Morning Message Text: 1 John 5: 1-6
Faith in the Incarnate Son of God
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.
2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.
3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,
4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
Morning Message:
Today’s topic is a question that every believer tends to ask himself from time to time. How can I be sure that I am saved? The very fact that you are raising that question in your mind and heart should give you hope. This thought can mean one of two things. First, it can mean that you have not yet made a commitment to Jesus and God is pursuing your soul. If God is pursuing you this means that he knows that you will eventually come to faith.
The second possibility is that you have come to faith in Jesus, but you have backslidden. Once again, God is trying to get your attention. As believers, our thoughts are not entirely our own. We should pursue the questions that God puts on our hearts. Contrary to what some in the church teach and believe, God has only one truth for every situation in life. God doesn’t dwell in the gray areas; He dwells in the black and white, the right and wrong. Sometimes we find ourselves in the in- between places of life in our attempts to appease people. Inclusiveness should never violate the tenants of our faith or compromise God’s word.
I would like to lay out for you today five tests that can help you find and renew your commitment to Jesus. You might be wondering how five simple tests can accomplish that. If you take them seriously, they will bring your heart and soul to a place of conviction. Conviction is an uncomfortable feeling, but it is so necessary if we want to draw closer to God. No one likes to feel convicted because that means we have done something wrong. But, you can’t right what is wrong in your life until you face it.
1. Faith Test. What do we believe? Is our doctrine in line with the word of God?
This one seems simple, but believe me, it is not. There is only one way to be saved: Through confessing Jesus as your Lord and Savior. If you haven’t done that, nothing else that you do matters. If you have already come to Jesus, it is important for you to live according to the truth; the truth according to God’s word. Easy, right? No, because we complicate it. Not just us as individuals, but more-so the church, over all drifts from the truth and creates a doctrine of inclusion. (For those of you at home look up the definition of two-spirit people). You see in the bible there is only two spirits: the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Some denominations, including our own, feel it necessary to be inclusive of such things.
2. Life test. How do we live? Do we keep God’s commandments?
Verses two and three of our text say this. “This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.” Remember last week I made it clear that you are not saved by the commandments, but that they are like God’s finger pointing you in the right direction. I am not going to read them to you, but you should read them on a regular basis. You should memorize them. God told the children of Israel to write them on everything so as to never forget them. You are thinking to yourself, I don’t need to read them; I don’t do any of those things. Read them. Pray about them. You will be shocked at your guilt and maybe feel the conviction of God. Remember, conviction is good. Keeping God’s commandments should not feel like a burden or a struggle. If it does, then you need to make some corrections in your life.
3. Love Test. Do we love our brothers and sisters?
Don’t just pass over this one. Remember this is a test. Give this some serious thought. Are you holding onto anger against someone? Everyone who walks this earth is your brother or sister. What are the two greatest commandments? Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. Examine your thoughts and your emotions and be honest about your feelings towards others.
4. Growth Test. Are we overcoming more and more as we walk with the Lord?
I preach this one to you all of the time. I know that you must grow weary of me telling you the importance of growth in your Christian lives. If you are saved there must be fruit. That doesn’t mean that you must be out there preaching and winning souls for Jesus. Fruit can be many things, and it manifests itself in spiritual growth. You must mature in your faith. At what rate that growth takes place can vary, but it must take place. If you have been traveling around that spiritual mountain for years and ending up in the same place then something is wrong.
5. Sin Test. Do we avoid sin, or do we continue sinning and consider it acceptable?
As human beings living in a sinful broken world, we are bound to fall prey to temptation and sin. “If you say you have no sin you are a liar, and the truth is not in you.” Sin is a fact of life, but do you avoid it when you can? And here is the greater problem. As Christians, those who have the Holy Spirit of God within us, continuing in sin and making it acceptable is a sin against God and a sin against humanity. When we do that, we make sin acceptable to everyone who witnesses our actions. Friends, this goes back to where I started. When we see sin being accepted in our midst as God’s people, we have to speak out against it because to remain silent is to accept it.
How can I be sure? You can be sure if you really want to. The question is: Do you really want to? The test is not hard to administer to yourself. Notice I didn’t say that it would not be hard to take. You might discover that it is very difficult to discover the truth. But remember, “The truth will set you free” and the truth is the only thing that matters.
In Christ’s Love and Peace,
Pastor Bob
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