Personal Questions…
What Happens to Me Sixty Seconds After Salvation?
John 6:35-40
March 4, 2001
Intro:
A. Sixty seconds is a pretty short period of time.
1. But there are a lot of things that can happen in only sixty seconds.
2. There are some pretty amazing things that can happen in only sixty seconds.
B. Salvation is like that.
1. Jesus assures us that we are saved the instant we come to Him in saving faith.
2. The moment that we come to Him in 100% sincere faith, we are instantly saved from the eternal penalty of our sins in hell.
3. We instantly cease to be children of Satan and we become the children of God.
4. Our names are instantly written down in the Lamb’s book of Life and we are on our way to heaven.
5. It is an instantaneous change.
6. When a baby is born into the world, all of its surroundings are completely strange and new.
7. Doctors tell us that there are fifty or sixty changes that take place in a new-born baby in the first few seconds of life.
8. And when a person is born again spiritually through the new birth, many changes take place within the first few seconds of new life.
C. Let’s take a look at John 6:35-40 which I will read and use as spring board to dive into the question of what happens to us 60 seconds after we are saved.
D. What happens to us sixty seconds after we are saved? First…
I. Sixty Seconds After Salvation We Have Been Forgiven of Our Sins
Isaiah 1:18, "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
A. This is something that so many people miss!
1. This is a big thing that so many people walk right past.
2. So many people pray a prayer, walk down an aisle, raise their hand, or get dunked in a tank and don’t really fully understand what forgiveness is all about.
3. So many people don’t realize that they are sinners in the first place.
4. So many people believe the lie of the devil that they are "good" people.
5. So many people don’t realize that they were doomed to an eternity in the lake of fire because they are bad people.
6. So many people don’t truly understand what a great gift they have been given in the forgiveness of their sins.
B. And because of this misunderstanding about the greatness of the gift that God has given, they have a hard time forgiving themselves.
1. They don’t realize how much God loves them.
2. They don’t realize that God loved them so much that He sent His only Son to die for them.
3. Let me ask you: Who do you know that would sacrifice their child for you?
4. Who do you know that loves you so much that they would sacrifice their only son for you?
5. You probably don’t know anyone who would do that for you, but God did!
6. Do you realize how much God loves you?
7. And if God loves you enough to send His Son to die for your sins so that you can be forgiven, why can’t you forgive yourself?
8. Are you really going to stand before God and say, "Thank-you for sacrificing your only Son for me. I appreciate that, but somehow it just doesn’t seem like enough to me. I just really don’t think that’s enough for me to forgive myself."
9. God loves you! God sacrificed His only begotten Son so that your sins could be white as snow! God has forgiven you!
10. So FORGIVE YOURSELF!
C. And FORGIVE OTHERS!
1. There are so many people that don’t understand the greatness of what God has done in forgiving their sins and it is visible in their actions.
2. When someone seeks revenge, it says that they don’t understand God’s forgiveness of their own sins.
3. When someone is bitter towards others, it says that they don’t understand God’s forgiveness of their own sins.
4. When someone pronounces judgment upon another, it says that they don’t understand God’s forgiveness of their own sins!
5. When someone distorts another persons words or actions it shows that they don’t understand God’s forgiveness of their own sins!
6. When envy and pride and self-righteousness are displayed in a person’s life it shows that they don’t understand their own sinfulness and what they have been forgiven of themselves.
7. There are so many people now days who gossip.
8. When a person gossips about someone else and talks about them behind their back it shows that they don’t understand their own sinfulness and God’s forgiveness of their own sins!
9. Colossians 3:13, "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
D. The first thing we need to really understand is that sixty seconds after we have been saved, God has forgiven our sins.
1. So many people miss this and it causes so many problems in their life.
2. We all have to get a handle on how much God has sacrificed in order for our sins to be forgiven.
3. And if we truly understand it, we will forgive ourselves and we will forgive others.
4. If we truly understand God’s forgiveness of us, we won’t judge and condemn others, we won’t distort their words and actions, we won’t envy them, we won’t seek revenge, we won’t be self-righteous, and our hearts won’t be hard.
