Title: Do We Strive or Believe? Meta: There are many verses in the Bible that talk about being saved by faith, and there are also other verses that seem to indicate that we are saved by our own effort and striving. How do we reconcile these two? And once we are saved, how can we have assurance that we're actually saved and haven't deceived ourselves? Tags: faith,saved,repentance,Luke 13:24,Tim Conway,passive,active,assurance 1 00:00:04,575 --> 00:00:06,073 Let's do one more. 2 00:00:06,073 --> 00:00:09,531 This is a heavy duty one, 3 00:00:09,531 --> 00:00:12,956 but maybe we can answer it fairly shortly. 4 00:00:12,956 --> 00:00:18,011 His name is Nadir. 5 00:00:18,011 --> 00:00:21,229 "Hi, Pastor Tim, I'm lost, 6 00:00:21,229 --> 00:00:23,569 and I need to be saved. 7 00:00:23,569 --> 00:00:26,930 But I'm a bit confused about how to go about it. 8 00:00:26,930 --> 00:00:30,236 On the one hand, I read some Scriptures 9 00:00:30,236 --> 00:00:33,405 that say we must be saved by faith 10 00:00:33,405 --> 00:00:37,466 apart from any work or effort on our behalf. 11 00:00:37,466 --> 00:00:40,651 And yet in other places, I read Jesus saying, 12 00:00:40,651 --> 00:00:44,207 'strive to enter into the narrow gate,' 13 00:00:44,207 --> 00:00:47,520 and that we are to press into the kingdom. 14 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:52,248 One seems passive - simply trusting Christ, 15 00:00:52,248 --> 00:00:57,612 while the other seems like an active striving 16 00:00:57,612 --> 00:01:00,973 that is difficult. 17 00:01:00,973 --> 00:01:04,071 For many who try to enter are not able to. 18 00:01:04,071 --> 00:01:07,179 How do we reconcile this?" 19 00:01:07,179 --> 00:01:09,182 Then he says, "also, is there any advice 20 00:01:09,182 --> 00:01:11,870 you can give me as to how to know for sure 21 00:01:11,870 --> 00:01:15,279 when I've really gotten saved? 22 00:01:15,279 --> 00:01:17,419 There have been a few times in the past 23 00:01:17,419 --> 00:01:19,570 when I thought I had just gotten saved, 24 00:01:19,570 --> 00:01:22,110 only to fall back after a few days or weeks, 25 00:01:22,110 --> 00:01:24,948 similar to the seed sown on the rocky ground, 26 00:01:24,948 --> 00:01:26,577 'which received the word with joy, 27 00:01:26,577 --> 00:01:29,435 but had no root and soon fell away.' 28 00:01:29,435 --> 00:01:32,110 What test can I take to make certain 29 00:01:32,110 --> 00:01:33,806 my conversion when it happens, 30 00:01:33,806 --> 00:01:36,465 besides endurance since I can't be expected 31 00:01:36,465 --> 00:01:39,195 to wait months to know if I'm really saved or not, right? 32 00:01:39,195 --> 00:01:41,046 For example, Paul says that the Spirit 33 00:01:41,046 --> 00:01:42,476 bears witness with our spirit. 34 00:01:42,476 --> 00:01:44,021 What does that really look like? 35 00:01:44,021 --> 00:01:45,975 I've been deceived by emotions before, 36 00:01:45,975 --> 00:01:47,182 so I'm cautious of them, 37 00:01:47,182 --> 00:01:49,152 and would really appreciate some advice 38 00:01:49,152 --> 00:01:51,039 on this matter. Thanks." 39 00:01:51,039 --> 00:01:53,161 I mean, this is basic. 40 00:01:53,161 --> 00:01:56,010 When I say basic, I'm not necessarily saying 41 00:01:56,010 --> 00:01:59,557 that it's easy or that anybody and everybody 42 00:01:59,557 --> 00:02:03,448 can give a simple answer to this. 43 00:02:03,448 --> 00:02:07,836 But it's basic to the very fundamentals of Christianity. 44 00:02:07,836 --> 00:02:10,042 "I'm lost. I need to be saved, 45 00:02:10,042 --> 00:02:18,738 but I'm a bit confused about how to go about it." 46 00:02:18,738 --> 00:02:21,058 So what do you think? 47 00:02:21,058 --> 00:02:28,020 What do you say to somebody? 48 00:02:28,020 --> 00:02:31,010 What comes to your mind? 49 00:02:31,010 --> 00:02:32,168 Somebody asks you that, 50 00:02:32,168 --> 00:02:33,571 where are you going to go? 51 00:02:33,571 --> 00:02:35,703 Where are you going to take them? 52 00:02:35,703 --> 00:02:41,282 What are you going to say? 53 00:02:41,282 --> 00:02:46,667 You know what the first thing that came to my mind? 54 00:02:46,667 --> 00:02:50,616 I would ask them this: 55 00:02:50,616 --> 00:02:54,424 What do you need to be saved from? 56 00:02:54,424 --> 00:02:56,161 You know the text 57 00:02:56,161 --> 00:03:00,943 that rings in my ear all the time 58 00:03:00,943 --> 00:03:05,046 is Jesus saying 59 00:03:05,046 --> 00:03:09,260 that those who are well don't need a physician. 