WEBVTT

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 Several years ago, I read a story in a Christian magazine

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 about a man whose wife had been killed in an accident.

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 They'd only been married a year and a half,

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 but that really wouldn't matter, would it?

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 Something like that, such a tragic death.

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 It would just be devastating.

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 Well, as he went through the grieving process,

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 he said it just kept going through my mind.

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 Where is she now?

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 Where is she going to spend eternity?

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 And it really bothered me.

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 Well, the man said in the article about two weeks later,

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 he found in a nightstand drawer a card

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 that she had filled out at a Billy Graham crusade

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 shortly after they were married.

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 It was a decision card.

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 And on the card, she had stated

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 that she had professed faith in Jesus.

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 And in this article, he said,

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 when he found that card,

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 it gave him a sense of assurance about her.

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 But I want you to think with me.

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 This man lived with his wife

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 for more than a year

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 after they had attended that Billy Graham crusade.

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 But he had no assurance that she was in heaven.

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 He was really worried

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 until he found the card.

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 Evidently, this man,

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 as he lived with his wife,

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 had not seen anything about her

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 that made him think

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 she was a Christian.

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 And because he saw that evidence in her life,

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 he had assurance she was in heaven.

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 So I want you to think,

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 how could something like a decision card,

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 just a signed card,

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 but no evidence in the woman's life,

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 how could that have brought comfort

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 to that grieving husband?

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 Well, I can guess why.

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 Some of you can too.

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 Like many people,

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 he had an erroneous understanding

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 of what salvation involves.

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 He evidently had the thought,

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 making a profession of faith

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 is all that matters.

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 Making, quote,

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 a decision for Christ

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 is what determines our salvation.

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 Well, as a pastor for 35 years now,

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 one of the most common ways

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 I hear people talk about

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 their being a Christian is,

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 well, I made a profession of faith.

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 I made a decision to trust Christ.

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 I have even known people,

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 and maybe some of you have over the years.

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 I've had people come up to me

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 and talk to me

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 and say that they lacked assurance

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 because they could not pinpoint

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 the exact day

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 when they trusted Christ

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 as their Lord and Savior.

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 I've even heard people talk about someone

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 after they died,

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 and everyone knew

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 they lived anything but a Christian life.

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 I've had people to make a statement

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 knowing they didn't live the Christian life.

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 But say something like,

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 but he or she made a decision

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 to accept Christ

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 a long time ago.

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 As we continue our series

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 on assurance of salvation,

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 I want to issue this morning

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 a warning

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 about false assurance.

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 I want us to look at several passages

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 in the New Testament

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 that show us

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 that assurance of salvation

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 cannot be based upon

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 a one-time

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 past decision

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 to trust Christ,

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 but

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 the life was never changed.

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 I want you to turn with me,

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 if you would,

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 first to 1 John chapter 5.

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 1 John chapter 5.

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 I want to look at

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 a verse that we began looking at last week.

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 It really states

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 one of the themes

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 of the letter of 1 John.

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 Not the only

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 theme of the book,

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 but one of the major ones,

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 and that is

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 John wrote the letter

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 to give Christians

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 assurance of their salvation.

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 But I want us to read

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 verses 11 and 12

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 along with 13

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 right now.

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 It says,

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 and this is the testimony

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 that God gave us

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 eternal life

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 and this life

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 is in His Son.

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 Whoever has the Son

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 has life.

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 Whoever does not have

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 the Son of God

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 does not have life.

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 I write these things to you

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 who believe

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 in the name

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 of the Son of God

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 that you may know

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 that you have

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 eternal life.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Dear God,

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 help us all right now

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 to have a

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 clear

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 understanding

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 before this day

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 is over,

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 before this service

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 is over

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 of the true nature

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 of our relationship

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 to you.

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 Help us to see

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 ourselves as

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 as you see us,

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 as we really are.

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 Speak

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 through your word

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 and through your spirit

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 and make that

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 clear to us.

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 In Jesus' name,

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 Amen.

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 First thing I want us

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 to think about this morning

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 is that assurance

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 of salvation

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 is available

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 for all

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 who have faith

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 in Jesus Christ.

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 Every Christian

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 should have

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 assurance

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 of their salvation.

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 It's something

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 that God

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 desires for us.

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 It is not

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 being presumptuous.

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 Some people might

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 think it is.

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 It is not,

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 according to Scripture,

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 being presumptuous

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 for us to think,

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 I can know

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 for sure

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 that if I died,

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 I'd go to heaven.

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 I can know

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 for sure

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 that I have

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 a right relationship

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 with God

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 right now.

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 Let's look first.

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 True faith

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 is present tense

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 faith.

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 As we think about

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 how to have

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 real assurance,

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 understand,

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 true faith

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 is present tense

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 faith.

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 Look at verse 13 again.

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 Look how it's worded.

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 He is writing

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 to you

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 who believe

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 in the name

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 of the Son of God

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 that you may know

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 that you have

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 eternal life.

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 John is addressing

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 people

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 who would be,

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 most of them

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 would be hearing

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 the letter read to them.

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 They wouldn't be

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 reading it themselves.

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 But John is

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 writing a letter

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 that he knew

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 would be read

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 by people

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 or heard

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 by people

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 who were

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 at that moment

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 in time

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 trusting in Jesus

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 as their Savior

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 and Lord.

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 He's writing

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 to you,

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 you who right

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 now

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 believe

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 in the name

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 of the Son of God.

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 Verses 11 and 12

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 tell us

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 that eternal life

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 is more than

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 just a life

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 that never ends.

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 I want you

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 to look at that.

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 Look at it

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 one more time.

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 God gave us

00:08:01.540 --> 00:08:02.439
 eternal life

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 and this life

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 is in His Son.

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 Whoever has

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 the Son

00:08:08.340 --> 00:08:08.959
 has life.

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 Whoever does not

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 have the Son of God

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 does not have life.

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 A lot of times

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 people think

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 if you have

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 eternal life

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 it means you're

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 going to live forever.

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 They think in terms

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 of a quantity

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 of life.

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 Well certainly

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 eternal life

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 is a quantity.

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 Certainly it is

00:08:28.259 --> 00:08:29.219
 we'll live forever.

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 But eternal life

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 is more than that.

00:08:31.839 --> 00:08:32.539
 Eternal life

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 as these verses

00:08:33.539 --> 00:08:34.159
 point out

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 it's a quality

00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:36.120
 of life.

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 Look what he says

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 specifically.

00:08:40.220 --> 00:08:41.199
 God gave us

00:08:41.199 --> 00:08:42.179
 eternal life

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 and this life

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 is in

00:08:44.639 --> 00:08:45.519
 His Son.

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 It's all

00:08:46.299 --> 00:08:47.459
 wrapped up in

00:08:47.459 --> 00:08:49.939
 our relationship

00:08:49.939 --> 00:08:51.159
 with His Son

00:08:51.159 --> 00:08:52.019
 Jesus Christ.

00:08:52.980 --> 00:08:53.899
 Whoever has

00:08:53.899 --> 00:08:54.379
 the Son

00:08:54.379 --> 00:08:55.419
 whoever has

00:08:55.419 --> 00:08:57.179
 a relationship

00:08:57.179 --> 00:08:57.639
 with Him

00:08:57.639 --> 00:08:58.500
 whoever is

00:08:58.500 --> 00:08:59.439
 bound to Him

00:08:59.439 --> 00:09:00.059
 by faith

00:09:00.059 --> 00:09:01.639
 whoever knows

00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:02.219
 Him and

00:09:02.219 --> 00:09:03.699
 lives in

00:09:03.699 --> 00:09:04.639
 fellowship with Him

00:09:04.639 --> 00:09:05.240
 we can say all

00:09:05.240 --> 00:09:05.860
 these kind of things

00:09:05.860 --> 00:09:06.779
 whoever has

00:09:06.779 --> 00:09:07.419
 the Son

00:09:07.419 --> 00:09:08.759
 has life.

00:09:09.839 --> 00:09:10.779
 Whoever does

00:09:10.779 --> 00:09:11.980
 not have the Son

00:09:11.980 --> 00:09:12.860
 whoever does not

00:09:12.860 --> 00:09:13.419
 believe

00:09:13.419 --> 00:09:14.919
 whoever does not

00:09:14.919 --> 00:09:15.919
 really have a

00:09:15.919 --> 00:09:16.899
 relationship with Him

00:09:16.899 --> 00:09:18.879
 does not

00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:20.299
 have

00:09:20.299 --> 00:09:21.139
 life.

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 true

00:09:22.120 --> 00:09:23.120
 saving faith

00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:23.439
 I want you to

00:09:23.439 --> 00:09:23.819
 understand

00:09:23.819 --> 00:09:25.779
 it's a living

00:09:25.779 --> 00:09:26.120
 faith

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 it is a present

00:09:27.399 --> 00:09:28.240
 faith

00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:30.279
 that unites

00:09:30.279 --> 00:09:31.240
 us with Jesus

00:09:31.240 --> 00:09:31.879
 Christ

00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:33.379
 in a real

00:09:33.379 --> 00:09:34.860
 relationship.

00:09:35.939 --> 00:09:36.419
 Look at one

00:09:36.419 --> 00:09:36.919
 other thing

00:09:36.919 --> 00:09:37.959
 true faith

00:09:37.959 --> 00:09:38.860
 is continuing

00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:39.419
 faith.

