Basic Truths: Assurance of Salvation - Why People Have Doubts #5

- we're studying basic Bible truths and our first lessons

have dealt with the subject of assurance of salvation

- we've said that:

1) God wants you to be saved:

II Peter 3:9 - God is "...longsuffering toward us, not

willing that any should perish, but all should come

to repentance."

2) God wants you to know for sure that you're saved:

I John 5:13 - "These things have I written unto you..."

- we've been talking about having assurance in three

different ways:

- INPUT? (historically, theologically, experientially)

- so far, we've looked at 2 1/2 tests -

- walks in the light - chap 1

- guards the commands - chap. 2:3-5

- love the brothers more - 2:6-11

- today we're going to try to "pick up the pace" and finish

our study on assurance of salvation

- we're looking at the second half of Roman III

III. He Loves The Brothers More and the World Less

B. His relationship to the world

- read 2:15-17

- let's talk quickly about what world we're talking

about

1. What "world?"

3 uses of word "world" in the Bible

1) universe - cosmos - earth - God made the world

2) world of people - God so loved the world

3) world "system" - philosophies - way

unbelievers think about and view this world,

life, etc.

- INPUT - which word is John speaking about in these

verses?

2. believer doesn't "love" it

- INPUT - based on our discussion of the word

"love", what is John talking about here?

- sacrificing for - giving self for

- some folks say they're Christians, yet they

are entirely emersed in the world

- they love the world

- they sacrifice for the world

- that's where their affection is

- their loyalty, attention, etc.

- this doesn't necessarily mean that the person has

absolutely no interest in God, church, etc.

- an interesting "baby-boomer spin-off" to this problem

is those who want just enough church to make them feel

good (and less guilty) but not enough to change their

life

- some folks like the warmth of the body,

fellowship,

- church to them is something to do before they

have Sunday brunch!

- but when it comes to what they love

- when it comes to what they're living for

- when it comes to what they focus on and sacrifice for

- its the world

- remember what Jesus said - no man can serve two masters

- "No man can serve two masters - for either he will

hate the one and love the other or else he will

hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot

serve God and money." (Matt. 6:24)

- remember - loving the world isn't just a financial

issue - it's a matter of loving the world's

philosophies-the world's way of looking at things

- Falwell/Swaggert illus.

- Input - the passage gives two reasons why the believer

doesn't love it: (?)

a. because He knows it's not of the Father

- a person who's saved can look at the world

and say - "thats not of God"

- that kind of lust - it's not of God

- that kind of pride - its not of God

b. it's passing away

- illus - John McFalls

- INPUT - what questions do we need to ask after studying

this "test"?

IV. He Doesn't "Fall" For Unacceptable Substitutes For Love

- read 3:11-17

- INPUT - what from these verses tells us that this is a

"test" of a believer? (cf. vs. 19)

A. What are they?

1. Murder

2. hate

3. Indifference

- many folks know murder is wrong, and know hate is

wrong--but haven't gotten over indifference

- indifference says - I see the need, but I'm not

willing to sacrifice to meet it

- some folks use indifference as a way to control

or hurt others

- cf. husband/wife relationships

- I appreciate the way our church has sought not to

be indifferent to other pastors and churches that

need help

- cf. Marc Graham letter

B. Our Model of Love

- read 4:9-10

- tie in goal-put/off-put on

- Question here?

V. Lives In Light of the Lord's return

- read 2:28-3:3

- Input - what phrase from these verses tell us we're

talking about a test of salvation?

(cf. vs. 3)

A. He won't be ashamed at Christ's coming

- what are some characteristics of a person who lives

in this way?

- (humanist manifesto)

- Shepherds - "More, so much more..."

B. He purifies himself

- INPUT - why? (so he's best prepared to serve)

VI. He Tests The Spirits

- read 4:1-3

- John's talking here about having discernment when it

comes to matters of life and doctrine

- refer back to Falwell illus

- illus - NANC - flack about naming names

- needs to be a balance

- not - always (and only) "what's wrong with this,

etc."

- not - ignore what's wrong - never mention

publically

- middle - biblical discernment