60 00:03:09,260 --> 00:03:10,703 And you know the problem 61 00:03:10,703 --> 00:03:14,655 with a lot of people asking about the way of salvation 62 00:03:14,655 --> 00:03:20,730 is they're way too healthy to be saved. 63 00:03:20,730 --> 00:03:23,816 Because, here's the thing. 64 00:03:23,816 --> 00:03:27,675 People don't want to go to hell. 65 00:03:27,675 --> 00:03:30,228 When they say they want to be saved, 66 00:03:30,228 --> 00:03:33,607 they're looking for the escape. 67 00:03:33,607 --> 00:03:36,922 It's probably much like the rich, young ruler. 68 00:03:36,922 --> 00:03:39,816 What good deed must I do to be saved? 69 00:03:39,816 --> 00:03:44,210 You've got people like that all the time. 70 00:03:44,210 --> 00:03:46,762 They just want the fire escape. 71 00:03:46,762 --> 00:03:50,783 They want the fire insurance. 72 00:03:50,783 --> 00:03:52,259 But they're not really aware 73 00:03:52,259 --> 00:03:53,971 of what they need to be saved from. 74 00:03:53,971 --> 00:03:55,324 Oh, we're saved from hell, 75 00:03:55,324 --> 00:03:57,127 but there's a lot more that we need 76 00:03:57,127 --> 00:03:59,857 to be saved from. 77 00:03:59,857 --> 00:04:03,998 I think one of the things that we want to do - 78 00:04:03,998 --> 00:04:08,017 it's often said, we need to get people lost 79 00:04:08,017 --> 00:04:10,448 before we can get them saved. 80 00:04:10,448 --> 00:04:14,382 There is something to that. 81 00:04:14,382 --> 00:04:18,304 Do you remember the parable of the prodigal son? 82 00:04:18,304 --> 00:04:22,712 You see, the older brother never got lost. 83 00:04:22,712 --> 00:04:25,217 The younger brother did. 84 00:04:25,217 --> 00:04:28,598 And the younger brother got saved. 85 00:04:28,598 --> 00:04:33,383 But I think that's the starting point. 86 00:04:33,383 --> 00:04:36,066 Because you know I think 87 00:04:36,066 --> 00:04:39,160 there's a lot of people that ask that question, 88 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:45,040 and they're just kind of nonchalant about it. 89 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:48,973 It's not really that big of a deal. 90 00:04:48,973 --> 00:04:52,201 And I've often brought up the example - 91 00:04:52,201 --> 00:04:57,056 I've told people before, 92 00:04:57,056 --> 00:04:58,740 I grew up swimming a lot. 93 00:04:58,740 --> 00:05:01,769 So this is an example that comes to my mind. 94 00:05:01,769 --> 00:05:07,378 I swam in swimming pools spring break 95 00:05:07,378 --> 00:05:10,192 and I had a buddy up in Michigan 96 00:05:10,192 --> 00:05:12,527 that had one and we'd swim over there 97 00:05:12,527 --> 00:05:15,075 all the time. 98 00:05:15,075 --> 00:05:17,696 We'd swim in the lakes 99 00:05:17,696 --> 00:05:20,963 and different places up there. 100 00:05:20,963 --> 00:05:23,166 We did a lot of swimming. 101 00:05:23,166 --> 00:05:25,147 And you know, people got swept away 102 00:05:25,147 --> 00:05:28,941 by the undertow in Lake Michigan. 103 00:05:28,941 --> 00:05:32,489 We'd swim across big lakes. 104 00:05:32,489 --> 00:05:35,794 My friends and I, we were good swimmers. 105 00:05:35,794 --> 00:05:38,484 But you know you can get really tired. 106 00:05:38,484 --> 00:05:42,440 And you know you can cramp up. 107 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:46,122 And I've often pictured, 108 00:05:46,122 --> 00:05:48,775 I'd swim with my friends. 109 00:05:48,775 --> 00:05:51,002 A lot of times, there'd be girls around. 110 00:05:51,002 --> 00:05:52,574 Sometimes we'd be in boats. 111 00:05:52,574 --> 00:05:55,691 We'd be skiing. 112 00:05:55,691 --> 00:05:57,117 But I know this, 113 00:05:57,117 --> 00:05:58,555 if I was in the water, 114 00:05:58,555 --> 00:05:59,785 I remember one time - 115 00:05:59,785 --> 00:06:02,326 I remember one time I was pretty young, 116 00:06:02,326 --> 00:06:07,938 but I was about out of gas, 117 00:06:07,938 --> 00:06:11,023 and I remember the feeling. 118 00:06:11,023 --> 00:06:13,979 And I know this. 119 00:06:13,979 --> 00:06:16,905 If I'm out swimming 120 00:06:16,905 --> 00:06:19,483 and there's friends watching, 121 00:06:19,483 --> 00:06:22,948 and there's girls watching, 122 00:06:22,948 --> 00:06:24,956 and I began to cramp up, 123 00:06:24,956 --> 00:06:27,775 I wouldn't say anything. 124 00:06:27,775 --> 00:06:31,387 I'd play the man. 125 00:06:31,387 --> 00:06:33,438 I wouldn't start screaming 126 00:06:33,438 --> 00:06:37,238 like blind Bartimaeus. 127 00:06:37,238 --> 00:06:39,141 "Jesus, Son of David!" 