00:09:40.500 --> 00:09:41.439
 The Apostle Paul

00:09:41.439 --> 00:09:42.299
 stressed

00:09:42.299 --> 00:09:44.379
 that salvation

00:09:44.379 --> 00:09:45.159
 should never

00:09:45.159 --> 00:09:46.120
 be thought of

00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:47.279
 as a

00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:48.319
 transaction

00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:48.520
 salvation

00:09:48.520 --> 00:09:50.440
 like a

00:09:50.440 --> 00:09:51.180
 business deal

00:09:51.180 --> 00:09:52.980
 you make a

00:09:52.980 --> 00:09:53.560
 you have an

00:09:53.560 --> 00:09:54.000
 agreement

00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:55.060
 you sign

00:09:55.060 --> 00:09:55.620
 that you

00:09:55.620 --> 00:09:56.240
 will do

00:09:56.240 --> 00:09:56.660
 this

00:09:56.660 --> 00:09:57.040
 but you

00:09:57.040 --> 00:09:57.340
 won't do

00:09:57.340 --> 00:09:57.680
 that.

00:09:59.280 --> 00:09:59.680
 Salvation

00:09:59.680 --> 00:10:00.280
 is not like a

00:10:00.280 --> 00:10:00.879
 transaction

00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:01.620
 it's not like a

00:10:01.620 --> 00:10:02.280
 business deal

00:10:02.280 --> 00:10:03.280
 that you make

00:10:03.280 --> 00:10:03.820
 a commitment

00:10:03.820 --> 00:10:05.180
 you sign the

00:10:05.180 --> 00:10:05.660
 card

00:10:05.660 --> 00:10:06.700
 it's a done

00:10:06.700 --> 00:10:07.200
 deal

00:10:07.200 --> 00:10:08.000
 then you just

00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:08.560
 walk away

00:10:08.560 --> 00:10:09.020
 and forget

00:10:09.020 --> 00:10:09.520
 about it

00:10:09.520 --> 00:10:10.320
 everything's

00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:10.940
 taken care

00:10:10.940 --> 00:10:11.200
 of.

00:10:11.280 --> 00:10:12.080
 That is not

00:10:12.080 --> 00:10:12.780
 how we should

00:10:12.780 --> 00:10:13.760
 think in terms

00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:14.220
 of our

00:10:14.220 --> 00:10:14.700
 relationship

00:10:14.700 --> 00:10:15.080
 with the

00:10:15.080 --> 00:10:15.340
 Lord.

00:10:16.439 --> 00:10:16.939
 Paul

00:10:16.939 --> 00:10:17.840
 deliberately

00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:18.799
 stressed

00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:20.139
 that a

00:10:20.139 --> 00:10:20.539
 person

00:10:20.539 --> 00:10:21.000
 begin

00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:21.419
 that

00:10:21.419 --> 00:10:22.659
 once a

00:10:22.659 --> 00:10:23.059
 person

00:10:23.059 --> 00:10:23.679
 begins

00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:24.279
 to trust

00:10:24.279 --> 00:10:24.799
 in Jesus

00:10:24.799 --> 00:10:26.460
 that person

00:10:26.460 --> 00:10:27.340
 will continue

00:10:27.340 --> 00:10:28.419
 to trust

00:10:28.419 --> 00:10:28.899
 in Jesus.

00:10:29.220 --> 00:10:29.439
 In other

00:10:29.439 --> 00:10:29.639
 words

00:10:29.639 --> 00:10:30.939
 saving faith

00:10:30.939 --> 00:10:31.720
 is continuing

00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:32.139
 faith.

00:10:32.559 --> 00:10:32.819
 I want you

00:10:32.819 --> 00:10:33.159
 to look at

00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:34.159
 two or three

00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:34.720
 examples.

00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:35.700
 1 Corinthians

00:10:35.700 --> 00:10:36.740
 chapter 15

00:10:36.740 --> 00:10:38.000
 1 Corinthians

00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:38.840
 15 verses

00:10:38.840 --> 00:10:39.439
 1 through

00:10:39.439 --> 00:10:40.480
 6 or 7

00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:41.600
 that is

00:10:41.600 --> 00:10:42.799
 the clearest

00:10:42.799 --> 00:10:43.959
 most basic

00:10:43.959 --> 00:10:44.519
 explanation

00:10:44.519 --> 00:10:45.079
 of the

00:10:45.079 --> 00:10:45.500
 gospel

00:10:45.500 --> 00:10:46.139
 you'll find

00:10:46.139 --> 00:10:46.379
 in the

00:10:46.379 --> 00:10:46.879
 New Testament.

00:10:47.779 --> 00:10:48.419
 Note how

00:10:48.419 --> 00:10:49.439
 Paul begins

00:10:49.439 --> 00:10:49.859
 here.

00:10:50.039 --> 00:10:50.479
 Verses 1

00:10:50.479 --> 00:10:50.799
 and 2.

00:10:51.639 --> 00:10:52.199
 Now I

00:10:52.199 --> 00:10:52.919
 would remind

00:10:52.919 --> 00:10:53.839
 you brothers

00:10:53.839 --> 00:10:54.839
 of the

00:10:54.839 --> 00:10:55.539
 gospel I

00:10:55.539 --> 00:10:56.500
 preached to

00:10:56.500 --> 00:10:57.679
 you which

00:10:57.679 --> 00:10:58.740
 you received

00:10:58.740 --> 00:10:59.959
 in which

00:10:59.959 --> 00:11:01.039
 you stand

00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:02.379
 and by

00:11:02.379 --> 00:11:02.959
 which you

00:11:02.959 --> 00:11:03.679
 are being

00:11:03.679 --> 00:11:05.199
 saved if

00:11:05.199 --> 00:11:06.620
 you hold

00:11:06.620 --> 00:11:08.099
 fast to

00:11:08.099 --> 00:11:08.539
 the word

00:11:08.539 --> 00:11:09.099
 I preached

00:11:09.099 --> 00:11:09.620
 to you

00:11:09.620 --> 00:11:10.819
 unless you

00:11:10.819 --> 00:11:11.379
 believed in

00:11:11.379 --> 00:11:11.719
 vain.

00:11:12.799 --> 00:11:15.339
 it's

00:11:15.339 --> 00:11:15.879
 possible

00:11:15.879 --> 00:11:17.120
 to have

00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:17.399
 a

00:11:17.399 --> 00:11:18.959
 false

00:11:18.959 --> 00:11:19.740
 faith.

00:11:21.299 --> 00:11:21.620
 I mean

00:11:21.620 --> 00:11:22.099
 he says it

00:11:22.099 --> 00:11:22.479
 real clear.

00:11:23.659 --> 00:11:23.939
 It's

00:11:23.939 --> 00:11:24.419
 possible

00:11:24.419 --> 00:11:25.639
 that a

00:11:25.639 --> 00:11:26.039
 person can

00:11:26.039 --> 00:11:26.599
 believe in

00:11:26.599 --> 00:11:26.859
 vain.

00:11:27.179 --> 00:11:27.559
 What kind

00:11:27.559 --> 00:11:27.859
 of faith

00:11:27.859 --> 00:11:28.240
 is that?

00:11:28.959 --> 00:11:29.539
 That is a

00:11:29.539 --> 00:11:30.919
 faith that

00:11:30.919 --> 00:11:32.379
 you just

00:11:32.379 --> 00:11:33.899
 intellectually

00:11:33.899 --> 00:11:35.620
 believe Jesus

00:11:35.620 --> 00:11:35.899
 is the

00:11:35.899 --> 00:11:36.339
 Son of God

00:11:36.339 --> 00:11:36.699
 you died on

00:11:36.699 --> 00:11:37.139
 the cross

00:11:37.139 --> 00:11:37.500
 to pay the

00:11:37.500 --> 00:11:37.839
 penalty for

00:11:37.839 --> 00:11:38.419
 my sins

00:11:38.419 --> 00:11:39.279
 and I

00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:39.819
 just believe

00:11:39.819 --> 00:11:40.120
 that.

00:11:41.059 --> 00:11:41.539
 Factual

00:11:41.539 --> 00:11:42.120
 information

00:11:42.120 --> 00:11:42.799
 for example.

00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:44.659
 But saving

00:11:44.659 --> 00:11:45.360
 faith is that

00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:46.500
 we believe

00:11:46.500 --> 00:11:47.199
 Jesus died on

00:11:47.199 --> 00:11:47.500
 the cross

00:11:47.500 --> 00:11:48.019
 for me.

00:11:48.500 --> 00:11:49.039
 Because he

00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:49.480
 gave his

00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:50.079
 life for me

00:11:50.079 --> 00:11:50.579
 I want to

00:11:50.579 --> 00:11:50.899
 give my

00:11:50.899 --> 00:11:51.379
 life to

00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:51.659
 him.

00:11:52.719 --> 00:11:53.599
 I trust

00:11:53.599 --> 00:11:54.039
 that he's

00:11:54.039 --> 00:11:54.379
 paid the

00:11:54.379 --> 00:11:54.740
 penalty for

00:11:54.740 --> 00:11:55.299
 my sins.

00:11:55.959 --> 00:11:56.439
 I am

00:11:56.439 --> 00:11:57.459
 now his.

00:11:58.759 --> 00:11:59.360
 Because of

00:11:59.360 --> 00:11:59.579
 what he's

00:11:59.579 --> 00:11:59.860
 done for

00:11:59.860 --> 00:12:00.219
 me I

00:12:00.219 --> 00:12:00.740
 love him.

00:12:01.500 --> 00:12:02.299
 I want to

00:12:02.299 --> 00:12:02.799
 follow him.