5. A good way to tell if you understand forgiveness is to ask yourself when was the last time you cried.
6. When you aren’t able to cry, you’re heart is getting hard and forgiveness (and lots of other things) are becoming a problem.
7. When you are able to cry, you’re on the road to understanding forgiveness.
8. The first thing we need to really understand is that sixty seconds after we have been saved, God has forgiven our sins; then…
II. Sixty Seconds After Salvation We Have Been Given Eternal Life
John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
A. This is another thing that a lot of people misunderstand and it causes a lot of problems in their life.
1. So many people think their eternity is based upon performance.
2. So many people think their eternity is based upon being a "good" person.
3. So many people think their eternity is based upon never killing anyone.
4. So many people think their eternity is based upon not stealing.
5. So many people think their eternity is based upon not committing adultery.
6. And so many people think that that if they did do something bad, if they quit doing that bad thing and then do a whole lot of good things, it will all balance out.
7. Therefore so many people spend their whole life trying to be a "good" person by doing good deeds.
8. Their out there performing for some compassionate "god" out there somewhere.
B. But that is NOT what the Bible teaches!
1. Even if you only know John 3:16, you that is not what the Bible says.
2. What does John 3:16 say eternal life is based on?
3. Belief in Jesus Christ is what gives us eternal life!
4. Believing that Jesus really is the Son of God is what gives us eternal life!
5. Believing that Jesus really died on the cross for our sins is what gives us eternal life!
6. The Bible teaches that believing in Jesus and having a friendship with Him is what gives us eternal life.
7. Of course, if we are Jesus’ friend we are going to obey His commandments.
8. But obeying the commandments is not what saves us!
9. Doing good deeds is not what saves us!
10. Belief in Jesus is what gives us eternal life and so many people miss it!
C. When we understand this, it takes all of the worry out of life!
1. When we understand that belief is what saves us, we don’t have to worry about whether we have been "good" enough.
2. When we understand that belief is what saves us, we don’t have to worry about if the bad things we have done are going to keep us out of heaven.
3. When we understand that belief is what saves us, we can live a joyous life of friendship with Jesus instead of worry about whether we are making Him unhappy.
D. Also, when we understand this, we take the pressure off of others as well.
1. When we understand that belief is what saves others, we won’t put pressure on them to live the way we want them to live.
2. I know a lady who used to go to church here and struggled with the fact that people got upset with her for wearing pants.
3. I know a man who went to a church in Illinois who struggled with the fact that people in his church didn’t like his sideburns.
4. Why is that Christians expect other Christians to eat, sleep, and drink the way we want them to?
5. Why is it that if people don’t act the way we expect them to act, we get upset with them?
6. Do you see that we shouldn’t put pressure on people to act a certain way because they are saved the same way we are: by believing NOT performance!
7. Sixty seconds after we are saved we have eternal life and as long as we continue to believe, we continue to have eternal life; and…
III. Sixty Seconds After Salvation We Have Become Children of God
John 1:12, Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--
A. This verse says that to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--
1. Today we hear many people proclaiming that we are all children of God.
2. They want to be tolerant and broadminded.
3. It all sounds good, but it not true.
4. Jesus plainly taught that unsaved people are the children of devil.
5. When we believe in Jesus, we become His brothers and sisters: the children of God.
B. There are advantages to having God as our Father that many people miss!
1. One is that we have direct access to Him through Jesus.
2. Some people believe that they need to pray through the virgin Mary.
3. Other people believe that they need to have a pastor pray for them.
4. Some would say that if you wanted to speak with the president of the United States you would have to go through a Senator or some other official.
5. But suppose you were the president’s son, that you lived in the White House and ate at his table.
6. Would you have to go through a senator to get to him?
7. No, you would go straight to him, put your arms around him and make your wishes know.
8. Well you’re a child of God, so you don’t have to go through any human mediator to get to your heavenly Father!
9. You can go to Him in the name of Jesus and His heart is open to you!
10. You are a child of the King!
11. You are a child of God!
12. Hebrews 4:14-16, "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
13. Then there is 1 Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,"
14. We can have a direct relationship with God through Jesus!
15. We don’t have to have any other mediator!
16. You are a child of God—that’s better than be the child of a king or a child of a president or a child of a millionaire!
