Heavenly Love Heavenly love was all that could help me I was astray so sad and alone I looked above, my burdens all left me Now I can say, “Heaven’s my home” Heavenly love, the love of my Lord Heavenly love the love of my Savior Lifting above for He is my sword and shield; Lifting above my sword and shield Giving me light in darkness of night Giving me light in darkness of night Heavenly love, Heavenly love. Heavenly love Heavenly love.

Heavenly Love Troubles of life so often o’er take me Burdens of life with heart ache and care Heavenly love will never forsake me Filling my need, Jesus is there. Heavenly love, the love of my Lord Heavenly love the love of my Savior Lifting above for He is my sword and shield; Lifting above my sword and shield Giving me light in darkness of night Giving me light in darkness of night Heavenly love, Heavenly love. Heavenly love Heavenly love.

Heavenly Love When I shall stand at Jordan’s dark river Shadows of night are gathering above There is a pow’r I know will deliver, Heavenly love, Heavenly love. Heavenly love, the love of my Lord Heavenly love the love of my Savior Lifting above for He is my sword and shield; Lifting above my sword and shield Giving me light in darkness of night Giving me light in darkness of night Heavenly love, Heavenly love. Heavenly love Heavenly love.

The Bible reading John. 16:8-13

1Co 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 1 Corinthians 11: 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.“ 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

Beautiful to worship God, welcome to the Northside church of Christ in Calgary.

Are You Sure You Are Saved? “that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13)

Are You Sure You Are Saved? Many are uncertain because there are conflicting voices in religion Many are uncertain because of the feelings of fear, doubt, worry, perfection, etc. God wants us to be fully assured (Heb. 10:22-23) Heb 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Are You Sure You Are Saved? First John is a book of assurance (1 Jn. 2:28; 3:19; 4:17); let us consider three truths that John says will give us, not pride or arrogance, but true assurance and confidence of salvation 1Jn 2:28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 1Jn 3:19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 1Jn 4:17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

First How Can I Know For Sure? assurance & confidence comes from what is written in God’s word, not from what is felt (1 Jn. 5:13) Don’t look at sin/salvation logically, but theologically! 1Jn 5:13 These 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.

First How Can I Know For Sure? John wrote and recorded a message so that his readers may know that they are saved (1 Jn. 1:1-4; 5:20) “Know” is found 26 times in 1 John “Write” (“written”) is found 11 times in 1 John 1Jn 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— 1Jn 1:2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 1Jn 1:3 that 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. 1Jn 1:4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. 1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

How Can I Know For Sure? Humans are emotional beings (Gen. 1:26); however, emotion or feeling alone can be misleading (Jer. 10:23) Feelings can be uncertain, but God’s word is unchanging and sure (2 Pet. 1:19) Gen 1:26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." Jer 10:23 O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. 2Pe 1:19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;

How Can I Know For Sure? Feelings can produce false concern (Gen. 37:34), but God’s word is accurate (1 Jn. 3:20) Feelings can produce false confidence (Prov. 14:12), but God’s word is truth (Psa. 119:105) Gen 37:34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. 1Jn 3:20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Pro 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Psa 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

Second How Can I Know For Sure? assurance & confidence comes from the Spirit’s testimony, not from man’s assurances (1 Jn. 2:18-20; 4:1-6) 1Jn 2:18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 1Jn 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and 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. 4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Second How Can I Know For Sure? John warned about false prophets who were misleading others; he wanted his readers to test what was said by man with what was said by the Holy Spirit (1 Jn. 3:24; 4:13; 5:7-9) 1Jn 3:24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. 1Jn 4:13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 1Jn 5:7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.

Second How Can I Know For Sure? Investigation and testing is important (Acts 17:11) … What does the Holy Spirit say, what does our spirit say (Rom. 8:16)? Act 17:11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Rom 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

How Can I Know For Sure? The Holy Spirit guided the Apostles to tell all people how to be saved (Jn. 16:8-13) What does the Holy Spirit say is required to be saved? Joh 16:8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

How Can I Know For Sure? Repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38) Confess and be baptized (Acts 8:37-38) Hear, believe and be baptized (Acts 18:8) Act 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Act 8:37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Act 18:8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.

Third How Can I Know For Sure? assurance & confidence comes from present “walking in the light”, not from past accomplishments (1 Jn. 1:5-10) The NT does not teach “once saved always saved” 1Jn 1:5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Third How Can I Know For Sure? The assurance of salvation is conditional; a present condition – “if” (1:7, 9; 2:3, 24; 4:12) Christians need to live a life apart from sin; not making a habit of daily sinning (1 Jn. 2:1; 3:6-9; 5:18) 1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1Jn 2:3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 1Jn 2:24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 1Jn 4:12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1Jn 3:6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. 1Jn 5:18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.

How Can I Know For Sure? What if I sin? Confess it (1 Jn. 1:9-10), pray for forgiveness (1 Jn. 5:14-16), and return to doing God’s commandments (2:3) 1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 1Jn 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 1Jn 2:3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

How Can I Know For Sure? What if I sin? Remember, God is not out to get us, he is out to help us. He is not against us, he is for us. He does not want us to fail and be defeated, he wants us to succeed and be victorious.

He does not want us to be lost, but saved. How Can I Know For Sure? What if I sin? He does not want us to be lost, but saved. He does not want us to doubt, he wants us to be assured.