00:12:03.459 --> 00:12:04.159
 I want to

00:12:04.159 --> 00:12:04.519
 live my

00:12:04.519 --> 00:12:05.019
 life to

00:12:05.019 --> 00:12:05.799
 please him.

00:12:05.799 --> 00:12:06.519
 it is an

00:12:06.519 --> 00:12:07.039
 ongoing

00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:08.199
 faith and

00:12:08.199 --> 00:12:10.539
 trust that

00:12:10.539 --> 00:12:12.559
 involves love

00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:13.959
 and fellowship

00:12:13.959 --> 00:12:15.559
 and a desire

00:12:15.559 --> 00:12:16.000
 to even

00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:16.559
 obey.

00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:18.919
 Paul makes

00:12:18.919 --> 00:12:19.439
 it clear

00:12:19.439 --> 00:12:21.579
 saving faith

00:12:21.579 --> 00:12:23.939
 is something

00:12:23.939 --> 00:12:24.240
 that we

00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:25.319
 continue to

00:12:25.319 --> 00:12:25.620
 believe.

00:12:25.740 --> 00:12:26.079
 Look at

00:12:26.079 --> 00:12:26.939
 another example

00:12:26.939 --> 00:12:27.740
 Colossians

00:12:27.740 --> 00:12:28.579
 chapter 1.

00:12:29.259 --> 00:12:29.719
 Paul is

00:12:29.719 --> 00:12:30.120
 making it

00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:30.459
 clear here

00:12:30.459 --> 00:12:30.759
 that on

00:12:30.759 --> 00:12:31.579
 judgment day

00:12:31.579 --> 00:12:33.000
 only people

00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:33.439
 who have

00:12:33.439 --> 00:12:34.559
 continued to

00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:35.219
 trust in

00:12:35.220 --> 00:12:36.779
 Jesus will

00:12:36.779 --> 00:12:37.320
 be saved.

00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:38.279
 Look at

00:12:38.279 --> 00:12:38.580
 it.

00:12:38.940 --> 00:12:39.500
 And you

00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:41.440
 who once

00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:42.519
 were alienated

00:12:42.519 --> 00:12:43.500
 and hostile

00:12:43.500 --> 00:12:44.460
 in mind

00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:46.300
 doing evil

00:12:46.300 --> 00:12:47.019
 deeds

00:12:47.019 --> 00:12:48.379
 he has

00:12:48.379 --> 00:12:49.759
 now reconciled

00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:50.660
 in his body

00:12:50.660 --> 00:12:51.500
 of flesh

00:12:51.500 --> 00:12:52.420
 by his

00:12:52.420 --> 00:12:52.879
 death

00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:54.460
 in order to

00:12:54.460 --> 00:12:55.180
 present you

00:12:55.180 --> 00:12:55.899
 holy and

00:12:55.899 --> 00:12:56.660
 blameless and

00:12:56.660 --> 00:12:58.139
 above reproach

00:12:58.139 --> 00:12:59.560
 before him.

00:12:59.820 --> 00:13:00.160
 Let's just

00:13:00.160 --> 00:13:00.540
 pause right

00:13:00.540 --> 00:13:00.740
 here.

00:13:01.940 --> 00:13:02.779
 Jesus died

00:13:02.779 --> 00:13:04.120
 to save us

00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:04.800
 as a part of

00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:05.559
 saving us

00:13:05.559 --> 00:13:06.639
 to change

00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:07.159
 us

00:13:07.159 --> 00:13:08.459
 to make us

00:13:08.459 --> 00:13:09.699
 holy and

00:13:09.699 --> 00:13:10.339
 blameless

00:13:10.339 --> 00:13:11.379
 as time

00:13:11.379 --> 00:13:12.419
 goes on.

00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:16.099
 Jesus did

00:13:16.099 --> 00:13:17.419
 this in order

00:13:17.419 --> 00:13:18.099
 to present you

00:13:18.099 --> 00:13:18.620
 holy and

00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:19.159
 blameless and

00:13:19.159 --> 00:13:19.899
 above reproach

00:13:19.899 --> 00:13:20.479
 before him.

00:13:20.779 --> 00:13:21.139
 Look at it

00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:21.359
 now.

00:13:21.359 --> 00:13:23.359
 If indeed

00:13:23.359 --> 00:13:25.079
 you continue

00:13:25.079 --> 00:13:26.279
 in the faith

00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:27.599
 stable

00:13:27.599 --> 00:13:29.259
 and steadfast

00:13:29.259 --> 00:13:30.799
 not shifting

00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:31.719
 from the hope

00:13:31.720 --> 00:13:32.660
 of the gospel

00:13:32.660 --> 00:13:33.360
 that you

00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:33.980
 heard

00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:35.060
 which has

00:13:35.060 --> 00:13:35.220
 been

00:13:35.220 --> 00:13:35.680
 proclaimed

00:13:35.680 --> 00:13:36.259
 in all

00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:36.779
 creation

00:13:36.779 --> 00:13:37.340
 under heaven

00:13:37.340 --> 00:13:37.860
 and of

00:13:37.860 --> 00:13:38.420
 which I

00:13:38.420 --> 00:13:38.980
 Paul

00:13:38.980 --> 00:13:39.620
 became a

00:13:39.620 --> 00:13:39.899
 minister.

00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:40.779
 Paul's

00:13:40.779 --> 00:13:41.200
 telling us

00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:41.440
 in both

00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:41.779
 Corinthians

00:13:41.779 --> 00:13:42.320
 and here

00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:42.779
 there's only

00:13:42.779 --> 00:13:43.500
 one gospel.

00:13:45.920 --> 00:13:46.540
 It's that

00:13:46.540 --> 00:13:47.139
 salvation is

00:13:47.139 --> 00:13:47.560
 by the grace

00:13:47.560 --> 00:13:47.840
 of God

00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:48.320
 through faith

00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:48.759
 in Jesus

00:13:48.759 --> 00:13:49.259
 and faith

00:13:49.259 --> 00:13:49.660
 in Jesus

00:13:49.660 --> 00:13:50.120
 is something

00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:50.800
 that begins

00:13:50.800 --> 00:13:51.259
 at a moment

00:13:51.259 --> 00:13:51.800
 in time

00:13:51.800 --> 00:13:52.340
 but it

00:13:52.340 --> 00:13:52.840
 continues

00:13:52.840 --> 00:13:53.440
 if it's

00:13:53.440 --> 00:13:53.779
 real.

00:13:54.980 --> 00:13:55.580
 And it

00:13:55.580 --> 00:13:56.080
 makes a

00:13:56.080 --> 00:13:56.500
 difference

00:13:56.500 --> 00:13:56.879
 in our

00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:57.639
 lives

00:13:57.639 --> 00:13:58.980
 this

00:13:58.980 --> 00:13:59.500
 relationship

00:13:59.500 --> 00:14:00.019
 with him

00:14:00.019 --> 00:14:01.340
 if it's

00:14:01.340 --> 00:14:01.639
 real.

00:14:02.919 --> 00:14:03.199
 True

00:14:03.199 --> 00:14:03.559
 faith

00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:04.100
 unites us

00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:04.299
 in a

00:14:04.299 --> 00:14:04.620
 relationship

00:14:04.620 --> 00:14:05.039
 with Jesus

00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:05.519
 Christ

00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:06.639
 that

00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:07.100
 literally

00:14:07.100 --> 00:14:07.980
 changes

00:14:07.980 --> 00:14:09.699
 who we

00:14:09.699 --> 00:14:09.919
 are,

00:14:10.019 --> 00:14:10.399
 how we

00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:10.679
 think,

00:14:10.740 --> 00:14:10.960
 how we

00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:11.259
 look at

00:14:11.259 --> 00:14:11.500
 life,

00:14:11.559 --> 00:14:11.799
 how we

00:14:11.799 --> 00:14:12.659
 live life.

00:14:13.419 --> 00:14:13.699
 Look at

00:14:13.699 --> 00:14:14.019
 how Paul

00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:14.500
 describes it

00:14:14.500 --> 00:14:15.299
 in 2 Corinthians

00:14:15.299 --> 00:14:15.779
 5.

00:14:16.379 --> 00:14:16.659
 He says

00:14:16.659 --> 00:14:17.120
 therefore if

00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:17.519
 anyone is

00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:18.120
 in Christ

00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:19.179
 he's a

00:14:19.179 --> 00:14:19.960
 new creation.

00:14:20.259 --> 00:14:20.559
 The old

00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:20.980
 was passed

00:14:20.980 --> 00:14:21.279
 away,

00:14:21.480 --> 00:14:21.860
 behold the

00:14:21.860 --> 00:14:22.120
 new has

00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:22.379
 come.

00:14:22.580 --> 00:14:22.779
 He doesn't

00:14:22.779 --> 00:14:23.080
 say that

00:14:23.080 --> 00:14:23.319
 you're a

00:14:23.319 --> 00:14:23.580
 perfect

00:14:23.580 --> 00:14:24.100
 creation.

00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:26.159
 He does

00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:26.500
 say but

00:14:26.500 --> 00:14:26.860
 a person

00:14:26.860 --> 00:14:27.120
 is in

00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:27.460
 Christ,

00:14:27.460 --> 00:14:27.879
 he is

00:14:27.879 --> 00:14:28.120
 new.

00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:28.639
 There's

00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:28.940
 been a

00:14:28.940 --> 00:14:29.460
 change

00:14:29.460 --> 00:14:29.759
 that has

00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:30.040
 taken

00:14:30.040 --> 00:14:30.580
 place.

