WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.860 a drugstore, go in Walmart, any kind of pharmacy, and buy an over-the-counter drug like Aleve. 00:00:08.919 --> 00:00:15.300 It takes a lot to get into it. They're packaged securely today. You know, this box, you got 00:00:15.300 --> 00:00:23.900 to break it open. You got to get the little box out or the little bottle out. You think 00:00:23.899 --> 00:00:31.659 you're going to just open it? I can't even open this. It's got another seal here. Everything 00:00:31.659 --> 00:00:37.679 today, every kind of medication that you can just walk in and buy over-the-counter, some 00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:46.099 bodies, every company basically has gone to great lengths to make it secure. How many 00:00:46.099 --> 00:00:53.200 of you know why it's like that today? Raise your hand. Only old people raised their hands. 00:00:53.200 --> 00:01:04.379 Did you notice that? No, not really. Not really. Back in 1982, some crazy psycho in Chicago 00:01:04.379 --> 00:01:22.439 put cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules in some bottles in a drugstore. One lady took one of those cyanide-laced 00:01:22.439 --> 00:01:31.179 pills, thinking it was Tylenol, and it killed her. Before the whole thing was over, seven people, 00:01:32.019 --> 00:01:43.659 seven people lost their lives, thinking that they were taking Tylenol, a pain reducer, fever reducer. 00:01:43.659 --> 00:02:02.159 But it was laced with a poison that killed them. You know, there is an important lesson about faith in that tragic story. 00:02:03.159 --> 00:02:07.799 And that is, it's not enough to just sincerely believe something. 00:02:07.799 --> 00:02:15.539 Those people were as sincere as they could be in going in there and thinking that that bottle labeled Tylenol, 00:02:16.539 --> 00:02:17.719 that it would help them. 00:02:19.460 --> 00:02:22.479 But as it turned out, they were sincerely wrong. 00:02:24.060 --> 00:02:27.539 Because what was in it killed them. 00:02:27.539 --> 00:02:34.799 Faith is only as good as its object. 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:40.739 Faith in faith is meaningless. 00:02:42.500 --> 00:02:49.959 Just being sincere about believing something, that can even be fatal. 00:02:49.960 --> 00:02:57.920 Faith is only as good as the object it's placed in. 00:02:59.260 --> 00:03:05.620 That Tylenol tragedy helps us to understand it's important to know what you believe in. 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:08.360 Who you believe in. 00:03:09.300 --> 00:03:13.400 It's important for every one of us from time to time to just examine, 00:03:14.500 --> 00:03:17.400 investigate what it is that we believe. 00:03:17.400 --> 00:03:21.740 You know, the Bible actually commands us to do that. 00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:32.219 The Christian faith is probably the only faith known to humanity. 00:03:32.860 --> 00:03:37.120 It teaches us, don't believe blindly. 00:03:38.280 --> 00:03:40.520 Don't not think. 00:03:40.520 --> 00:03:49.000 The Christian faith says, look carefully at who you believe in, what you believe. 00:03:49.820 --> 00:03:50.719 Test it. 00:03:50.939 --> 00:03:51.800 I'll give you an example. 00:03:52.200 --> 00:03:55.620 The Apostle Paul, in his letter to Christians now, 00:03:56.800 --> 00:04:01.140 Paul's letter to the Corinthian church, second letter. 00:04:02.040 --> 00:04:06.820 In chapter 13, verse 5, he's coming to the end and he tells them, 00:04:06.819 --> 00:04:11.819 examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. 00:04:12.819 --> 00:04:14.719 Test yourselves. 00:04:15.620 --> 00:04:21.719 Or do you not realize that this about yourselves, that Christ Jesus is in you? 00:04:22.699 --> 00:04:26.759 Unless indeed you fail to meet the test. 00:04:27.480 --> 00:04:28.659 Now think about what he's saying here. 00:04:28.660 --> 00:04:32.760 Paul is writing to church members like us. 00:04:33.720 --> 00:04:36.000 Not writing to people out on the street, 00:04:36.140 --> 00:04:41.200 people who wouldn't even profess faith or might have some casual faith. 00:04:42.200 --> 00:04:45.960 Paul is writing to people who profess faith. 00:04:46.200 --> 00:04:50.440 They're meeting as a church in the city of Corinth. 00:04:51.360 --> 00:04:55.379 He says, examine yourselves to see whether you are truly in the faith. 00:04:55.379 --> 00:04:58.260 Test yourselves. 00:04:58.660 --> 00:05:04.360 Well, Jesus makes an even more startling, 00:05:05.060 --> 00:05:11.560 take you back kind of statement about genuine faith in Matthew chapter 7, 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:12.620 beginning in verse 21. 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:14.420 I want you to turn there with me. 00:05:14.960 --> 00:05:17.600 That's where we're going to spend most of our time this morning. 00:05:18.020 --> 00:05:21.600 Matthew chapter 7, beginning in verse 21. 00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:24.960 Last week we had John Blanchard here. 00:05:26.879 --> 00:05:28.680 And you probably were not aware of this, 00:05:28.740 --> 00:05:30.280 but he actually preached two different messages. 00:05:30.980 --> 00:05:34.960 He preached one in the first service from the book of Philemon. 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:39.620 And he did a topical message and basically walked through several passages 00:05:39.620 --> 00:05:42.700 in this, the second service. 00:05:42.699 --> 00:05:48.399 But they were both basically the same, 00:05:48.459 --> 00:05:51.539 or rather they had the same theme, made the same point. 00:05:52.439 --> 00:05:57.519 We need to make sure that we understand what it means to be a true Christian. 00:05:58.219 --> 00:06:00.719 In both messages, he gave a description 00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:04.660 about what Christians believe and how Christians behave. 00:06:06.420 --> 00:06:08.720 Well, I want to take what he said last week, 00:06:09.460 --> 00:06:10.540 that thought. 00:06:12.420 --> 00:06:13.820 Know what you believe. 00:06:14.760 --> 00:06:15.720 Examine yourself. 00:06:15.720 --> 00:06:21.060 I want to turn that into a short series of studies 00:06:21.060 --> 00:06:23.600 on the subject assurance of salvation. 00:06:24.860 --> 00:06:28.240 What I'd like for us to do is look at several passages of Scripture 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:29.640 over the next few weeks, 00:06:30.300 --> 00:06:33.720 and they'll most all come from the book of 1 John. 00:06:34.020 --> 00:06:36.780 A little book toward the end of your New Testament. 00:06:37.260 --> 00:06:38.120 1 John. 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:41.940 And as we do this, I want us to answer the question, 00:06:42.420 --> 00:06:44.640 how can I be sure that I am a Christian? 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:47.599 I want to begin, though, not with 1 John, 00:06:47.860 --> 00:06:50.599 but with what Jesus says in Matthew chapter 7, 00:06:52.599 --> 00:06:58.079 one of the most sobering and disturbing passages 00:06:58.079 --> 00:07:00.419 in the entire Bible. 00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:03.180 I want you to think, as we read this, 00:07:03.879 --> 00:07:09.399 Jesus is speaking to professing disciples. 