Sermon Central
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Let's Take A Test
Contributed by Allan Kircher on Nov 25, 2013 (message contributor)
Summary: Is your faith in Jesus.. • or the church? or your profession of faith • or some prayer you prayed? • or in the good things you think you have done?
Pastor Allan Kircher
Shell Point Baptist Church
November 10th 2013
1 John 1:4; 5:13
LET'S TAKE A TEST
Intro: The early church had been birthed in power
• Grew like wildfire/Lord truly blessed/fledgling church.
• However, it wasn't many days until heresy began to creep into the church.
• One of the earliest perversions/Christianity to make an appearance was known as Gnosticism.
There were many versions/Gnosticism
• Primary areas/agreement was
• Knowledge---not/cross was/means to salvation.
Gnostics believed only through initiation into "special" knowledge they alone possessed could anyone hope to be saved.
• Also believed all matter was evil.
• Meant Jesus Christ did not really have/flesh/blood body.
• If matter was evil then Christ could not have had a physical body.
• It only appeared that He had died!
• Some did believe that Jesus died
• But/spirit/Christ left Him before the cross.
This, of course, eliminated/cross/resurrection as/basis/salvation.
• Since they believed all matter to be evil
• They did not believe in living holy lives.
• They believed the body could be allowed to do as it pleased since body and spirit were separate one from the other.
As teachings began to filter their way into/church
• some found their faith undermined
• They began to doubt their relationship with the Lord.
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The Apostle John felt led offer assurance/his readers.
He wants them, and us, to know we can know/sure we are saved.
• Don’t have to live in doubt.
• Many do, does not have to be that way.
To aid us in knowing for sure/saved or not,
• John gives/simple test they can take’
• Test/determine where they stand/Lord.
• Like/achievement tests/school.
• Tests/broken down/sections/revealed where we stood in relation to our peer group.
John's test reveals where/person stands/regard/matter/salvation.
• John’s/simple test, broken down/five sections.
• Let’s take test together this morning.
• Not need # two pencil/All you will need/honest heart.
• Take/test/see where you stand
• If corrections need to be made, they will be allowed.
• Let's examine/sections/John's test/our own hearts
• Let's take a test!
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I. THE COMMANDMENT SECTION
A. 1 John 2:3-6
• Simply stated/person who/saved will have a desire to walk in obedience/revealed will/Lord.
• Same standard applied/Jesus Himself/John 14:15…
B. 1 John 4:6, We are from God, and whoever knows God….
C. 1 John 5:3
• Saved/experience a joy in their heart when they receive commandments/Lord.
• God's demands will not be "grievous" to them
• They will be a pleasure and a delight to the soul!
• Psa. 1:1-3
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D. Is there something within you/wants to do the will of God?
• You may not do it completely or perfectly
• there/pull within you/makes you want to do/God wants?
• That/not naturally within man
• Supernaturally placed within man when he is saved!
E. How did you do on this section? Grade your own papers please!
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II. THE COMPASSION SECTION
• Genuine believer/always be marked by true love for his brothers/sisters/Christ.
• Person who displays no love for/redeemed/not/child/God!
True Christian loves his brethren, as we have already said.
• This/love/seen and not just said!
• Love that transcends all hurts and personal attacks.
• Unexplainable love for people
• In spite/their attitudes/actions towards us
• Gives us assurance of our salvation.
Verses 20-21
• Our own heart will attempt to condemn us.
• That is, we may feel we are not saved.
• John wants us/know we/not/rely/what our heart says!
• We are/look/evidence and rest in the grace of God.
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C. 1 John 4:20-21 - True believers love/rest of God's family!
W/O supernatural love for the brethren a person is simply not saved, regardless of what they may say!
D. How are you doing? Again, please grade your own papers only!
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III. THE CHRISTLIKENESS SECTION
A. 1 John 3:6-10 No one who lives in Him…….
• These verses reveal/truth/genuine believers live a different life/the world
• They/changed by/power/God/are different, 2 Cor. 5:17!
• saved person will develop a new pattern of life
• Increasingly become more/more like Jesus Christ 1John2:6
• Saved not be able to live a life of habitual, unconfessed, unrepentant sin!
• They will sin, 1 John 1:8…
• There will be a pull in the heart to make it right with God and to separate from that sin!
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B. You are going to resemble your spiritual father whether it is God or the devil.
• You will manifest/characteristics/your spiritual father
• Did you come through this section alright?
• Please keep your eyes on your own test results.
• God called us to bear fruit, not inspect it!
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IV. THE COMPANION SECTION
A. 1 John 3:24
Not only/genuine believer have/external marks/salvation
• Such/desire to obey the Lord
• desire to do His will