128 00:06:39,141 --> 00:06:42,867 Like a crazy man in the pool. 129 00:06:42,867 --> 00:06:45,433 I wouldn't do it. 130 00:06:45,433 --> 00:06:48,420 I wouldn't say, "help!" 131 00:06:48,420 --> 00:06:54,074 Not as long as I felt like I was still in control. 132 00:06:54,076 --> 00:06:55,590 I knew there was a problem, 133 00:06:55,590 --> 00:06:58,214 but I was still in control. 134 00:06:58,214 --> 00:07:00,787 That's how a lot of sinners are. 135 00:07:00,787 --> 00:07:06,621 They smell the fire and brimstone a little bit. 136 00:07:06,621 --> 00:07:09,544 (incomplete thought) 137 00:07:09,544 --> 00:07:12,023 It's how I was when I was lost. 138 00:07:12,023 --> 00:07:14,529 Ok, I see what religious people do. 139 00:07:14,529 --> 00:07:17,921 I'm going to take care of that one day. 140 00:07:17,921 --> 00:07:21,669 I've got control of this situation. 141 00:07:21,669 --> 00:07:23,832 That's how it is swimming. 142 00:07:23,832 --> 00:07:25,982 But I'll tell you this, 143 00:07:25,982 --> 00:07:27,709 if all of a sudden, 144 00:07:27,709 --> 00:07:32,101 you are in such a condition 145 00:07:32,101 --> 00:07:34,501 that you can't swim any longer, 146 00:07:34,501 --> 00:07:36,406 and you know - 147 00:07:36,406 --> 00:07:38,641 I'm going under for the last time 148 00:07:38,641 --> 00:07:39,907 and I know it. 149 00:07:39,907 --> 00:07:42,016 I know it in the depths of my soul. 150 00:07:42,016 --> 00:07:44,396 I don't have the ability to come up again. 151 00:07:44,396 --> 00:07:47,294 I don't care how foolish I sound, 152 00:07:47,294 --> 00:07:51,009 I'm going to scream. 153 00:07:51,009 --> 00:07:55,185 Because I need somebody to help me. 154 00:07:55,185 --> 00:07:56,684 Because I'm in trouble 155 00:07:56,684 --> 00:07:59,921 and I'm going down. 156 00:07:59,921 --> 00:08:05,072 And you know, I've actually heard a preacher say, 157 00:08:05,072 --> 00:08:08,184 when you get a sinner to that point, 158 00:08:08,184 --> 00:08:11,829 you show them Christ - it's all over. 159 00:08:11,829 --> 00:08:13,520 He's desperate. 160 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:15,215 You show him Christ? 161 00:08:15,215 --> 00:08:17,418 You don't need all sorts of explanations 162 00:08:17,418 --> 00:08:21,571 and all sorts of long theological discussions. 163 00:08:21,571 --> 00:08:24,714 It's kind of like if you're going under 164 00:08:24,714 --> 00:08:27,201 in the middle of that pool, 165 00:08:27,201 --> 00:08:32,405 and somebody stretches out a hand. 166 00:08:32,405 --> 00:08:34,977 If you've got anything left, 167 00:08:34,977 --> 00:08:41,534 you're just trying to get hold of that. 168 00:08:41,534 --> 00:08:46,586 It's the same way. 169 00:08:46,586 --> 00:08:50,288 Do we really see that we need to be saved? 170 00:08:50,288 --> 00:08:53,040 (incomplete thought) 171 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:57,608 The simplicity of it is, 172 00:08:57,608 --> 00:09:00,266 believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. 173 00:09:00,266 --> 00:09:03,041 When you're in desperate situation - 174 00:09:03,041 --> 00:09:05,282 and I remember that. 175 00:09:05,282 --> 00:09:09,919 I remember that night that God saved me. 176 00:09:09,919 --> 00:09:11,404 I was done. 177 00:09:11,404 --> 00:09:12,600 All the fight. 178 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:14,043 I didn't have any answer. 179 00:09:14,043 --> 00:09:15,653 I didn't have any solution. 180 00:09:15,653 --> 00:09:17,127 And if He didn't help me, 181 00:09:17,127 --> 00:09:19,340 I was not going to be helped. 182 00:09:19,340 --> 00:09:20,776 And that's what came out: 183 00:09:20,776 --> 00:09:22,434 "Lord, help me." 184 00:09:22,434 --> 00:09:24,478 And all the fight was gone. 185 00:09:24,478 --> 00:09:27,741 I had no plan B. 186 00:09:27,741 --> 00:09:31,123 It was You save me or I die. 187 00:09:31,123 --> 00:09:33,765 And He saved me. 188 00:09:33,765 --> 00:09:36,543 Now, you ask, 189 00:09:36,543 --> 00:09:39,953 well, that sounds pretty passive. 190 00:09:39,953 --> 00:09:43,349 What about the "strive to enter in?" 191 00:09:43,349 --> 00:09:45,266 At the straight gate or the narrow gate. 192 00:09:45,266 --> 00:09:46,711 What about that? 193 00:09:46,711 --> 00:09:52,755 Or, what was the other one he mentioned? 194 00:09:52,755 --> 00:09:54,790 "Press into the kingdom." 195 00:09:54,790 --> 00:09:56,290 Pressing in. 196 00:09:56,290 --> 00:10:02,352 Or you know, the violent take it by force. 197 00:10:02,352 --> 00:10:05,423 What about that? 198 00:10:05,423 --> 00:10:08,268 Well, you know what? 199 00:10:08,268 --> 00:10:10,741 Both are true. 200 00:10:10,741 --> 00:10:12,183 It's not a contradiction. 