00:07:11.219 --> 00:07:12.719 This is the Sermon on the Mount, 00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:16.120 where Jesus is seeking or is preaching to, 00:07:16.440 --> 00:07:18.660 teaching these who are following Him. 00:07:22.040 --> 00:07:24.480 And He makes it very clear in what we're going to read. 00:07:26.120 --> 00:07:28.440 There are some people who think they're right with God, 00:07:28.520 --> 00:07:29.400 but they are not. 00:07:30.680 --> 00:07:33.160 There are some people who think on Judgment Day, 00:07:33.400 --> 00:07:35.360 they're going to be welcomed into heaven, 00:07:35.600 --> 00:07:36.840 but they will not be. 00:07:36.839 --> 00:07:39.899 And that should get our attention. 00:07:40.899 --> 00:07:41.739 Let's read it. 00:07:41.919 --> 00:07:43.039 Matthew 7, verse 21. 00:07:43.560 --> 00:07:44.279 Jesus says, 00:07:44.739 --> 00:07:46.079 Not everyone who says to me, 00:07:46.279 --> 00:07:49.620 Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, 00:07:50.060 --> 00:07:52.959 but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 00:07:54.059 --> 00:07:54.919 Think about what He's saying. 00:07:55.479 --> 00:07:56.500 Not everyone who says to me, 00:07:56.559 --> 00:07:58.019 Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven. 00:07:58.939 --> 00:07:59.620 In other words, 00:07:59.779 --> 00:08:03.319 only those who do the will of my Father. 00:08:03.319 --> 00:08:05.199 Verse 22. 00:08:05.779 --> 00:08:06.579 On that day, 00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:07.579 this is Judgment Day, 00:08:08.579 --> 00:08:10.219 many will say to me, 00:08:11.099 --> 00:08:11.980 Lord, Lord, 00:08:12.300 --> 00:08:14.680 did we not prophesy in Your name 00:08:14.680 --> 00:08:17.740 and cast out demons in Your name 00:08:17.740 --> 00:08:20.819 and do many miraculous works in Your name? 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:22.240 Then I will declare to them, 00:08:23.300 --> 00:08:25.639 I never knew you. 00:08:26.420 --> 00:08:27.240 Depart from me, 00:08:27.319 --> 00:08:28.659 you workers of lawlessness, 00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:30.180 or you evildoers even. 00:08:30.180 --> 00:08:34.680 There is no greater need 00:08:34.680 --> 00:08:37.240 than that anyone has 00:08:37.240 --> 00:08:41.539 than to know that we have eternal life. 00:08:41.680 --> 00:08:42.740 There is no greater need 00:08:42.740 --> 00:08:43.700 that you or I, 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:44.940 anyone we know, 00:08:45.240 --> 00:08:45.899 there is no greater need 00:08:45.899 --> 00:08:46.799 that a person can have 00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:49.860 than to know for sure 00:08:49.860 --> 00:08:54.039 that they have eternal life. 00:08:54.039 --> 00:08:59.000 and to know as much as we can 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:01.379 that our family members 00:09:01.379 --> 00:09:04.459 are truly Christians 00:09:04.459 --> 00:09:06.319 and right with God. 00:09:06.980 --> 00:09:08.259 We want to know that 00:09:08.259 --> 00:09:09.219 if we're Christians 00:09:09.219 --> 00:09:11.219 because if they're not, 00:09:11.980 --> 00:09:14.299 we want to be able to pray for them, 00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:15.240 talk to them, 00:09:15.419 --> 00:09:16.240 encourage them, 00:09:16.319 --> 00:09:18.659 actually share the gospel with them. 00:09:18.659 --> 00:09:22.319 As we begin this study on assurance, 00:09:23.319 --> 00:09:24.019 I want us to start out 00:09:24.019 --> 00:09:26.620 by noticing three kinds of assurance 00:09:26.620 --> 00:09:28.079 found in the Bible. 00:09:28.980 --> 00:09:31.219 First, right here in Matthew chapter 7, 00:09:31.579 --> 00:09:33.600 there is undeserved assurance, 00:09:34.199 --> 00:09:35.299 or we can call it this, 00:09:35.379 --> 00:09:36.259 false assurance. 00:09:37.299 --> 00:09:38.759 Jesus is pointing out here, 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:42.659 some people have assurance, 00:09:43.379 --> 00:09:44.480 they call Him Lord, 00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:48.240 but they shouldn't have that assurance. 00:09:49.219 --> 00:09:51.279 They have false assurance, 00:09:51.659 --> 00:09:52.779 undeserved assurance. 00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:53.699 Now what kind of people 00:09:53.699 --> 00:09:56.620 are Jesus talking about here? 00:09:57.860 --> 00:09:59.759 People who profess faith in Christ, 00:10:00.620 --> 00:10:03.740 but their faith did not result in obedience. 00:10:04.019 --> 00:10:05.100 Look at verse 21 again. 00:10:05.539 --> 00:10:06.519 Not everyone who says to me, 00:10:06.579 --> 00:10:07.039 Lord, Lord, 00:10:07.159 --> 00:10:09.899 not everyone who proclaims, professes, 00:10:10.299 --> 00:10:12.620 I'm their Lord. 00:10:12.620 --> 00:10:14.379 Not everyone who says to me, 00:10:14.659 --> 00:10:15.459 Lord, Lord, 00:10:15.639 --> 00:10:17.439 will enter the kingdom of heaven. 00:10:18.659 --> 00:10:20.399 But the one who does the will of my Father 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:21.339 who is in heaven, 00:10:21.439 --> 00:10:22.699 that's the one who will. 00:10:25.399 --> 00:10:27.199 He's talking about a false, 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:29.319 or a faulty, 00:10:29.319 --> 00:10:31.659 profession of faith here. 00:10:33.740 --> 00:10:35.319 Here's what Jesus is wanting us to know. 00:10:36.199 --> 00:10:37.779 People who truly know Him, 00:10:38.339 --> 00:10:40.079 people who truly have a relationship with Him, 00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:43.520 people who really have true, 00:10:43.820 --> 00:10:44.900 saving faith, 00:10:45.080 --> 00:10:45.500 trust, 00:10:45.680 --> 00:10:46.740 confidence in Him, 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:52.420 will also desire to please Him 00:10:52.420 --> 00:10:55.080 and be like Him 00:10:55.080 --> 00:10:58.379 in that they want to know and do the will of God. 00:10:59.240 --> 00:11:01.840 See, that was Jesus' food. 00:11:02.040 --> 00:11:03.540 That's what fueled Him. 00:11:03.720 --> 00:11:05.540 That's what kept Him going in this world. 00:11:05.539 --> 00:11:07.539 He wanted to know the will of His Father. 00:11:07.699 --> 00:11:09.120 He wanted to do the will of His Father. 00:11:09.299 --> 00:11:11.839 He wanted to bring glory and honor to His Father 00:11:11.839 --> 00:11:13.679 and all that He did in this world. 00:11:14.019 --> 00:11:15.459 And if we are His followers, 00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:19.000 we'll want to know the same. 00:11:20.980 --> 00:11:23.259 You know, Jesus taught us to even pray that way. 00:11:25.219 --> 00:11:26.939 In Matthew chapter 6, 00:11:27.099 --> 00:11:28.299 in verse 10, 00:11:29.079 --> 00:11:31.699 we see that a part of the model prayer 00:11:31.700 --> 00:11:33.259 Jesus taught us, 00:11:33.300 --> 00:11:34.240 His people to pray, 00:11:34.540 --> 00:11:35.600 includes this statement. 00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:37.780 As we pray, we pray to God, 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:39.120 Your kingdom come. 00:11:39.580 --> 00:11:43.060 Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:11:44.700 --> 00:11:46.520 Jesus teaches us to pray that way 00:11:46.520 --> 00:11:47.780 because that's what we want. 00:11:47.900 --> 00:11:48.840 That's what we desire. 