Good evening. Tonight we are going to finish our study on the book of I John. Next week we are going to do a fun review of what we have learned over the past several weeks. But tonight we see how John ends his first letter.
Some Americans today don’t trust the immigration department people anymore. It seems many terrorists have slipped through their fingers. There is a fear that more terrorist attacks may come because they cannot keep track of all the illegal immigrants who overstayed their visas and are hiding somewhere in the US, planning their next target. It was once said that the US government should put Blockbuster Video people to be in charge of Immigration because if you were 2 days late they would be all over you. They will hunt you down! Hence life in the US is on the edge for some, and people don’t feel secure anymore.
People traveling by air today go through security checks. They are told to come early to the airport to go through a vigorous security check. Post 9/11 we rely on these checks to ensure safety of air travel. Since April, the federal government has been charging travelers a $24 fee for security upgrades at all Canadian airports. Don’t want to be blown up, do we? So we subject ourselves to these security checks and pay the extra $24. We want to be safe.
Now what about people traveling to Heaven? How safe are they? Are there security checks we could use so that we know for sure we’re on the way to Heaven and not the other direction?
How will you know the minute you die that you are going to be in Paradise? How do you know you are really a born again Christian believer? Perhaps you doubt whether you are. You seem to see all the flaws of your own character. Every day you live on the earth you see Christians making big mistakes, really blowing it. The Bible does state that not everyone who calls Jesus “Lord” is a Christian.
To start this evening let’s look at Matthew 7:21-23. Here in this passage it tells us just that. In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus says, “1”
How can I be a Christian when it is obvious I am not at all perfect? Could I be the one who calls Him “Lord” and find out later that I am destined for Hell and not Heaven? I think John wrote his letter to remind us of something…
In tonight’s passage in verse 13 John writes, “2”
So, John does have some more great things to teach us and remind us here in this last chapter of his letter. Let’s go ahead and look at our passage for this evening. It will be found in I John 5:6-21. Here in I John 5:6-21 John ends things up by writing, “2”
Now we see the word know again in this passage. The word “know” appears almost 40 times in John’s brief letter, and 8 of those times are found here in this last chapter. In these closing verses of John’s letter we discover 5 certainties on which we can build our lives with confidence.
Here are 5 things that we know:
First, we know that Jesus is God’s Son. Could I get someone to read verses 6-10 for us again?
In conclusion, the 5 things that we know that I shared with you, are a security checklist. One day when you meet God will you be blown away or will you be welcomed as a child to a loving father’s arms? Did you pass the test? Or do you have a problem of a lack of assurance? Are you sensing an assurance that you are a true Christian? Perhaps you are sensing your sins have clouded the picture? God will send His Spirit into your spirit to seal the deal.
In closing I have some personal inventory questions to ask you. I will ask each question, and then I will give you a moment to answer them to yourself.
What direction is your life headed, are you walking in the light?
Do you acknowledge the sin in your life and depend on the saving blood of Christ?
Can you honestly characterize your life as being obedient?
Do you really love, do you serve others?
Where do things fall in a list of priorities?
Do you let God work in your life?
Are you practicing sin, or are you trying to turn away from that?
Do you confidently take your requests before God?
Can you see the influence of God’s Spirit in your life?
Are you maturing in Christ?
After all that we have learned from the book of I John you can walk away with assurance of faith, joyful and at peace with God. Or you can walk away unchanged, unsure, ultimately the choice is yours…
Let’s pray
Invitation
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