00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:31.900
 Now,

00:14:32.379 --> 00:14:32.860
 let's just

00:14:32.860 --> 00:14:33.320
 pause here

00:14:33.320 --> 00:14:33.740
 and clarify

00:14:33.740 --> 00:14:34.220
 something.

00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:36.259
 Many

00:14:36.259 --> 00:14:36.800
 people

00:14:36.800 --> 00:14:37.379
 can,

00:14:38.379 --> 00:14:38.680
 and I'm

00:14:38.680 --> 00:14:38.879
 going to

00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:39.940
 thank many

00:14:39.940 --> 00:14:40.300
 people in

00:14:40.300 --> 00:14:40.720
 this room,

00:14:41.780 --> 00:14:42.620
 you can

00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:44.759
 point to

00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:45.240
 a time

00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:45.600
 when you

00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:46.160
 made a

00:14:46.160 --> 00:14:46.580
 public

00:14:46.580 --> 00:14:47.220
 profession

00:14:47.220 --> 00:14:47.759
 of faith,

00:14:47.840 --> 00:14:48.139
 when you

00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:48.740
 made a

00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:49.240
 commitment

00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:49.860
 to trust

00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:50.360
 Christ,

00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:52.340
 and a

00:14:52.340 --> 00:14:53.000
 real life

00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:53.519
 changing

00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:55.960
 event took

00:14:55.960 --> 00:14:56.400
 place.

00:14:57.460 --> 00:14:58.340
 I mean,

00:14:58.780 --> 00:14:59.139
 some of

00:14:59.139 --> 00:14:59.660
 you may

00:14:59.660 --> 00:14:59.780
 can

00:14:59.780 --> 00:15:00.220
 remember,

00:15:01.220 --> 00:15:01.980
 when you

00:15:01.980 --> 00:15:02.340
 were 10

00:15:02.340 --> 00:15:02.940
 years old

00:15:02.940 --> 00:15:03.360
 in your

00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:03.780
 home in

00:15:03.780 --> 00:15:04.139
 a certain

00:15:04.139 --> 00:15:04.519
 room,

00:15:04.900 --> 00:15:05.139
 one of

00:15:05.139 --> 00:15:05.580
 your parents

00:15:05.580 --> 00:15:06.019
 shared the

00:15:06.019 --> 00:15:06.540
 gospel with

00:15:06.540 --> 00:15:06.720
 you,

00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:07.400
 you put

00:15:07.400 --> 00:15:07.879
 your trust

00:15:07.879 --> 00:15:08.340
 in Jesus

00:15:08.340 --> 00:15:08.820
 right then,

00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:09.240
 you called

00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:10.080
 upon him

00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:10.519
 to save

00:15:10.519 --> 00:15:10.740
 you,

00:15:11.180 --> 00:15:11.820
 he did.

00:15:12.259 --> 00:15:12.639
 There's

00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:12.960
 been a

00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:13.320
 change,

00:15:13.400 --> 00:15:14.040
 not perfect,

00:15:14.200 --> 00:15:14.540
 but a

00:15:14.540 --> 00:15:15.280
 gradual over

00:15:15.280 --> 00:15:15.480
 time,

00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:16.000
 there's been a

00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:16.440
 change in

00:15:16.440 --> 00:15:16.940
 your life

00:15:16.940 --> 00:15:17.600
 from that

00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:18.019
 time.

00:15:18.019 --> 00:15:20.000
 some of

00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:20.340
 you may

00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:21.179
 remember as

00:15:21.179 --> 00:15:21.799
 an adult,

00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:23.419
 a specific

00:15:23.419 --> 00:15:24.439
 time that

00:15:24.439 --> 00:15:25.000
 God worked

00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:25.240
 in your

00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:25.460
 life,

00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:25.659
 it may

00:15:25.659 --> 00:15:25.860
 have been

00:15:25.860 --> 00:15:26.079
 in a

00:15:26.079 --> 00:15:26.299
 church

00:15:26.299 --> 00:15:26.559
 service,

00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:26.799
 it may

00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:27.000
 have been

00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:27.639
 out somewhere,

00:15:27.799 --> 00:15:28.019
 you were

00:15:28.019 --> 00:15:28.340
 just out

00:15:28.340 --> 00:15:29.039
 by yourself,

00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:30.059
 but you

00:15:30.059 --> 00:15:30.679
 understood the

00:15:30.679 --> 00:15:31.000
 gospel,

00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:31.299
 and you

00:15:31.299 --> 00:15:32.139
 truly turned

00:15:32.139 --> 00:15:32.539
 from your

00:15:32.539 --> 00:15:32.879
 sins,

00:15:32.939 --> 00:15:33.199
 you put

00:15:33.199 --> 00:15:33.659
 your trust

00:15:33.659 --> 00:15:34.100
 in Jesus.

00:15:35.620 --> 00:15:36.039
 God

00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:37.100
 saved you,

00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:37.899
 he changed

00:15:37.899 --> 00:15:38.199
 you,

00:15:38.340 --> 00:15:38.699
 he's been

00:15:38.699 --> 00:15:39.319
 working in

00:15:39.319 --> 00:15:39.779
 you ever

00:15:39.779 --> 00:15:40.699
 since then,

00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:41.579
 you know

00:15:41.579 --> 00:15:41.819
 it,

00:15:42.259 --> 00:15:42.740
 and people

00:15:42.740 --> 00:15:43.179
 who know

00:15:43.179 --> 00:15:43.639
 you can

00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:44.360
 see the

00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:45.079
 difference

00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:46.240
 that the

00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:47.040
 Lord has

00:15:47.040 --> 00:15:47.400
 and is

00:15:47.400 --> 00:15:48.639
 making in

00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:48.940
 you.

00:15:50.259 --> 00:15:50.720
 What we

00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:50.920
 need to

00:15:50.920 --> 00:15:51.460
 understand is

00:15:51.460 --> 00:15:52.620
 that no

00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:53.300
 matter how

00:15:53.300 --> 00:15:54.040
 meaningful

00:15:54.040 --> 00:15:55.379
 that

00:15:55.379 --> 00:15:56.379
 experience

00:15:56.379 --> 00:15:56.960
 was when

00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:57.320
 we first

00:15:57.320 --> 00:15:57.840
 trusted the

00:15:57.840 --> 00:15:58.080
 Lord,

00:15:58.080 --> 00:16:00.040
 if it was

00:16:00.040 --> 00:16:00.600
 genuine,

00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:02.460
 it was only

00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:03.180
 the beginning

00:16:03.180 --> 00:16:05.120
 of our

00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:05.480
 current

00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:06.040
 relationship

00:16:06.040 --> 00:16:06.960
 with Jesus.

00:16:07.680 --> 00:16:07.920
 You know,

00:16:07.980 --> 00:16:08.960
 Jesus described

00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:10.240
 salvation in

00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:10.900
 terms of being

00:16:10.900 --> 00:16:12.259
 a new birth

00:16:12.259 --> 00:16:13.360
 in John

00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:14.160
 chapter 3.

00:16:14.700 --> 00:16:14.920
 I mean,

00:16:14.919 --> 00:16:15.500
 Jesus was

00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:16.139
 talking to a

00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:17.079
 religious leader,

00:16:17.379 --> 00:16:17.799
 a man named

00:16:17.799 --> 00:16:18.399
 Nicodemus,

00:16:18.559 --> 00:16:19.339
 and told him

00:16:19.339 --> 00:16:20.099
 unless he was

00:16:20.099 --> 00:16:20.699
 born again,

00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:21.179
 he would not

00:16:21.179 --> 00:16:21.500
 see the

00:16:21.500 --> 00:16:21.899
 kingdom of

00:16:21.899 --> 00:16:22.120
 God.

00:16:22.719 --> 00:16:23.299
 He was

00:16:23.299 --> 00:16:23.959
 talking about

00:16:23.959 --> 00:16:24.879
 a new

00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:25.199
 birth,

00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:26.899
 a work of

00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:27.240
 God,

00:16:27.559 --> 00:16:28.039
 a work of

00:16:28.039 --> 00:16:29.259
 what theologians

00:16:29.259 --> 00:16:30.319
 call regeneration,

00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:31.639
 when God

00:16:31.639 --> 00:16:32.459
 works to

00:16:32.459 --> 00:16:33.979
 just change

00:16:33.979 --> 00:16:34.579
 us within

00:16:34.579 --> 00:16:35.240
 and give us

00:16:35.240 --> 00:16:35.799
 the desire

00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:36.199
 to turn

00:16:36.199 --> 00:16:36.579
 from our

00:16:36.579 --> 00:16:37.879
 sin and

00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:38.699
 trust Jesus

00:16:38.699 --> 00:16:39.159
 and commit

00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:39.639
 our lives

00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.099
 to him.

00:16:40.679 --> 00:16:41.179
 But let's

00:16:41.179 --> 00:16:41.559
 just think of

00:16:41.559 --> 00:16:42.279
 that phrase,

00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:42.839
 a new

00:16:42.839 --> 00:16:43.159
 birth.

00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:45.819
 Most of

00:16:45.819 --> 00:16:46.159
 you in

00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:46.439
 here,

00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:48.000
 you were

00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:50.199
 there when

00:16:50.199 --> 00:16:51.039
 your children

00:16:51.039 --> 00:16:51.659
 were born.

00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:52.500
 Some of you

00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:53.219
 right there,

00:16:53.459 --> 00:16:54.259
 front row seat.