00:11:50.640 --> 00:11:51.560 As God's people, 00:11:51.680 --> 00:11:52.879 we want to please God. 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:54.320 We want His will to be done. 00:11:55.160 --> 00:11:55.480 In other words, 00:11:55.540 --> 00:11:56.460 Jesus is telling us here 00:11:56.460 --> 00:11:57.460 that real Christians 00:11:57.460 --> 00:11:59.980 don't just talk about what they believe. 00:11:59.980 --> 00:12:04.680 they live out their faith. 00:12:05.659 --> 00:12:07.120 And a part of living out their faith 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:09.840 is seeking to know and do God's will. 00:12:10.580 --> 00:12:11.779 Now let's be real clear about this. 00:12:11.820 --> 00:12:12.840 Some people may get the idea, 00:12:13.180 --> 00:12:14.379 well, Jesus is teaching about 00:12:14.379 --> 00:12:16.240 some kind of working your way to heaven 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:17.879 by doing God's will. 00:12:18.139 --> 00:12:19.659 Well, no, that's not what He's saying at all. 00:12:21.379 --> 00:12:23.200 Jesus in no way is 00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:26.440 de-emphasizing the fact 00:12:26.440 --> 00:12:29.560 that salvation is by the grace of God, 00:12:29.559 --> 00:12:31.239 it's unearned, it's undeserved, 00:12:31.819 --> 00:12:33.059 it's by the grace of God 00:12:33.059 --> 00:12:37.039 through faith in Jesus, 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:39.279 through faith in who He is 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:40.959 and what He's done for us. 00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:45.500 But what Jesus wants us to understand, 00:12:46.139 --> 00:12:48.419 what Paul emphasizes so much 00:12:48.419 --> 00:12:50.599 when he talks about faith, 00:12:51.299 --> 00:12:52.559 is that real faith, 00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:55.619 if we truly do trust in Jesus, 00:12:55.620 --> 00:12:58.919 His Spirit will come to live within us 00:12:58.919 --> 00:13:00.240 and make a difference in us, 00:13:00.299 --> 00:13:01.519 make a change in us, 00:13:01.919 --> 00:13:03.379 and the Spirit of God 00:13:03.379 --> 00:13:05.000 who lives in every Christian 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:07.600 will cause us to want to put our faith 00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:09.679 into practice, into action, 00:13:10.379 --> 00:13:12.580 to do God's will. 00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:14.000 Now when you think about God's will, 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:15.060 some people think in terms of 00:13:15.060 --> 00:13:17.659 some kind of special thing God has for me. 00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:20.100 Usually, the majority of times, 00:13:20.340 --> 00:13:21.700 overwhelming majority of times, 00:13:21.700 --> 00:13:24.379 when God's will is mentioned in Scripture, 00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:26.759 it's talking about God's moral will, 00:13:27.640 --> 00:13:29.320 how He wants us to live. 00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:34.000 God's will as a man 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:37.820 is to be a godly husband to your wife, 00:13:37.920 --> 00:13:39.879 godly father to your children. 00:13:39.879 --> 00:13:43.639 God's will is that you 00:13:43.639 --> 00:13:45.360 not compromise 00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:48.419 His Word, His truth, 00:13:48.620 --> 00:13:49.519 biblical morality, 00:13:49.700 --> 00:13:51.000 as you do your work, 00:13:51.460 --> 00:13:52.559 as you do your job, 00:13:52.620 --> 00:13:54.759 even if they expect you to, 00:13:54.840 --> 00:13:55.740 people that hired you. 00:13:56.779 --> 00:13:58.220 God's will is very practical. 00:13:59.559 --> 00:14:00.439 It's living the way 00:14:00.439 --> 00:14:01.659 that He's called us to live 00:14:01.659 --> 00:14:05.039 because as Christians 00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:06.460 indwelled by the Holy Spirit, 00:14:07.220 --> 00:14:08.539 that's our desire. 00:14:08.539 --> 00:14:11.899 That's what we want to do. 00:14:13.099 --> 00:14:14.539 Now, genuine faith 00:14:14.539 --> 00:14:17.219 is a visible faith. 00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:19.480 It will be seen. 00:14:20.319 --> 00:14:21.759 And any faith that is not seen, 00:14:21.959 --> 00:14:22.319 in other words, 00:14:22.379 --> 00:14:23.360 if people can see you 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:24.299 and they don't see any signs 00:14:24.299 --> 00:14:24.819 that you're a Christian, 00:14:24.959 --> 00:14:25.519 you're not. 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:27.919 James says it this way. 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:29.399 Look at James 2.17. 00:14:29.659 --> 00:14:30.879 Really, the whole book of James 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:33.939 is about how faith works. 00:14:34.539 --> 00:14:35.620 Faith is visible. 00:14:36.139 --> 00:14:37.299 Faith produces fruit. 00:14:37.299 --> 00:14:38.179 But look at this. 00:14:38.539 --> 00:14:39.539 Faith by itself, 00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:42.259 if it is not accompanied by action, 00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:44.000 is dead. 00:14:44.779 --> 00:14:46.539 It is non-existent. 00:14:47.860 --> 00:14:50.240 So, Jesus is warning us 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:54.039 about a faulty profession of faith. 00:14:54.599 --> 00:14:56.199 But He's also here warning us 00:14:56.199 --> 00:14:59.500 about a faulty expression of faith. 00:14:59.599 --> 00:15:00.819 Look at verse 22. 00:15:00.820 --> 00:15:04.740 He's warning us about substituting sensationalism 00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:07.060 for substance. 00:15:07.060 --> 00:15:08.200 Look at that verse again. 00:15:08.820 --> 00:15:10.020 On that day, judgment day, 00:15:10.280 --> 00:15:11.020 many will say to me, 00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:11.460 Lord, Lord, 00:15:11.520 --> 00:15:14.560 did we not do all kinds of miraculous things? 00:15:15.460 --> 00:15:16.360 Prophesy in Your name. 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:17.320 Preach in Your name. 00:15:18.020 --> 00:15:19.720 Cast out demons in Your name. 00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:24.139 And do many mighty works in Your name. 00:15:25.779 --> 00:15:27.920 Jesus is talking about there are people. 00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:31.519 At that day and time, 00:15:32.060 --> 00:15:34.040 they claimed to be His followers, 00:15:34.300 --> 00:15:35.300 and they preached. 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:37.480 They cast out demons. 00:15:37.480 --> 00:15:41.300 They actually performed miracles. 00:15:41.299 --> 00:15:44.039 But Jesus is saying 00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:47.039 they were not really His. 00:15:48.179 --> 00:15:49.879 They had no relationship with Him. 00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:51.000 They're going to be condemned 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:52.459 on judgment day. 00:15:53.879 --> 00:15:55.419 This goes to show us 00:15:55.419 --> 00:15:59.339 miraculous signs 00:15:59.339 --> 00:16:00.899 do not necessarily mean 00:16:00.899 --> 00:16:01.979 that God's involved. 