201 00:10:12,183 --> 00:10:14,322 Scripture doesn't contradict itself. 202 00:10:14,322 --> 00:10:19,747 Jesus isn't going to say on one hand 203 00:10:19,747 --> 00:10:25,667 that whosoever believes will not perish, 204 00:10:25,667 --> 00:10:28,366 and then over on the other hand say, 205 00:10:28,366 --> 00:10:34,187 you've got to take this kingdom by force 206 00:10:34,187 --> 00:10:35,992 and be speaking two Gospels. 207 00:10:35,992 --> 00:10:37,671 He wouldn't do that. 208 00:10:37,671 --> 00:10:39,587 It's the same, brethren. 209 00:10:39,587 --> 00:10:43,044 What we have to recognize is this: 210 00:10:43,044 --> 00:10:47,997 Obviously, that simple faith 211 00:10:47,997 --> 00:10:53,751 expresses itself in striving to enter. 212 00:10:53,751 --> 00:10:56,338 How can that be? 213 00:10:56,338 --> 00:10:58,488 How can that be? 214 00:10:58,488 --> 00:11:01,612 How's it consistent? 215 00:11:01,612 --> 00:11:03,979 Well, I would say this, 216 00:11:03,979 --> 00:11:09,893 that faith - if it's real - 217 00:11:09,893 --> 00:11:14,827 it acts. 218 00:11:14,827 --> 00:11:17,435 Does it not? 219 00:11:17,435 --> 00:11:19,179 I mean, what does it mean 220 00:11:19,179 --> 00:11:21,940 to strive to enter in? 221 00:11:21,940 --> 00:11:26,505 Listen, I know this. 222 00:11:26,505 --> 00:11:30,875 I wasn't saved when God's Spirit 223 00:11:30,875 --> 00:11:33,280 first convicted me. 224 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:36,456 You know why? 225 00:11:36,456 --> 00:11:39,615 I loved my motorcycle. 226 00:11:39,615 --> 00:11:42,160 I loved my lifestyle. 227 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:45,787 I loved my friends. 228 00:11:45,787 --> 00:11:48,445 And I saw the claims of the Gospel, 229 00:11:48,445 --> 00:11:51,357 and it was like there was this voice in my ear: 230 00:11:51,357 --> 00:11:53,322 "you can't give up who you are. 231 00:11:53,322 --> 00:11:54,646 This is your life. 232 00:11:54,646 --> 00:11:57,859 You live to hang around these guys 233 00:11:57,859 --> 00:11:59,857 and to hunt and to party 234 00:11:59,857 --> 00:12:01,612 and to play sports. 235 00:12:01,612 --> 00:12:03,254 That's your life. 236 00:12:03,254 --> 00:12:05,390 You can't give that up." 237 00:12:05,390 --> 00:12:06,629 And I fought. 238 00:12:06,629 --> 00:12:09,910 I fought against that. 239 00:12:09,910 --> 00:12:15,467 Do you know what the striving to enter in is? 240 00:12:15,467 --> 00:12:18,363 It was coming to the point where 241 00:12:18,363 --> 00:12:21,981 I recognized I need Christ only. 242 00:12:21,981 --> 00:12:27,340 It was coming to the point where 243 00:12:27,340 --> 00:12:30,498 the idols have to fall off. 244 00:12:30,498 --> 00:12:32,541 It was coming to the point where - 245 00:12:32,541 --> 00:12:41,889 it's almost like that striving to enter in, 246 00:12:41,889 --> 00:12:46,624 that's what the faith is. 247 00:12:46,624 --> 00:12:50,236 I mean, it's like my faith 248 00:12:50,236 --> 00:12:52,205 was in my happiness 249 00:12:52,205 --> 00:12:54,443 being found in my friends 250 00:12:54,443 --> 00:12:59,165 and my old lifestyle. 251 00:12:59,165 --> 00:13:01,359 And coming to the place where 252 00:13:01,359 --> 00:13:04,352 that stuff is being stripped away 253 00:13:04,352 --> 00:13:09,925 and coming to the place where 254 00:13:09,925 --> 00:13:11,893 it's Christ. 255 00:13:11,893 --> 00:13:13,900 It's only Christ. 256 00:13:13,900 --> 00:13:15,633 Only Christ can help me. 257 00:13:15,633 --> 00:13:18,408 Only Christ is going to be my hope. 258 00:13:18,408 --> 00:13:19,943 That's belief. 259 00:13:19,943 --> 00:13:21,712 It's like Scripture talks about. 260 00:13:21,712 --> 00:13:23,579 Faith without works - it's dead. 261 00:13:23,579 --> 00:13:27,907 And this striving, this exertion - 262 00:13:27,907 --> 00:13:30,317 what is it? 263 00:13:30,317 --> 00:13:33,566 Charles Leiter was saying it in that message 264 00:13:33,566 --> 00:13:35,100 that James just posted. 265 00:13:35,100 --> 00:13:39,542 It's not this proud striving. 266 00:13:39,542 --> 00:13:42,269 It's a striving of desperation. 267 00:13:42,269 --> 00:13:43,762 And I remember that. 268 00:13:43,762 --> 00:13:45,154 Just a desperation. 269 00:13:45,154 --> 00:13:47,546 It's like the guy in the middle of the pool. 270 00:13:47,546 --> 00:13:49,230 It's desperation. 271 00:13:49,230 --> 00:13:50,580 Is he striving? 272 00:13:50,580 --> 00:13:55,426 What the striving is 273 00:13:55,426 --> 00:14:04,159 is it's almost like it's a backwards striving. 