00:16:55.219 --> 00:16:55.879
 You were

00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:56.319
 there when

00:16:56.319 --> 00:16:57.039
 your grandchildren

00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:57.480
 were born,

00:16:57.559 --> 00:16:57.939
 some of you.

00:16:58.759 --> 00:17:00.339
 That new

00:17:00.339 --> 00:17:02.000
 physical birth

00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:02.759
 experience,

00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:03.819
 you've never

00:17:03.819 --> 00:17:04.359
 gotten over.

00:17:04.500 --> 00:17:05.319
 It was just

00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:05.920
 wonderful,

00:17:06.099 --> 00:17:06.460
 great.

00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:07.819
 It changed

00:17:07.819 --> 00:17:08.579
 your life to

00:17:08.579 --> 00:17:09.579
 see that

00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:09.920
 birth,

00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:10.339
 to see that

00:17:10.339 --> 00:17:10.980
 little one

00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:11.279
 that you

00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:11.980
 love right

00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:12.339
 now,

00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:13.539
 come into

00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:14.439
 your world.

00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:15.939
 As important

00:17:15.939 --> 00:17:16.359
 as that

00:17:16.359 --> 00:17:17.759
 new physical

00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:18.480
 birth experience

00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:18.899
 was,

00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:20.159
 it was just

00:17:20.159 --> 00:17:20.819
 the beginning.

00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:22.959
 That little

00:17:22.959 --> 00:17:23.519
 one that got

00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:24.159
 you excited

00:17:24.159 --> 00:17:24.919
 didn't stay

00:17:24.919 --> 00:17:25.339
 little.

00:17:26.500 --> 00:17:27.199
 He or she

00:17:27.199 --> 00:17:28.220
 grew and

00:17:28.220 --> 00:17:29.159
 matured,

00:17:29.379 --> 00:17:30.099
 because that's

00:17:30.099 --> 00:17:30.599
 what a

00:17:30.599 --> 00:17:31.079
 normal,

00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:31.879
 healthy,

00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:33.159
 new baby

00:17:33.159 --> 00:17:33.839
 will do.

00:17:34.699 --> 00:17:35.019
 It was the

00:17:35.019 --> 00:17:35.500
 same thing

00:17:35.500 --> 00:17:35.939
 in the

00:17:35.939 --> 00:17:36.619
 Christian

00:17:36.619 --> 00:17:37.720
 experience of

00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:38.579
 a spiritual

00:17:38.579 --> 00:17:39.640
 new birth.

00:17:40.940 --> 00:17:41.660
 Every person

00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:42.799
 who is born

00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:43.400
 again by the

00:17:43.400 --> 00:17:43.759
 Spirit of

00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:46.680
 God will

00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:47.319
 grow,

00:17:48.019 --> 00:17:49.640
 will mature,

00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:50.680
 will develop

00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:51.779
 over time,

00:17:52.259 --> 00:17:52.920
 and if they

00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:53.500
 don't,

00:17:54.839 --> 00:17:55.839
 no new

00:17:55.839 --> 00:17:56.259
 birth,

00:17:56.779 --> 00:17:57.259
 no new

00:17:57.259 --> 00:17:58.860
 life has

00:17:58.860 --> 00:17:59.160
 ever been

00:17:59.160 --> 00:17:59.660
 experienced.

00:18:00.660 --> 00:18:00.900
 Now,

00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:01.299
 the truth

00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:01.620
 is,

00:18:02.019 --> 00:18:02.620
 as people

00:18:02.620 --> 00:18:03.120
 grow,

00:18:04.120 --> 00:18:04.779
 just look

00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:05.079
 around in

00:18:05.079 --> 00:18:05.460
 this room.

00:18:05.460 --> 00:18:06.519
 not a

00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:06.779
 single,

00:18:06.920 --> 00:18:07.799
 there's no

00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:08.340
 two of

00:18:08.340 --> 00:18:09.360
 us who

00:18:09.360 --> 00:18:09.920
 have grown

00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:10.539
 spiritually

00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:11.380
 exactly the

00:18:11.380 --> 00:18:11.960
 same way.

00:18:13.579 --> 00:18:13.900
 You know,

00:18:14.340 --> 00:18:15.019
 among all

00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:15.299
 of us in

00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:15.600
 this room,

00:18:15.940 --> 00:18:16.740
 some people,

00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:18.019
 over the

00:18:18.019 --> 00:18:18.400
 time you've

00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:18.640
 been a

00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:18.860
 Christian,

00:18:19.120 --> 00:18:19.799
 some people

00:18:19.799 --> 00:18:20.360
 have made

00:18:20.360 --> 00:18:21.059
 tremendous

00:18:21.059 --> 00:18:23.140
 growth in

00:18:23.140 --> 00:18:24.100
 developing more

00:18:24.100 --> 00:18:24.759
 Christ-like

00:18:24.759 --> 00:18:25.299
 character.

00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:27.000
 A more

00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:28.059
 radical change

00:18:28.059 --> 00:18:28.480
 has taken

00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:29.360
 place in

00:18:29.360 --> 00:18:30.160
 some people

00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:30.400
 in this

00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:30.940
 room than

00:18:30.940 --> 00:18:31.340
 others.

00:18:32.340 --> 00:18:33.019
 But everything

00:18:33.019 --> 00:18:33.259
 the New

00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:33.860
 Testament teaches,

00:18:33.859 --> 00:18:35.619
 if there is

00:18:35.619 --> 00:18:36.539
 spiritual life,

00:18:36.659 --> 00:18:37.279
 there will be

00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:39.319
 evidence of

00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:39.439
 it.

00:18:40.059 --> 00:18:40.339
 There will

00:18:40.339 --> 00:18:41.259
 be spiritual

00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:41.879
 fruit,

00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:42.679
 which is

00:18:42.679 --> 00:18:43.119
 basically

00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:43.740
 character

00:18:43.740 --> 00:18:44.459
 qualities.

00:18:45.479 --> 00:18:45.779
 And that

00:18:45.779 --> 00:18:45.979
 will be

00:18:45.979 --> 00:18:46.439
 visible in

00:18:46.439 --> 00:18:46.740
 the life

00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:47.099
 of everyone

00:18:47.099 --> 00:18:47.339
 who has

00:18:47.339 --> 00:18:47.799
 truly been

00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:48.859
 born again.

00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:49.919
 Now,

00:18:49.939 --> 00:18:50.319
 the reason

00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:50.839
 why we

00:18:50.839 --> 00:18:51.159
 can be

00:18:51.159 --> 00:18:51.779
 confident

00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:53.159
 that this

00:18:53.159 --> 00:18:53.579
 is true,

00:18:53.719 --> 00:18:54.119
 that all

00:18:54.119 --> 00:18:54.500
 Christians

00:18:54.500 --> 00:18:55.719
 will grow

00:18:55.719 --> 00:18:56.539
 and mature

00:18:56.539 --> 00:18:57.779
 to some

00:18:57.779 --> 00:18:58.339
 degree,

00:18:59.079 --> 00:18:59.479
 is because

00:18:59.479 --> 00:18:59.779
 what we're

00:18:59.779 --> 00:19:00.299
 talking about

00:19:00.299 --> 00:19:00.859
 is a work

00:19:00.859 --> 00:19:01.339
 of God.

00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:02.299
 What we're

00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:02.839
 talking about

00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:03.179
 this morning

00:19:03.180 --> 00:19:03.500
 and talking

00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:03.820
 about the

00:19:03.820 --> 00:19:04.200
 new birth,

00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:04.640
 talking about

00:19:04.640 --> 00:19:05.140
 salvation,

00:19:05.420 --> 00:19:05.900
 this is not

00:19:05.900 --> 00:19:06.340
 something that

00:19:06.340 --> 00:19:06.920
 we do

00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:07.320
 ourselves.

00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:07.720
 You don't

00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:08.460
 just decide,

00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:08.880
 I'm going

00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:09.140
 to become

00:19:09.140 --> 00:19:09.480
 a Christian

00:19:09.480 --> 00:19:09.900
 and I'm

00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:09.980
 going to

00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:10.259
 do my

00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:11.220
 best and

00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:11.420
 I'm going

00:19:11.420 --> 00:19:11.860
 to believe

00:19:11.860 --> 00:19:12.140
 and I'm

00:19:12.140 --> 00:19:12.299
 going to

00:19:12.299 --> 00:19:12.620
 obey.

00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:13.120
 No,

00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:13.580
 you do

00:19:13.580 --> 00:19:13.960
 not.

00:19:15.880 --> 00:19:16.320
 God

00:19:16.320 --> 00:19:17.779
 works in

00:19:17.779 --> 00:19:18.299
 a person's

00:19:18.299 --> 00:19:20.259
 life to

00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:20.759
 make them

00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:21.279
 aware of

00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:22.100
 their need

00:19:22.100 --> 00:19:23.279
 for Him,

00:19:23.779 --> 00:19:24.440
 to be right

00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:24.840
 with Him.

00:19:25.160 --> 00:19:25.440
 You see,

00:19:25.940 --> 00:19:26.400
 we don't

00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:27.019
 seek God

00:19:27.019 --> 00:19:27.420
 on our

00:19:27.420 --> 00:19:27.720
 own.

00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:28.620
 Read Romans

00:19:28.620 --> 00:19:29.279
 chapter 3,

00:19:29.360 --> 00:19:29.960
 beginning about

00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:30.560
 verse 10.

00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:33.119
 We seek

00:19:33.119 --> 00:19:33.819
 God because

00:19:33.819 --> 00:19:34.379
 He first

00:19:34.379 --> 00:19:35.440
 sought us.

