”
Question:
How can a person receive Jesus Christ into their life as their personal Lord and Savior and assure themselves of eternal life?
Answer # 1:
Many say to receive Christ, all that you have to do is to confess or say that Jesus is Lord.
1 John 4:15(KJV) 15 Whosoever shall confess‑that Jesus is the Son of God, God‑dwelleth in him, and he in God.
Response to Answer # 1:
Many say to receive Christ, all that you have to do is to confess or say that Jesus is Lord. RECOGNIZING THAT JESUS IS LORD IS NOT ENOUGH TO SAVE US FROM OUR SIN, WE MUST RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST INTO OUR HEART.
Answer # 2:
Many say to receive Christ, all that you have to do is to believe that Jesus is Lord.
1 John 5:1,5(KJV)
1 Whosoever believeth that‑Jesus is the Christ is born of God:‑and every one that loveth him that‑begat loveth him also that is begotten‑of him.
5 Who is he that overcometh‑the world, but he that believeth that‑Jesus is the Son of God?
Response to Answer # 2:
Many say to receive Christ, all that you have to do is to believe that Jesus is Lord. BELIEVING THAT CHRIST IS REAL IS NOT ENOUGH TO SAVE US. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT DEMONS BELIEVE IN JESUS AND TREMBLE. AGAIN, WE MUST RECEIVE CHRIST INTO OUR HEART.
Answer # 3:
Many say to receive Christ, all that you have to do is to join the church, shake the preachers hand or be baptized in water.
Response to Answer # 3:
Many say to receive Christ, all that you have to do is to join the church, shake the preachers hand or be baptized in water. HOWEVER, GOOD WORKS ALONE CANNOT SAVE US. IF YOU GO UNDERNEATH THE WATER A SINNER, YOU WILL COME UP A WET ONE. 1 Pet 3:21(TLB), “21 (That, by the way, is what baptism pictures for us: In baptism we show that we have been saved from death and doom by the resurrection of Christ; not because our bodies are washed clean by the water but because in being baptized we are turning to God and asking him to cleanse our hearts from sin.)
1 John 5:11-13(KJV)
11 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.
Faith Itself (that ye may‑know)
Rom 8:16(KJV)
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
A. Down Payment of Heaven, belief in after-life
2 Cor 1:22(KJV)
22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Holiness
2 Cor 6:16-7:1(KJV)
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
CHAPTER 7
1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Practice of Righteousness vs. Habitual Sin
I Jn 2:29(KJV)
29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
I Jn 3:8-10
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
(KJV)
Good Works
Eph 2:10(KJV)
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
James 2:20(KJV)
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
James 2:26(KJV)
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Obedience: Honoring Christ as Lord and keeping His commandments
I Jn 3:23-24(KJV)
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
Submission and Cooperation w/ Leadership
Heb 13:17(KJV)
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
A. Sheep vs. Goats
Following of Christ Example
I Jn 2:6(KJV)
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
A. Following an example alone is not enough. However, one cannot accept Jesus as Savior and Lord w/out accepting and following His example.
Love of Brethen
I Jn 4:12(KJV)
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
I Jn 3:14-15(KJV)
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
John 13:34-35(KJV)
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Greater Passion and desire for God and His will as compared to the world
I Jn 2:15-17(KJV)
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
A. God is the center of your wheel and not a part of it.
A Desire to Practice Spiritual Disciplines such as prayer, attending worship, giving, etc.
Gal 4:6(KJV)
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
An awareness of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
John 14:16-18(KJV)
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
1Jn 4:13(KJV) Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
Spiritual Fruit (Characteristics of godliness)
John 15:5(KJV)
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Gal 5:22-26(KJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
