John gives us tests so that we can be sure we have exercised faith:
1. A Personal Test. I John 5:11-13. Do you have the Son? Have you taken the knowledge about Jesus and His death on Calvary for you, combined it with a desire to have your sins forgiven and a love for Him, and [...]
Posts under ‘Salvation’
The Doctrine of Divine Seatbelts – Part 4
The Doctrine of Divine Seatbelts – Part 3
Faith is believing God and God’s Word. It is the response to whatever God says. If God says, “Here is a promise”, faith is believing that promise. If God says, “Here is a commandment”, faith is obeying that commandment. If God says, “Do not do this”, faith is not doing that. Faith is the response [...]
The Doctrine of Divine Seatbelts – Part 2
Look back at John 10:28-30. “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”(NIV) I have had people tell me, “I know that no [...]
Basic Distinctions in Understanding our Salvation
A. Distinguish Between Justification and Sanctification.
1. Justification is God’s action of declaring a believer righteous. It is a legal analogy taken from the courtroom.
2. Sanctification is an analogy taken from the religious world of the temple. In sanctification God sets the believer apart as “sacred” to Himself and His purposes. From this comes the concept [...]
The Doctrine of Divine Seatbelts – Part 1
In I John, Chapter 5, John is dealing with a group of people who had some very strange beliefs, and they have affected us throughout the centuries. They emphasized knowledge, and were called “gnostics”. In chapter 5, John contrasts to their “Knowledge” several “know-so” statements of true knowledge from God. In verse 9, John [...]