Three Types of Lost Sinners: Three Types of Lost Sinners: 1) The Careless Sinner 2) The Awakened Sinner 3) The Convicted Sinner

Two Types of Counterfeit Believers: Two Types of Counterfeit Believers: A counterfeit believer shares some characteristics of true believers A counterfeit believer shares some characteristics of true believers A parable of the Sower (Soils) – 4 types of soil A parable of the Sower (Soils) – 4 types of soil 1) The Hard Heart 2) The Shallow Heart 3) The Divided Sinner

The Evidence of Salvation Although salvation is personal, it is not private Although salvation is personal, it is not private Though its inner workings are unseen, its outward changes are visible to all Though its inner workings are unseen, its outward changes are visible to all Hence, there is an inward evidence known only to the one who experiences it, and an outward evidence to be observed by others Hence, there is an inward evidence known only to the one who experiences it, and an outward evidence to be observed by others

I. The Inward Evidence A. By the Spirit A. By the Spirit “… you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself bears witness we cry out, “Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” (Rom 8:15-16) with our spirit that we are children of God.” (Rom 8:15-16) received a spirit of adoption (as sons) received a spirit of adoption (as sons) we cry out ‘Abba! Father!’ we cry out ‘Abba! Father!’ the Spirit bears witness w/our spirit the Spirit bears witness w/our spirit that we are children of God that we are children of God

I. The Inward Evidence When one truly repents of his sins and believes in Jesus Christ, he … When one truly repents of his sins and believes in Jesus Christ, he … receives the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39) receives the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39) as a promise or pledge of his future inheritance (Eph 1:13-14) as a promise or pledge of his future inheritance (Eph 1:13-14) who for the present inhabits or dwells within him (Rom 8:11) who for the present inhabits or dwells within him (Rom 8:11) Since God Himself (through the Holy Spirit) has taken up residency Since God Himself (through the Holy Spirit) has taken up residency within him, he alone knows if he has been saved. The Holy Spirit will bear witness with his own spirit that he is indeed a child of God having been adopted into His family. The Holy Spirit will bear witness with his own spirit that he is indeed a child of God having been adopted into His family.Has

I. The Inward Evidence B. By the Word B. By the Word “These things I have written to you who believe in the name “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life.” (I John 5:13) eternal life.” (I John 5:13) These things I have written These things I have written In order that you may know (that you have eternal life) In order that you may know (that you have eternal life)

I. The Inward Evidence I John was written in order that people might read the letter I John was written in order that people might read the letter and discern in their own life … and discern in their own life … whether they know God whether they know God whether they possess eternal life whether they possess eternal life The phrase “by this we know” is used each time by John as an The phrase “by this we know” is used each time by John as an identifying mark of a true believer identifying mark of a true believer

I. The Inward Evidence “And by this we know that we have come to know Him, “And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.” (I John 2:3) if we keep His commandments.” (I John 2:3) “but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly “but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” (I John 2:5-6) manner as He walked.” (I John 2:5-6) “… if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is “… if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.” (I John 4:12-13) He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.” (I John 4:12-13)

I. The Inward Evidence “… let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” “… let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” “We shall know by this that we are of the truth, and shall assure “We shall know by this that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before Him, …” our heart before Him, …” “… if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence “… if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God.” (I John 3:18-19, 21) before God.” (I John 3:18-19, 21) Assurance of our salvation (knowing you are saved) is a function of the heart and a witness of the Spirit. Assurance of our salvation (knowing you are saved) is a function of the heart and a witness of the Spirit. The heart either condemns itself or affirms the confidence it has before God The heart either condemns itself or affirms the confidence it has before God This inner revelation of the true state of the soul is known as This inner revelation of the true state of the soul is known as the security of the believer the security of the believer

II. The Outward Evidence “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, that no yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” (Eph 2:8-9) one should boast.” (Eph 2:8-9) “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph 2:10) them.” (Eph 2:10) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control …” (Gal 5:22-23) goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control …” (Gal 5:22-23)

II. The Outward Evidence The initial evidence of being saved or receiving the Holy Spirit is The initial evidence of being saved or receiving the Holy Spirit is known only to the new believer, but … known only to the new believer, but … … in time the evidence for this new experience will show; it will … in time the evidence for this new experience will show; it will be manifested in the outward life for all to see be manifested in the outward life for all to see Although we are not saved as a result of our works, we do become Although we are not saved as a result of our works, we do become a part of His workmanship, so that we are created for good works a part of His workmanship, so that we are created for good works In other words, works do not produce our faith or justify our past In other words, works do not produce our faith or justify our past sins before God, but they are a by-product of the kind of faith that sins before God, but they are a by-product of the kind of faith that does save us

II. The Outward Evidence Thus, the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives does not simply Thus, the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives does not simply confirm our being saved, it conforms our life to that of Christ and His character (see Rom 8:20)