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Assurance of SalvationPart 45

Faith

(#8)

"Saving Faith""Saving Faith"

(Which ship represents

YOUR faith?)

What is the

PROOF we

have it?E-190 (CC-BY-SA-3.0)

[Public domain]

PROOF that we have it?

NOT WHAT WE KNOW about it.– "Knowledge" about it doesn't prove we have it.

NOT FEELING CONVINCED about it.– "Feelings" about it don't prove we have it.

Cäsium137 (CC-BY-SA-3.0)

PROOF that we have it?

It's what God did that proves we have it. THIS is what we rely on.

My soul finds rest in God alone;

my salvation comes from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.(Psalm 62:1-2 NIV)

Thumbs up: chris論 (CC-BY-SA-3.0)

(As we have seen in previous issues…)

God's Sovereignty and Human Responsibility go together

• SOVEREIGNTY involves:

– God's role in salvation; what Jesus did.

• RESPONSIBILTY involves:

– Our willingness to repent, trust, obey, etc.

These things go together and "interlock." Because of this, they form

an "ironclad" PROOF of salvation.

God's Sovereignty and Human Responsibility go together

This is the only reason we can have This is the only reason we can have

assurance about assurance about anythinganything!!

2

"But what if I ask, and God says "NO"?

IF ALL YOU WANT IS A FIRE ESCAPE FROM HELL…

• EXPECT God

to say "NO!"

It sure is

HOT down

here!

You ask, yet do not receive, because you ask with

wrong motives — to spend what you get on

your pleasures. (James 4:3 PD)

[Pe

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IF THAT IS YOUR ATTITUDE…

• Then pray that God will use his

Word to change your attitude.

Lord, grant me a spirit of repentance!

Create in me a clean

heart, O God.

Renew a right spirit within me.

(Psalm 51:10 NLT)

[Pe

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If you desire to return to God,

to love and obey him…

• You will NOT be disappointed!

No one who comes to me

will I ever turn away.(John 6:37b PD)

(The "Prodigal Son")

I will

return…

I will make it possible.

[Public domain]

The SOVEREIGNTY part

• Those who have saving FAITH

– Have received God's life-giving Spirit!

– By the Spirit, using the Word of God, they have received the gift of saving faith!

For it is by grace you have been saved, through FAITH--and this not from

yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.

(Ephes. 2:8-9 NIV)

The RESPONSIBILITY part

• Those who have saving FAITH– Trust God alone for their salvation.

– Desire to follow (obey) Jesus.

O Lord, you alone can heal me;

you alone can save. My praises are for you alone!

(Jeremiah 17:14 NLT)

I cry out to you; save me,

that I may obey your decrees. Psalm 119:146 (NLT)

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• In this life, they have struggles:

– Their "flesh" - their old sinful nature - fights

against them, and they fight against it.

YOU (guided by God) THE FLESH

I WANT TO KILL

YOU!

I HAVE GIVEN

YOU THE STRENGTH

YOU NEED!

YOU WILL NOT

SUCCEED!

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• This struggle isn't enjoyable, but it sure is better than the other option!– Fighting against your conscience until it is

dead.

YOU (guided by the flesh) YOUR CONSCIENCE

DON'T KILL ME!!I WANT TO

PROTECT YOU!GET OUT OF MY LIFE! I'LL DO

AS I PLEASE!

Pe

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van d

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Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray.

He who does what is right is righteous,

just as he is righteous.

He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning

from the beginning. 1 John 3:7-8a (NIV)

Has anyone led YOU astray?Since following Jesus is our

desire, but also a struggle…

• Some Scripture passages express the joyof following.

I rejoice in following your statutes

as one rejoices in great riches. Psalm 119:14 (NIV)

• Others are commands, encouragement or warnings to follow.

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are

already doing.1 Thes. 5:11 (NLT)

• Still others express prayers or desires to

follow more perfectly.

Teach me your ways, O Lord,

that I may live according to your truth!

Grant me purity of heart,

that I may honor you. Psalm 86:11 (NLT)

4

• We cannot directly see or feel what God does, but we can see its effects in our lives.

• Jesus illustrates this with the wind:

About the "sovereignty" part …

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You

hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.

So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." John 3:8 (NIV)

• We know God is working in our lives.

• He is accomplishing things far beyond what we could ever do on our own.

– Such things go against the sinful nature we were born with.

