Sunday, November 26, 2017 - Salvation: The Assurance and Security!
Pastor Roger Marcos
Nov. 26, 2017
When we trust in Jesus Christ, our eternal security in Christ becomes a spiritual reality whether we understand it or believe it. Ones belief in security in Christ does not make it true or false. If we have trusted in the person and work of Christ for personal salvation, security is a fact.
Assurance is the confident realization of that security. It is the realization of what we have in Christ such as eternal life, forgiveness of sin, and being the object of God’s personal care as his children.
Assurance has to do with our comprehension of the facts and provisions of salvation through faith in Christ. This is a crucial doctrine because, properly understood, it will touch the believer’s life in several areas. Not only does it give assurance of salvation, but with that also comes a greater assurance of God’s provision in all areas of life.
Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
Do You Have Personal Life Assurance... Not "Insurance" but "Assurance"?
The term "Assurance" means "the state of being SURE or CERTAIN."
God wants us to be certain about our eternal future in order to be disappointed after our life on earth.
Our text today, found in the book of 1 John 5:13 which I believe the apostle wrote for a reason and trying to found out whom he pin point it.
Did he write this book to believers or to unbelievers?
He wrote this book so that these people might GIVE the correct answer: 1 John 5:13.
- Feel like they have eternal life.
- Think that they have eternal life.
- Hope that they have eternal life.
- Know that they have eternal life.
P-P 1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
According to 1 John 5:13, is it possible for a person to KNOW that he is really saved or is this something that no one can know until he dies?
Only one has died, come back, and talked about it and that was Jesus; what does He say? Jn. 11:25
The word "KNOW" is a word of assurance. The person who has assurance of his salvation is able to say, "I know that Lam saved and I know that my sins are forgiven and I know that I have eternal life!" But how can I know? Remember this: We can KNOW SO because GOD SAID SO!
P-P The Bible says in 1 John 5:9, "If we receive the witness (testimony) of men, the witness (testimony) of God is greater." For this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.
Do You Receive the Testimony of Men? To be true sometimes you believe what men tell you..and nothing wrong on that.
In-case, your neighbor came to your door and said that there was shooting down the street would you accept his word? If you heard on the radio/TV that president Duterte, was in vacation in America, would you believe it? Sometimes the testimony of men proves to be false, but normally we take the statements of men at face value! We believe what men tell us!
If we believe what men tell us, how much more should we believe what God tells us, because "the witness (testimony) of God is GREATER (1 John 5 :9).
If we take men at their word most of the time, how much more should we take God at His Word all of the time, because HE Cannot LIE Titus 1:2
Titus1:2In hope of eternal life which God who cannot lie, promised before time began.
I. FOUNDATIONS FOR ASSURANCE: 1JOHN 5:11-13
A. THE WORD OF GOD. The Bible.(explain) The Word of God is God’s witness to the believer to the world.
If we do not believe what God says (especially about His Son), then we are actually accusing God of being a LIAR (1 John 5:10). How great is the sin of unbelief! How our unbelief shames the God of truth!
1 John 5:10 read it----
What is the record that God has given to us concerning His Son?
Salvation in Christ is not just the gift of life, but of “the life,” the one which comes only through faith in God’s unique Son. The clear declaration of Scripture is that the one who believes in Christ’s person and work on the cross as God’s provision for his sins has:
1. Eternal life. John 3:36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath remains on him.
1 John 5:11-13 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. The one who has the Son has this eternal life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have this eternal life. I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
1 John 5:11. What has God given to us? Eternal Life!
And this is the testimony that God has given us ETERNAL LIFE, and this life is in His Son. 1 John 5:11
Romans 6:23. Where is this life found? In Christ Jesus Do you have the Son of
God (have you ever personally received Him as your Saviour and Lord
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.
What is true about the person who has the Son of God 1 John 5:12? Has life.
What is true about the person who does not have the Son of God (who has never received Him) according to this same verse? Does not have life.
1 John 5:12He who has the Son has life, he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Yes to life or No to life DO YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE? How Do You Know This?
- Because I’m good.
