Dealing with Doubt | Part 2

Salvation marked by a specific date on the calendar while your changed life.

I've heard people say, well Mr. if you can name the ways an hour what you were saying you not saying your. I really do.

But I never read the Bible and I view wealth is worth*Bible teacher Adrian Rogers said if your religion hasn't changed your life, you need to change religion part one of today's program.

We learned that as Christians we have the opportunity to know without a doubt we have eternal life. But we can also be saved and doubted first John chapter 5 is written for those who wrestle without so that we may be saved and know it. If you have your Bible turn there now was Adrian Rogers concludes this powerful message on dealing with doubt. First John chapter 5 in verse 13 where the apostle John says these things have I written under you that believe on the name of the son of God, that ye may know K and all you know if Sanson Botts and Mavis about it, that ye may know that you have the internal life and that you may believe on the name of the son of God. Now doubts are not good, but there's even a bright side to doubt using doubt is to your spirit what pain is to your body.

If you're feeling a pain right now that mean your dad made you alive to see you couldn't feel pain unless you had life about pain is a signal there's something wrong in your body. Doubt is a signal that there something wrong in your spirit now is to the spirit. What pain is to the body. Now I'm not trying to say that doubt is good anymore. I'm trying to say. Pain is good, but pain is good when it becomes a warning signal and doubt is good when it becomes a warning signal. You see the tell us that we need to deal with that doubt. And so I want to show you how to deal with doubt. Today it is possible to be saved and about is not a ficus. Find out how many of you after you were saved. Ever at least one time had a doubt about the salvation almost all of us right okay so we have doubt our salvation for woman told the great evangelist Dwight L. Moody. She said I've been saved 25 years and I never had one single doubt. He said Mme. I doubt you been saved by someone saying we've been married for years and never had an argument I say I touch you been married now, folks. I'm not trying to say that arguments are gonna try to say the pain is good. I'm not trying to say that doubts are good.

I'm saying there are facts of life. And when John said, I have written a book that you might know that your save. That is, it is possible to be saved and have doubts about what John was trying to do was to clear up those doubts because he was writing the Christians okay and so what John is is giving us here is a a way that we can say praise God. I know that I know that I know that my sins are forgiven. Christ is in my heart in heaven is my home because that is very important.

It is important service. It is important in soul winning is so important service that some people's only ought not to give people issuance of the salvation if you give them the assurance of the salvation then no get real lack no folks, that's crazy. The assurance of your salvation is the base that you work from. You see, when I know that my future secure than I can concentrate on the present site and is so important to salvation.

I'm into soul winning what, what, so when would a person be who did not have the assurance of his own salvation. A person says you come follow me. I don't know where I'm going. No listen, we want to follow people who would say with the apostle Paul, I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he's able to keep that which I committed unto him against that day. John says I this book that you might have assurance that you might Cayenne OW not hold think we surmised that you might know that you have eternal life. And then John gives us three tests and I want to show you those tested in this book. What I've done is to try to take the book and almost convinced the book of first John and to extract out of it. The three major tests that John gives that we might know that we have eternal life and he tells us before each of these tests that this is a test that is a benchmark or a birthmark, as it were, of salvation, so I want us to look at these tests.

The first test. I'm going to call the commandment test. Look with me in first John chapter 2 and we begin in verse three. All right, first John chapter 2 and verse three and hereby we do know that we know him. If we keep his commandments.

I just underscore that remark about somewhere. If you are one who likes to mark your Bible and don't be afraid to wear out a Bible.

If you wear out the Bible say praise God get to know when a man about is if you have a Bible, is falling apart. You probably have a life it's not hereby do we know that we know him. If we keep his commandments. He that sent I know him and keep is not his commandments is a liar. When why John did just say what he thinks was a beat around the bush like that either say that I know him and keep is not his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him. And the idea that John had been in some doubt about this testimonial meeting where a man stood up.

Talk about a salvation how bad it was, be saved, though John was a liar.

I know the way you live. You say that you know him you don't keep his commandments. Your listen he goes on verse five and whoso keep his word, in him, verily, is the love of God perfected. Hereby know that we are in him. He that saith he abide in him ought himself also. So to walk as he walked.

