1. 1 John 5:11-15

2. Introduction ● Serious question: If you died tonight would you go to heaven? ● Do you know your eternal destiny? ● Many are not sure because of the emphasis on apsotasy. ● Apostasy (falling away and being lost) is possible. Many are convinced that it is probable.

3. The song: Blessed Assurance ● Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine ● O what a foretaste of glory divine ● Heir of salvation, purchase of God ● Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. ● We sing the words – but do we really believe them to apply to us?

4. Our text – 1 John 5:11-15 ● 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 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. 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.

5. 1 John 5:11 ● Verse 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. ● God gave His Son, Jesus Christ – John 3:16 ● Eternal life is only in Christ – Acts 4:12 ● Are you in Christ? ● Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

6. 1 John 5:11 ● Verse 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. ● Have you been baptized into Christ? ● If yes, they you have the eternal life of verse 11. ● Romans 6:3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

7. 1 John 5:12 ● Verse 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. ● This is not complicated ● If you have the Son – you have eternal life ● If you do not have the Son – you do not have eternal life

8. 1 John 5:13 ● Verse 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. ● This is why John wrote this letter ● You can know if you believe or not ● You can know if you were baptized into Christ ● You can know if you have eternal life

9. John 20:30-31 ● John 20:30-31 30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. ● This is why John wrote the gospel of John ● You can believe that Jesus is the Son of God

10. 1 John 5:14 ● Verse 14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. ● Confidence = boldness, assurance, feeling of being sure ● Here is the “Blessed Assurance” we sing about ● Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

11. 1 John 5:15 ● Verse 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. ● We know (have assurance) we are in Christ ● We know God hears our prayers – We are His children and he listens to us ● 1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

12. 1 John 5:15 ● Verse 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. ● We know we are in Christ ● We know we have eternal life ● We know that God hears our prayers ● We also know that He answers our prayers

13. Blessed Assurance ● Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine ● O what a foretaste of glory divine ● Heir of salvation, purchase of God ● Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

14. Blessed Assurance ● We must believe, live and act like we know who we are, where we are going, and that God hears and answers our prayers. ● This is BLESSED ASSURANCE. ● Do you have the assurance to answer the question: If you died tonight would you go to heaven?