The Basics are Basic #2
ASSURANCE OF SALVATION
Memory verse:
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
1 John 5:11-12
What is the Meaning of Eternal Life?
John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Eternal life is a personal relationship with God which lasts eternally and begins the moment we put our trust in Jesus as our Savior.
How Do We Obtain Eternal Life?
John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God–
John 5:24 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
John 20:31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Acts 16:31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household.”
Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–
1 John 5:11-12 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Eternal life begins the moment we put our trust in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. At that moment we become a child of God, a member of God’s eternal family (Romans 8:15-16).
Can Eternal Life Be Lost?
John 10:27-30 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
John 14:16-17 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever– the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 1:13-14 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 10:12-14 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
1 Peter 1:5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
2 John 1:2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:
Eternal life cannot be lost. God’s Holy Spirit, who lives within all true believers, is our seal and guarantee of eternal life. If we seek to live a life of obedience to Christ and His Word we will grow in our relationship with God.
What Happens When Believers Sin?
1. When God’s children (believers) sin, communication with their Heavenly Father is hindered, but they remain God’s children. We are not removed from God’s family.
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
2. Believers who fall into sin must confess their sins to God in prayer so that their communication with their Heavenly Father can be restored again.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
3. If a “Christian” falls into sin and then begins to mock Christ, it is obvious that they never truly believed.
1 John 2:18-19 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.
Developing Kingdom Leaders - Tom Yeakley 