Book of 1 John - Ch. 3, Vs. 14-23 (12/12/1999)

Assurance of Salvation Through the Symptoms of New Life

Evening we are in 1st John chapter 3 and verse 14 and oh you're right we need to take a youth offering. Do we have our plates brother. Jesse would you and Jonathan look you're tearing your head down. I thought it was Jason for a minute.

Jason's slimming up and you're filling out. Would you two young men come and help us with this offering for our youth department. Let's start with 1st John chapter 3 and verse 14 where we left off last time.

So follow along with me. I'm going to read a little bit of this passage. We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

Who so hateth his brother is a murderer and you know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

But who so hath this world good and sees his brother have need and shut at his bowels of compassion from him. How do I love the love of God in him. My little children let us not love in word neither in tongue but in deed and in truth.

And hereby we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things that entire passage from verse 14 through verse 20.

I would like to call this message this afternoon symptoms of salvation. And it's kind of appropriate because I have the sniffles today. I think maybe I have a cold and you'd probably tend to believe me if I told you that wouldn't you.

Why would you believe me. Because I sound different and probably look a little bit stopped up and tired wore out need the nap this afternoon. And now other than that I have some cold symptoms too. And so people tell us they're saved all the time.

Don't they. Oh yes I'm a Christian. I go to church down here at so-and-so. Oh yes I'm a Christian. My grandfather was a preacher. I like that one. And people all around us here in the Bible Belt every single one of them are Christians they say.

And so we have some symptoms in the Bible that God has given us that are true of a person who really is a Christian. And it's important to always look at these and it's good to examine ourselves against these.

I've often felt that the book of first John was a great book for a new Christian to read or anyone who's questioning their salvation. Because when they get through with first John they'll know they'll know whether they're saved or not if they.

And I can't imagine somebody that saved not knowing. But that's my experience. So I don't know that that holds true for everyone. But I I think that it would have to. I mean how could you how could you possibly be an open sepulcher like we talked about in Sunday school walking around and then all of a and not know the difference.

So however there are some verses that indicate that there can be people. I mean we should never judge by our own experience. I don't think that. I mean that's dangerous. What do you think about the verse where Paul said no you not that your body is the temple of living God.

Now why do you ask the question. Apparently they didn't know yet. So we do we do know that feelings are not involved. So I guess there could be some people that are not sure. But I tell you what. If they read this book they would come away knowing one way or the other.

Now let's just take a look at just a few of the verses. And I may steal a couple of your verses brother Otis from next time. Because I want to look at a couple of symptoms of salvation. First of all in verse 14 this is so beautifully.

This is just beautiful language. We know that we've passed from death and the life. How could there be a better beginning for a verse that's going to show you how to know if you're saved or not. We know that we've passed from a dead person to a living person.

Because we love the breath we love the brethren. Have you ever had a time in your life when you did not like going to church. You did not. I mean you would not. Nobody could drag you there. And if they did you hated every moment of it.

And we're just waiting till you go home. And then you got saved. And all of a sudden you you want to be with God's people. That was one of the most remarkable changes in my life. Because I truly used to hate church.

I just truly did. I did not like one thing about it. My sweet little grandmother would take me and drag me to church and try that she invited me every week of my life if I remember properly and got me there a few times.

And I would always try to sneak away somehow. But then something changed when I got saved. So we know we've passed from death into life number one because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother still dwells in death.

He's not a saved person. And it doesn't stop. Well we say that the first symptom of salvation is then is this this unusual love for the brethren that you didn't used to have a person who is not like that the Bible says is a murderer.

And God says you it's just logic that you know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. No one who is a person who has a nature that is a killer or murderer. He's not. He doesn't have eternal life.

And so why is it that we think that people who don't have love for the brethren why do we think they're say Jesus says if you've hated them in your heart you've murdered him. And God's just using that logic on us.

So this first point then is that we there's a an agape love that God places in the heart of a believer that he could not have naturally. And therefore it proves that he's saved. Look at chapter 4 in verse 8 there's another verse that deals with this.

