Being Sure About Salvation - Part 2

Being Sure About Salvation

Is there a way to tell who is

a true Christian and who is not?

www.confidentchristians.org

“And when statistics come out that show how the divorce rate among

Christians is really no different than that of the rest of the world … and when other studies are done that

show how unmarried teen pregnancy rates are no different inside or

outside the Body of Christ … and when reports come out that speak to

heavy use of alcohol and drugs among professing believers … you

have to pause and wonder … why –with a God who transforms lives –

why are so many supposed Christians living lives with no

evidence of any transformation having taken place?”

- John MacArthur



The Evidences of Being Lost

Human Birth Experience / Old Nature

Fleshly Affections

Positive / Negative

Love things of world / sin

Reject God / things of God

Fruit

Works

Personal life

Darkened Mind

Reject Spiritual Truth

Mind centered on self/flesh

Maturing/Growth Process

Away From Toward

God & Holy Things

Self & Sinful Things

Sinful Motion


The Evidences of Salvation

New Birth / New Nature

Holy Affections

Positive / Negative

Love God/Things of

God

Hate sin / world / enemies of

God

Fruit

Works

Personal life

Renewed Mind

Accept Spiritual Truth

Mind of the Sprit in Holy

living

Maturing/Growth Process

Away From Toward

Self & Sinful Things

God & Holy Things

Holy Motion

Five Teachings of Christ Provide the Details

1. The beginning of the Sermon on the Mount2. The end of the Sermon on the Mount3. The parable of the ten virgins4. The parable of the sower5. The parable of the wheat and the tares


The end of the Sermon on the Mount


The End of the Sermon on the Mount

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

(Matthew 7:13-14)


“Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

(Acts 14:22)


Two Ways…

1. A Narrow way2. A Broad way


Two Destinations…

1. Life2. Destruction


Two Groups…

1. Few2. Many


The Key Evidence of True/False Believers

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. “You will know them by their fruits.

Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad

fruit. “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and

thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15–20)


Two Trees…

1. Good Tree2. Bad Tree


What Kind of „Good‟ Fruit is Produced?

1. Holiness : “But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.” (Romans 6:22)

2. Christian character: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23)



3. Good works: “For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; ” (Colossians 1:9–10)

4. Evangelism/Witnessing: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19)



5. Generosity (Luke 3:11): “And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.” ” (Luke 3:11)

6. Praise toward God: “Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. ” (Hebrews 13:15)


Peter‟s Signs of a True Believer

“His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by

them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral

excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control,

and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness,

brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and

are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord

Jesus Christ. ” (2 Peter 1:3–8)


Peter‟s Signs of a True Believer

“Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His

calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice

these things [previous slide], you will never

stumble” (2 Peter 1:10)



“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will

enter. “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never

knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:13-14, 21–23)


Can God Work Through Unbelievers?

“Then the Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return

to Balak, and you shall speak thus.” ”

(Numbers 23:5)

“forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed

the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of

unrighteousness; ” (2 Peter 2:15)


“By this means *false religion and misleading affections] he [the

devil] deceives great multitudes about the state of their souls; making them think they are something, when they are

nothing; and so eternally undoes them; and not only so, but

establishes many in a strong confidence of their eminent

holiness, who are in God’s sight some of the vilest hypocrites.”

- Jonathan Edwards


“Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the

Lord is to abstain from wickedness.”” (2 Timothy 2:19)


Two Types of People…

1. The Doers 2. The Sayers


Mark of a True and False Believer

“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately

forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having

become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.”

(James 1:22–25)


Mark of a False Believer

“The Dialect of Canaan”(“Le patois de Canaan”)

French theologians have a saying for the sayers-only. It describes a person who has a spiritual language, but whose heart is actually far

from God. They know all the right lingo, can punch all the right buttons … in fact, they do it so well they‟ve actually deceived

themselves into the ultimate case of false security.


Faith and Works

“What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body,

what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your

faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered

up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was

fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is

justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is

dead, so also faith without works is dead. ” (James 2:14–26)



“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and

yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds

blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”(Matthew 7:24–27)


Two Builders…

1. Builder on sand2. Builder on rock


Two Final Outcomes…

1. Perseverance2. Destruction


“The wicked are overthrown and are no more, But the house of the

righteous will stand.” (Proverbs 12:7)


The Inevitable Progression

False Path


False Teachers

False Follower

False Foundation

True Destruction

“Wherever a profession of conversion is not

accompanied by holiness of life it must be

understood that the individual concern is not a

Christian.” - Jonathan Edwards


One Self-Exam

1. Do I have a longing for holy things?

2. Do I seek those things that honor God?

3. Am I sensitive to sin?4. Am I enjoying fellowship with

God?5. Do I delight in God’s Word and

ways?