274 00:14:04,159 --> 00:14:06,878 It's like it's an upside down striving. 275 00:14:06,878 --> 00:14:11,052 It's almost like what it is 276 00:14:11,052 --> 00:14:15,598 is it's that coming to a place 277 00:14:15,598 --> 00:14:18,689 of total surrender 278 00:14:18,689 --> 00:14:20,488 and total hopelessness 279 00:14:20,488 --> 00:14:24,114 unless Christ is the one who rescues you. 280 00:14:24,114 --> 00:14:26,678 And you know, getting to that place, 281 00:14:26,678 --> 00:14:29,496 it takes stripping away 282 00:14:29,496 --> 00:14:32,912 of all the things that we hope in. 283 00:14:32,912 --> 00:14:35,180 And we hope in so many things. 284 00:14:35,180 --> 00:14:39,798 Hoping, hoping. 285 00:14:39,798 --> 00:14:42,833 I mean, by the time the Lord actually saved me, 286 00:14:42,833 --> 00:14:45,197 the things that had been stripped away... 287 00:14:45,197 --> 00:14:46,943 And then after that. 288 00:14:46,943 --> 00:14:48,965 I mean, Jesus isn't just talking about 289 00:14:48,965 --> 00:14:51,894 the first time one time act of faith 290 00:14:51,894 --> 00:14:53,192 right at the beginning. 291 00:14:53,192 --> 00:14:55,657 Have you ever read there in Romans? 292 00:14:55,657 --> 00:14:58,190 It's from faith to faith. 293 00:14:58,190 --> 00:14:59,414 Have you ever read that? 294 00:14:59,414 --> 00:15:02,125 The just shall live by faith. 295 00:15:02,125 --> 00:15:04,724 Every day it's a living by faith. 296 00:15:04,724 --> 00:15:12,025 You know what? Even after we're saved, 297 00:15:12,025 --> 00:15:14,567 it's day by day, 298 00:15:14,567 --> 00:15:18,900 my trust being entirely in Christ. 299 00:15:18,900 --> 00:15:20,927 And we need to be thankful 300 00:15:20,927 --> 00:15:23,136 for the Spirit that convicts us, 301 00:15:23,136 --> 00:15:25,074 that shows us, 302 00:15:25,074 --> 00:15:27,754 "you're becoming too dependent on that." 303 00:15:27,754 --> 00:15:29,914 "You should remove this from your life." 304 00:15:29,914 --> 00:15:33,659 "That right there. You're trusting that too much." 305 00:15:33,659 --> 00:15:34,954 Isn't it amazing? 306 00:15:34,954 --> 00:15:39,296 God is so aware of the life of His people 307 00:15:39,296 --> 00:15:42,479 to say, "no, too much of a hold on your life." 308 00:15:42,479 --> 00:15:44,717 And we feel it, 309 00:15:44,717 --> 00:15:46,961 because up till then we were probably saying, 310 00:15:46,961 --> 00:15:49,232 oh, I could get rid of that if I needed to. 311 00:15:49,232 --> 00:15:50,647 Now God says you need to, 312 00:15:50,647 --> 00:15:53,041 and it's like, ugh! 313 00:15:53,041 --> 00:15:56,012 It's like this root that's down inside 314 00:15:56,012 --> 00:16:00,212 and it's like part of you gets pulled out with it. 315 00:16:00,212 --> 00:16:03,520 And oh, it hurts. It's painful. 316 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:08,715 But then there's a freedom when it's gone. 317 00:16:08,715 --> 00:16:11,670 It's a striving. 318 00:16:11,670 --> 00:16:14,567 It's a striving to live in the faith 319 00:16:14,567 --> 00:16:16,564 of the promises that are given to us 320 00:16:16,564 --> 00:16:17,571 in Scripture. 321 00:16:17,571 --> 00:16:20,251 It's a striving against all the deceptions 322 00:16:20,251 --> 00:16:22,113 of the worldly thought 323 00:16:22,113 --> 00:16:25,584 and the devil and all of his 324 00:16:25,584 --> 00:16:28,345 trying to deceive us and delude us. 325 00:16:28,345 --> 00:16:29,527 And what was it? 326 00:16:29,527 --> 00:16:30,656 What was it Paul feared 327 00:16:30,656 --> 00:16:32,198 that the devil was going to do 328 00:16:32,198 --> 00:16:35,414 to those Corinthians? 329 00:16:35,414 --> 00:16:37,691 That he was going to deceive them 330 00:16:37,691 --> 00:16:39,922 just like Eve, right? 331 00:16:39,922 --> 00:16:42,359 And the issue was the simplicity 332 00:16:42,359 --> 00:16:44,374 that is in Christ. 333 00:16:44,374 --> 00:16:47,251 Just from a simple faith. 334 00:16:47,251 --> 00:16:51,104 There is a good fight of faith. 335 00:16:51,104 --> 00:16:54,516 There's a fight to stay 336 00:16:54,516 --> 00:16:58,737 securely in Christ. 337 00:16:58,737 --> 00:17:00,348 And it's Him doing it. 338 00:17:00,348 --> 00:17:02,531 It's God who works in us to will and to do. 339 00:17:02,531 --> 00:17:04,978 But we work out our salvation in fear and trembling 340 00:17:04,978 --> 00:17:07,245 in a way that it's our own sweat and tears 341 00:17:07,245 --> 00:17:09,889 and our strivings and cryings and weepings 342 00:17:09,889 --> 00:17:16,507 and pleadings that work together with it. 343 00:17:16,507 --> 00:17:19,234 And I, too, love that picture 344 00:17:19,234 --> 00:17:20,930 from Pilgrim's Progress. 