God Knows Those Who Are His

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Led by Eric Gintert

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" 2 Corinthians 13:5

Do you have complete assurance of your salvation? Are you afraid that you might have "lost your salvation"? In the book of 1 John, John tells us how we may know if we have eternal life. It is written for the believer that he may have assurance and for the unbeliever, who thinks he is saved, that he may know according to his fruits if he really is. Please make sure that you go back and read the entire book of 1 John as there are many more signs of a true believer that we did not discuss.

• 2 Timothy 2:15-19  -   "rightly dividing the word of truth" means that you can wrongly divide the word of truth; if you study the word then God will reveal the truth; many will have an interpretation but there is only one truth; some will profane and increase in ungodliness so you need to study so that you will have discernment to watch out for those who are deceptive; there is work that needs to be done like departing from evil (or battling against the powers and principalities that come against all of us); the foundation of God is sure and sealed -- God knows his children (Matthew 7:21-23  -  Jesus knows those who belong to God as well)
• *** See Ezekiel 3:1-3  -  eat the word = study the word ***

• 1 John 5:13  -  John is writing to the believers that we might have assurance of our eternal life
• 1 John 5:1-5  -  His commandments are not grievous for those who love Him -- they keep the commandments; whosoever overcomes the world is born of God
• *** The word "keep" means to guard or defend; we should guard and defend God's commandments just as Peter desired to guard and defend Jesus when the soldiers came to take him at the garden (see John 18:8-11) ***
• *** To love the brethren is to have a desire to have godly fellowship with them. ***

•  2 John 5-6  -  the definition of love is walking after God's commandments
• John 14:1-17, 21  -  Jesus goes to prepare a place for us -- he doesn't build it up and then tear it down again (meaning we lose our salvation and then have to be born again) he prepares it and promises that he with come back to retrieve us; Jesus does the works in us just as the Father does the works in Jesus; if you love Jesus you'll keep his commandments; Jesus always did what he said, he "practiced what he preached"
• *** Remember: His commandments are not grievous. "Thou shalt not commit adultery" was not grievous to Rahab after she was born again. ***

• John 15:1-10  -  those who are truly born again will bear fruit; those who keep (guard) the commandments abide in His love
• 1 John 1:5-10  -  we cannot fellowship with God if we are in darkness; if you say you have no sin, the truth is not in you (you are not born again)
• 1 John 2:1-5  -  Jesus is our advocate and intercessor and we know that we know him if we keep his commandments 

Prayer Requests:
All who are ill with the flu
Robert & Karen Julson  -  medical trials
Margret Dermot  -  recovering from hip surgery
Joel & Melissa  -  expecting baby number 3 any day
Steve Frankenburger  -  diagnosed with cancer and given 3 months to live
Becky Palmer  -  released to work; salvation
Del Mallory's nephew  -  salvation
Dean & Sue  -  turmoil in marriage (currently separated)
Chuck Hebert  -  mother passing away
Ray Walters  -  will receive shots in his back for pain
Kathy  -  medical and family issues; potentially join skype
Jen O'Hare's Mom  -  cancer