00:16:01.980 --> 00:16:06.279 You can look at it 00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:07.840 throughout Scripture. 00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:08.740 For example, 00:16:09.740 --> 00:16:11.080 in Moses' day, 00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:12.759 in the book of Exodus, 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:15.580 Pharaoh had his wizards 00:16:15.580 --> 00:16:16.899 and magic guys 00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:18.600 who could perform 00:16:18.600 --> 00:16:19.800 a lot of the same miracles 00:16:19.800 --> 00:16:21.300 that Moses did 00:16:21.300 --> 00:16:22.740 under God's command. 00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:25.300 You see that in other places 00:16:25.300 --> 00:16:26.039 in the Old Testament. 00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:28.000 Prophets, false prophets 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:29.259 doing miraculous things. 00:16:29.560 --> 00:16:31.220 You see that in Paul's ministry. 00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:32.500 He encountered this 00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:34.220 in Acts chapter 19 00:16:34.220 --> 00:16:35.340 for an example. 00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:37.920 Jesus even said 00:16:37.920 --> 00:16:40.340 throughout history 00:16:40.340 --> 00:16:41.720 up until He comes back 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:42.420 to this world, 00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:44.600 miracle workers 00:16:44.600 --> 00:16:45.580 will be found. 00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:47.240 Look at it in Matthew 24, 00:16:47.379 --> 00:16:48.259 verse 24. 00:16:49.040 --> 00:16:49.560 Jesus says, 00:16:49.779 --> 00:16:52.220 For false Christ's 00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:53.759 little sea 00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:56.279 and false prophets 00:16:56.279 --> 00:16:57.639 will arise 00:16:57.639 --> 00:16:59.200 and perform great signs 00:16:59.200 --> 00:16:59.779 and wonders 00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:02.120 so as to lead astray 00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:03.059 if possible 00:17:03.059 --> 00:17:04.319 even the elect, 00:17:04.879 --> 00:17:07.019 even true believers. 00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:12.559 There are some people 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:15.000 who are empowered 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:15.619 by the devil. 00:17:17.379 --> 00:17:19.559 There is spiritual warfare 00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:20.639 that goes on 00:17:20.639 --> 00:17:21.359 in this world 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:24.099 that sort of what we call 00:17:24.099 --> 00:17:25.079 behind the scenes. 00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:27.159 and there are people 00:17:27.159 --> 00:17:27.539 who are doing 00:17:27.539 --> 00:17:28.480 some amazing, 00:17:28.919 --> 00:17:30.240 miraculous things 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:33.359 in the power 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:34.059 of the devil. 00:17:36.359 --> 00:17:37.799 And Jesus is talking 00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:38.399 about people 00:17:38.399 --> 00:17:41.419 who are actually deceived 00:17:41.419 --> 00:17:43.559 and deceiving people. 00:17:44.639 --> 00:17:45.639 They're not seeking 00:17:45.639 --> 00:17:46.259 to do what they do 00:17:46.259 --> 00:17:47.199 for God's glory. 00:17:47.859 --> 00:17:48.500 They're seeking 00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:49.159 to do what they do 00:17:49.159 --> 00:17:49.980 for their own 00:17:49.980 --> 00:17:51.139 or some other 00:17:51.139 --> 00:17:53.299 unacceptable means, 00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:54.099 reason. 00:17:55.639 --> 00:17:56.799 Jesus is emphasizing 00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:57.720 just another way here 00:17:57.720 --> 00:17:58.279 in verse 22 00:17:58.279 --> 00:18:00.740 that our faith, 00:18:01.220 --> 00:18:02.240 real faith, 00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:04.059 will result 00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:04.980 in us being 00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:06.200 obedient to God, 00:18:06.919 --> 00:18:08.159 doing God's will, 00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:09.639 living very practically 00:18:10.379 --> 00:18:11.960 daily a life 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:13.079 that pleases God, 00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:13.919 that meets 00:18:13.919 --> 00:18:14.960 other people's needs, 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:16.240 that serves other people, 00:18:16.460 --> 00:18:18.119 that upholds the truth, 00:18:19.059 --> 00:18:20.519 living an honest life, 00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.519 living a godly life. 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:23.720 And I want you 00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:24.440 to note what Jesus 00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:25.200 says to those 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:25.660 who think 00:18:25.660 --> 00:18:26.740 that a mere 00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:27.639 profession of faith 00:18:27.639 --> 00:18:29.019 or some kind 00:18:29.019 --> 00:18:32.460 of experiential 00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:34.599 miracle, 00:18:34.940 --> 00:18:36.599 sensational thing 00:18:36.599 --> 00:18:37.259 is the key 00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:37.759 to salvation. 00:18:37.940 --> 00:18:38.700 Look at verse 23, 00:18:38.819 --> 00:18:39.740 the last verse we read. 00:18:41.879 --> 00:18:43.019 And then I will 00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:43.920 declare to them, 00:18:44.359 --> 00:18:46.059 I never knew you. 00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:47.579 Depart from me, 00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:48.240 you workers 00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:49.039 of lawlessness. 00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:49.319 Jesus. 00:18:51.379 --> 00:18:52.019 These are some 00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:52.519 of the most chilling 00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:53.299 words in the Bible, 00:18:53.420 --> 00:18:53.659 aren't they? 00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:55.119 Jesus will say 00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:55.619 to somebody 00:18:55.619 --> 00:18:56.139 who thinks 00:18:56.139 --> 00:18:56.839 they're his follower 00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:57.720 on judgment day, 00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:59.980 I never knew you. 00:19:02.819 --> 00:19:03.839 Jesus is not talking 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:04.220 about somebody 00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:05.200 losing their salvation. 