345 00:17:20,930 --> 00:17:24,310 You remember, Pilgrim is in Interpreter's house. 346 00:17:24,310 --> 00:17:26,894 And he brings him and he shows him this picture. 347 00:17:26,894 --> 00:17:28,378 And there's a man at a desk. 348 00:17:28,378 --> 00:17:29,807 And there's another man there. 349 00:17:29,807 --> 00:17:31,275 And he says put my name down. 350 00:17:31,275 --> 00:17:32,807 And he writes his name down. 351 00:17:32,807 --> 00:17:34,680 And he goes off across this field. 352 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:36,606 And there's these figures, 353 00:17:36,606 --> 00:17:38,195 these knights out there 354 00:17:38,195 --> 00:17:40,529 with armor and swords. 355 00:17:40,529 --> 00:17:43,636 And he has to go to hacking and chopping, 356 00:17:43,636 --> 00:17:46,551 and after giving and receiving many wounds, 357 00:17:46,551 --> 00:17:48,849 he arrives victorious. 358 00:17:48,849 --> 00:17:51,566 That's the picture of the Christian life. 359 00:17:51,566 --> 00:17:55,102 This is no flowery bed of ease. 360 00:17:55,102 --> 00:17:56,758 Isn't it amazing? 361 00:17:56,758 --> 00:17:59,080 It's by faith. 362 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:02,502 And yet, we need to fight and strive 363 00:18:02,502 --> 00:18:05,294 with every ounce of energy 364 00:18:05,294 --> 00:18:07,913 that He supplies us with 365 00:18:07,913 --> 00:18:11,759 to fight sin and the lies that it brings 366 00:18:11,759 --> 00:18:13,033 and to trust Christ 367 00:18:13,033 --> 00:18:16,172 and to seek to love Christ more than anything. 368 00:18:16,172 --> 00:18:20,538 We've got the Spirit of God working in us to do that. 369 00:18:20,538 --> 00:18:22,458 (incomplete thought) 370 00:18:22,458 --> 00:18:24,567 He's wondering how you know. 371 00:18:24,567 --> 00:18:29,517 Basically, the question is assurance. 372 00:18:29,517 --> 00:18:31,959 And I would say this. 373 00:18:31,959 --> 00:18:37,438 Assurance - I know this is probably 374 00:18:37,438 --> 00:18:39,060 something that the theologians 375 00:18:39,060 --> 00:18:42,921 would probably say, 376 00:18:42,921 --> 00:18:44,398 but assurance basically, 377 00:18:44,398 --> 00:18:47,252 and I think you can see this in Scripture, 378 00:18:47,252 --> 00:18:50,587 I think we draw assurance of our salvation 379 00:18:50,587 --> 00:18:55,005 from three primary sources. 380 00:18:55,005 --> 00:18:59,461 And understand, assurance is not the same thing as faith. 381 00:18:59,461 --> 00:19:05,377 Faith is believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. 382 00:19:05,377 --> 00:19:10,812 Assurance is knowing that you do. 383 00:19:10,812 --> 00:19:14,691 It's believing that you believe. 384 00:19:14,691 --> 00:19:15,860 You follow? 385 00:19:15,860 --> 00:19:17,703 Assurance is that certainty 386 00:19:17,703 --> 00:19:22,464 that I'm actually a Christian. 387 00:19:22,464 --> 00:19:24,599 And the difference is 388 00:19:24,599 --> 00:19:26,820 that I can doubt whether I'm a Christian 389 00:19:26,820 --> 00:19:28,255 and truly be one. 390 00:19:28,255 --> 00:19:31,433 So I can lack assurance, but still have saving faith. 391 00:19:31,433 --> 00:19:34,189 But how do you know? 392 00:19:34,189 --> 00:19:36,802 And we're just going to end 393 00:19:36,802 --> 00:19:38,555 on these three things. 394 00:19:38,555 --> 00:19:45,952 Somebody look up 1 John 5:13. 395 00:19:45,952 --> 00:19:48,003 "I write these things to you who believe 396 00:19:48,003 --> 00:19:49,910 in the name of the Son of God, 397 00:19:49,910 --> 00:19:52,282 that you may know that you have eternal life." 398 00:19:52,282 --> 00:19:58,012 Ok, there's the first one right there. 399 00:19:58,012 --> 00:20:00,661 You may know - 400 00:20:00,661 --> 00:20:03,106 that's the assurance - 401 00:20:03,106 --> 00:20:06,811 if you believe. 402 00:20:06,811 --> 00:20:11,984 Now brethren, I can tell you this. 403 00:20:11,984 --> 00:20:17,209 I trust that Jesus Christ died, 404 00:20:17,209 --> 00:20:20,945 and I trust that if I go to Him, 405 00:20:20,945 --> 00:20:23,458 He won't cast me out, 406 00:20:23,458 --> 00:20:25,856 and I trust that if I call upon 407 00:20:25,856 --> 00:20:28,920 the name of the Lord, I'll be saved. 