00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:37.200
 And when

00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:38.059
 God starts

00:19:38.059 --> 00:19:38.559
 doing a

00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:39.119
 work in

00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:39.559
 us,

00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:41.720
 opening our

00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:42.460
 eyes to

00:19:42.460 --> 00:19:44.099
 see our

00:19:44.099 --> 00:19:44.879
 need for a

00:19:44.879 --> 00:19:45.359
 Savior and

00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:45.759
 that Jesus

00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:46.279
 is that

00:19:46.279 --> 00:19:46.679
 Savior,

00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:47.960
 when God

00:19:47.960 --> 00:19:48.639
 starts working

00:19:48.639 --> 00:19:49.879
 in us to

00:19:49.879 --> 00:19:50.359
 call us to

00:19:50.359 --> 00:19:50.799
 want to turn

00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:51.139
 from our

00:19:51.139 --> 00:19:51.599
 sin and

00:19:51.599 --> 00:19:52.119
 trust in

00:19:52.119 --> 00:19:52.639
 Jesus and

00:19:52.639 --> 00:19:53.059
 surrender our

00:19:53.059 --> 00:19:53.379
 lives to

00:19:53.379 --> 00:19:53.539
 Him,

00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:54.980
 we can be

00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:56.179
 sure that

00:19:56.179 --> 00:19:56.639
 just as He

00:19:56.639 --> 00:19:57.200
 begins the

00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:57.940
 work, He

00:19:57.940 --> 00:19:58.720
 will continue

00:19:58.720 --> 00:19:59.500
 that work.

00:19:59.620 --> 00:20:00.240
 As Paul

00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:01.240
 says in

00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:01.880
 Philippians 1,

00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:02.880
 6, look at

00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:03.059
 it.

00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:04.539
 He says,

00:20:04.600 --> 00:20:04.920
 and I am

00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:05.339
 sure of

00:20:05.339 --> 00:20:06.380
 this, that

00:20:06.380 --> 00:20:06.839
 He who

00:20:06.839 --> 00:20:07.380
 began a

00:20:07.380 --> 00:20:07.960
 good work

00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:08.559
 in you,

00:20:08.660 --> 00:20:09.059
 He's talking

00:20:09.059 --> 00:20:09.319
 to that

00:20:09.319 --> 00:20:09.819
 whole church,

00:20:09.900 --> 00:20:10.299
 all those

00:20:10.299 --> 00:20:10.640
 people,

00:20:11.880 --> 00:20:12.720
 will bring

00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.059
 it to

00:20:13.059 --> 00:20:15.000
 completion at

00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:15.980
 the day of

00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:17.220
 Jesus Christ.

00:20:17.640 --> 00:20:18.059
 He's telling

00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:18.400
 us that

00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:19.039
 whatever God

00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:19.759
 starts, God

00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:20.240
 finishes.

00:20:22.100 --> 00:20:22.640
 The Bible

00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:23.960
 provides no

00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:24.819
 assurance of

00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:25.779
 salvation to

00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:26.279
 people who

00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:27.559
 make merely a

00:20:27.559 --> 00:20:28.279
 profession of

00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:30.180
 faith, but

00:20:30.180 --> 00:20:31.559
 never continue

00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:32.899
 to follow

00:20:32.899 --> 00:20:33.399
 Christ.

00:20:34.039 --> 00:20:35.000
 If there's no

00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:35.700
 signs in a

00:20:35.700 --> 00:20:36.279
 person's life

00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:36.899
 they have a

00:20:36.899 --> 00:20:37.700
 real relationship

00:20:37.700 --> 00:20:38.660
 with Jesus,

00:20:39.660 --> 00:20:40.539
 there's no

00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:41.259
 reason for a

00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:41.639
 person to

00:20:41.639 --> 00:20:42.059
 think that

00:20:42.059 --> 00:20:43.960
 they have a

00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:44.700
 relationship with

00:20:44.700 --> 00:20:44.980
 Jesus.

00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:46.480
 Now, I want

00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:46.680
 to look at

00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:47.920
 one thing that

00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:48.720
 prevents some

00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:49.359
 Christians from

00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:50.200
 having assurance.

00:20:50.399 --> 00:20:50.980
 This is going

00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:52.200
 to be for some

00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:53.200
 of you right

00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:53.660
 here, right

00:20:53.660 --> 00:20:53.899
 now.

00:20:54.599 --> 00:20:55.279
 Assurance is

00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:55.940
 not dependent

00:20:55.940 --> 00:20:56.480
 upon your

00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:57.099
 ability to

00:20:57.099 --> 00:20:57.700
 recall the

00:20:57.700 --> 00:20:58.100
 day and

00:20:58.100 --> 00:20:58.559
 time you

00:20:58.559 --> 00:20:59.019
 were saved.

00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:01.080
 You don't

00:21:01.080 --> 00:21:01.460
 have to be

00:21:01.460 --> 00:21:02.259
 able to look

00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:02.600
 back and

00:21:02.600 --> 00:21:03.259
 say, that's

00:21:03.259 --> 00:21:03.640
 the day I

00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:04.200
 was saved in

00:21:04.200 --> 00:21:04.480
 order for you

00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:05.420
 to be assured

00:21:05.420 --> 00:21:05.680
 of your

00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:06.120
 salvation.

00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:07.380
 Everyone does

00:21:07.380 --> 00:21:07.880
 not have a

00:21:07.880 --> 00:21:08.279
 dramatic,

00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:08.980
 life-changing

00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:09.600
 experience of

00:21:09.600 --> 00:21:10.019
 salvation.

00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:11.000
 Don't

00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:11.420
 misunderstand.

00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:13.160
 Every person

00:21:13.160 --> 00:21:13.500
 who is a

00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:14.000
 Christian, every

00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:14.299
 person who

00:21:14.299 --> 00:21:14.620
 has been

00:21:14.620 --> 00:21:15.360
 saved, every

00:21:15.360 --> 00:21:15.600
 person who

00:21:15.600 --> 00:21:15.759
 has been

00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:16.259
 born again,

00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:18.080
 God worked

00:21:18.080 --> 00:21:18.360
 in that

00:21:18.360 --> 00:21:19.640
 person at a

00:21:19.640 --> 00:21:20.240
 moment in

00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:21.559
 time, brought

00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:22.220
 about a new

00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:22.660
 birth.

00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:23.880
 There was a

00:21:23.880 --> 00:21:24.380
 time when the

00:21:24.380 --> 00:21:25.019
 person passed

00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:26.279
 from death to

00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:26.700
 life.

00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:28.460
 But everybody

00:21:28.460 --> 00:21:29.039
 is not

00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:30.879
 conscious of

00:21:30.879 --> 00:21:31.420
 when that

00:21:31.420 --> 00:21:33.480
 exactly happens.

00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:34.680
 Think about it

00:21:34.680 --> 00:21:35.119
 this way.

00:21:35.940 --> 00:21:36.639
 Two people

00:21:36.639 --> 00:21:38.099
 from Pickens

00:21:38.099 --> 00:21:39.019
 are going to

00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:39.680
 travel to

00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:40.879
 Raleigh, North

00:21:40.879 --> 00:21:41.639
 Carolina today.

00:21:42.279 --> 00:21:42.899
 One's going to

00:21:42.899 --> 00:21:43.599
 drive, one's

00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:44.160
 going to fly.

00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:46.619
 The person who

00:21:46.619 --> 00:21:47.299
 gets in their

00:21:47.299 --> 00:21:48.420
 car out here and

00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:49.240
 drives up

00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:50.240
 Interstate 85,

00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:52.559
 if they can make

00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:53.240
 it up Interstate

00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:54.279
 85, there's not a

00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:56.180
 massive stoppage.

00:21:57.559 --> 00:21:58.759
 As soon as they

00:21:58.759 --> 00:21:59.440
 pass out of

00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:00.059
 South Carolina,

00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:00.599
 they're going to

00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:01.799
 see a welcome to

00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:02.819
 North Carolina sign.

00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:04.220
 They're going to

00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:05.720
 see a North

00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:06.920
 Carolina state

00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:08.720
 line sign.

00:22:09.660 --> 00:22:10.299
 And so when we

00:22:10.299 --> 00:22:11.139
 drive up 85,

00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:12.859
 we're going to

00:22:12.859 --> 00:22:13.379
 know when we

00:22:13.379 --> 00:22:14.299
 pass from South

00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:15.519
 Carolina to North

00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:16.839
 Carolina because

00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:17.559
 it's clearly

00:22:17.559 --> 00:22:18.259
 marked.

00:22:19.899 --> 00:22:20.559
 If a person

00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.180
 goes out to

00:22:21.180 --> 00:22:21.680
 Pickens County

00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:22.279
 Airport and gets

00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:22.960
 in an airplane,

00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:24.240
 and they take

00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:25.680
 off up the

00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:26.880
 road, they're

00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:28.200
 flying just

00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:28.860
 above 85.

00:22:30.380 --> 00:22:31.059
 They're not

00:22:31.059 --> 00:22:31.640
 going to see

00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:32.799
 that state

00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:33.420
 line sign.

00:22:33.600 --> 00:22:33.880
 They're not

00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:34.160
 going to look

00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:34.840
 down and see a

00:22:34.840 --> 00:22:35.940
 line drawn between

00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:36.779
 South Carolina and

00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:37.200
 North Carolina.