That is John's logic is impeccable. If I am in Christ and Christ is in me than I'm going be walking like Jesus wall and Jesus of course keeps the command of God, a person who says that he say he doesn't keep the commandments of God is lying.

That's what Johnson I don't use church is a member. I don't care how much theology has and is I don't care what kind experience. He had an older John says if you are not keeping the commandments of God, you say that you know him your line well master? How many ever since you been saved at Every command of God never broken one anonymous when I Wightman that mean that none of us are say what John says if we know him we going to keep his commandments. The key is in this working. You see, John is not talking about sinless perfection. The Bible does not teach sinless perfection, but the Bible does teach that we have no right to call ourselves children of God. If we do not care for God's commandments. If we don't order our lives by God's command I tell you, folks that people walk down the aisle of churches and shake hands with preachers and join churches like that joining a country club. There is no change of heart. There is no change of life. They don't change their lifestyle. They live the same ungodly lies. Those people have no reason whatsoever to think that they're going to have. I said divorce again.

If your religion and change your life, you better change your religion any man be in Christ he is a new creature. We are not talking about sinless perfection, but I'm trying to tell you, my dear friend that the goal, the aim of your life will be live according to the word of God and the commandments of this book and hereby do we know that we know him. If we keep his commandments. We chart our course by the word of God quit talking about knowing that we been saved because we keep his commandments. There is the commandment to assess the first I will give you another test not only the commandment test, but the companion test.

The companion test. I want to look here now.

First John chapter 3 and verse 14 we know that we passed from death into life, because we love the brethren again is telling us how to know if Disney we know that we passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abide within death person ever hated his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him eternal chapter 4 look in verse 20. Now, if a man say I love God and hate of this brother he's a liar.

For he that loveth not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen this commandment have we from him that he who loveth God love his brother also looking chapter 5 verse one who's ever believe that Jesus is the Christ is born of God in everyone that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. It's very clear that another birthmark of the believer's love for the brother we know where of him because we love the brethren. You see what I'm saying you I want to be right with my brothers and I want to be with my brothers. I say it all have to go to church to worship God is true. But never did I say you can worship God just as well without going to church. That's all that's Paul's.

The Bible says forsake not the assembling of yourselves together as a matter of some is, but exhorting one another, so it's more as you see the Day approaching. We ought to pray for these are sick and shut in, who cannot be here even watching by television, listening by radio or tape is no substitute being with the saint or you see, listen, Jesus, in which with regular beer in my name, there am I in the midst of them is a very special way in which our Lord is present when the Saints joined together to worship the Lord as a matter fact did you know I found out recently, something very interesting. The word saint is never used in the singular, and the New Testament is always the Saints. The Saints missing God blesses the Saints, even Jesus, when he told us to pray told us to pray our father not my father but our father which art in heaven how would be thy name.

Dear friend, there is the companion test if you love Jesus, you're going to love the term how tell you why listen is because of the nature of the Christian and the nature which are what is the nature of the Christian well the nature of the Christian's nature. God let me show you here how John pointed out what you look with me. For example, first John chapter 4 verse seven beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God and everyone that loveth is born of God and not God and he that loveth not know not God, for God is love that you want to tell somebody what God is like you have to say God is love right. God is love is John's logic. God is love. All right, we are born of God.

That is, we have the nature of God, my God is love and I have the nature of God, then I'm going to have loving me if I don't have loving me. I don't have the nature of God. If I don't have the nature of God. I have been born God. That's what John is saying you see one reason that you love the brethren is because of what you are is a Christian. Another reason you love the brethren is because of what they are. The Bible describes the church to ways the church. Number one is called the body of Christ. Number two. The church is called the bride of Christ.

Now the church is the body Christ. He's the head and where the members of that mystical body, the church and Jesus Christ are not identical, but they are inseparable. If you take the head from the body, what you have. Don't be so silly as to say I love Jesus but I love the church that be like saying I love Adrian Rogers. I just know love his body only his head say that's ridiculous. Are you say I don't love my body.

I just love my head. The Bible says no man ever yet hated his own body.

