SCRIPTURE: I John 3:13-24

INTRODUCTION:

There are a lot of things we don’t know, and can never understand. But on such an important journey there are some things of which we must be very sure! The Bible tells us that we can have eternal life; and what is more, the Bible tells us that we can KNOW we are alive, SPIRITUALLY! I John is a little book that is big on this matter of knowing about eternal matters. John wants us to be sure about the important things that have to do with life and death and eternity.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW HOW YOU CAN FIND CERTAINTY IN THESE CRITICAL MATTERS?

I. CERTAINTY COMES BY WAY OF GOD’S REVELATION

(I JOHN 2:3) And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments, "KNOWING," in matters of eternal life, is always connected to the Word of God.

A. First: We cannot look to none-Christian sources for advice on facing life and death. And as a matter of fact, there will always be some form of conflict with the "WISDOM OF THE WORLD."

(IJohn 3:13) "Don’t be surprised if the world hates you!"

One would think that when a person comes to Christ everyone would rejoice. In actual fact there is always some kind of conflict! It is almost a "WITNESS" in itself! It is NOT by the approval and acceptance of the world that we are affirmed in our faith.

(Illus.) In Marks gospel there is the story of the man who had a whole region terrorized---and Jesus came along and cast a legion of devils out of him, and it ruined a hard of pigs; and when the people came out of the town and saw this man who had been naked and raving mad and fearsome sitting quietly, clothed and in his right mind and listening to Jesus teach, they said to Jesus: "Please leave us!" What a reaction!

B. Second: THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT EVERYTHING THAT IS NOT REVEALED IN THE BIBLE IS UNTRUTH:

It does not mean that Christians should only study and believe sacred facts and figures. Many things pertaining to life and living are true whether the "BELIEVER" in them is Christian or not.

C. Third: BUT ETERNAL LIFE COMES FROM ONLY ONE SOURCE.

That Source is God. And God has revealed His life in His Son, Jesus Christ, the Living Word, through His gift of revelation to us that we call the Bible, the Written Word. As we read the holy Spirit helps us understand and believe. And as we are persuaded, and as we agree in will, and in spirit, and in beginning the necessary steps, we have the assurance that we have passed form death to life--we are on our way to heaven! So, CERTAINTY BEGINS WITH THE BIBLE. God said it! I accept it! I believe it! I choose to go with God! That settles it! I know because of God's WORD!

II. CERTAINLY OF SPIRITUAL LIFE IS REINFORCED BY OUR OWN KINDLING LOVE.

(I John 3:14) We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren. The LIFE which we receive in Jesus Christ is NOT received in a vacuum. It is not received in isolation. It is always received in a relationship; a relationship to God as Father, and a relationship to all Gods children as FAMILY. We are born into God's family, the church of the redeemed! One of the strong proofs of spiritual life is this fact that the church of Jesus Christ increasingly becomes our family! How do you describe being part of a "FAMILY?" What does it mean?

A. First, IN A GOOD FAMILY THERE WILL BE A STRONG SENSE OF BELONGING.

That belonging is one of the strongest ties known to men! In every family there are shared values. There is an almost "MYSTICAL" BELIEVING. This is what our family values! This is our family creed! This is what we believe!

B. Second: IN A GOOD STRONG FAMILY THERE ARE CHALLENGES TO GREATNESS OR SIGNIFICANCE OF SOME KIND THAT IS IMPORTANT TO THAT FAMILY.

There is a family "BECOMING!" This is what our family counts as important! This is what OUR family achieves!

C. Third: GOALS AND ACHIEVEMENTS SEEM TO RUN IN FAMILIES.

Somehow, this is where goals are fulfilled--great and noble goals--or unspoken and unworthy goals of pleasure, Laziness, or worse. And here John tells us that a critical sign of spiritual life is this family bonding. We care for each other!

III. CERTAINTY, FINALLY, IS A MATTER OF DIRECT WITNESS

(I John 3:24) And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

(I John 4:13) Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. There is a gentle persuasion that comes directly from God. We have the threefold witness God makes available, of revelation, of belonging, of consciousness of His presence. Or to put it another way, we have:

A. First: THE WITNESS OF THE WRITTEN WORD.

I can read and understand. I can agree with the Word, and believe that God is faithful and just, as I follow direction.

B. Second THE WITNESS OF MY OWN SPIRIT

I have responded in faith! I come to the place where I know there is nothing "HELD BACK." There is literally no more which I can do, I find rest in that place. It is "BELIEVING GROUND."

C. Third THE DIRECT WITNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

(I John 3:24) And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us."

CONCLUSION

A. First: I don’t know where you are planning to go on vacation, and that not that important, But what about that other journey?

Isn’t it a wonderful thing that we can know what we need to know about where we in eternal matters?

B. Second: every Christian is entitled to this certainty!

Let us pray...