"The Assurance of Salvation: Once Saved, Always Saved" | Pastor Steve Gaines

if you got your Bibles turn with me to first John chapter 5 verse 13 first John chapter 5 verse 13 I want to talk to you tonight about the assurance of salvation and you can call it that once saved always saved if you'd like to I've had people object about that they said how do you believe that you know once you're saved you're always saved I say if you're saved once you're saved you'll always be safe if you're really saved and this verse has meant a lot to me and I wanna share a little bit about it and then I want to just go with you and talk with you a little bit about that tonight as we are continuing the study through share Jesus like it matters on Sunday night Bible says in first John 5:13 these things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life so that you may know that you have eternal life father let the words of my mouth and the meditation of everyone's heart be acceptable in my sight Lord my rock and my Redeemer and help me Lord to convey your truth even now about the fact that once you save us will always be saved in Jesus name we pray and if you agree with that same in the Apostle John told his readers that he had written this first epistle or letter - he told them that if they had believed in the Lord Jesus Christ in a saving fashion that they had right then the gift of eternal life that they could be assured of their salvation and some people asked is it possible to know that you're a Christian to know it like he says right here that you may know that you have eternal life can somebody know without a doubt that he has a home in heaven can someone know that he or she will live forever with the Lord is it possible is it remotely possible to lose your salvation if you commit some sin what about the unpardonable sin and can a Christian forfeit his relationship with Christ and once he knew Christ but later on he doesn't know Christ and instead of going to heaven he winds up going to hell the Bible teaches that if you've been genuinely born-again in Jesus Christ you can know for certain that you are saved once you become a child of God you're a child of God and let's just talk a little bit about that assurance of salvation can I know that I am saved years ago I heard a person from a different denomination I won't tell you what denomination because I don't want to pick on anybody but they prayed a prayer like this lord save us all in heaven Lord save us all in heaven and that person's denomination believed that no Christian could know on this earth during this lifetime for certain that he or she was saved and on the way to heaven instead all they could do all anyone could do is do the best they can try to live a good enough life so that they could make it someday to heaven I am so glad that the bible does not teach that i'm so glad that i can know my salvation that i can know that i'm saved and that i can know that my salvation is kept for me by the Lord Jesus Christ so is salvation based on the way we feel no is there any chance we can lose our salvation no how can I be certain that I'll go to heaven let me give you another verse write this down just the reference John chapter 5 verse 24 Jesus is talking and in John 5:24 he says truly truly now in the Greek that's really interesting it means amen amen preachers are always asking for Amen jesus said Amen all the time whenever he said truly he said Amen he said it doubled up Amen a name amen amen truly truly I say to you he who hears my word and believes him who sent me talking about the Father has right now has eternal life he does not come into judgment but he's passed out of death into life jesus said if you trust the Lord in a saving fashion you receive eternal life immediately and permanently it is a noble certain fact it is a free gift from God and you don't have to wonder whether or not you've got it eternal life is abundant life now and everlasting life throughout all of eternity Paul the Apostle Paul who wrote half the New Testament said the same thing I'm so glad he had a friendship with Timothy or we wouldn't have some great scripture 2nd Timothy chapter 1 verse 12 says I know whom I have believed and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I've committed unto him against that day how many of you remember that hymn that went like that and I know whom I have believed in and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I've committed unto him against that day I don't know if that was a flashmob or a flashback but I just I just did it alright but Paul knew he had believed in the Lord and that caused him to be confidently persuaded that Jesus Christ could keep and to guard and watch over his soul which he had committed to the Lord at regeneration and then our verse tonight these things I have written first John 5:13 to you who believe I've written these to you but who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life I think you know that my professor at Seminary that meant so much to me dr. Roy fish I learned so much from him and when he died right before he died just the day before he died he couldn't talk but he wrote my name out on a piece of paper and started hitting my name and they knew that he wanted me to preach his funeral and so I preached it along with his son who is also a pastor Steve fish and when I went in to see him there it was surreal I really loved this guy he preached for us here at Bellevue and he preached for me every church I'd ever been in and dr. fish had made a request he said when I die I want you to open my Bible up in my left hand and lay it down on the left hand open it up to first John 1 our first John 