00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:38.840
 But as they

00:22:38.840 --> 00:22:40.940
 fly up the

00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:41.460
 road, up the

00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:43.180
 way here, and

00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:43.779
 they look down

00:22:43.779 --> 00:22:44.600
 and they see the

00:22:44.600 --> 00:22:45.759
 city of Charlotte,

00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:47.360
 they're going to

00:22:47.360 --> 00:22:48.819
 know I'm already

00:22:48.819 --> 00:22:49.420
 in North Carolina.

00:22:49.420 --> 00:22:50.880
 They see the

00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:51.820
 sign that they're

00:22:51.820 --> 00:22:53.019
 in North Carolina

00:22:53.019 --> 00:22:54.019
 because they see

00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:54.820
 Charlotte.

00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:55.960
 Now think about

00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:56.180
 it.

00:22:57.080 --> 00:22:58.560
 Both individuals,

00:22:59.019 --> 00:22:59.560
 one in the car,

00:22:59.640 --> 00:23:00.220
 one in the plane,

00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:01.380
 they both leave

00:23:01.380 --> 00:23:02.920
 here, they both

00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:03.880
 arrive at their

00:23:03.880 --> 00:23:05.279
 destination, Raleigh,

00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:06.420
 safe and sound.

00:23:07.180 --> 00:23:08.480
 One of them knows

00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:09.300
 the exact moment

00:23:09.300 --> 00:23:10.080
 they pass from

00:23:10.080 --> 00:23:11.000
 South Carolina to

00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:11.480
 North Carolina.

00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:12.779
 The other one

00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:13.300
 doesn't know the

00:23:13.300 --> 00:23:14.060
 exact time they

00:23:14.060 --> 00:23:14.779
 pass from South

00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.700
 Carolina to North

00:23:15.700 --> 00:23:17.100
 Carolina, but they

00:23:17.100 --> 00:23:18.100
 know when they got

00:23:18.099 --> 00:23:18.740
 in North Carolina

00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:19.959
 because they saw

00:23:19.959 --> 00:23:22.879
 signs of being

00:23:22.879 --> 00:23:23.219
 there.

00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:26.099
 Everyone does not

00:23:26.099 --> 00:23:27.740
 know the day and

00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:28.599
 time when they

00:23:28.599 --> 00:23:30.579
 actually were born

00:23:30.579 --> 00:23:32.399
 again, passed from

00:23:32.399 --> 00:23:33.539
 death to life.

00:23:35.139 --> 00:23:36.179
 But everyone who's

00:23:36.179 --> 00:23:37.119
 a Christian should be

00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:37.799
 able to look at

00:23:37.799 --> 00:23:39.339
 signs in their life

00:23:39.339 --> 00:23:40.619
 that clearly reveal

00:23:40.619 --> 00:23:42.579
 they have passed

00:23:42.579 --> 00:23:45.139
 from death to life.

00:23:45.919 --> 00:23:47.980
 They are in Christ.

00:23:48.099 --> 00:23:49.619
 because they see the

00:23:49.619 --> 00:23:52.000
 signs that he is

00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:53.439
 changing them.

00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:57.819
 The Apostle Paul is

00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:58.599
 an example of

00:23:58.599 --> 00:24:01.019
 someone, he had a

00:24:01.019 --> 00:24:02.039
 dramatic conversion

00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:02.659
 experience.

00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:04.319
 He went from being

00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:05.099
 the enemy of the

00:24:05.099 --> 00:24:06.000
 church, the

00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:06.879
 persecutor of the

00:24:06.879 --> 00:24:07.159
 church.

00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:08.679
 When God saved him,

00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:09.779
 he changed immediately.

00:24:09.959 --> 00:24:11.000
 God changed him from

00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:11.679
 the inside out

00:24:11.679 --> 00:24:12.099
 immediately.

00:24:12.719 --> 00:24:13.279
 He became the

00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:15.019
 great apostle,

00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:17.319
 leader, protector of

00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:17.859
 the church.

00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:20.419
 But everyone can't

00:24:20.419 --> 00:24:21.139
 look back and

00:24:21.139 --> 00:24:22.240
 pinpoint such a

00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:23.599
 dramatic conversion

00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:24.759
 experience.

00:24:26.439 --> 00:24:27.740
 This may be your

00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:29.419
 experience if you

00:24:29.419 --> 00:24:30.419
 became a Christian

00:24:30.419 --> 00:24:31.700
 as a young child.

00:24:32.579 --> 00:24:33.299
 Think with me.

00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:34.720
 A lot of children

00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:36.099
 grow up in a

00:24:36.099 --> 00:24:37.519
 Christian home and

00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:38.659
 all they can ever

00:24:38.659 --> 00:24:39.980
 remember is being

00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:41.000
 taught about Jesus,

00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:43.179
 who he is, what he's

00:24:43.179 --> 00:24:43.799
 done for them.

00:24:43.799 --> 00:24:44.700
 They go to a

00:24:44.700 --> 00:24:45.700
 church, that's all

00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:48.480
 they ever know, who

00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:49.759
 Jesus is, what he's

00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:50.099
 done.

00:24:51.099 --> 00:24:52.319
 And at some point in

00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:54.899
 their life, they just

00:24:54.899 --> 00:24:55.539
 sort of come to

00:24:55.539 --> 00:24:59.119
 realize, I trust in

00:24:59.119 --> 00:24:59.339
 Jesus.

00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:01.319
 I believe what I've

00:25:01.319 --> 00:25:01.799
 been taught.

00:25:02.579 --> 00:25:03.859
 I don't want to sin.

00:25:04.039 --> 00:25:05.079
 I'm sorry for my

00:25:05.079 --> 00:25:05.339
 sins.

00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:06.919
 I truly believe that

00:25:06.919 --> 00:25:08.079
 Jesus, when he died

00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:09.099
 on the cross, he took

00:25:09.099 --> 00:25:09.720
 my punishment.

00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:10.740
 He paid the penalty

00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:11.299
 for my sins.

00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:12.639
 I am trusting him.

00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:13.520
 But they cannot tell

00:25:13.520 --> 00:25:15.160
 you when they

00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:16.220
 actually started

00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:17.740
 believing that, and

00:25:17.740 --> 00:25:18.600
 that's okay.

00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:22.360
 That's okay.

00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:25.000
 Be thankful that you

00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:26.120
 didn't live such a

00:25:26.120 --> 00:25:28.820
 terrible life that

00:25:28.820 --> 00:25:29.480
 there was a big

00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:30.280
 difference between

00:25:30.280 --> 00:25:31.960
 the time you were

00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:32.720
 not a Christian and

00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:33.400
 became a Christian.

00:25:34.380 --> 00:25:35.100
 Be thankful you

00:25:35.100 --> 00:25:35.480
 don't have an

00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:36.780
 Apostle Paul, Damascus

00:25:36.780 --> 00:25:37.460
 Road kind of

00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:39.400
 experience, if you

00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:39.840
 don't.

00:25:40.860 --> 00:25:42.200
 Be thankful that God

00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:43.279
 blessed you with a

00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:44.440
 Christian home and a

00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:45.120
 Christian church.

00:25:45.380 --> 00:25:45.840
 Being in that

00:25:45.840 --> 00:25:46.840
 Christian home, being

00:25:46.840 --> 00:25:47.319
 in that Christian

00:25:47.319 --> 00:25:48.080
 church is not what

00:25:48.080 --> 00:25:48.740
 saved you.

00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:51.440
 God worked through

00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:53.539
 the gospel as you

00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:54.559
 were taught by your

00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:55.319
 parents, taught by

00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:56.279
 your church, as you

00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:57.700
 saw in your parents

00:25:57.700 --> 00:25:58.559
 and other people at

00:25:58.559 --> 00:25:58.940
 church.

00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:00.559
 And God worked in

00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:01.720
 you at some point

00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:03.920
 to actually do, bring

00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:04.840
 about that new birth.

00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:04.899
 church.

00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:10.419
 But it was such a, not

00:26:10.419 --> 00:26:11.539
 that big a change from

00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:12.399
 the way you were

00:26:12.399 --> 00:26:13.839
 living before you

00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:15.439
 truly trusted Jesus to

00:26:15.439 --> 00:26:16.240
 when you did trust

00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:16.399
 Him.

00:26:17.119 --> 00:26:18.139
 And you just can't

00:26:18.139 --> 00:26:20.119
 pinpoint exactly when

00:26:20.119 --> 00:26:21.079
 that took place.

00:26:22.059 --> 00:26:23.980
 Don't worry about it.

00:26:24.339 --> 00:26:24.839
 If that happened to

00:26:24.839 --> 00:26:26.199
 you as an adult, you

00:26:26.199 --> 00:26:27.079
 just can't pinpoint.

00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:28.079
 The most important

00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:29.240
 thing is you are

00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:30.259
 trusting the Lord Jesus

00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:31.460
 Christ now.

00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:35.680
 Understand, the most

00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:36.640
 important question

00:26:36.640 --> 00:26:38.079
 concerning salvation is

00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:39.879
 not when did you come

00:26:39.879 --> 00:26:42.839
 to Christ, but do you

00:26:42.839 --> 00:26:44.660
 trust Him now?

00:26:46.039 --> 00:26:48.200
 I want to ask you, have

00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:49.140
 you turned away from

00:26:49.140 --> 00:26:49.519
 your sin?

00:26:49.619 --> 00:26:50.440
 Have you repented?

00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:53.980
 Are you sorry over your

00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:54.720
 sin, the fact that

00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:56.180
 you've offended, wronged,

00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:57.160
 disobeyed God?

