H o w C a n I K n o w I f I a m R e a l l y S a v e d ? (lecture #2)

H o w C a n I K n o wH o w C a n I K n o w

I f I a m I f I a m R e a l l yR e a l l y S a v S a v e d ?e d ?

(lecture #2)(lecture #2)

How Can I Know If I am How Can I Know If I am ReallyReally Saved—2? Saved—2?How Can I Know If I am How Can I Know If I am ReallyReally Saved—2? Saved—2?

Can the question be answered with certainty?

The first epistle of John says:“by this we know that we know Him…” (2:3)“We know we have passed from death to

life…” (3:14)“By this we know we abide in Him…” (4:13)“that you may know that you have eternal

life… (5:13)

Can the question be answered with certainty?

The first epistle of John says:“by this we know that we know Him…” (2:3)“We know we have passed from death to

life…” (3:14)“By this we know we abide in Him…” (4:13)“that you may know that you have eternal

life… (5:13)

John’s epistle provides four “tests” A. What we believe and confess about

Christ and ourselvesB. If we possess the Holy SpiritC. If we love one anotherD. If we obey His commandments

John’s epistle provides four “tests” A. What we believe and confess about

Christ and ourselvesB. If we possess the Holy SpiritC. If we love one anotherD. If we obey His commandments

A. What we believe and confess about Christ and ourselves…

1. That we have sinned

1. That we have sinned “If we say that we have no sin, we

deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” (1:7-9)

1. That we have sinned “But if we walk in the light as He is in

the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin…If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1:7, 9)

1. That we have sinned “He who covers his sins will not

prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)

1. That we have sinned “Confess your trespasses to one

another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.”

(James 5:16)

1. That we have sinned “Confess your trespasses to one

another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.”

(James 5:16)

Is it necessary to understand “the atonement” in order to be forgiven?

“…if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” (2:1-2)

“…In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (4:10)

“[Jesus] whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith…” (Romans 3:25)

“Propitiation” (in Rom.3:25) is the Greek hilasterion.

It is used in the Old Testament, and in Hebrews 9:5, as the term for “the mercy seat” in the tabernacle.

In secular Greek, it meant that which appeases (as in an offering) an angry god.

It is used in the Old Testament, and in Hebrews 9:5, as the term for “the mercy seat” in the tabernacle.

In secular Greek, it meant that which appeases (as in an offering) an angry god.

“Propitiation” (in 1 John 2 & 4) is the Greek hilasmos.

This word refers to a means by which sin is covered or remitted.

“Propitiation” (in 1 John 2 & 4) is the Greek hilasmos.

This word refers to a means by which sin is covered or remitted.

C.S. Lewis wrote:

“Now before I became a Christian I was under the impression that the first thing Christians had to believe was one particular theory as to what the point of this dying was. According to that theory God wanted to punish men for having deserted and joined the Great Rebel, but Christ volunteered to be punished instead, and so God let us off…

C.S. Lewis wrote:

“Now before I became a Christian I was under the impression that the first thing Christians had to believe was one particular theory as to what the point of this dying was. According to that theory God wanted to punish men for having deserted and joined the Great Rebel, but Christ volunteered to be punished instead, and so God let us off…

“Now I admit that even this theory does not seem to me quite so immoral and so silly as it used to; but that is not the point I want to make. What I came to see later on was that neither this theory nor any other is Christianity. The central Christian belief is that Christ’s death has somehow put us right with God and given us a fresh start. Theories as to how it did this are another matter. A good many different theories have been held as to how it works; what all Christians are agreed on is that it does work…

“I will tell you what I think it is like. All sensible people know that if you are tired and hungry a meal will do you good. But the modern theory of nourishment—all about the vitamins and proteins—is a different thing. People ate their dinners and felt better long before the theory of vitamins was ever heard of: and if the theory of vitamins is some day abandoned they will go on eating their dinners just the same. Theories about Christ’s death are not Christianity: they are explanations about how it works. Christians would not all agree as to how important those theories are.” (Mere Christianity, “The Perfect Penitent”)

1. That we have sinned2. That Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah”)

“Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.” (1 John 2:22)

“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God” (1 John 5:1)

“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:36)

“…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

(Romans 10:9)

“…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

(Romans 10:9)

1. That we have sinned2. That Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah”)3. That Jesus is the Son of God

“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God…” (1 John 4:15)

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16)

1. That we have sinned2. That Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah”)3. That Jesus is the Son of God4.That Jesus came in the flesh

“By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist…” (1 John 4:3-4)

“For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

(2 John 7)

“For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

(2 John 7)

B. If we possess the Holy Spirit

“And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” (1 John 3:24)

“By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.”

(1 John 4:13)

“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God…”

(Romans 8:15-16)

Our convictions (our beliefs and confession) about Christ and about ourselves arises from the witness of the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

“And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.” (1 John 5:6)

"But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” (John 15:26)

“And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” (John 16:8)

“He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself…” (1 John 5:10)

The possession of the Holy Spirit gives discernment concerning false teaching, and tutors the believer into greater knowledge of the truth…

“But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” (1 John 2:27)

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (John 14:26)

“when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own [authority], but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”

(John 16:13)

“when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own [authority], but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”

(John 16:13)

“You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” (Matt.10:18-20)

Possession of the Holy Spirit means that we have direct contact with God and Jesus, and no longer must depend on external testimony or proofs (though such may be abundant).

“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you…” (Rom.8:9-10)

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans;

I will come to you.” (John 14:16-18)

“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” (John 14:21-23)

A. What we believe and confess about Christ and ourselves…B. If we possess the Holy Spirit

“So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His own word. Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” (John 4:40-42)

"Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

(John 4:42)

“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.” (1 John 4:14)

(John 4:42)

“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.” (1 John 4:14)

He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?”

Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”

(Matthew 16:15-17)

H o w C a n I K n o w I f I a m R e a l l y S a v e d ? (lecture #2)

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