5:13 and I want to take this other hand I want you to stick that finger out right there and put it right on first John 5:13 these things I have written to you that believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life you know what you can preach a sermon when you're dead did you know that though he is dead yet does he speak and I could remember walking up there and I thought now that's interesting and I looked at the verse and I said that's just like him that's just like him he preached all of his life he shared Jesus all of his life and on the way out he did the same thing I'm so grateful that we can know that we're saved because the Bible tells us so then also there are some biblical signs or some indicators of salvation you say what do you mean well you know how can I know that you are a Memphis Tigers fan well if I see you wearing a Memphis Tigers cap I'll kind of maybe think that you are maybe I'll see you at a Memphis Tigers game and I'll kind of see there's some evidence there there's some signs there's some indicators and if you know the fight song for the Tigers maybe that just means that you kind of like them well if you know Jesus and if you know that you're saved there's gonna be some things that indicate that first of all you can know that you're saved because the Bible says so the Bible says this is something you can know first John 1 verse 12 but as many as received him to them he gave the right to become children of God even to those who believe in his name if you've received Christ if you have believed savingly on Christ the Bible says God has given you the right to become a chill a child of God so that's what the Bible says the Bible is the Word of God you can trust God you can trust the god of the word and if he says that if you have believed in Jesus and received him right now you know that you have become a child of God that's what the Bible says so you can know it because the Bible says so another verse that we all love is John 6:47 truly truly amen amen I say to you he who believes has eternal life a lot of times if I lead somebody to faith in Christ I'll use this verse to give them assurance I'll say did you believe in Jesus Christ yes I did did you believe savingly did you repent of your sins yes I did well the Bible says that if you believe in Jesus Christ what do you have what does it say right there eternal life now I didn't say that did I no God said that do you say God's showing you even in his word God says so another verse that we all love Romans 10:13 for whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved not might be saved but will be saved and I asked them did you call upon the name of the Lord did you repent of your sins did you trust Christ did you receive him as your Lord yes I did that did you really call out to the Lord yes yes I did well the Bible says whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be what's saved are you saved yes I'm saved do you see what that does for a person it gives them assurance of salvation not that maybe you're saved not that God will save you in heaven no but you have sincerely repented believed in receive Christ you're saved right now now another form of evidence is not just that and signs and indicators not just that the Bible says so but if you love other Christians it's very possible you know you're saved when you love other Christians when you become a Christian God places his love for other believers within you I learned that as a college student when I started living for the Lord I started enjoying being around people that to be frank with you I never would have hung around with otherwise I just wouldn't have done it I always would hang around with the athletes I'd hang around with the people that I thought were kind of cool and everything like that can I just want to tell you something there's a lot of people out there that don't necessarily fit in that category there are some of the nicest people in the world especially when you get saved and all of a sudden what was attractive to me in being around somebody and I'm not talking about dating and all that I'm just talking about what really attracted me to somebody was their love for the Lord Jesus Christ and I could remember suddenly some of the best friends I had they were not athletic they were not cool they I won't go into why all of that because I don't want to paint any picture you don't even telling you they were not the popular people on campus but I enjoyed being around them you know why they love to pray they love to worship the Lord they love to be around other Christians they just enjoy the things of God and when I was around them I found out that I was becoming more like Jesus they encouraged me in my walk with the Lord so do you love other believers the Bible says in Romans 5:5 that the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us why are you here tonight you could be anywhere it's Father's Day come on you got things to do I'll tell you why you're here because Jesus is in you and Jesus likes to be together with his people if you love other Christians that's a good sign that you love the Lord now I'm not saying that people that aren't here tonight don't love the Lord I'm not saying that but I can tell you this I can say this about you I'm pretty sure you love the Lord because you're here tonight to be with other believers not just to hear me preach but to be with other believers the Bible says in 1st John 3:14 we know that we have passed out of death into life why because we love the Brethren you said what about the sister in yeah the sister into he who does not love abides in death so love for other Christians a sure sign that if that