- Because my dad is a pastor
- Because I’m giving my life to Jesus.soon and so on! A BIG NO
- Because GOD SAID SO. 1 John 5:12. I have the Son because I have received Him as my Saviour and God clearly says that those who have the Son have life.very clear what the apostle say- Jesus is not lying
Brethren: this is the best way in knowing that WE have eternal life. CAN YOU READ IT?
1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
Someone asked Luther, "Do you feel that you have been forgiven?"
He answered, "No, but I'm as sure as there's a God in heaven.
For feelings come and feelings go, and feelings are deceiving;
My warrant is the Word of God, naught else is worth believing.
Though all my heart should feel condemned for want of one sweet token,
There is one, greater than my heart, whose Word cannot be broken.
I'll trust in His unchanging love, Till soul and body sever;
For though all else shall pass away, His Word shall stand forever."
I KNOW SO because GOD SAID SO! God in His Word has given us certain salvation promises. These are conditional promises which means that if the sinner does something, then God promises to do something. In other words, before God will fulfill the promise, the sinner must fulfill the condition. As soon as the sinner does what he is supposed to do, then God will surely keep His promise. Let us look at ten of these salvation promises.
First we want to see what the sinner's responsibility is. This is exactly what the jailer wanted to know in Acts 16:30 when he cried out, "What must I do to be saved?"
Secondly, we want to see what God promises to do for the sinner when the sinner responds in the right way. The first two promises are already completed for you:
1. John 1:12
- The sinner Must: receive Christ and believe on His name.
- God Promises: the sinner that he will become a son (child) of God.
2. John 3:16
- The sinner Must believe in Him (God's Son).
- God Promises the sinner that he will not perish but will have everlasting life.
3. John 3:36
- The sinner Must BELIEVES IN THE SON.
- God Promises the Sinner - EVERLASTING LIFE.
The promise of God so clear upon us all...so my question then HAVE YOU DONE YOUR PART?
If you have done your part, do you think God will do His part? Do you
KNOW God will do His part? How do you know?
It is important that we understand the difference between ASSURANCE and SECURITY.
ASSURANCE is that complete confidence and certainty that all is right in my relationship to the living God.
The believer who has ASSURANCE is able to say, "I know that all is well with my soul and I know that I am safe and secure in Christ forever!"
Illustration: about assurance and security
The story is told of a western traveler in the pioneer days who came one winter night to the banks of a wide river. He had to get across but there was no bridge. The river was coated with a sheet of ice but he did not know how safe it was. After much hesitation he gingerly tested it with one foot and it held. Night was coming on and he must get across. With many fears and with anxious care he crept out on hands and knees, hoping to distribute his weight evenly on the uncertain ice.
When he had gone some distance painfully and slowly he suddenly heard the sound of horse hoofs and joyful singing. There in the dusk was a man happily driving a wagon load of coal across the ice, being pulled by a muscular horse. The man was cheerfully singing as he went. He knew the ice was safe and he had no fears.
Both of these men were absolutely safe on that ice. The ice was thick and solid. It could have borne twice that weight easily. One man was in fear and doubt because he did not know how safe he was and did not realize how solid and thick the ice was. The other man enjoyed his ride across the frozen river because he knew without any doubt that the ice would hold and that the foundation under him was solid and safe. Both men were secure. Only one man enjoyed the security he had. Only one man had assurance.
Conclusion:
As we go forward in this life thinking about the eternity- which do you want prepare two choices HELL- anguish, pain, gnashing of teeth day and night-no rest at all or HEAVEN, having a great privilege with the Lord.
To let you know for Certain:
- Every believer is Eternally Safe and Secure in Christ Jesus---THAT’S SECURITY and
- Every believer needs to understand how Safe and Secure he really is that’s ASSURANCE
God knows who is really saved, and everyone who is saved is eternally secure and safe in Christ. Is a believer really safe forever? A BIG YES! Can a person lose his salvation? A BIG YES! Can a Christian be lost?
To those who never been baptized in Christ, He is waiting for you. The assurance and security of a given Salvation today can make a big difference in your life.
Is the True Believer Eternally Secure in Christ?
The Answer to this question is "YES"