Speaker	Sermon/Lesson Title (Right Click to Download)	Audio   Video  Text    Ipod MS Word	Category	Date Added	Lesson
Bobby Stafford	I Am		Jesus	September 29, 2013	Sunday AM Sermon

Can I Know I’m Saved?

Introduction:

Anyone concerned with eternity is concerned with the answer to the question:  “Can I know I’m saved?”  People typically choose one of two sources:  One’s feelings and God’s Word.  Which is correct?

Body:

I.             One’s Feelings

·         A person may not feel they have anything seriously wrong medically; but when they are tested, they have cancer.

·         A person may feel they are on the right highway to get to their destination; but after looking at a map, discover they are headed in the opposite direction.

·         Feelings are based upon information which may or may not be correct.  The apostle Paul felt that Christianity was against God’s will so he tried to get rid of it.  His information was incorrect.    (Acts 22:3-10)

·         A way might feel right but in reality be wrong and head to death.  (Proverbs 14:12)

·         Trusting one’s feelings for evidence of salvation is foolish.   (Proverbs 28:26)

·         A person can’t trust his own feelings or emotions to direct how he is to live.  (Jeremiah 10:23)

II.           The Word of God

·         A key text is found in the book of Romans, Chapter 8, Verses 16, 17.  “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.  and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”  NKJV  This tells us that from the testimony of two witnesses; one can know that he is a child of God.  These two witnesses are God’s Spirit and man’s spirit.  Notice it is not God’s Spirit testifying to our spirit; but rather God’s Spirit testifying along with our spirit.

·         What is the testimony or witness of God’s Spirit?  First, it is not given in feelings or emotions, not in an overriding of our mind or will, not in forced direct influence or control of our hearts, not in a special sign or intuition.   Not a single person in the Bible ever claimed they were a child of God by any of these things.

·         So how did the Spirit’s testimony come?  By words!  Read                          I Corinthians 2:9-13.  “But as it is written:  Eye has not seen, not ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man  The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.  But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.  For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.  For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?  Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.  These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”  NKJV  We have His written testimony.

·         God’s Spirit used inspired men to record this testimony.               (II Peter 1:20-21)  These words are now Scripture.  (II Timothy 3:16-17)

·         Example:  On the Day of Pentecost, sinners were convicted by the Spirit’s testimony as preached by inspired apostles.  This was a fulfillment of Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:20.  These words were recorded and are what we call Acts, Chapter 2.

·         We have learned about the Spirit’s witness or testimony.  Now what about man’s?  The spirit of man bears witness as to what a person has or has not done.

·         Listen to I Peter 1:23.  We are born again [become a child of God] through the Spirit’s Word.  The Spirit has told us exactly what is involved in becoming a child of God.  He says that we become children of God through faith when we are baptized into Christ.  (Galatians 3:26-27)  If you say, “I have not done that,” then the Spirit is bearing witness with your spirit that you are not a child of God.

Conclusion:

When God’s Spirit testifies through the inspired writings as to what you must do to be saved and stay saved and your spirit bears witness that you have met those conditions, then the joint testimony of these two witnesses assures that person of his salvation.

Bobby Stafford                                                                                                    

September 29, 2013