00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:05.920 You see that. 00:19:07.059 --> 00:19:08.859 He's describing people 00:19:08.859 --> 00:19:09.420 that he never 00:19:09.420 --> 00:19:10.420 had a relationship with, 00:19:11.139 --> 00:19:12.180 people who never 00:19:12.180 --> 00:19:13.039 were saved. 00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:15.420 I never knew you. 00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:17.019 How could somebody 00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:18.099 be deceived like that? 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:20.339 How could somebody 00:19:20.339 --> 00:19:22.759 think that they 00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:23.759 were true followers 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:24.579 of Jesus when they 00:19:24.579 --> 00:19:25.019 were not? 00:19:25.160 --> 00:19:25.660 How does this 00:19:25.660 --> 00:19:26.200 happen today? 00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:27.740 How is it that there 00:19:27.740 --> 00:19:28.480 are people today 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:29.799 who claim to be 00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:30.240 a Christian, 00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:33.759 but they're not? 00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:35.359 There's no real 00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:36.700 evidence in their life. 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:38.539 No godly character. 00:19:38.639 --> 00:19:39.660 No doing God's will. 00:19:41.539 --> 00:19:42.440 Probably a lot of 00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:43.440 reasons could be cited, 00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:44.139 but here's one. 00:19:44.140 --> 00:19:45.980 They have a faulty 00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:47.280 understanding of what 00:19:47.280 --> 00:19:48.640 salvation is. 00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:50.820 You know, 00:19:50.860 --> 00:19:51.880 some people equate, 00:19:52.200 --> 00:19:53.060 and especially this is 00:19:53.060 --> 00:19:55.080 found in some 00:19:55.080 --> 00:19:55.920 Baptist churches. 00:19:56.840 --> 00:19:58.580 Some people think 00:19:58.580 --> 00:20:01.080 that salvation is 00:20:01.080 --> 00:20:01.700 somehow or another 00:20:01.700 --> 00:20:02.620 equated with, 00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:03.840 in a service like this, 00:20:03.880 --> 00:20:04.400 at the end of the 00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:04.660 service, 00:20:05.020 --> 00:20:06.400 walking down an aisle 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:07.480 and taking a pastor 00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:08.300 by the hand and 00:20:08.300 --> 00:20:09.360 saying something to him. 00:20:10.320 --> 00:20:12.020 That's the dumbest 00:20:12.020 --> 00:20:12.660 thing that's ever 00:20:12.660 --> 00:20:13.380 been brought up 00:20:13.380 --> 00:20:14.120 in church life. 00:20:14.320 --> 00:20:15.400 To actually think 00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:17.280 that by just 00:20:17.280 --> 00:20:18.040 standing up and 00:20:18.040 --> 00:20:18.580 coming down and 00:20:18.580 --> 00:20:19.260 shaking the pastor's 00:20:19.260 --> 00:20:20.160 hand, that makes me 00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:21.220 right with God 00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:21.540 somehow. 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.820 Or some people think 00:20:22.820 --> 00:20:23.360 because they have an 00:20:23.360 --> 00:20:24.700 emotional experience. 00:20:25.120 --> 00:20:25.800 They come to a church 00:20:25.800 --> 00:20:26.880 service the way things 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:28.120 are, maybe something's 00:20:28.120 --> 00:20:29.340 said, a story's told, 00:20:29.600 --> 00:20:30.480 music and such, 00:20:30.800 --> 00:20:31.500 and they just break 00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:32.240 down, you know, 00:20:32.300 --> 00:20:33.800 they're thinking some 00:20:33.800 --> 00:20:34.600 good thoughts. 00:20:36.600 --> 00:20:37.560 And they're just sort 00:20:37.560 --> 00:20:38.320 of overcome with 00:20:38.320 --> 00:20:38.720 emotion. 00:20:40.660 --> 00:20:41.120 You know, I would 00:20:41.120 --> 00:20:42.180 never let you see 00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:43.779 this, but sometimes 00:20:43.779 --> 00:20:44.900 I can become 00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:46.500 overcome with 00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:47.120 emotion with 00:20:47.120 --> 00:20:47.660 certain country 00:20:47.660 --> 00:20:47.980 songs. 00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:51.920 I can cry. 00:20:53.560 --> 00:20:54.500 It just touches 00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:55.279 my heart. 00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:56.960 But it's not some 00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:57.920 kind of spiritual 00:20:57.920 --> 00:20:59.000 experience. 00:21:00.140 --> 00:21:01.440 It's an emotional. 00:21:03.039 --> 00:21:04.160 Touch your heart, 00:21:04.340 --> 00:21:05.279 touch your feelings, 00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:06.360 make you feel a 00:21:06.360 --> 00:21:07.460 certain way that 00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:08.220 absolutely does 00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:09.120 nothing to change 00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:09.899 your life. 00:21:11.959 --> 00:21:12.500 And because you 00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:13.079 had got emotional 00:21:13.079 --> 00:21:14.019 in church one Sunday 00:21:14.019 --> 00:21:14.779 and you walked down 00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:15.359 the aisle and 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:15.939 shook a pastor's 00:21:15.939 --> 00:21:16.739 hand, and somehow 00:21:16.739 --> 00:21:17.359 or another you wound 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:18.019 up getting baptized, 00:21:18.279 --> 00:21:19.659 that does not make 00:21:19.659 --> 00:21:20.219 you a Christian. 00:21:20.439 --> 00:21:21.500 That does not in any 00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:22.619 way equate to 00:21:22.619 --> 00:21:23.099 salvation. 00:21:23.339 --> 00:21:24.199 And you can't find 00:21:24.199 --> 00:21:25.299 it anywhere from 00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:26.659 Genesis to Revelation 00:21:26.659 --> 00:21:28.079 in your Bible that 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:29.419 anything like that 00:21:29.419 --> 00:21:31.579 is what it means to 00:21:31.579 --> 00:21:32.119 become a Christian. 00:21:32.119 --> 00:21:36.779 Now, it could be, I 00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:37.259 don't want to discount 00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:39.059 this in any way, it 00:21:39.059 --> 00:21:40.500 could be that this 00:21:40.500 --> 00:21:43.839 morning even, the Lord 00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:44.500 could speak through 00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:45.179 this message. 