WORDS OF LIFE SERIES 52 His pardon (Acts 13:38-39). Compare Psalm 32:1 and Psalm 103:12.

Are you
BIBLE STUDY NOTES BREAD ENOUGH AND TO sure that your sins are forgiven?
SPARE 3. That we have passed from death to life
by Francis W. Dixon By nature we are spiritually dead (John 5:40; Romans 5:12 and Ephesians 2:1),
but when we put our trust in the Lord Jesus and accept Him as Saviour we pass
from death to life. We are born again (John 1:11-14); we receive a new life, His
Study 2 WHAT GOD WANTS US TO KNOW life (John 10:10), eternal life (John 10:27-29; 1 John 5:11-12). Now look up the
(Scripture Portion: 1 John 5: 1-13) great word of assurance in 1 John 3:14. Do you know that you have been born
again and that you have passed from death to life? – look up John 5:24. In
We shall consider some of the things about which God wants us, His children, John’s first letter there are five evidences of the new birth:-
to be absolutely sure. In 1 John 5:13 the writer tells us why he wrote his letter.
He wanted his readers to have the assurance that all was well with them for 1. 1 John 2:29. Have you a desire to do that which is right in God’s sight?
time and for eternity. The Apostle John uses the word “know” several times in 2. 1 John 3:9. Have you given up the habit of sinning and no longer enjoy it?
this letter: 2:3; 2:5; 3:2; 3:5; 3:14; 3:19; 3:24; 4:13; 5:20. 3. 1 John 3:14. Do you love other Christians?
4. 1 John 5:1. Do you acknowledge His sovereignty?
5. 1 John 5:4. Have you power to overcome?
Surely these references make it absolutely clear that God wants us to have
assurance about the things that matter most. We live in an age of insecurity and 4. He wants us to know of His loving plan and purpose for our life
uncertainty; everything around us which is temporal and material is unstable, so The unbeliever drifts through life, hoping for the best, with no assurance when
men’s hearts are filled with fear, anxiety, worry and depression (Luke 21:26). he is faced with life’s problems and perplexities; but how different it is for the
God wants His people to be sure, but what is the ground of our assurance? The believer! He has a wonderful assurance, as we read in Romans 8:28-30. In the
Word of God is the ground of our confidence. God has spoken, and His Word is intention and purpose of God, every believer is already foreknown,
sure and it cannot fail (Matthew 24:35; 1 Peter 1:23, 25). God’s Word, the Bible, predestinated, called, justified and glorified! What assurance! But notice in
has been written that we may know – what? Let us think about some of the particular verse 28, where we read that when we become Christians “we know
important things which God wants us to know and be absolutely sure of:- that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…” This does not
mean that we are immune from trial, sorrow, disappointment, but it does mean
1. That the Lord Jesus is our own living, loving personal Saviour and that in and through all these experiences we know – what?
Friend
God wants us to have assurance concerning a person, and that Person is His 1. “All things…” Nothing happens by chance to the believer.
Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. In 2 Timothy 1:12 Paul says, ”…I know whom I 2. “God works…” He has a plan for our life and He is working it out
have believed…” Notice the pronoun here. What Paul really says is, ‘I know (Philippians 1:6).
Him…!’ And this is the privilege of every child of God, every believer, to know 3. “For the good of those who love him…” All that happens is for our good,
Him personally as Saviour and Lord. What a wonderful thing it is that when the for the fulfilment of His perfect will (Romans 12:1-2). Notice in these verses
whole world is filled with uncertainty we may know the Lord for ourselves and that God’s will is “good, pleasing and perfect…” Even if we cannot
be sure of Him! How can I be certain that I really do know Him and that He is in understand God’s ways now, our assurance is that all is well and that one
day we shall (John 13:7). What else can we be sure of?
my heart and life? I can do so by making sure that I have welcomed Him – look
up Revelation 3:20; by making sure that I have come to Him and have trusted
5. That all that is happening in the world today is moving towards the
Him as my Saviour – look up John 6:37. His work for me makes me safe, and
fulfilment of His will, when Jesus Christ will be King of kings and Lord of
His Word to me makes me sure. What other things should we be sure of?
lords
This great assurance is brought out in Job 19:25-27. We know that one day our
2. He wants us to know that all our sins are forgiven
Saviour will return, that He will set up His kingdom and establish His rule and
We learn this from 1 John 2:12. It is not a presumption to believe the word of
reign of righteousness. Job knew this in those far-off days, and we may know
the Lord Jesus (it would be a greater presumption not to believe His word!). And
this too. We shall see Him (Revelation 1:7); we shall be with Him in His victory
He says to every Christian – look up Mark 2:5. When the Saviour died on the
(Revelation 3:21); we shall be for ever with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:17)!
cross of Calvary He died to put away our sin (Isaiah 53:5-6; John 1:29; 1
Peter 2:24, and when we believe that fact and receive Him into our life we have WORDS OF LIFE MINISTRIES
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