October 29, ambiguous
As I was working out this morning bumped into a somewhat prestigious person in our community. We chit chatted and then he asked me what series our church was in. Described our question/answer and told him we had discussed, "How can I know for sure I'm saved?" His response was, "You can't know." Obviously this led into a rather lengthy conversation with others listening in.
He explained to me why we couldn't know if we were saved or not and he continually used one word, ambiguous. According to Webster:
ambiguous - having two or more possible meanings. 2. doubtful, uncertain.
I totally disagree in thinking our salvation experience is ambiguous. I don't think there is more than one option. Why? Mainly because scripture tells us we can know.
1 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.
My question to this gentleman at this point was, "if you died tonight would you go to heaven or hell? His response was the most typical, "I hope heaven." Sound familiar? This is exactly what I shared last Sunday as the most popular answer. I hope to isn't good enough when it pertains to our salvation. I basically shared last weeks message with him. He is going to e-mail me some verses that he thinks will help support his case.
I shared that with you because I know so many people are in the same boat, just not sure. Here is what you need to have memorized so you can help people KNOW and not hope they are saved.
1. God wants them to know
Read the book of 1 John. Only 105 verses but the word know occurs 32 times.
2. The evidence
1 Corinthians 15:4-7
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, [5] and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. [6] After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. [7] Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,
3. Your personal life change experience (your testimony)
I can always share what God has done in my life. No one could event convince that Jesus isn't real.
4. The change in your life
One way I know Jesus is real is by the change that has taken place in my life. It took a Holy God to make Dean Herman take his eyes off himself and place them on Jesus Christ.
Bring up the topic of Jesus and you'll find out a lot of people are struggling with knowing for sure!
He explained to me why we couldn't know if we were saved or not and he continually used one word, ambiguous. According to Webster:
ambiguous - having two or more possible meanings. 2. doubtful, uncertain.
I totally disagree in thinking our salvation experience is ambiguous. I don't think there is more than one option. Why? Mainly because scripture tells us we can know.
1 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.
My question to this gentleman at this point was, "if you died tonight would you go to heaven or hell? His response was the most typical, "I hope heaven." Sound familiar? This is exactly what I shared last Sunday as the most popular answer. I hope to isn't good enough when it pertains to our salvation. I basically shared last weeks message with him. He is going to e-mail me some verses that he thinks will help support his case.
I shared that with you because I know so many people are in the same boat, just not sure. Here is what you need to have memorized so you can help people KNOW and not hope they are saved.
1. God wants them to know
Read the book of 1 John. Only 105 verses but the word know occurs 32 times.
2. The evidence
1 Corinthians 15:4-7
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, [5] and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. [6] After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. [7] Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,
3. Your personal life change experience (your testimony)
I can always share what God has done in my life. No one could event convince that Jesus isn't real.
4. The change in your life
One way I know Jesus is real is by the change that has taken place in my life. It took a Holy God to make Dean Herman take his eyes off himself and place them on Jesus Christ.
Bring up the topic of Jesus and you'll find out a lot of people are struggling with knowing for sure!
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