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:46.339 The Lord could just 00:21:46.339 --> 00:21:47.039 work through his 00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:48.619 spirit in your life to 00:21:48.619 --> 00:21:49.259 cause you to realize 00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:50.099 I'm not a Christian, 00:21:50.219 --> 00:21:50.839 but I want to be 00:21:50.839 --> 00:21:51.199 saved. 00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:52.799 And you right there 00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:53.419 where you're sitting 00:21:53.419 --> 00:21:54.219 right now, you just 00:21:54.219 --> 00:21:55.199 think to yourself, you 00:21:55.199 --> 00:21:57.079 say to God, I hate my 00:21:57.079 --> 00:21:57.879 sin, I want to turn 00:21:57.879 --> 00:21:58.839 from my sin, and I 00:21:58.839 --> 00:21:59.500 really do believe that 00:21:59.500 --> 00:22:00.239 when Jesus died on the 00:22:00.239 --> 00:22:01.959 cross, he died for me. 00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:04.339 And I trust him right 00:22:04.339 --> 00:22:05.359 now as my Savior. 00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:06.759 And when this service 00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:07.979 is over, you walk 00:22:07.979 --> 00:22:08.519 down the aisle and 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:09.099 you tell me, I have 00:22:09.099 --> 00:22:09.759 put my faith and 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:10.579 trust in Jesus this 00:22:10.579 --> 00:22:10.819 morning. 00:22:11.339 --> 00:22:12.439 You confessed your 00:22:12.439 --> 00:22:13.299 faith here, you want 00:22:13.299 --> 00:22:14.239 me to tell people here, 00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:14.759 or you want to tell 00:22:14.759 --> 00:22:15.559 people here, that's 00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:16.000 fine. 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:18.699 That is, you walking 00:22:18.699 --> 00:22:19.419 down the aisle and 00:22:19.419 --> 00:22:20.139 telling me or telling 00:22:20.139 --> 00:22:21.359 the congregation, that's 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:24.699 just an external way of 00:22:24.699 --> 00:22:26.459 expressing what internally 00:22:26.459 --> 00:22:26.939 happened. 00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:28.279 And every Christian 00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:29.879 should be baptized in a 00:22:29.879 --> 00:22:31.519 baptism or in a 00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:32.099 pond or a church 00:22:32.099 --> 00:22:33.059 or a lake or river or 00:22:33.059 --> 00:22:33.939 somewhere, every 00:22:33.939 --> 00:22:34.359 Christian. 00:22:34.579 --> 00:22:35.319 See, that's the New 00:22:35.319 --> 00:22:36.439 Testament way for 00:22:36.439 --> 00:22:37.559 Christians to make it 00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:38.659 known that they are 00:22:38.659 --> 00:22:40.659 followers of Jesus, to be 00:22:40.659 --> 00:22:40.939 baptized. 00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:42.079 But you know what 00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:43.279 baptism actually literally 00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:43.819 does? 00:22:44.539 --> 00:22:47.439 It just gets you wet or 00:22:47.439 --> 00:22:48.159 cold. 00:22:50.159 --> 00:22:52.000 Baptism is just a symbol, 00:22:52.139 --> 00:22:55.159 it's a picture of what 00:22:55.159 --> 00:22:56.219 happens when a person 00:22:56.219 --> 00:22:58.619 truly trusts in Jesus for 00:22:58.619 --> 00:22:59.259 their salvation. 00:22:59.259 --> 00:23:00.879 You go down in the water, 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:02.319 it symbolizes you've died 00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:03.220 to the old person you 00:23:03.220 --> 00:23:04.039 were before you came to 00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:04.500 know Christ. 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.500 You died and been buried, 00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:07.200 that old person. 00:23:07.859 --> 00:23:08.480 You come up out of the 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:09.460 water, it symbolizes the 00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:11.240 new life that you have when 00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:12.160 you put your faith and 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:13.579 trust in Jesus to save you. 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:19.059 Jesus wants us to 00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:23.200 understand real salvation. 00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:23.299 salvation. 00:23:24.840 --> 00:23:27.700 It's not these external, 00:23:28.220 --> 00:23:32.220 emotional things that we 00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:34.480 sometimes equate with that. 00:23:36.180 --> 00:23:37.440 Salvation is a gracious 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:41.819 work of God in which He 00:23:41.819 --> 00:23:44.039 works in a person in their 00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:45.580 mind to cause them to think, 00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:46.799 in their heart to cause them 00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:47.319 to feel. 00:23:48.259 --> 00:23:49.700 At some point in their mouth 00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:50.559 to cause them to profess 00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:50.960 faith. 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:52.740 And God so works when He 00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:53.400 does all these kind of 00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:55.019 things, He changes us and 00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:56.539 our lives will show it by 00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:58.299 our desire to know and do 00:23:58.299 --> 00:23:59.819 God's will. 00:24:01.140 --> 00:24:03.539 A person is saved when God 00:24:03.539 --> 00:24:05.059 convicts them of their sin, 00:24:05.180 --> 00:24:06.220 that they are separated from 00:24:06.220 --> 00:24:07.360 Him because of their sin. 00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:09.860 And God, when He convicts a 00:24:09.860 --> 00:24:11.340 person, He's not just making 00:24:11.340 --> 00:24:12.240 it known they're sinful. 00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:13.860 Every one of us in here, we 00:24:13.860 --> 00:24:14.500 know we're sinners. 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:16.480 You find the sorriest human 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:17.180 being you know. 00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:18.400 The person who would just 00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:19.759 say, I hate God. 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:21.539 And they would say, yeah, 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:22.279 I know I'm a sinner. 