Secure and Sure
0 comments | Posted by Steven Layson on 28 Oct 2007 in From Steve's Study ::
There are two types of people in this world: those who put people in two groups, and those who don’t.
When it comes to salvation and assurance, it’s been said that there are three groups of people: (1) those who are secure but not sure; (2) those who are “sure” but not secure; and (3) those who are secure and sure. Category one are Christians who are saved but lack assurance. In category two are those who profess to be Christians but say, “Even though I’m living in sin, God won’t mind.” The third group are believers who enjoy a warm, secure relationship with Christ.
We come today to the end of John’s letter, where we are reminded of the purpose of his writing, “that you may know that you have eternal life”. John wants us to know that we can be sure of our eternity.
The objective basis of our assurance lies in the finished work of God’s Son on the cross – in Jesus, who is the “atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 Jn 2:2). The subjective basis for our assurance is three-fold: our belief in the truth about Christ (I John 2:2,4; 2:15; 5:1); our love for our Christian brothers and sisters (I John 3:14, 18, 19, 4:7-8), and our obedience to Christ’s commandments (I John 2:3-5).
A minister once asked one his parishioners who was lacking assurance, “Suppose you had a vision of an angel who told you your sins were forgiven. Would that be enough to rest on?”
“Yes”, replied the man, “I think it would. An angel should be right.”
The minister continued, “But suppose on your deathbed Satan came and said, ‘I was that angel, transformed to deceive you.’ What would you say?” The man was speechless.
The minister then told him that “God has given us something more dependable than the voice of an angel. He has given His Son, who died for our sins, and He has testified in His own Word that if we trust Him all our sins are gone.” Finally, he read I John 5:13, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” Then he said, “Is that not enough to rest on? It is a letter from heaven expressly to you.”
« Welcome Bishop Masimango Katana Halloween»
Commenting has expired or Comments are turned off for this article.