408 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:31,320 And you know what? 409 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:33,380 I've done that. 410 00:20:33,380 --> 00:20:35,086 I have done that. 411 00:20:35,086 --> 00:20:39,726 I have believed those promises. 412 00:20:39,726 --> 00:20:42,498 Believing the promises is faith. 413 00:20:42,498 --> 00:20:44,725 But I can also stand back and look 414 00:20:44,725 --> 00:20:47,759 and say I know I believe them. 415 00:20:47,759 --> 00:20:49,415 That's my hope. 416 00:20:49,415 --> 00:20:55,145 I know Christ is my only hope. 417 00:20:55,145 --> 00:20:57,280 And I can say based on that, 418 00:20:57,280 --> 00:20:59,412 John says you can know 419 00:20:59,412 --> 00:21:02,266 you have eternal life. 420 00:21:02,266 --> 00:21:04,870 That brings assurance. 421 00:21:04,870 --> 00:21:12,698 A second way is maybe 1 John 2. 422 00:21:12,698 --> 00:21:14,828 If you look at 1 John 2:3. 423 00:21:14,828 --> 00:21:23,533 Somebody have that? 424 00:21:23,533 --> 00:21:28,190 (You can read it if you've got it). 425 00:21:28,190 --> 00:21:30,657 "And by this we know that we have come to know Him, 426 00:21:30,657 --> 00:21:32,222 if we keep His commandments." 427 00:21:32,222 --> 00:21:33,967 Ok, there's another way. 428 00:21:33,967 --> 00:21:36,392 By this I can know 429 00:21:36,392 --> 00:21:41,090 if I see a transformation in my life 430 00:21:41,090 --> 00:21:43,393 where I went from being - 431 00:21:43,393 --> 00:21:45,670 remember Romans 8? 432 00:21:45,670 --> 00:21:48,102 What does it say about the natural man? 433 00:21:48,102 --> 00:21:50,091 He doesn't understand the things of God. 434 00:21:50,091 --> 00:21:53,739 Tim: What else? 435 00:21:53,739 --> 00:21:55,628 He can't submit to it. 436 00:21:55,628 --> 00:21:58,895 He cannot submit to God's law. 437 00:21:58,895 --> 00:22:02,015 This is a man in the flesh. 438 00:22:02,015 --> 00:22:04,795 His might is set on the things of the flesh. 439 00:22:04,795 --> 00:22:07,509 He cannot keep the law of God. 440 00:22:07,509 --> 00:22:09,320 But you know what's true of somebody 441 00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:11,967 who gets saved? 442 00:22:11,967 --> 00:22:15,962 The commandments of Christ 443 00:22:15,962 --> 00:22:19,985 suddenly grab that man. 444 00:22:19,985 --> 00:22:21,716 He can't live his life as though 445 00:22:21,716 --> 00:22:24,548 those commandments don't exist. 446 00:22:24,548 --> 00:22:27,851 His life, his conscience 447 00:22:27,851 --> 00:22:31,191 is governed by what Christ says. 448 00:22:31,191 --> 00:22:32,544 Jesus said this. 449 00:22:32,544 --> 00:22:33,843 "If My Word abides in you," 450 00:22:33,853 --> 00:22:35,648 He said you're going to prove to be 451 00:22:35,648 --> 00:22:39,167 My disciples for real, 452 00:22:39,167 --> 00:22:41,045 there in John 8. 453 00:22:41,045 --> 00:22:44,350 If His Word abides in us. 454 00:22:44,350 --> 00:22:46,232 That's the same thing. 455 00:22:46,232 --> 00:22:48,268 His word abiding in us means 456 00:22:48,268 --> 00:22:50,207 it has place there. 457 00:22:50,207 --> 00:22:51,928 And where you see that is 458 00:22:51,928 --> 00:22:54,345 a conformity to those commandments. 459 00:22:54,345 --> 00:22:56,632 Jesus said, "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' 460 00:22:56,632 --> 00:22:58,459 and do not do the things I say?" 461 00:22:58,459 --> 00:23:00,237 See, if we really believe; 462 00:23:00,237 --> 00:23:02,202 if there's saving faith that He's Lord, 463 00:23:02,202 --> 00:23:04,197 our life falls in line. 464 00:23:04,197 --> 00:23:07,133 And what John says too is they're not grievous. 465 00:23:07,133 --> 00:23:10,030 Didn't Jesus say His yoke is easy? 466 00:23:10,030 --> 00:23:13,372 His burden is light? 467 00:23:13,372 --> 00:23:16,222 See, I can look at my life there. 468 00:23:16,222 --> 00:23:18,345 Have I obeyed Christ perfectly? 469 00:23:18,345 --> 00:23:19,623 No, I haven't. 470 00:23:19,623 --> 00:23:21,113 But I can tell you this. 471 00:23:21,113 --> 00:23:22,488 In my lost days, 472 00:23:22,488 --> 00:23:26,294 I didn't care what Christ said. 473 00:23:26,294 --> 00:23:31,358 When I got saved, 474 00:23:31,358 --> 00:23:34,836 it holds sway with me. 475 00:23:34,836 --> 00:23:36,977 It governs my life. 476 00:23:36,977 --> 00:23:39,393 And I can look at that and say 477 00:23:39,393 --> 00:23:41,167 even though I might do something 478 00:23:41,167 --> 00:23:42,885 and the devil comes along and says, 479 00:23:42,885 --> 00:23:45,597 "look what you just did. You think you're a child of God?" 480 00:23:45,597 --> 00:23:47,857 Well, as a matter of fact, 481 00:23:47,857 --> 00:23:50,310 I know I did that, 482 00:23:50,310 --> 00:23:54,011 but devil, my life used to be like this. 483 00:23:54,011 --> 00:23:59,355 It's totally been turned upside down. 484 00:23:59,355 --> 00:24:02,133 So even though yes, I did that. 485 00:24:02,133 --> 00:24:04,274 There's no explanation for my life 486 00:24:04,274 --> 00:24:08,482 except God saved me. 487 00:24:08,482 --> 00:24:13,178 The third thing is what we find 488 00:24:13,178 --> 00:24:16,356 in Romans 8:16. 