you've been saved and then you know that you're saved when you sense the presence of the Holy Spirit I was talking while ago Stephen you were singing that song when y'all were singing that song come Holy Spirit years ago I can't remember it as always back to college but I can remember singing that and I'll be singing that all week long you know why I heard it in church and another thing I saw might be saying all week long your praise will ever be on Molly I tell you that one will get in your brain and will not go away amen you know you just keep going a little higher and higher and everything you know you'll just be worshiping the Lord well what is that that I believe the Holy Spirit just just within our hearts we know that we're saved because of the presence of the Holy Spirit our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit that the Bible says in Romans 8:16 the Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God the Spirit testifies what is attested he gives a testimony the Holy Ghost has given a testimony in our spirit that we are children of God you just know that you know it and he has transformed me he changes me he gives me different desires I don't desire what the world wants I don't desire to watch ungodly things on television I'm not trying to put myself up I'm putting the Holy Spirit up I don't like to go where I used to go I don't like to do what I used to do I'm different not because I'm different but God has made me different the Holy Ghost in me has changed me and so I know that I am a Christian because I sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit he is deep in my heart and he witnesses to me that I am a child of God and then I know that I'm saved because I desire to obey God I don't always obey God but I desire to obey God there are times I disobey God there are times you disobey God but I want to tell you some of the Christian cannot disobey God and enjoy it hear what I just said can we disobey God sure we can disobey God but I want to tell you something he will wear you out Spirit of God will wear you out you just you can't enjoy sin you can't do it and that is a measure that is an indicator that you belong to the Lord you don't become perfect when you become a Christian but you do become God's child and you do begin to desire to obey God and what he says the Bible says in first John 2:3 and how can we be sure that we belong to him by obeying his Commandments we desire to obey Him we just want to obey the Lord when your you enjoy obeying God instead of disobeying God another measure another indicator is you know you're saved when you desire to read your Bible when you desire to read your Bible salvation puts a desire in your heart to read and study the Word of God right now you're enjoying what I'm sharing with you why it's out of the Bible you just enjoy that if you're a Christian my little grandbaby Charlie I love that kid he's not big as a minute that's Ryan and Lindsay's baby and would you pray for him he's having a little surgery in the morning if you'd pray for him about 6 o'clock our time would you pray for Charlie Wingo okay the charlie is the eating ascidians and he's not big as a hiccup I don't know where it's going well I do know where it's going bad one taste on that kid can eat he can in fact he gets excited I mean all four of his his aren't both both his arms in his legs all four just going like this when he's eating he's just all into it the whole time and if Lindsay turns away he corrects her real quick I'm talking about an eight nine month old baby is hungry for food and the Bible says that's the way we ought to be for the Word of God listen to this out of first Peter two verses two and three like newborn babies long hunger for the pure milk of the word so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation if indeed you have tasted the kindness of the Lord hey guys if you love the Lord you're gonna be all over this book you're gonna be reading it you may not understand everything you read I've been reading it for 40 years I don't understand everything that I read but I want to tell you something I just enjoy reading it I just enjoy being in it I love the little Word of God to be in me and I love to be in the Word of God I love to study it I love to look at other verses and I love to go back and look at verses I've underlined and I just enjoy studying the Bible I can't believe I get paid to preach the Bible sometimes I can't even fathom that sometimes but but it's a it's a it's a sure sign and it ought to assure you if you love the Bible that God has saved you another thing is you know that you're saved when you experience answered prayers when you experienced answered prayers when you receive the gift of salvation God begins to answer your prayers jesus said in John 15 verse 7 if you will abide in me and if my words will abide in you you can ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you God hears our prayers when we pray according to his will the Bible says in first John 5 14 and 15 and when he hears our prayers and we pray according to his will he answers us sometimes he says yes sometimes he says no sometimes he says wait III don't think I should have to remind this group that no and wait are an answer you have to say that to your children sometimes you know what's really interested me I got a Father's Day card today I won't tell you which child but I got it's the only one lives in Memphis but anyway uh I won't tell you which one it was I won't tell you which one she was me anyway our one of our daughters gave me this card said daddy the older I get the smarter you are that was on the outside I said well I'm gonna like this card