00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:23.740 Knowing you're a sinner means 00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.240 nothing. 00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:27.220 That's just, you're an idiot if 00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:27.960 you don't think you're a 00:24:27.960 --> 00:24:28.140 sinner. 00:24:28.379 --> 00:24:29.359 You've deceived yourself. 00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:32.500 You're a liar to yourself if 00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:33.400 you don't think you are a 00:24:33.400 --> 00:24:33.599 sinner. 00:24:35.500 --> 00:24:37.339 We all know we are sinful 00:24:37.339 --> 00:24:37.700 people. 00:24:38.619 --> 00:24:40.539 But when God truly is one who 00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:42.339 makes that known, makes it 00:24:42.339 --> 00:24:44.960 aware, we feel guilty. 00:24:45.339 --> 00:24:46.200 We feel broken. 00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:48.319 We have dishonored, offended 00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:50.059 Him, broken His laws. 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:52.539 And if God's doing that work 00:24:52.539 --> 00:24:55.819 in us, we'll want to stop it. 00:24:56.220 --> 00:24:57.200 We'll want to change our 00:24:57.200 --> 00:24:57.580 minds. 00:24:57.860 --> 00:24:59.279 We want to turn from that 00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:01.440 kind of thinking and living. 00:25:02.039 --> 00:25:02.640 That's repentance. 00:25:04.120 --> 00:25:05.819 When God works in us to save 00:25:05.819 --> 00:25:07.420 us, He convicts us of our sin. 00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:08.779 He gives us a desire to repent, 00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:09.900 to turn from it, change our 00:25:09.900 --> 00:25:10.100 mind. 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:12.980 And God really does open up our 00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:14.940 spiritual eyes, so to speak, 00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:17.339 and causes us to see that when 00:25:17.339 --> 00:25:19.059 Jesus died on the cross, He died 00:25:19.059 --> 00:25:19.839 for me. 00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:23.460 He paid the penalty for my sin. 00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:25.819 And I trust Him. 00:25:25.880 --> 00:25:26.460 I love Him. 00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:27.940 I'm committing my life to Him. 00:25:29.779 --> 00:25:32.319 That's how God works to save a 00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:32.620 person. 00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:35.620 And when God does this in us, we 00:25:35.620 --> 00:25:37.400 not only trust Jesus as our Savior, 00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:39.160 as John Blanchard talked about 00:25:39.160 --> 00:25:42.019 last week, we simultaneously will 00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:44.180 submit to Him as the Lord, the 00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:46.160 master, the boss of our lives. 00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:47.460 You see, if we really understand 00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:49.779 that Jesus gave His life for me, 00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:52.619 we want to give our lives back to 00:25:52.619 --> 00:25:53.299 Him in return. 00:25:53.819 --> 00:25:54.680 He's bought us. 00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:58.359 Paul talks about that with His life. 00:25:59.460 --> 00:26:01.220 And so real salvation is a trust in 00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:01.420 Jesus. 00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:02.579 It's a commitment to Him. 00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:03.660 It's a love for Him. 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:07.779 That will in some way, or a lot of 00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:10.579 ways rather, change who we are. 00:26:10.579 --> 00:26:12.179 It will never make us perfect in 00:26:12.179 --> 00:26:12.639 this world. 00:26:12.740 --> 00:26:14.039 We'll still have that sinful nature. 00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:16.039 We're still going to come up short. 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:18.539 We're not going to do God's will 00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:19.119 perfectly. 00:26:19.639 --> 00:26:21.799 But we'll have the desire to. 00:26:22.679 --> 00:26:25.659 And we will, because God motivates us 00:26:25.659 --> 00:26:27.779 from within, we'll want to do His will. 00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:28.980 We'll put forth the effort to do it. 00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:32.439 That's how the Holy Spirit will work in 00:26:32.439 --> 00:26:32.879 us. 00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:36.940 Now, Jesus is telling us here in Matthew 00:26:36.940 --> 00:26:43.120 7, some people have false, undeserved 00:26:43.120 --> 00:26:44.540 assurance. 00:26:46.840 --> 00:26:49.180 You need to ask the question of yourself. 00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:51.600 Is He talking about me? 00:26:54.340 --> 00:26:56.560 Next, we're going to deal with in this 00:26:56.560 --> 00:26:57.760 series, not today. 00:26:57.759 --> 00:27:00.920 Well, the second kind of assurance we're 00:27:00.920 --> 00:27:02.519 going to deal with is uncertain 00:27:02.519 --> 00:27:02.759 assurance. 00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:05.359 It's possible to be a Christian but 00:27:05.359 --> 00:27:06.859 lack assurance. 00:27:07.619 --> 00:27:09.319 That's why John wrote the book of 1 00:27:09.319 --> 00:27:09.599 John. 00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:12.180 1 John chapter 5, verse 13, says this. 00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:13.019 Look at it on the screen. 00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:15.759 I write these things to you who believe 00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:17.619 in the name of the Son of God that you 00:27:17.619 --> 00:27:20.879 may know that you have eternal life. 00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:23.660 He wrote that because evidently he knew 00:27:23.660 --> 00:27:26.779 there were people, Christians, who didn't 00:27:26.779 --> 00:27:29.559 know, who wondered, who struggled, who 00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:30.319 doubted. 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:33.399 Most Christians doubt their salvation at 00:27:33.399 --> 00:27:34.200 some time or other. 00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:37.160 It doesn't make you an inferior Christian 00:27:37.160 --> 00:27:38.339 or less spiritual Christian. 