SIGNS THAT YOU ARE TRULY SAVED by Pastor Shah, Clearview, Henderson
Every now and then I like to preach a message directly on salvation. Let me clarify – every message I preach has salvation as its goal. But, periodically, I like to preach a message that is focused on nothing but salvation. Such is this morning’s message from I John titled – “SIGNS THAT YOU ARE TRULY SAVED.”
1 John 5:11-13 11And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
Overall Background: The early Christians were facing doubts about their salvation. They had lost sight of the true gospel; false teachers had come into the church and they were preaching a false gospel. John, the “Beloved Disciple”, wrote this letter to remind them of the true gospel. He wrote this letter to challenge them to examine their lives for the signs of true salvation. Listen again to 5:13 “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know (not guess or speculate or wish) that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” John gives a list of 8 signs that will mark a true believer in Christ.
Salvation brings certain changes in your life.There will be a difference in your life before Christ and since Christ. It may not happen right away and it may not happen all the way but these signs will show up. They may not be seen all the time and you may not see them at the max every time. But somewhere, sometime, somehow, they will show up. But, if there are no signs and have never been any signs – you are lost.
BOTTOM LINE: NO SIGNS = NO SALVATION.
This morning each of us have to examine ourselves. Whether you prayed a prayer 50 years ago, 5 years ago, or 5 hours ago. Do you see these signs in your life? For your own sakes, I hope your answer is not “I think so” or “I hope so.” Let it be – “I know so.” If you have to keep convincing other people you are saved….you fill in the blanks.
8 signs that you are truly saved. We will move rapidly this morning.
1st SIGN – FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD THE FATHER AND HIS SON.
1 John 1:33that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
Background: The word for “Fellowship” (koinonia) is found over 60 times in the NT. Its root meaning is “common” and “shared.” It implies sharing your life with someone. One sign that you are saved is that you begin to share the supernatural life of God and His Son. It is not just a “free ticket to heaven” or “get out of hell card.” (Deep Relationship)
For e.g. Growing up I had friends who would come over to our house. Dad would stop by the living room and speak with them. He would ask them about their families, school, sports, and things like that. He was just being nice for me. That was not fellowship.
Adoption brings a deeper relationship. Listen to Jesus in John 14:23 “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. Again to Paul in Romans 8:15 “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” Meaning:You enter into the family circle of God. You get to know the Father and the Son. You fellowship with them on a personal level.
Application: Have you had such a fellowship with God and His Son? Have you sensed Their presence in your life? Do you love Them enough to go talk to them? Do you find the hour of prayer – an hour to catch up in fellowship? How do you feel when you learn something new about God the Father and God the Son? This may not be all the time and it may not be all it can be but it’s there.
2nd SIGN – SENSITIVITY TO SIN
1 John 1:6 “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”
Background: Jesus is the Light of the World and once He comes into your life, darkness has to run. Light will either dispel darkness or darkness will try to overpower light. Light and darkness cannot co-exist. This does not mean that you will never sin after salvation.
Listen to 1 John 1:8-10 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
It’s not that we don’t sin anymore but we don’t walk in sin anymore. Another meaning of walk is “abide” or “dwell.” It does not bring the same joy and excitement as before.
Nicole’s dad would say, “It’s not that you become sinless, but you begin to sin less.”
Application: Are you sensitive to sin in your life? Can you feel the spiritual battle that is raging in you when you face sin? Do you feel the pain of broken fellowship with God when you sin? Do you feel the uneasiness and stress when you allow sin to come into your life? Do you know that you have a choice in rejecting sin? Do you run to Him and confess and repent of your sin?
3rd SIGN – OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD1 John 2:3-4
3Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Background: Obedience is very important mark of discipleship. Listen to Jesus in Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Does that mean that Christians always obey? No.
For e.g. My children may not always obey; they may not completely obey; they may not joyfully obey, they may have stopped obeying. But, sometime, maybe when they were young, they obeyed. If they never obeyed, then they were never my children.
A Christian may partially obey, reluctantly obey, and may even refuse to obey. But a Christian cannot permanently disobey. There will be some obedience.
Application: Can you see obedience to the Word of God in your life? Do you see a desire to keep the commandments of God? Do you see a pattern (maybe irregular) in your obedience to the Bible? Is there a new love for this book? Do you read it daily? Do you look forward to hearing it preached?