Allison Jesus loves his body, which is the church we are the body of Christ. It would be ridiculous. Absolutely unmitigated foolishness for you to say I love Jesus Christ, but I do not love his body the church if you love Christ, you're going to love what Christ loves and Christ loves his church, the body of Christ.

But not only is the church's body, the church is also his brine. Now, dear friend. What man doesn't love his brine and the church is the bride of Christ. Allison if you really wanted to get my attention the several ways you can do one way you could start harming my body.

Maybe you could my finger would be at their own table somewhere on a platform and you can walk over and stand on my finger when you would get my attention. I would say pardon me your standing only his own lima standing on you.

I'm standing on your finger hides they will call it what you will but move it, because what affects my finger affects me that now you see, listen, we are members of the body of Christ.

Remember when Saul was on the road to Damascus to persecute the church. Jesus met him. And Jesus said to him, Saul, Saul, why persecute us now me. Saul may have said hey I'm not persecuting you I'm persecuting the church, but you understand what I'm saying when you persecute the church to persecute Jesus because when members of his body. When you love the church you love Jesus. When you honor the church to honor Jesus when you neglect the church community like Jesus. We are members of his body. He is the head and remember. So one way, but you can get my attention would be to abuse my body until you know what you can get my attention real quick and that would be to abuse my bride.

I love my wife and I'm not as good a man as I used to be you fool, my bride, God gives me strength.

I'll put you on the ground as quick as I can give us what it takes to make you leave her alone because she's my bride and I would die for her with that the church is the bride of the Lord Jesus Christ bought with his blood. The Bible says we are here is we are his cry place that I am saying I don't love the brethren. I love the church will I know all the brethren are not lovely and I will love dear get back to some the members the own family I do for my family members back to me. I'm sure I never vex them but some sometimes of the members of my family backs me.

They sent me they irritate me, but I love them. Church members may vex or sometimes they irritate and sometimes we have disagreements, but well there above with those that we love that will be glory, but to live here below with those that we know that's another story, but we still love them. We love them. We love because the nature God is in us, and the nature of God's love, and one of the ways that I know that I'm saved is post it may sound corny but I love you I love the church of the Lord Jesus Christ and I love all Christians everywhere that I meet them is one of the birthmarks of the believe there is a commandment test various companion test.

I want to give you the third test that John talks about here and it is what I want to call the commitment test.

Look, if you will now beginning in first John chapter 5 and verse 10 he that believe on the son of God hath the witness in himself, he that believe not God have made him a liar because you believe is not the record that God gave his son and this is the record that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his son. He that hath the son hath life, and he that hath not the son of God and not life these things or by written of you that believe on the name of the son of God, that ye may know, here it is again, that ye may know that you have eternal life pastor why did you call this the commitment test. Why did you call it the belief test because John talks about those that believe what I could've called the belief test.

But here's the here's the reason I did in our English word. Believe is not quite as strong as the Greek word here. For example, we believe intellectually that George Washington was the father of our country that he lived in he was a historical character. I believe in George Washington but I'm not trusting him for anything. I am not committed to George Washington.

But when I believe in Jesus Christ. I trust him for something. I am committed to him for something you understand handle Bible word believe here means commitment. It means trust.

Now the question is are you believing on Jesus Christ. I want to say something here and I want to pay attention because somebody's life will misquote me or misunderstand what I'm saying.

So lend me your ears and listen. Nowhere that I can find is the Bible ever tell us to look back to some experience for the assurance of our salvation Bible doesn't deal what happened you in the past for assurance.

This is in the present tense. These things are written unto you that believe not believed but believe present tense those who believe right now that's the way that you can have a short essay will pastor why are you putting it that way. Why take this time to explain that I'll tell you why listen to me quote have you ever been out soul winning going door-to-door and you meet a person. That person had darkened the door of the church for 40 years. They living a lifestyle that is on Priceline and you try to get them back to church and service the Lord you must will be talking to a stone wall and you say to yourself, will I know what this person's problem is they just need to be saying and so you start to try to leave them to Christ and they say oh, wait a minute. Now I'm saying I was saved as a nine-year-old boy. I remember walking down the aisle and give my heart to Jesus.

