"SALVATION WITH ASSURANCE"

June 13         “Salvation With Assurance”       Ephesians 2:8-9; 11 Peter 1:5-9

Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.”  2 Peter 1:5-9

When I was a teenager, I was taught that, as a Christian, I should witness for Christ every day.  Often, I would begin by asking, “If you were to die tonight, would you go to Heaven?”  The answer that I often received was, “I’m not really sure.”  Sadly, I found that these folks were not sure because they really had not accepted Jesus yet.  They may have joined the church, been baptized, be faithful tithers, and these are things that a Christian should do, but these things can be done by a person who is not saved also.  Many can’t say that they are “saved” because they are not!  Going through the motions, doing the things that are expected of a Christian does not make you “saved!”  I was raised in a Christian home and there were certain behaviors and actions that were expected.  Early in my life, I did what I thought I was supposed to do as a matter of duty and expectation, without a relationship with Christ.  Even when I accepted Christ and His saving Grace, I still doubted my experience.  In my late teens, I realized something that was profound and life changing.  I realized that the reason that I was unsure of my own salvation was because I had not really “grown” since I was “Born Again!”  Amazingly, the Holy Spirit began to work on me and with me and I became a “Ball of Fire” for Jesus, even to the point of being obnoxious!  I realized that I really had been “marvelously and positively” born into God’s family and I discovered the joy of the new birth!  So began my journey into this new life.  Now, I can still be obnoxious, just ask Annette, however, I have grown and I am maturing, so I am a little more relaxed and confident and determined when I share Jesus with lost folk.  I am still growing and 2 Peter1:5-9, is still a guide for my expansion as a “believer!”  I am continuing to add to my “Faith,” “Virtue” and to “Virtue,” “Knowledge,” and to “Knowledge,” “Temperance,” and to “Temperance,” “Patience” and to “Patience,” “Godliness” and to “Godliness,” “Kindness,” and to “Kindness,” “Charity!”  So, why add all of these things to my “Faith?”  Peter said, “For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  The difference between Christians is, some are absolutely sure of their salvation and have been adding (growing) these things to their lives, and as a result, fruit is being produced and can be seen, whereas, some started out with the new birth and stopped right there.  No growth, no fruit, so they are what Peter described: “But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” Unfortunately, that used to describe me!  Salvation, through Jesus Christ is the most important thing that I have ever done and God’s word has become my all!  God has put it in “Black and White,” what we should do, and it is called the Holy Bible!  I would rather have the written Word of God than anything that I know or can even conceive.  Dear friends, I want for us to be like the little boy that was plowing a field beside of a country road.  A man stopped by and asked for directions.  The little boy was asked several questions, and each time he said, “I don’t know.”  The man said, “Son, you don’t know much do you?”  The little boy answered positively, “I know I am not lost!!!”  It is great knowing, that I am not lost and that my God’s word gives me assurance!  So, I ask the question, “ARE YOU SURE THAT YOU ARE SAVED?”  What God does with you, depends upon what you do!  It Always has; It Always will!! Be sure, be productive and continue to share the Love of God with others!  To God Be the Glory!  Stay Strong, Stay Focused…Remember, THE BEST IS YET TO BE!