Are You Sure? Week 5
REVIEW
- Reminder of who the true JESUS is – the One they saw and heard and touched – 1 Jn 1:1
- That HE came to bring us into fellowship with the Father and with His people which results in true JOY in our lives – 1 Jn 1:3-4, 7
- This true fellowship with the Father leads to true LOVE and OBEDIENCE to Him – 1 John 2:3-6; 4:7-21
- This life of love and obedience is marked by HOLINESS, becoming more like Jesus as we live “called out” from this world to be on mission with Him – 1 John 1:8-10; 3:4-10
PREVIEW
- Today – we’re talking about the ASSURANCE we can have as we live this life of holiness in Him
1 JOHN 5:13-21 ASSURANCE
1. ASSURANCE #1 – ETERNAL LIFE
1 John 5:13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. NLT
- John is writing to give assurance to the believers, that as they believe in who Jesus truly is (the one they saw, heard and touched), they HAVE eternal life.
- This is a deeply debated theological doctrine in the church, known as ETERNAL SECURITY
- View #1 – Calvinism (named after John Calvin – a 16th century theologian)
- From our doctrinal statement as a church:
- “Some have a Calvinistic background believe:
- Salvation cannot be lost.
- If a person is not showing fruit and growth, they were never saved to begin with.
- Calvinists do not believe you can do whatever you want and be a Christian.
- Scripture references: John 10:28; Romans 8:29-30; 1 John 2:9”
- Another verse that Calvinists reference: Philippians 1:6
- View #2 – Arminian (named after Jacobus Arminius – a 17th century theologian)
- From our doctrinal statement as a church:
- “Some who have an Arminian background believe:
- Salvation can be gained and lost (rejected).
- The way you can tell a person is a Christian is by their fruit (growth).
- Arminian’s do not believe a bad decision means you lose your salvation.
- Scripture references: Luke 15; Romans 11:22-23; Hebrews 6:4-7; 2 Peter 2:20”
- Another verse that Arminian’s reference: Hebrews 3:12-14
- View #3 – Hell Insurance
- A more modern view that says if I pray a prayer or just get baptized or if I was baptized as a baby, I have hell insurance, meaning “I’m saved” and can now live however I’d like, whether contrary to God’s Word or not.
- No mature believer agrees with this position
Continuation of our church’s doctrinal stance on this subject:
- “We believe a person is saved by grace through faith, and faith is evidenced by action and fruit in a person’s life. We believe faith in Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior is eternal security.”
- “NOTE: Both views believe a person is saved by grace through Christ, and this is reflected in a life that is bearing fruit of the Spirit. In our church, we encourage everyone to grow in Christ. We believe you can hold either view about this issue and still be a Christian.
- “Supportive Scripture: Luke 8:13&14, John 10:27&28, Ephesians 2:8-10, James 2:14, Romans 1:5.”
2. INDICATORS OF SALVATION – THE “FRUIT”
- Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. NLT
- As we abide/stay connected to God–HE produces these qualities in our life–we don’t have to force them all the time, HE helps
- Matthew 7:15-20 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. NLT
- You can know a tree by it’s fruit but we have our limitations. Only God is the Judge!
- But let’s not be ignorant of lifestyle practices of those around us.
3. ADDITIONAL ASSURANCES FROM OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER
Assurance #2 – Answered prayer (1 John 5:14-15)
Assurance #3 – Victory over sin and this world (5:4-5, 18; 4:4)
Assurance #4 – Sonship/Daughterhood (3:1-2; 5:19; Phil 3:20)
Assurance #5 – Real relationship with the One True God (5:20)
4. HOW YOU CAN BE SURE YOU’RE SAVED AND IN RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD (5:1-3)
- Do you Believe?
- Do you Love?
- Do you Obey?
Next Steps
- You, as an individual
- Ask and answer those last 3 questions for yourself
- Ask a mature believer what they think of your life when they hear those 3 questions
- Take assurance that God is wanting you in His family–HE is life and love–He wants you!
- We, as a church
- Let’s continue to be a people that examine ourselves
- Let’s continue to be a people that care enough for those around us that we engage in spiritual conversations and we don’t make assumptions – we ask questions, pray, engage
- Let’s continue to be a people that come boldly before the throne of our God as beloved children, knowing He hears our requests and cares (Hebrews 4:16; 1 Peter 5:7)
For Small Group Discussion:
Opening Question: Have you ever admired someone for their confidence in something? Why did that impress you?
Main Point: When we have the right belief, and love the right way it leads to personal assurance in our eternity, in our prayers, in our victory, and in our identity.
Read/Tell the Story: 1 John 5:13-21
Questions:
- How do you know something is true? What do you look for to confirm what you know?
- Do you have a hard time believing God at His word?
- How do you reconcile prayers that don’t seem to get answered?
- What does it mean to have victory over sin? Does that mean you never sin in that area ever again?
- How can we continue to live in victory even when the world is going to hell in a handbasket?
- What comfort do you find in knowing that you have right standing with God because of Christ?
- What can you do to remind yourself of these truths?
Supporting Scripture: John 1:9-12, John 14:6, Psalm 62:1-2