And I gotta say yes to let me tell you something, nowhere in the Bible, we find that thing is proof of salvation, not what you did in the past brand. If you did believe you still will be believing, and if you are believing you did believe, but the proof right now is in the present tense and the same thing is true about commandment keeping it doesn't say he that Does commandment it says he to keep this command doesn't say he that love the brethren kiss as he that loves the brethren and approved different approve is right now you have that faith in your heart is that trust in that commitment. Jesus Christ right now you see first John chapter 5 verse 10 says he that believes on the son hath the witness in himself. There's a witness, not what happened in the past I've heard people say, well Mr. if you can't name the day the place and our USA you not say never that jury had I've heard it too, but I've never read in the Bible and have you knife you have a day of place in our USA that's fine that's good, that's wonderful, and I will hasten to say there was a day there was a place there was an hour. Are you say but listen, the evidence of that happened is sitting in that seat and so I'm saying about cemeteries something the person who was here this morning is the best provider will you say below I mean is that person sitting in that seat this morning. Is he a person committed to the commandments of Jesus Christ, is he a person whose heart is overflowing with love for Christ and his church.

Is this a person who now has that confidence that faith that commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord of lords and King of King.

That's the person John says can say I know I know what I'm saying thank God for the past thank God for those who can name the data placed our the point to spot the dirty spot on the road when they got saved, wonderful friend question John says is in the present teams.

He now believes on the son of God. He's the one who has the right to say he has eternal high priestess message this morning for two reasons.

First, first of all to help those of you who are saved, maybe you had some doubts to get it together but I person for another reason.

I don't want to give false assurance to some people never been say you know that your say that if you have strong reason to doubt your salvation this morning but it the other way if you don't have strong reason to know that your site get settled today and Fran I want to tell you that loving the brethren keeping the commandments are not something you do in order to get say there's something you do because you're saying there birthmarks that you receive Christ as your personal savior. There are indications that you have been saved on, says that's what you can know maybe today as you listen to Pastor Rogers you are saying. I don't know because I don't think I've ever given my life to Jesus Christ.

I've never begun that relationship with him. I invite you to pray with me right now. Something like this from your heart to God in heaven. I know that I'm a sinner in your holy I'm separated from you and I have no hope in and of myself because of my sin can't work my way to you, but I believe that Jesus did the work on the cross that I can't do.

He lived a perfect life. He was the perfect sacrifice for me. He died and rose again to new life so that I can have that relationship with you come into my life right now. I believe that your offering this forgiveness and your holiness, your righteousness in exchange for my sin.

So I give that to you and receive your gift in faith in Jesus name, amen. Love you prayed to receive Christ just now. We would love to celebrate with you and invite you to our find God's love page on our website to find answers there.

You may need about your newfound faith. We have a response section where you can share your testimony or how this message has made a difference in your life go to LWF.org/radio and click on the tab that says find God's love. Welcome to God's forever family.

We can't wait to hear from you today if you like a copy of today's message in its entirety. You can call us at 1877 love God and mention the title dealing with doubt this lessons also part of the insightful series getting a handle on your emotions for that complete collection all eight powerful messages. Call that number 877 love God or you can order online it LWF.org/radio or write us at love worth finding box 38, 600 Memphis, TN 38183 the assurance of our salvation is ongoing. It's not a past event stamped by a time, date and place. It's a present decision to trust in Jesus right now. We can trust in him, for he alone is the assurance of our salvation. So glad you studied in God's word with us today today tomorrow for more from Roger right on the word is an encouraging note we received from a listener.

I have found Pastor Rogers messages and instructions for applying the word of God to be an inimitable source of spiritual self worth and strength. Thank you for sharing how these messages have equipped you in these uncertain times in this past year we've seen through the covert, 19 pandemic social unrest and political division that the days are growing gloriously dark difficult year has made people more opened things of God in here at love worth finding. We are ready to meet them with the hope and the love of Jesus. That's why we believe this is one of the best times ever to make a difference for the kingdom and we would ask you to consider renewing your support.

The calendar hearing gift is our number 1877 love God would give online it LWF.org/radio