17. Sixty seconds after you are saved you are a child of God!
IV. Sixty Seconds After Salvation We Want the World to Know It
John 1:41-42, The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.
A. Did you hear that?
1. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.
2. We usually see Andrew as a quiet and reserved man.
3. But as soon as he met Jesus he ran to tell his brother, Peter, and bring him to Jesus.
4. That is the natural reaction of every new-born Christian!
5. Jesus says that if we confess Him before men, He will confess us before the Father in heaven.
6. The first thing Andrew did when he was saved was bring his brother to Christ!
B. That is one of the signs that a person is saved: they can’t help but tell people.
1. Andrew couldn’t help it and neither could Peter and John.
2. Today, people say things like, "I’d like to quit doing what I’m doing, but I just can’t help it."
3. I’d like to quit taking the Lord’s name in vain, but I just can’t help it.
4. I’d like to quit gossiping, but I just can’t help it.
5. I’d like to quit cheating, but I just can’t help it.
6. Today our government tries to get us to quit talking about Jesus in public.
7. But listen to what Peter and John said when their government told them that they must stop talking about Jesus.
8. Acts 4:19-20, "But Peter and John replied, ‘Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.’"
9. That’s the way it is with a person who has been saved!
10. We have relationships with people who aren’t saved because we want to show them the love of Christ.
11. We maintain relationships with people who aren’t saved so that we can have the opportunity to tell them what God has done for us.
12. We build relationships with people who are saved because we want them to have what we have got.
13. Instead of complaining or gossiping to others, we talk about Jesus.
14. "For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
15. Sixty seconds after salvation, we want the world to know it!
V. Sixty Seconds After Salvation Our Bodies Have Become the Temple of the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
A. So many people miss this as well!
1. One of the ways people miss this has to do with the church building.
2. There are too many people who believe that church buildings are the houses of God.
3. There are too many people who believe that God lives in buildings.
4. There are too many people who treat church buildings like some kind of shrine, because they’ve been told that it is God’s house.
5. I have talked about this repeatedly and will continue to do so.
6. Acts 17:24, "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands."
7. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
8. God does not live in a far away shrine (a church building); God lives in your body!
9. That means that this building is just a building.
10. This building is just a place to meet.
11. This building is just a tool to help us teach about God.
12. And that also means that since Jesus lives in our hearts, He is always with us.
13. We don’t have to wait until Sunday to be with Him, He is with us always!
14. What a blessing!
B. But that also means since God the Holy Spirit is always with us, we have to think about how we live.
1. Many people miss this.
2. They think that once they are saved, they can live however they want to!
3. They think that once they have believed in God, they can do whatever they want to do! This is not true either!
C. Because once a person is truly saved, they will want to please Jesus!
1. John 14:15, "If you love me, you will obey what I command."
2. Once a person is truly saved, they will want to be obedient to Christ!
3. Once a person realizes what God has done for them, they will want to serve Him!
4. Once a person believes that Jesus is their Savior, they want to show Him how grateful they are!
5. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
6. Sixty seconds after we are saved, our bodies become the temple of the HS; then…
VI. Sixty Seconds After Salvation We Have Becomes Saints
Ephesians 1:1, Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
A. Again, so many people miss this!
1. A saint is a high position that a lot of people misunderstand!
2. Some people think that a saint is a perfect person who never sins. (If that were true there would be only one saint.)
3. Some people think that a saint is one who did good works while on earth and who is highly honored by religious people after they have died.
4. But according to the Bible, everyone who is saved is a saint!
B. Therefore, everyone who is saved has the same position as Jesus.
1. If you are a saved, you have the same position before God as Jesus because your righteousness is Jesus’ righteousness and not the filthy rags of our own righteousness.
