Sermons About Assurance
Help My Unbelief
This is our first sermon in our series entitled, "The Gospel of Luke: Help My Unbelief." In it, we are trying to answer questions like who is Luke and why did he write this historical narrative on the life of Jesus Christ.
0 Amens
True Faith-Introduction to Colossians
The true faith given to us results in growth. The Book of Colossians steers a straight path through error that can prevent growth.
0 Amens
OUR VICTORY OVER SIN AND OUR CHRIST-CENTERED ASSURANCE IN LIFE (1 John 1:5-2:2 * Message #3/14) 10-18-09
NOTE: To receive these Sermon notes below in an outline form (which is easier to read), please email your request to Pastor Marcus Johnson (efcamarcus@sbcglobal.net). INTRODUCTION: SOME KEY DEFINITIONS – The Definitions below are taken from: {1} “Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms” by Grenz, Guretzki & Nordling; {2} “Systematic Theology” by Wayne Grudem; and {3} “1-3 John” by Robert W. Yarbrough. SIN: “The fundamental unbelief, distrust and rejection of God and human displacement of God as the center of reality. The Bible presents sin as both fallen humanity’s state of separation and alienation from God and as a person’s purposeful disobedience to God’s will as evidence in concrete thought or act. As an inherent part of the human condition sin is universal, and it is both corporate and individual.” {1}. ATONEMENT (atone means “to make amends”): what God has done thru the life and death of Jesus Christ to remedy the human problem of sin {1}, leading to the salvation of His people. It includes two key concepts: propitiation (“a sacrifice that bears God’s wrath to the end and in so doing changes God’s wrath toward us into favor” {2}); and expiation (the covering of sins and the cancelling of debts {1}). ADVOCATE: translated from the Greek word paraklētos (par-ak'-lay-tos) which means helper, or intercessor. (Other definitions: a righteous intercessor; a legal assistant who intercedes; an advocate who assists a sinner seeking forgiveness; a mediator who assists a sinner seeking remission of penalty at the temple; an advocate who gains a hearing for you {3}). The NIV translates this word as “one who speaks to the father in our defense.” RIGHTEOUS: As a noun, it means one who stands in a right relationship with God and whose life is in line with the will and nature of God. “Righteousness” is the doctrine that “God always acts in accordance with what is right and that he himself is the final standard of what is right” {2}. In 1st John 2:1, Jesus is called “the righteous.” The NIV translates this as “the righteous one” and the NLT replaces the word “righteous” with this phrase: “the one who pleases God completely.” PROPITIATION: (see definition above under “Atonement”) translated from the Greek word hilasmos (hil-as-mos') which means “an atoning sacrifice” (NIV/NRSV). This word is translated “propitiation” in the ESV/NASB, as “expiation” in the RSV, and as “the sacrifice that takes away” in the NLT. SUMMARY: “While Jesus’s death certainly has the effect of expiating sin (wiping away its penalty), it is difficult to avoid the impression that it also propitiates (turns away the wrath of) God’s promised punishment of sin and sinners whose transgressions are not atoned for on the last day–a day of condemnation spoken of by Jesus in John 12:48” {3}. LIVE IN VICTORY OVER SIN – 1st, By Knowing God and Walking in the Light: v1 (see 1Jn 1:5-10) [John’s Purpose: I write these things that that you may not sin]. 2nd, Thru Jesus Christ our Advocate: vs1-2 [The Righteous One/the Propitiation for Our Sins]. 3rd, By Seeking Holiness with Humility: vs1-2 [Live a holy life in Christ & Humbly seek His forgiveness daily]. LIVE WITH CHRIST-CENTERED ASSURANCE – 1st, Our Relationship with Christ: vs3-4 [We know that we know Christ if we keep His Commandments]. 2nd, Our Perfection in Christ: vs3-5 [We know God’s love is perfected in us if we keep His word] “Made complete” [perfected] means that the Christian’s love is entire and mature … To receive and obey God’s word is to be made perfect in love; the thought of pleasing and serving God is supreme in the Christian’s motives and molds his conduct … We must bear in minds two things: first, that perfection is not incompatible with further progress and development, and second, that John’s statement here must be place (paradoxically) alongside his earlier assertion that it is wrong for us to say “we are without sin.” (The Epistles of John, by I. Howard Marshall). 3rd, Our Life in Christ: vs5-6 [We know we are in Christ if we walk like Jesus did].
0 Amens
Act Like a Christian, Unless You're Really Not...
The apostle John clearly lays out what is to be expected of a genuine born again believer of Jesus Christ. We are called to obedience of the Lord Jesus and we are not obedient, perhaps it is a sign that we are genuinely not saved.
0 Amens
Confidence
Do you have proof that you are a citizen of heaven? Do you have confidence that you are a citizen of God’s Kingdom? Many struggle with doubts in this area. In the apostle John’s first letter, he told his hearers that they could have “confidence” that they were members of God’s eternal Kingdom by receiving and believing in His Son, Jesus. We can know this confidence that comes from receiving and believing in Christ as our Savior. The text gives four steps to having confidence and assurance of your salvation.
0 Amens
We Study So We Don't Forget
Have we forgotten to Whom it is we belong? Paul wrote to "the church" in Thessalonica for a variety of reasons. It could be summarized, as a whole, as a call to "blameless living." In 1:1 and 5:23-28 Paul's focus is on redirecting the Thessalonian Christians to remember they belong to God, they are not alone in their faith, and unity is essential in the body of Christ.
0 Amens
Prove It
Gideon's life was in the midst of a difficult time. He wondered how God could be near if these terrible things were happening. If God was nearby and had a plan for his life Gideon wanted God to prove it. Have you ever been like Gideon?
0 Amens
Blessed are the Peacemakers (Matthew 5:9)
The gospel of Jesus Christ is a call to repentance. Apart from genuine repentance there is no true knowledge of God and no participation in the Kingdom of God. Repentance and the Kingdom of Heaven go hand in hand (3:2; 4:17; 5:3 “Blessed are … the kingdom of heaven.”) “Blessedness” refers to one who is in a right relationship with God; which in turn produces joy, happiness, contentment. Issue not how to enter the kingdom (repent), but assurance/evidence that one is in fact in the kingdom. The 1st century audience of Jesus, those listening to the sound of His voice, were a people steeped in a religious system that was spiritually bankrupt; it was a religious structure that focused almost entirely upon externals - what they do - as a means of being right with God and bringing down His blessing. Therefore, the beatitudes, would have come as a shocker; because the shoot right past the externals and deal directly with the heart. It is not the proud who are blessed, but the “poor in spirit”; it is not the morally superior, but those who mourn over their sin, are meek, and have a true inner “hunger and thirst for righteousness”; who are merciful, and pure in heart. Here in our verse this morning 5:9, He moves it to the next level: "Blessed are the peacemakers, because they shall be called sons of God."
0 Amens