He that loveth not knoweth not. God puts it in the negative. They couldn't be plainer. He that does not have agape love does not know God. And it says for God is love. And all of the passage over here where we started out starting with verse 14 as you read down through 15 and on towards number number 20 it just it just emphasizes verse 14.

Verse 16 hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us. We ought to lay down our lives for our brethren. He's just defining love. Now what is agape love for one another. Well to be willing to die for each other.

So that certainly means we ought to be able to live for each other. And who so hath this world's good. And he sees a brother that has need. And you just say well God bless you. And you don't try to help the person.

That's a bad symptom. That's a that would be a real bad symptom. I mean a person may be saying oh I'm a Christian I've been baptized. I prayed my little prayer dear Jesus come my heart and save me. Amen.

So I'm all fixed up. I'm on my way. Peace be happy. I see you have a need over there. And you don't have a yearning or an urge or something inside of you to hurt to help to hurt to help the person. Then you need to examine your salvation at that point.

And then verse 18 my little children let us not love in word neither in tongue but indeed and in truth. So agape love will work itself out into action just like faith does because it's almost the same thing.

And hereby we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before him. How do we know we're of the truth. How do we know we're saved. How can we have assurance of our salvation by everything we just read from verse 14 do I have a real genuine love in my heart for other Christian brothers and sisters to the point where it works itself out into deeds.

And and so forth. Okay now let's go to another one. Let's look at chapter 3 in verse 24. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him and he in him. And hereby we know as you see we have the word no again so we're talking about how do we know that we're saved.

So what are some of the symptoms of salvation. Hereby we know that he abideth in us by the spirit which he has given us. So he has given us the Holy Spirit. And it ties in with a lot of other verses in this book.

Look at chapter 4 verse 13. Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us his spirit. And look at chapter 5 verses 2 3. By this we know that we love the children of God when we love God keep his commandments.

Have you ever had a person claim. Oh I just love people. I just love God's children. But they're not obeying the Lord. Maybe they don't come to church ever. You know and you see areas in their life where they're not obeying the Lord.

Then by definition they do not love these other people. Because the Bible says that we know we love God's children. If we're obeying God in that a strange verse why would it say that. Because you cannot agape someone unless you're saved.

And it's going to go on here in the logical procession of thought and it's going to tell us well if you're not obeying his commandments you don't have his love. Well listen if you don't have agape in you you're not saved.

And it goes on and it says by this we know that we love the children of God when we love God and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not grievous.

And look at chapter 2 verses 3 through 5. And hereby we do know that we know him if we keep his commandments. And look at this one he that saith I know him and keepeth not his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him.

So their life is being lived for the devil. And they never go to church. They never read their Bible. They don't care about the Bible. They don't like the Bible. They don't like God's people don't want to be around them.

But I'm a Christian Bible calls him a liar. He that saith I know him and keepeth not his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him. The Bible says so I believe the number. The main point number two then is the second symptom of salvation is he has given us the Holy Spirit along with the fruits of the Spirit which would be fruits of well one aspect of it would be obedience.

There is no way we can obey in the flesh. Would you agree with that. We cannot obey the law. Otherwise the law would save us. And so only by the Holy Spirit can we see any obedience. And obedience to us is faith.

Showing it's love. Showing it's remember what James said that the obedience are the works which would be coming from true obedience. Those works are the life of the faith which seems backwards to me. That's what God said.

So it's the works that makes faith. It animates the faith it makes it a living faith. So there's another symptom then of salvation is that he's given us the Spirit the Holy Spirit which moves us to bear fruits of the Spirit which appear to be obedience.

And so and it is obedience. It's our it's the new man obeying the Lord. And let's go to the third one now 1st John chapter 4 verse 17. Herein is our love made perfect that we may have boldness in the day of judgment because as he is so are we in the world.

So the third point or third symptom of salvation is we are like him with respect to the world. However he is whatever his relationship is to this world a saved persons will be the same. You following what I'm saying as he is we're like that in this world.

That's pretty frightening when we look at modern theology modern Christianity isn't it. Because what we really see today in modern Christianity is as he is. We are more like the world. We're not like him.