2. The Bible tells us that when we are saved we are justified by Christ.
3. Therefore since everyone who is saved is justified, we all have the same standing before God as Jesus does.
4. And notice that is true for you if you are saved and it is true for your neighbor if they are saved.
5. Everyone who is saved is a saint!
6. Turn to your neighbor and say, "I’m a saint!"
7. You’re not better than your neighbor and their not better than you.
8. We are all sinners who have been justified by the blood of Jesus and are therefore saints!
C. Paul Rader was a preacher, but in his earlier life there was a lapse in his faith.
He hardly believed the Bible, Christ, or God. He was miserable.
So he rented a hotel room, locked himself in and fell on his knees praying that he might get back to God.
He stayed in that room three days and nights.
He got himself right with God and the HS filled his heart with joy and peace and power.
He went out on the street in a happy mood.
He looked up at an advertising sign which showed a kitten tangled up in some thread.
"Little kitten," he said, "you are all tangled up, but, thank God, I’m free."
D. Do you remember when you were saved?
1. A warm glow filled your heart.
2. You were so happy that you had been saved, that you had passed from death to life.
3. Maybe as the years have gone by you have lost that feeling, that warm glow.
4. But you can thank God that you haven’t lost your position before God.
5. You simply need to get right with Him again; you simply need to come back to him and start living up to your high position as a saint!
E. A wealthy family of noble birth in England had a son who brought dishonor and shame to their good name because of his drunken scandals.
The family finally told him they were going to cut off his quarterly allowance unless he left home.
He then went to Canada where he wandered about, often spending his allowance before he received the next check.
He then secured a job as an elevator operator at $15.00/week.
Later his father died and the young man became an earl.
His young wife came over to Canada to take him home.
He had a high position as a peer of England and a member of Parliament, but he was not living up to his high position.
She took him home where he was elevated to his high position and where he lived up to it from that time on.
1. Friends, our position with God is much higher than that!
2. God has given us a position higher than the angels in heaven.
3. But we must remember that we belong to God and that we should live up to our high position.
Conclusion:
A. A man went to a doctor for a physical examination.
The doctor examined him thoroughly and said, "I can’t find anything physically wrong with you."
"But I’m suffering greatly," the man said, "there must be something wrong."
Then the doctor said, "Have you done anything seriously wrong in your life recently?"
the man became intensely angry and said, "I came for a check-up, not for a sermon!"
And he stomped out of the office.
Two weeks later he came back in a penitent mood.
"Doctor," he said, "you had me right two weeks ago and I would not admit it. I cheated my brother out of a large sum of money. Now I can’t sleep and I can’t eat. Can you help me?"
The doctor replied, "Yes, I’ll give you a prescription if you’ll promise to take it."
"I’ll take it," said the man, "I need help."
Then the doctor handed the man a sheet of paper and said, "First, write out a full confession to your brother."
With tears in his eyes, the man wrote out the confession.
"Now," said the doctor, "write out a check and put it the envelope with your confession."
The man did this.
"Now let’s go out into the hall and put the letter in the mail slot."
They walked out together and the letter and confession and check were soon on their way.
Then the man said, "Doctor, down that chute goes the heaviest load a man ever carried. Thank God, I am rid of it now."
"Yes," said the doctor, "but there is something else still to be done. You’ve made things right with your brother, now let’s go back into my office and make things right with God."
In the office the two men fell on their knees, the man confessed his sin to God and arose a new man, with peace in his heart.
B. Are you a child of God, but not living up to your high position?
1. Have your sins been forgiven, but your having trouble forgiving yourself or others?
2. Have you been given eternal life, but your still running around trying to earn it?
3. Have you become a child of God, but haven’t taken advantage of your access to God?
4. Have you become a child of God, but aren’t telling anyone about it?
5. Has your body become the temple of God, but you aren’t living like it?
6. Are you a child of God, but not living up to your high position as a saint?
C. Is there something between you and God?
1. Is there something between you and someone else?
2. Then think of all the good things that are yours in your high position and start living like you are a child of God!
3. What do you need to do to get yourself right with God and start living up to your high position?
4. Whatever commitment you need to make, I want to encourage you to make it as we stand and sing "Sanctuary."