it's gonna be good right here but what she what she was saying was you know you know dad I really appreciate how you know you have helped us through the years now I guess what I'm saying is this I used to have to tell those kids know I'd have to tell them wait and they didn't like it but now they get a little bit older they understand that just because you don't say yes to everything that they say you should not say yes to everything they ask you you ought to be a better parent than that but God sometimes God is a perfect parent and he will say no if you ask for some thing and you don't get the answer that you wanted whether you can understand it or not it was not the best for you God's gonna give you another answer you don't know the big picture and I don't either but God does so these are some things that can give us the Bible says test yourselves to see if you're really saved 2nd Corinthians 13:5 these are some tests let me just end tonight we've got about five minutes left here let me give you some reasons why you will not lose your salvation I've got three of them here number one first reason why you will not lose your salvation nothing can separate you from the Father's love do you remember the prodigal son he was really very rude and mean to his father I want my inheritance now I don't want to wait for you to die I'm gonna move away he left he went into a life of sin but the father never stopped loving him did he no he didn't nothing can separate you from the Father's love God loves you with an everlasting love and the Bible says in the end of one of the greatest chapters in the Bible Romans chapter 8 verses 38 and 39 Paul said for I'm convinced that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor things present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord hey guys Prison cannot separate you from God or his love even sin after you get saved can't separate you from the love of God and I want to say this to you death cannot separate you from the god nothing can so I I don't believe I'm gonna lose my salvation because nothing can separate me from the love of God another reason I'm not gonna lose my salvation is no one can snatch me from the sons hand nobody can separate me from the Father's love and nobody can snatch me from the sons hand Jesus talked about this when he said in John 10 verses 27 through 29 he said my sheep hear my voice and I know them they follow me I give eternal life to them and they will never perish and no one shall snatch them from my hand my father who has given me them to me is greater than all no one is able to snatch them out of my father's hand I and the father are one is what verse 30 says so what you've got here is personal hobbs called it being under double lock and key Jesus is holding you and the father is holding you and for the devil to be able to get to your eternal soul he's got to pry the almighty hands of God open and listen to me the devil can't do that are you holding on to God yeah but only because he's holding on to you I am in the hand of Almighty God I'm in the hand of Jesus Christ and I believe with all of my heart that I'm going to be saved because God is holding on to me just relax God's holding on to you tonight just think about that you're in the hand of all-mighty God just think about that if you know Jesus nothing can separate you from the Father's love and nothing can snatch you from the sons hand and one more thing nothing can sever you from the spirits seal when God saved you he sealed you I can remember his plain as day buying a 45 record does anybody remember 45 records and it was by Stevie Wonder what was it I'm yours that's right signed sealed and delivered pray how many of your a signed sealed and delivered a min by Jesus amen in him Ephesians 1:13 through 14 in him in Jesus you also after listening the message of the truth the gospel of your salvation having also believed you were sealed in him with the Holy Spirit of promise who has given as a pledge literally a earnest money a downpayment of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of God's own possession to the praise of his glory when God saves us he puts the Holy Spirit within us as a downpayment as a seal as a payment that is promising that in the end you will be glorified in Christ Jesus if you're saved you're on your way to heaven you're in the midst of sanctification you're growing more in grace you're becoming more like Jesus but praise God one day you're going to be you're going to be separated your soul and body gonna be separated from your body which is all death is and you're going to be immediately in the presence of the Lord and thus you shall ever be with the Lord hallelujah is right and nothing can sever that seal so I want to ask you tonight have you repented of your sin have you believed in Jesus and have you received him into your life if so you're saved why because the Bible says so now because the preacher who who cares about preacher doesn't that's not if the preacher is not talking about the Bible who cares about what the preacher says the Bible say that you can know it let's stand up and read this one more time first John 5:13 read it with me good and strong folks here we go these things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life let's thank God tonight that we can know that we're saved amen amen

Channel: Bellevue Baptist Church

Views: 11,696

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Keywords: The Assurance of Salvation, Once Saved Always Saved, Pastor Steve Gaines, Bellevue Baptist Church, Bellevue Church, Bellevue Memphis, Steve Gains

Id: BBEPwYzIQWo

Length: 28min 33sec (1713 seconds)

Published: Tue Jun 21 2016