The parable of the ten virgins


Parable of the Ten Virgins“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. “Five of them were foolish, and five were

prudent. “For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with

their lamps. “Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. “But at midnight there was a

shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ “Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. “The

foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ “But the prudent answered, ‘No, there

will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ “And while they were

going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast;

and the door was shut. “Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ “But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Be on the alert then, for you

do not know the day nor the hour. ” (Matthew 25:1–13)


The Jewish Marriage

1. The engagement – arranged by the fathers of the bride and groom; amounted to a contract of marriage

2. The betrothal – ceremony where the vows were exchanged in the presence of family and friends. The couple was considered married at this point. Could last up to a year. During this time the groom would go away and build a home for the couple to live in

3. The wedding feast – began with the groom coming unexpectedly to the bride‟s house. They would parade through the streets proclaiming the wedding feast was about to begin; this was usually done at night with torches to light their way and attract attention. The „best man‟ would place the hand of the bride‟s into the groom‟s and the couple would go back to the place the groom had prepared and remain for seven days, after which a great feast was held. This is what is about to happen in the parable of the ten virgins.


Who‟s Who in the Parable

• Who‟s missing? The Bride. Assumed to be with the groom. • The bridegroom – Jesus. A point of His deity: “For your husband is your

Maker, Whose name is the Lord of hosts; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth. ” (Isaiah 54:5)

• The ten virgins – most likely represents Israel. Demonstrate outward readiness for entrance into His kingdom. In appearance the ten were indistinguishable. They were all dressed appropriately in wedding garments and all had the required torch needed at night.

• The lamps– Torches. Symbolize the virgin‟s outward identity with the groom. Also an expectation of an imminent return

• Oil – the one thing the wise had that the unwise didn‟t: the Holy Spirit


“Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless

and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world”

(Philippians 2:14–15) www.confidentchristians.org

The Chiasm of the Parable

Bridegroom will come (v.1)Five with oil; Five without oil (v.2-4)

All sleep (v. 5)Behold the Bridegroom is coming! (v. 6)

All rise (v. 7)Five with oil; five without oil (v. 8-9)

Bridegroom has come (v. 10)


Other Notes of Interest• “Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.” Just like: “Therefore everyone

who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. . . . “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.” (Matthew 7:24, 26)

• “Now while the bridegroom was delaying…” – the Church period; currently now.• “But at midnight…” – an unlikely time for the Bridegroom to come (the Midnight

Cry). “For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. ” (Matthew 24:44). Israel began their exodus from Egypt at midnight

• “there was a shout…” “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ” (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

• “The foolish said to the prudent, „Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.‟ “But the prudent answered, „No…” The unwise recognize their need, but the wise cannot help them at this point; the saved cannot become saviors. A torch without fuel is obviously worthless, and a profession of faith in Jesus Christ without a saving relationship to Him is infinitely more worthless, because one is left in spiritual darkness.

• “and the door was shut”. Literally „having been and staying shut‟• “‟Lord, lord, open up for us.‟ “But he answered, „Truly I say to you, I do not know

you.‟ Just like: “Many will say to Me on that day, „Lord, Lord . . .‟ And then I will declare to them, „I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.‟ ” (Matthew 7:22–23)


“And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Once the head of the house

gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, „Lord, open up to us!‟ then He will answer and say to you, „I do

not know where you are from.‟ “Then you will begin to say, „We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets‟; and He will say, „I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers.‟ “In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see

Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out.”

(Luke 13:23–28)


“Those that entered, male and female of all flesh, entered as God had commanded him; and the Lord closed it behind him.”

(Genesis 7:16)


“Like that man without proper wedding clothes, five of the bridesmaids were without proper torches. They had a form of godliness

but had no spiritual life or power because they did not belong to God (cf. 2 Tim. 3:5).

They were committed to Jesus Christ religiously, intellectually, socially, and no

doubt emotionally. But they were not committed to Him in their hearts because

their hearts had not been regenerated by His saving grace. They had the appearance of

faith, but it was dead (cf. James 2:17). They were in darkness, not light. The warning Jesus gave in this parable is repeated over and over in the gospels, a continually recurring theme

of His teaching. He warns that professed believers are like wheat and tares; some are

genuine and some are false. They are compared to various kinds of soils, some of

which give initial evidence of productivity but only one of which genuinely receives the seed

of the gospel and allows it to take root and grow. It was not a popular message in Jesus‟ day and is not a popular message today even

in many evangelical churches.” - John MacArthur


Being Sure About Salvation

Being Sure About Salvation - Part 2

Spiritual

good tree

kind of good fruit

bad fruit

fruit of lips

bad tree producegood

good works

kingdom of god

knowledge of god colossians