00:26:58.220 --> 00:26:59.599
 Have you put your trust

00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:00.539
 in Jesus that when He

00:27:00.539 --> 00:27:01.659
 died on the cross, He

00:27:01.659 --> 00:27:02.459
 actually took your

00:27:02.459 --> 00:27:03.899
 place, paid the penalty

00:27:03.899 --> 00:27:05.259
 for your sins?

00:27:06.159 --> 00:27:07.579
 Are you trusting Him

00:27:07.579 --> 00:27:07.939
 now?

00:27:08.639 --> 00:27:09.579
 Do you love Him?

00:27:10.859 --> 00:27:12.799
 Do you desire to obey

00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:13.179
 Him?

00:27:14.399 --> 00:27:15.779
 If you truly have been

00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:17.500
 saved, there will be

00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:20.379
 such signs that indicate

00:27:20.379 --> 00:27:22.459
 you belong to Christ.

00:27:23.980 --> 00:27:25.279
 He's in your life.

00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:27.579
 He's making a difference.

00:27:27.579 --> 00:27:29.960
 But if you can't see

00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:32.720
 those signs, you should

00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:33.599
 not have salvation.

00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:34.339
 You should not have

00:27:34.339 --> 00:27:34.879
 assurance.

00:27:36.399 --> 00:27:37.500
 So I want to ask you

00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.639
 as we wind this up.

00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:41.319
 Can you see such signs

00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:43.220
 in your life?

00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:47.559
 If you died today, and

00:27:47.559 --> 00:27:48.819
 your family members and

00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:52.819
 friends who grieve because

00:27:52.819 --> 00:27:53.599
 you're no longer with

00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:56.139
 them, will they have

00:27:56.140 --> 00:28:00.100
 comfort in knowing you

00:28:00.100 --> 00:28:01.080
 are with the Lord?

00:28:02.280 --> 00:28:03.780
 Because we saw

00:28:03.780 --> 00:28:06.180
 evidence, because they

00:28:06.180 --> 00:28:07.200
 saw evidence in your

00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:09.759
 life that you trust

00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:11.440
 Christ, that you love

00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:13.060
 Him, that you're seeking

00:28:13.060 --> 00:28:17.060
 to follow Him today, that

00:28:17.060 --> 00:28:18.280
 He's making a difference

00:28:18.280 --> 00:28:19.640
 in your life.

00:28:20.640 --> 00:28:22.140
 If you can't see any real

00:28:22.140 --> 00:28:25.060
 signs of a present

00:28:25.060 --> 00:28:26.420
 relationship with Jesus,

00:28:27.420 --> 00:28:28.580
 I want you to ask

00:28:28.580 --> 00:28:30.780
 yourself, why is that?

00:28:32.360 --> 00:28:34.180
 It has to be either that

00:28:34.180 --> 00:28:35.860
 you do not know Christ,

00:28:36.820 --> 00:28:39.800
 or it could be that

00:28:39.800 --> 00:28:41.500
 you're in a state of

00:28:41.500 --> 00:28:42.560
 rebellion right now.

00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:45.339
 that you've just sort of

00:28:45.339 --> 00:28:46.639
 drifted away, or just

00:28:46.639 --> 00:28:47.859
 turned around and walked

00:28:47.859 --> 00:28:50.740
 away because of some

00:28:50.740 --> 00:28:52.899
 sin, some issue that you

00:28:52.899 --> 00:28:54.559
 are involved in now.

00:28:55.819 --> 00:28:57.359
 If you know you don't know

00:28:57.359 --> 00:28:59.099
 Christ, but you want to,

00:28:59.139 --> 00:29:00.740
 you want to be right with

00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:01.919
 God, you want to become a

00:29:01.919 --> 00:29:02.579
 Christian, you want to be

00:29:02.579 --> 00:29:02.879
 saved.

00:29:03.879 --> 00:29:05.500
 Admit your need right now.

00:29:07.039 --> 00:29:08.159
 Change your mind about the

00:29:08.159 --> 00:29:08.779
 way you've been living,

00:29:09.079 --> 00:29:10.139
 living your way instead of

00:29:10.139 --> 00:29:10.679
 God's way.

00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:12.560
 Put your trust in Jesus

00:29:12.560 --> 00:29:13.700
 and call upon Him to save

00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:14.600
 you now.

00:29:16.039 --> 00:29:17.519
 If you know that you are a

00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:20.060
 Christian because you have

00:29:20.060 --> 00:29:22.400
 seen signs, you know the

00:29:22.400 --> 00:29:23.720
 Lord lives within you.

00:29:24.060 --> 00:29:25.400
 You see evidence that He

00:29:25.400 --> 00:29:26.460
 lives within you, but right

00:29:26.460 --> 00:29:28.080
 now you're not living like

00:29:28.080 --> 00:29:29.840
 that, and you know it.

00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:30.840
 And there's just a lot of

00:29:30.840 --> 00:29:32.039
 guilt you're carrying around

00:29:32.039 --> 00:29:33.279
 because the Lord, if you're

00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:34.600
 really His child, He's not

00:29:34.600 --> 00:29:35.620
 going to let you get away

00:29:35.620 --> 00:29:37.320
 with living in rebellion.

00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:38.759
 He's not going to let you

00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:40.200
 stay indifferent long.

00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:44.900
 And if that's the case, you

00:29:44.900 --> 00:29:46.320
 can't fight God and win.

00:29:47.940 --> 00:29:48.900
 Give it up.

00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:51.820
 Confess your sin.

00:29:52.900 --> 00:29:54.840
 Admit what needs to change.

00:29:55.060 --> 00:29:56.820
 Ask God to help you to turn

00:29:56.820 --> 00:29:58.500
 from it, to let it go.

00:29:59.940 --> 00:30:01.600
 Come back to Him in a renewed

00:30:01.600 --> 00:30:04.420
 trust and love and commitment

00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:04.680
 now.

00:30:04.680 --> 00:30:08.519
 Now, if you do have assurance

00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:11.240
 of your salvation, thank the

00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:14.740
 Lord for the way He has and

00:30:14.740 --> 00:30:17.880
 continues to work in your life.

00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:22.019
 And be confident that He will

00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:24.060
 never stop working.

00:30:25.940 --> 00:30:27.600
 No matter how long you live, He'll

00:30:27.600 --> 00:30:28.500
 continue to work.

00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:30.380
 Because, as Paul tells us, look at

00:30:30.380 --> 00:30:30.960
 it one more time.

00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:34.519
 I am sure of this.

00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:36.900
 We can be sure of this.

00:30:37.339 --> 00:30:39.859
 That He who began a good work in

00:30:39.859 --> 00:30:42.960
 you will bring it to completion

00:30:42.960 --> 00:30:45.579
 at the day of Jesus Christ.

00:30:46.140 --> 00:30:47.039
 Let's pray together.

00:30:47.720 --> 00:30:48.400
 Dear God,

00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:53.859
 make it clear to every one of us

00:30:53.859 --> 00:30:55.459
 where we stand in relationship

00:30:55.459 --> 00:30:56.699
 to you right now.

00:30:59.899 --> 00:31:01.099
 Father, show us

00:31:01.099 --> 00:31:02.679
 if we claim to be Christians

00:31:02.679 --> 00:31:07.279
 if what we call saving faith

00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:09.639
 is present tense faith.

00:31:12.679 --> 00:31:14.079
 Help us to see, dear God,

00:31:15.659 --> 00:31:17.479
 is what I call trust in Jesus

00:31:17.479 --> 00:31:20.679
 ongoing

00:31:20.679 --> 00:31:23.000
 to this very moment

00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:24.859
 trust in Jesus.

00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:30.880
 Help us to see, dear God,

00:31:31.579 --> 00:31:34.079
 if we are yours,

00:31:35.240 --> 00:31:35.960
 evidence

00:31:35.960 --> 00:31:38.380
 of a relationship with you,

00:31:38.619 --> 00:31:39.859
 of a relationship with Jesus.

00:31:42.640 --> 00:31:43.359
 But Father,

00:31:44.059 --> 00:31:45.400
 for people in this room who do not

00:31:45.400 --> 00:31:46.519
 have a relationship with you,

00:31:47.960 --> 00:31:49.359
 maybe they came in here thinking

00:31:49.359 --> 00:31:50.059
 they did.

00:31:50.660 --> 00:31:52.240
 Maybe they had false assurance.

00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:54.819
 Make it clear to them

00:31:54.819 --> 00:31:58.900
 where they stand

00:31:58.900 --> 00:32:00.640
 and how they need to respond now

00:32:00.640 --> 00:32:03.079
 and help them to do

00:32:03.079 --> 00:32:05.440
 exactly what you're calling them

00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:06.720
 to do now.

00:32:08.079 --> 00:32:09.180
 Let's just all be in an attitude

00:32:09.180 --> 00:32:10.660
 of prayer and listen to the Lord

00:32:10.660 --> 00:32:12.799
 and respond to Him.

00:32:13.579 --> 00:32:14.339
 If I could help you,

00:32:14.400 --> 00:32:15.019
 I'll be here in front.

00:32:15.079 --> 00:32:16.440
 I'd be happy to pray with you.

00:32:16.440 --> 00:32:19.160
 You listen to the Lord

00:32:19.160 --> 00:32:21.120
 and you do what He tells you to do

00:32:21.120 --> 00:32:21.640
 right now.

00:32:21.640 --> 00:32:22.300
 and I'll be here in front of you.

00:32:22.300 --> 00:32:23.280
 I'll be here in front of you.

00:32:23.280 --> 00:32:23.440
 I'll be here in front of you.