When the effects are present…

… him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, …

Ephes. 3:20 (NIV)

What happens?

• The Holy Spirit uses the Scriptures to accomplish God's purposes in us.

• It is because of the Spirit's work, that we

become:

– Receptive of what Scripture tells us about

sin, salvation and life.

– Willing to respond appropriately to those

things.

Just Scripture (i.e., the Bible)?

• Memorize this word: "YES!!!"

(i.e.) The message of the Bible

• He may use other things to get your

attention.

• But he uses what the Bible says to get you changed.

Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through

the preached word of Christ. Romans 10:17 (NET)

The end result?

• We begin to "follow Jesus"!

• Doing so becomes the desire of our

heart, not "a bunch of rules and religion."

I will put my laws in their minds

and write them on their hearts.

I will be their God,

and they will be my people. Hebrews 8:10b (NIV)

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> NEXT WEEK <

• We will look more at the specific thingsthe Holy Spirit accomplishes, to bring

about a "saving faith."

• But here's a quick overview…

Using the Scriptures…

• The Spirit teaches us…

... and we are willing to learn.

• The Spirit directs us…

… and we are willing to obey.

I am the Lord your God,

who teaches you what is best for you,

who directs you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17b (NIV)

The Holy Spirit uses the Scriptures

• FIRST STEP: to teach and convince us:

– Our sin and guilt.

– Jesus' sacrifice and God's offer.

• SECOND STEP: to guide our response:

– Repentance, trust and obedience.

The Spirit works silently…

But the learning and obeying are the

evidence we can see.

REMEMBER:

I SEE!I SEE!I SEE!

MEOW-

SEE!Magnifying glass: Penarc / Baby: Joaquin80 / Cat: Cardiffchestnut – (all = CC-BY-SA-3.0) / Yam: Dennis Hinks © 2013

Your mission: THANK!

THANK GOD! Because:

• He opened the door to genuine faith!

• His sovereignty guarantees that all who are willing can have genuine faith!

Your mission: DO!

DO the things that the Holy Spirit uses to accomplish salvation!

– Find out what Scripture says.

– Accept and begin to follow it.

He, the Spirit, will take care of the rest!

6

Credits (1)SCRIPTURE

• Psalm 51:10; Jer. 17:4; Psalm 119:146; 1 Thes. 5:11; Psalm 86:11 - Scripture quoted from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. (www.newlivingtranslation.com)

• Romans 10:17 - Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

• James 4:3; John 6:37b – "Public domain" – Either from the Open English Bible (www.openenglishbible.org) or my translation (similar to the OEB).

• All other Scriptures quoted - Scripture quoted from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. (www.zondervanbibles.com)

PICTURES

• Floating ship – By E-190 (E-190's file) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commonshttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Camellia-Maru.jpg

• Sinking ship - By U.S. Navy photo [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commonshttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ex-USS_Niagara_Falls_sinking.jpg

• Thumbs down - By Cäsium137 (T.) Template from chris (Made from file:SMirC-thumbsup.svg) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commonshttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SMirC-thumbsdown.svg

• Thumbs up - By chris論 (own design) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commonshttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SMirC-thumbsup.svg

• Man on ladder - By Underwood & Underwood [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commonshttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fearless_Freddie,_stuntman_cph.3b18312.jpg (modified)

• Prodigal son - John Macallan Swan [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commonshttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_Macallan_Swan_-_The_Prodigal_Son,_1888.jpg

Credits (2)PICTURES

• Two women fighting (and modifications) – By Peter van der Sluijs (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commonshttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Deadly_catfight..jpg

• Footprints – Dennis Hinks © 2013.

• Person with magnifying glass – By Penarc (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commonshttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Magnifying_glass_2911.JPG

• Baby's face – By Joaquin80 (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commonshttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jojos.jpg

• Cat with glasses – By Cardiffchestnut (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commonshttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tinsel_the_cat,_wearing_glasses.jpg (modified)

• Yam with glasses – Dennis Hinks © 2013

• Backgrounds not listed above (and not a solid shade or provided as part of Microsoft PowerPoint®) – Dennis Hinks © 2013, 2014.

• Presentation – Dennis Hinks © 2014.

• DISCLAIMER: The use of a picture does not imply that the author of that picture agrees with the views of this presentation. Some might agree; some might not.