We don't want to be like him because we want to identify with the world because that way we can go and talk them in to pray in this prayer and join in this church if I'm more like him. And they pervert what Paul said when he said I'll be like all men.

They pervert that to mean I'll be a drunk so I can win drunkards. And the Bible never teaches that. What it does teach is that if we are saved we are like Jesus is with respect to this world. Turn with me to John chapter 17.

Big John not first John but regular John chapter 17 and verse 9 in this passage there are several things that fit under this category of the fact that if we are saved we will be like Jesus is to this world.

Four things as a matter of fact. The first one is will be sanctified like he was. Second one is we will be sent we have the same mission. Third one is we will be single-minded we'll have unity with our brothers and sisters.

And the fourth one is will be salt and light like he is. And you see these in this passage. John chapter 17 starting with verse 9 I pray for them. I pray not for the world but for them which thou has given me for they are thine.

You notice how he contrasts his people from the rest of the world. They're not the same. It's not the same group in Jesus I and in his mind he just sees his people and the rest of them are the world. And he says they're not the same group.

They're not. They're not the same. They don't think the same. They're not the same at all on the inside or on the outside. There's no way in the world. They're the same. All mine are thine and thine are mine and I am glorified in them and I and now I am no more in the world.

But these are in the world and I came to thee Holy Father keep through that own name those whom thou has given me that they may be one as we are. And then look at verse 14 I have given them thy word and the world hath hated them because they are not of the world even as I am NOT of the world.

In verse 16 they are not of the world even as I am NOT of the world. In verse 17 sanctify them through that truth. Thy word is truth. So what we see is if you look at verse 17 his people are like he is with respect to the world in the sense that they are sanctified.

Jesus was different. He was he was set apart. The world knew it. Even the religious world knew it. Everybody knew it. Everyone that saw him everyone that was around it knew that he was separated unto God and his children will be the same way.

In verse 18 it says as thou has sent me into the world even so have I also sent them into the world. So if you're born again one of the things it's a symptom of that is you've been sent. You have a sense of mission about you.

You you know that God has given you life and placed you in this world for his own purposes. And you have a sense of mission just like Jesus. And Jesus says just like I was sent so send out you into the world.

And then we see in verses 21 and 22 that we're supposed to be single-minded that they all may be one as thou father art in me and I envy that they also may be one in us. That the world may believe that thou has sent them.

That's the greatest witnessing you can do is to love the brethren and be in unity right here at church. And if you do that then the world can believe that the father sent the son into the world. So single-mindedness is another symptom of salvation.

If you have people that are always trying to cause dissension in the church and just always want to create trouble and no matter which way the church direction is and that's wrong. It's got to go this other way.

That person's not giving the right symptoms. He's not giving forth symptoms of salvation. He's acting awfully much like he's part of the world rather than being separated from it. And then the fourth thing is salt and light.

So let's turn back to first John chapter 1 verse 5. This then is the message which we have heard of him and declare unto you that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lie and do not the truth.

But if we walk in the light as he is in the light and have fellowship one with another. So what is fellowship. Walking in the light together. Who's the light Jesus Christ. So walking and in Christ and talking about him together is what true fellowship is.

And the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin. So we're supposed to be light and salt to the world just like he is like salt to the world in chapter 2 of 1st John. And verse 29 adds one more concept here to this idea of being like he is to the world.

Chapter 2 verse 29 says. If you know that he is righteous you know that everyone that do with righteousness is born of him. And now so we see. Then one symptom of salvation is love for the brethren agape love.

A second symptom is the indwelling Holy Spirit who creates fruit that just hangs off of us. And people can see that fruit. And then the third symptom is that however you look at his life and see how he was with respect to the world.

That's the ways people are. And then the fourth thing is look at John chapter 8 verse 31. The more you read through these the more you seem to narrow down the group of people in the world that you can fellowship with.

Let me just put it that way. John chapter 8 verse 31. And then said Jesus to those Jews which believe on him. If you continue in my word then are you my disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth. And the truth shall set you free.