489 00:24:16,356 --> 00:24:20,787 This doesn't have to do so much 490 00:24:20,787 --> 00:24:23,514 with whether I'm a believer 491 00:24:23,514 --> 00:24:25,842 and know I am 492 00:24:25,842 --> 00:24:28,388 or that I have Christ's commandments 493 00:24:28,388 --> 00:24:30,064 and I keep them. 494 00:24:30,064 --> 00:24:34,468 This is actually a witness 495 00:24:34,468 --> 00:24:38,909 that is borne to our spirits 496 00:24:38,909 --> 00:24:41,347 by way of the Spirit of God. 497 00:24:41,347 --> 00:24:45,346 It's supernatural. 498 00:24:45,346 --> 00:24:48,080 But I think it's very common. 499 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:50,121 I think that God is in the habit 500 00:24:50,121 --> 00:24:53,693 of communicating His love and His sonship 501 00:24:53,693 --> 00:24:56,008 by way of the Spirit 502 00:24:56,008 --> 00:24:59,069 directly to the spirit of His children. 503 00:24:59,069 --> 00:25:00,721 And that's what that text says. 504 00:25:00,721 --> 00:25:02,820 Romans 8:16 505 00:25:02,820 --> 00:25:05,648 Somebody have it and want to read it? 506 00:25:05,648 --> 00:25:08,046 "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit 507 00:25:08,046 --> 00:25:09,704 that we are the children of God." 508 00:25:09,704 --> 00:25:12,171 See, there's a witness bearing 509 00:25:12,171 --> 00:25:14,194 from the Spirit. 510 00:25:14,194 --> 00:25:18,568 Or, we might see similar meaning 511 00:25:18,568 --> 00:25:21,713 over there in Romans 5:5. 512 00:25:21,713 --> 00:25:27,267 Somebody want to read Romans 5:5? 513 00:25:27,267 --> 00:25:29,827 "And hope does not put us to shame, 514 00:25:29,827 --> 00:25:31,635 because God's love has been poured 515 00:25:31,635 --> 00:25:34,010 into our hearts through the Holy Spirit 516 00:25:34,010 --> 00:25:36,383 who has been given to us." 517 00:25:36,383 --> 00:25:39,438 And if you read the next verse... 518 00:25:39,438 --> 00:25:41,209 "For while we were still weak, 519 00:25:41,209 --> 00:25:44,812 at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly." 520 00:25:44,812 --> 00:25:47,057 See, I think that's what's communicated. 521 00:25:47,057 --> 00:25:50,154 I think that's the love of God 522 00:25:50,154 --> 00:25:56,438 that's shed abroad in our hearts. 523 00:25:56,438 --> 00:25:58,526 This isn't our love to God. 524 00:25:58,526 --> 00:26:01,167 This isn't God's love 525 00:26:01,167 --> 00:26:04,065 channeled through us for other people. 526 00:26:04,065 --> 00:26:08,676 This is God's love for us 527 00:26:08,676 --> 00:26:11,009 that is poured into our own hearts 528 00:26:11,009 --> 00:26:12,310 where we feel it; 529 00:26:12,310 --> 00:26:13,475 where we sense it; 530 00:26:13,475 --> 00:26:16,686 where it's manifest. 531 00:26:16,686 --> 00:26:19,172 And it's a love that was demonstrated 532 00:26:19,172 --> 00:26:23,199 by Christ dying for us in our ungodly state. 533 00:26:23,199 --> 00:26:26,167 And it's communicated to us. 534 00:26:26,167 --> 00:26:28,952 Brethren, I can tell you this, 535 00:26:28,952 --> 00:26:31,528 that over the how ever many years 536 00:26:31,528 --> 00:26:33,187 I've been saved, 537 00:26:33,187 --> 00:26:40,931 there's seasons still when I'm reading Scripture, 538 00:26:40,931 --> 00:26:43,731 you know, precious things happen. 539 00:26:43,731 --> 00:26:47,271 There's times in singing hymns 540 00:26:47,271 --> 00:26:51,256 and something happens in my soul. 541 00:26:51,256 --> 00:26:53,508 There's times in prayer. 542 00:26:53,508 --> 00:26:56,604 There are times 543 00:26:56,604 --> 00:27:00,595 and it's just supernatural. 544 00:27:00,595 --> 00:27:04,001 It's the Spirit of God taking a truth 545 00:27:04,001 --> 00:27:09,962 and bringing it home with such power. 546 00:27:09,962 --> 00:27:13,805 And when you couple all three of those things together, 547 00:27:13,805 --> 00:27:16,182 you basically get somewhat 548 00:27:16,182 --> 00:27:20,905 of a Scriptural theology on assurance. 549 00:27:20,905 --> 00:27:23,158 Anybody have anything they want to add to that?