4th SIGN – REJECTION OF THE WORLD SYSTEM
1 John 2:15 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
Background: The “world” here is not the beautiful creation of God; it’s not good music or good food or a beautiful painting or a beautiful architecture. “World” here is the evil system that denies God, hates God, exalts Satan, and spreads godliness. This world system does not hate religion. It makes its own religions, ideologies, philosophies, and moralities. Listen to 1 John 2:16 “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”
Sometimes a Christian may get sucked into the world system (Lure of money, power, and even lust because of friends and career.) but he/she will not be comfortable in it. Like the Prodigal Son, they will return. By the way, the World system hates the Christian. Listen to 1 John 3:13 “Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.” If the world has no problem with you, you are more than likely part of it.
Application: What is your attitude towards this world system? Do you reject its false religions, ideologies, philosophies, and moralities? Do you feel at home in it? Do you constantly give into its attractions? Does the world hate you?
5th SIGN – HOPE OF THE RETURN OF CHRIST.
1 John 3:2-3 2Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Background: Over 84 times the NT talks about Hope (elpis). Many times it refers to the return of Christ. Christians may disagree over how things will turn out in the end – pre-trib or mid-trib or post-trib; we may disagree over the meaning of different passages in the Book of Revelation; but, one thing is for sure, every true believer has this hope that one day Jesus will return on earth. Paul says in Titus 2:13 “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ”
When the lost people look to the future, they think it is hopeless or uncertain; other times they put false hopes on things and people who will fail them. A Christian knows that there is no need to despair. One day Jesus is coming again and He will set everything right. Knowing that He is coming causes us to live holy and ready to meet Him. “Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies Himself, just as He is pure.”
For e.g. Teenager at a party wants to leave because he is afraid that he might hurt his parents.
Application: Maybe you don’t know everything about the return of Christ. That’s fine. But, do you have this hope of His return in your heart? Are you eagerly waiting for His return? Does it motivate you to live pure and holy lives?
6th SIGN – LOVE FOR OTHER CHRISTIANS.
1 John 3:14-15 14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
Background: Prior to getting saved, we see the church as judgmental and hypocritical. The moment we accept Christ and become part of the body of believers, God pours His love in our hearts. We realize that fellow Christians are our new family. We begin to have a certain love for fellow-believers. We realize that we are part of the Body of Christ.
Listen to Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:20-26 20But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor . . . 26And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
I can’t understand how some people can say that they love Christ but hate the church. It’s like saying – “I love you but hate your wife and kids.”
Application: Do you love other believers? Do you honestly care about other believers? Do you try to reach out and meet their needs? Do you look forward to being with them?
7th SIGN – DISCERNMENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
1 John 4:13 “By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.”
Background: When you receive Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in you. Earlier in 1 John 4:2-3 he says, “Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.”
What does the Holy Spirit do for us? 1) He convicts us of sin and encourages us to walk in truth. 2) He transforms us in the sight of God. 3) He helps us to remember the Word of God. 4) He helps us to lead a godly life by bringing out the fruits of the Spirit. 5) He gives us spiritual gifts for the edification of believers. 6) He becomes our guarantee of eternal life with God. 7) He empowers us to be witnesses for our Lord Jesus Christ. 8) He teaches us to discern between truth and error.
Application: Do you sense the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life? Do you see the fruits of the Spirit in your life?Does He talk to you and guide you in the right path? Can you sense His guidance in your life? Can you see His discernment in your life?
8th SIGN – PRAYERS ANSWERED ACCORDING TO HIS WILL.
1 John 5:14-15 14Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
Background: God answers prayers, even of unbelievers. When a pagan mother cries out to God: “O God – heal my child!” Who heals that baby? God not Satan. He alone has that power. David says in Psalm 65:2,“O You who hear prayer, To You all flesh will come.” God is waiting for the second prayer: “God – thanks for healing my child. I want to know you.” Now God will reveal to that person the Lord Jesus.
But, for a Christian, there is much more than answered prayers. Listen again to verse 14 “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
He brings about His perfect will in our lives. If God just gave us what we wanted every time, we would be in a mess.”
For e.g. Some of God’s Greatest Gifts are Unanswered Prayers – Thank you Garth Brooks.
Application: Do you feel that God is listening to you when you bow your head before Him? Do you have the confidence in your heart that God will give you the very best according to His will? Do you also have the assurance that sometimes He may not give you what may hurt you?
Do you see these signs in your life? Eternity is too long to be wrong. If not, receive Jesus as your Only Hope to Eternal Life and Savior from sin.
I am so looking forward to hearing this message. I hope to hear it in person Saturday night. I am living proof of the Power of Christ! And I am Blessed to have found a home at Clearview.
Hi Ruthie! Thanks for stopping by! And thanks for the encouraging words! It is indeed a very important message, especially for our times. Also, very excited about your new blog! Can’t wait to see how God will use it!