Now look at verse 47. He that is of God. Now we're looking for a symptom of someone who's of God. And the Bible gives us one right here. He that is of God heareth God's words. Ye therefore hear them not because you are not of God.

And so a person who is truly saved one of the symptoms is he loves the Word of God. He has ears that hear it. He can learn truths as the Holy Spirit teaches him. And that's a great symptom. And I love the way brother Otis put it.

I've never heard it. Put this way he says if you've learned one single spiritual truth in your life you're proven you're saved. You're a saved person because the world cannot discern spiritual things.

It's impossible. So that's a wonderful thought. A great symptom of salvation is what do you do with the Word of God. Ask yourselves that question everybody in the room you know there can be people who thought they were saved for long periods of time.

And then they end up and they're saved. And they look back and say that you know I I realized I was never really saved. Well if you're in the room and you examine yourself and you ask the question what do I do with the Bible every day.

That's a great thing to examine. Do I love it. Does it speak to my heart. I don't understand everything I read in it. But does God give me something when I study it. A great symptom of salvation. And then another one in 1st John 5 1.

1st John 5 1 whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. Do you believe that he's the Christ. Do you remember there was a time when Jesus looked at the religious leaders of his day and he said you shall die in your sins.

For if you believe not that I am you shall die in your sins. One of my favorite verses you shall die in your sins for you. If you believe not that I am he you shall die in your sins. And the word he was added in English it really says if you believe not that I am.

Well they knew exactly what that meant. The Jewish mind you. That's why they picked up those stones and and tried to kill him. Because they knew he was claiming to be not only the Messiah but God. And so do you believe that he is the Christ.

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. Everyone that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten in that beautiful. These Pharisees and Jews were saying well we love God but we hate Jesus.

That's impossible. How can you love the father and hate his son. It's impossible. Okay so the fifth point is we believe he is Christ. Sixth one is that you have life. Look at first John 512. He that hath the son am I saved.

Do I have the son. Well it says he that has the son has life. Now most people that use that verse would use it the other way around and say that if you have the son you have life. But you can think of it this way.

If you have life you have to have the son. Because you wouldn't have life without him. He's the one who brought abundant life. So I would just say this a great symptom of salvation is you're alive. And you know it.

Can you look back at pictures of yourself before you got saved and see the death in your eyes. I can I can look at my wedding pictures and scares me to death to look at my eyes in those pictures as I was a lost man and but I'm alive now.

Hallelujah. And so there's another great symptom. And the last one is this. And you find it in first John 5 and verse 4. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. And this is the victory that overcometh the world.

Even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world. But he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God. Now look at chapter 2 verse 24. Let that therefore abide in you which you have heard from the beginning.

If that which you have heard from the beginning shall remain in you ye also shall continue in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he has promised us even eternal life. Let that which you have remain in you overcome.

You'll be an overcomer if you're saved. It's one of the greatest traits that the Father is working into our lives in this boot camp that he has us in down here is we're learning to be overcomers. We have battle after battle.

We have temptation after temptation skirmish after skirmish. And we're tempted every time as Job is to curse God and die sometimes. And they're all battles and God takes us through those battles. And as we do each time we come more we become more and more of an overcomer.

So a true born-again person overcomes all the way to the end. And I know there's some heresy that's taught the Methodist circles and other circles that say you know you you can lose your salvation. Unless you overcome and remain to the end you're not saved.

There's a seed of truth in what they're saying. Of course because it is a fact that a born-again child of God will overcome and remain all the way to the end and only the world. The worldly person that we talked about Sunday school this morning that that apostate fallen profane and I'm gonna keep naming them till I come up with actual word we were using depraved person can still put on religious garb.

But you know what he he he is going to not overcome all the way through life. Because when the Sun comes up and it scorches that little plant that has no root what does it do withers up and goes away.

But the one who has the root hallelujah that Sun can keep right on burning. And it's never a dry and thirsty land because we have water amen hallelujah. Let's stop on that one. Let's pray together father we thank you for you.