Heavenly Love Heavenly love I was astray I

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

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

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

THE BIBLE READING John. 16: 8 -13

1 Co 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)

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

How Can I Know For Sure? • First • 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!

How Can I Know For Sure? • First • 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

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)

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)

How Can I Know For Sure? • Second • assurance & confidence comes from the Spirit’s testimony, not from man’s assurances (1 Jn. 2: 18 -20; 4: 1 -6)

How Can I Know For Sure? • Second • 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)

How Can I Know For Sure? • Second • Investigation and testing is important (Acts 17: 11) … What does the Holy Spirit say, what does our spirit say (Rom. 8: 16)?

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?

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)

How Can I Know For Sure? • Third • 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”

How Can I Know For Sure? • Third • 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)

How Can I Know For Sure? • What if I sin? • Confess it (1 Jn. 1: 9 -10), • pray forgiveness (1 Jn. 5: 14 -16), • and return to doing God’s commandments (2: 3)

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.

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.