Blessed Assurance
November 25, 2007 Morning Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: We can be assured of God’s love and our salvation.
Focus Passage: I John 5:13-21
Introduction: An elderly man said to Harry A. Ironside, "I will not go on unless I know I’m saved, or else know it’s hopeless to seek to be sure of it. I want a definite witness, something I can’t be mistaken about!" Ironside replied, "Suppose you had a vision of an angel who told you your sins were forgiven. Would that be enough to rest on?" "Yes, I think it would. An angel should be right." Ironside continued, "But suppose on your deathbed Satan came and said, ’I was that angel, transformed to deceive you.’ What would you say?" The man was speechless. Ironside then told him that God has given us something more dependable than the voice of an angel. He has given His Son, who died for our sins, and He has testified in His own Word that if we trust Him all our sins are gone. Ironside read I John 5:13, "You may know that you have eternal life." Then he said, "Is that not enough to rest on? It is a letter from heaven expressly to you." God’s Spirit used that to bring assurance to the man’s heart.
I. God Promises His Children v.13
a. One of the biggest confidence boosters for a believer is when they know for sure that they are saved. The devil works very hard and is often successful at keeping believers in doubt concerning their salvation. A believer that doubts their salvation is not going to be much of a threat to Satan and his work. Once we have confidence in our salvation other things will begin to happen.
II. God Hears His Children vs. 14-15
a. Most folks only look at v. 15
b. You must look at 14 and see that we MUST pray according to His will.
III. God Punishes His Children vs. 16-17
a. Sin unto death
b. Sin not unto death
IV. God Keeps His Children vs. 18-20
a. As God’s children, He sees us as righteous. How could that be? The blood of Christ is upon us; which cleanses us from all sin. It is only because of the blood of Jesus that we can go into the presence of God.
Satan can only attack us when God allows him to; therefore God will not allow us to go through more than we can handle. This also means that Satan can never ultimately defeat us. We win! The devil loses!
John concludes this letter with one simple reminder of remaining true to your Father God.
1 John 5:21
Invitation:
