How to Be Absolutely Sure


Print outline

1 John 5:5-13
(Program 2119, Airing on 9.27.09)

  1. INTRODUCTION  (1 John 5:5-13) 
    1. There are only two classes of people in the world:
      1. The saved
      2. The lost
    2. The Gospel of John was written to tell us how to be saved; 1 John was written to tell us how to know that we’re saved.
    3. The following is the source of our certainty; three ways that we can know that we’re saved.
  2. THE ATONING WORK OF CHRIST  (1 John 5:6)
    1. The blood removes the penalty of sin (salvation); the water continues to cleanse from sin (sanctification). 
      1. John 19:33-34
  3. THE ABIDING WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT  (1 John 5:6-10)
    1. The Holy Spirit takes the atoning work and testifies of it.
      1. The Holy Spirit witnesses to you.  (1 John 5:6, 9)
        1. Even before we’re saved, the Holy Spirit is telling us about Jesus.
      2. The Holy Spirit witnesses in you.  (1 John 5:10)
        1. Once you receive Christ as Lord, the Holy Spirit comes into you and you have the witness in you.
          1. The witness of the Holy Spirit is not an emotional feeling.
          2. Spiritual knowledge goes beyond feelings.
          3. Psalm 34:8
      3. The Holy Spirit witnesses through you. 
        1. Acts 1:8
        2. Acts 5:32
  4. THE AFFIRMING WORD OF THE FATHER  (1 John 5:10-13)
    1. God gave us a record:  the Bible.
    2. Where do we learn about the water and the blood and the witness of the Spirit?  From the Word of God.
    3. Psalm 119:89
  5. CONCLUSION
    1. Jesus is:
      1. The source of eternal life.  (1 John 5:11)
      2. The substance of eternal life.  (1 John 5:12)
      3. The surety of eternal life.  (1 John 5:13)

View archive >>

All active news articles