00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:43.019 I truly believe that if a person thinks 00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:47.539 and understands what God has called us to 00:27:47.539 --> 00:27:51.480 do, how He's called us to live, and we 00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:53.960 have experienced at times in our life a 00:27:53.960 --> 00:27:58.759 true desire, a love for following Jesus, 00:27:58.940 --> 00:28:01.799 being like Him, I truly believe that when 00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:05.299 we fail to do that, when we, as some 00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:07.779 people would use the word, when we backslide, 00:28:07.900 --> 00:28:09.480 when we move away from the Lord, when we 00:28:09.480 --> 00:28:12.019 become indifferent, I think it's very 00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:14.019 natural at that point in time to doubt our 00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:14.460 salvation. 00:28:14.460 --> 00:28:18.000 I don't think God's going to give any person 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:22.340 true, confident assurance if they're living 00:28:22.340 --> 00:28:25.400 in indifference or rebellion against Him. 00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:26.600 That's just not how it works. 00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:30.120 We're going to be learning that, seeing that 00:28:30.120 --> 00:28:33.840 in the book of 1 John over the next few 00:28:33.840 --> 00:28:34.259 weeks. 00:28:36.140 --> 00:28:38.019 We're going to look at some of the reasons 00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:42.140 why people may have doubts and how to deal 00:28:42.140 --> 00:28:45.140 with our doubts over the next few weeks. 00:28:45.420 --> 00:28:46.720 There's a third kind of assurance. 00:28:47.620 --> 00:28:50.140 Our goal in this series is for all of us to 00:28:50.140 --> 00:28:56.320 have or develop undisputed assurance, good 00:28:56.320 --> 00:28:58.660 assurance, confident assurance. 00:28:59.340 --> 00:29:01.440 John's telling us the reason he wrote the 00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:03.460 letter, just what we read in verse 13 of 00:29:03.460 --> 00:29:05.980 chapter 5, is to give Christians assurance of 00:29:05.980 --> 00:29:06.540 their salvation. 00:29:07.340 --> 00:29:09.580 We can and we should, if we're Christians, 00:29:09.579 --> 00:29:14.579 have assurance that we really are children of 00:29:14.579 --> 00:29:14.879 God. 00:29:15.539 --> 00:29:17.220 If you struggle with a lack of assurance, 00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:21.319 the first and best thing you can do is read 00:29:21.319 --> 00:29:25.419 slowly, carefully, prayerfully this little book 00:29:25.419 --> 00:29:26.899 of 1 John. 00:29:27.579 --> 00:29:29.819 That's where we're going to spend most of our 00:29:29.819 --> 00:29:31.439 time in the next few weeks. 00:29:32.059 --> 00:29:35.599 Now I want to ask you, as we begin this series, 00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:39.500 this study, what kind of assurance do you have? 00:29:41.059 --> 00:29:45.679 Do you have an undeserved assurance, a false 00:29:45.679 --> 00:29:47.459 assurance that God's made known to you this 00:29:47.459 --> 00:29:47.759 morning? 00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:54.779 Or if you suspect this is true, you really need to 00:29:54.779 --> 00:29:57.879 get serious about this and ask God to clearly reveal 00:29:57.879 --> 00:29:59.859 to you where you stand with Him. 00:29:59.859 --> 00:30:03.459 Don't go through this day without spending some time 00:30:03.459 --> 00:30:04.079 with Him. 00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:08.339 Spending some time in 1 John. 00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:11.159 Don't try to justify yourself. 00:30:12.539 --> 00:30:15.699 This is one place where you want to be honest with God and 00:30:15.699 --> 00:30:17.000 hear Him and be clear. 00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:20.819 And make sure you're right with Him. 00:30:22.940 --> 00:30:24.720 Do you have an uncertain assurance? 00:30:25.740 --> 00:30:27.119 Don't rest. 00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:28.599 Don't be satisfied with that. 00:30:28.819 --> 00:30:30.880 Don't give up and say that's the way it's going to be. 00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:32.079 No, it doesn't have to be that way. 00:30:32.700 --> 00:30:37.779 Having uncertain assurance, doubts, will rob you of the joy and 00:30:37.779 --> 00:30:42.259 the satisfaction, the confidence that you should have as a 00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:42.900 child of God. 00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:48.360 It will keep you from serving God in a meaningful, productive 00:30:48.360 --> 00:30:49.180 kind of way. 00:30:49.780 --> 00:30:52.000 So again, read 1 John. 00:30:53.300 --> 00:30:56.640 Hopefully you have an unquestioned assurance, confident 00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:57.519 assurance. 00:30:58.620 --> 00:31:03.100 And as you read the book of 1 John, if you are God's child, it 00:31:03.100 --> 00:31:05.280 should just be affirming to you. 00:31:06.780 --> 00:31:09.580 I want to end this service by asking you to bow with me in 00:31:09.580 --> 00:31:10.200 prayer right now. 00:31:10.519 --> 00:31:11.660 I want to direct a prayer. 00:31:11.660 --> 00:31:12.900 Please bow. 00:31:13.279 --> 00:31:14.080 Heads bowed. 00:31:14.340 --> 00:31:15.200 Eyes closed. 00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:27.320 Some in this room most likely are not Christians and you know it. 00:31:28.800 --> 00:31:34.840 And I want to ask you right now, if that bothers you, if you don't 00:31:34.840 --> 00:31:37.800 want to be that way, if you want to have a right relationship with 00:31:37.800 --> 00:31:40.140 God, admit to Him that you don't. 00:31:40.140 --> 00:31:42.560 Turn from your sins. 00:31:42.560 --> 00:31:43.680 Change your mind. 00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:48.720 Put your trust in Jesus and call upon Him to save you right now. 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:54.180 Some in here are Christians but you lack assurance. 00:31:55.799 --> 00:31:57.279 Don't just accept that. 00:31:58.779 --> 00:32:05.059 Ask God to speak through His Word and His Spirit to give you 00:32:05.059 --> 00:32:05.559 confidence. 00:32:05.559 --> 00:32:12.019 Ask God to help you to do that as you read through the book of 1 John. 00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:19.000 Some in this room have good assurance because you are a committed Christian. 00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:26.539 I want to encourage you to thank God for that and ask Him to help you to grow and to mature and 00:32:26.539 --> 00:32:31.539 become a source of strength and encouragement and help to others. 00:32:31.539 --> 00:32:41.220 Father, help us to know what we need to do individually so that we might respond appropriately. 00:32:44.420 --> 00:32:45.460 Work in us. 00:32:45.460 --> 00:32:50.420 Help us to know and help us to obey you now. 00:32:51.539 --> 00:32:54.480 And in an attitude of prayer, you listen to the Lord and you obey Him. 00:32:54.860 --> 00:32:57.120 I'll be here at the front and be happy to pray with you. 00:32:58.579 --> 00:32:59.860 Help you in any way. 00:32:59.859 --> 00:33:03.819 If you think that would be helpful at this time.