Instructions Prayerfully study this little pamphlet including the _ Scripture references. Answer questions and anything you don 't understand.

Transcription

1 HOWMAYIKNOW IAMSAVED?. BY PAUL GOODWIN '~~~ Instructions Prayerfully study this little pamphlet including the _ Scripture references. Answer questions and underline anything you don 't understand.

2 HOW MAY I KNOW THAT I AM SAVED? The seventy apostles sent out by the Lord returned with rejoicing saying: "Even the devils are subject unto us through thy name," (Luke 10:17). Jesus reminded them that the fact that their names were written in heaven should afford them greater joy than their miraculous power over demons. Is your name written in heaven? Do you know for certain that you are saved? Have you been horn again': Have you crossed the bridge from death unto life? Do you preface your testimony with, "I hope I am saved?" It is not necessary for anyone to build o,n such a shaky, sandy foundation. You can be as positive as the Word of God.

3 Hear the Testimony of Job Incline your ear and hear the testimony of Job: "Oh that my words were now written! Oil that they were printed in a book! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rockforever," What is this never-dying testimony that Job wanted to give? What are the words he wanted engraven in rocks so succeeding generations might read them and be blessed? Job knew that he was saved: "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins [heart] be consumed within me," (Job 19:23-27).

4 There was no guess work with Job. He knew. The Assurance of Paul The Apostle Paul knew that he was saved. With triumph he speaks of his faith in Christ and the power of that Christ to save. "...For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day, " (2 Timothy 1: 12). Without reservation the great apostle had commited his life into the care and keeping of the Saviour. The future was settled. There was no doubt. His name was written in Heaven. The fleshly birth is a reality, and there are plenty of evidences to prove the first birth. However, some people have difficulty in giving legal proof of having been born

5 when they are trying to secure a birth certificate. But we are here and it is a selfevident fact that we were born. Jesus told Nicodemus: "Ye must be born again," and that second birth is just as real as the first. The first birth is natural, fleshly, and the second birth is spiritual. One is no less real than the other. Have you been born from above? Do you have a second birthday? You can know! Is Your Evidence of Salvation A Strange Experience? Many and strange are the experiences offered as evidences of salvation. One lady told of a dream in which a snake crawled [0 her bed and looked at her with his beady eyes, 4

6 licked out his forked tongue and then slowly moved away. From that time, she concluded that she was saved. Since the devil is called a serpent, she interpreted the dream to mean that she was a child of God because the snake had turned from her. This writer once spoke to a woman who was rejoicing in the assurance of her salvation. She then related a dream she had some few nights before. According to her vision (I call it a dream) this lady was out in an orchard whose trees were bending down with fruit when great joy came to her. "Before this," she said, "I wasn't sure of my salvation. 1 didn't think 1 was bearing enough fruit to be called a Christian, but after that vision 1 know that I am saved!" Have you based your hope of 5

7 Heaven on some strange feeling or vision? To do so usto pervert John 3:16 which says that '6God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Those who require a vision or a strange sensation as an evidence would dispute with the Apostle Paul whu told a trembling, inquiring jailor, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ ami thou shalt be saved, " (Acts 16:31). There is a feeling of joy in satvatlon, Rather, a feeling of joy accompanies salvation, but that joy is [he result of safvation. H is good to remember tinat no two people are alike emotionally. Since that is true no two persons feel alike when they are saved. Some weep when they trust the Lord. Others show little if any emotion. To 6

8 contend that everyone must feel like you felt when you were saved, is folly. One man said that he laughed a half day when he was saved. Must I have the same experience in order to be saved? To depend upon feeling alone is dangerous. This writer is afraid of any man who is controlled wholly by feelings. If I had a neighbor who operated according to feelings I would lock my chicken house at night, because I would fear that in the night he might have a feeling that he wanted some fried chicken and while that feeling dominated him, he would proceed to my chicken roost and help himselfl Do you feel like you are saved or do you know you are saved? Better try your feelings by placing your faith in the facts 7

9 found! In the Word of God. The Bible is the book to tell us whether or not we are saved. What saith the Lord? [Editor's Note: In the truck diagram, "facts" is placed first because the knowledge of your salvation is based upon God's Word, 1 John 5:13; Romans 10:17] FDidB ijilps'- -::~. Ol11l What Are You Depending? You have your faith in the thing on which you are depending for salvation. Now, on what are you depending for remission of sins? Baptism? Lord's Supper? Church membership'! Good conduct? Galatians

10 3:26 tells us that we become the "children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Faith in any other person or thing is a misplaced faith and will not bring salvation. If you are trusting anything else, you are lost. The Gospel of John was written that people might know how to be saved. "These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name," (John 20:31). The book of First John was written that people might know that they are saved. "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life," (1 John 5:13). Do You Enjoy Sinful Pleasures? Do you love the world, the

11 wicked world of which the devil is the head? Do you love to wallow in the sinful pleasures of this age? Had you rather go to a movie than to church? Do you get more pleasure out of attending a Sunday baseball game than you do out of going to the Lord's house? Jesus used the things of nature to teach spiritual lessons, and surely we would be justified in doing the same thing. On the farm there are two animals which illustrate the point under consideration. The hog is given to low ground. He loves to wallow in the mire. His very nature calls for it. His being washed and kept in a clean place will not change his nature. At the first opportunity he will return to the mud and give out the grunt of satisfaction. The sheep presents quite a contrast to the hog. The sheep loves the high ground and win stay there most of

12 the time. This animal may fall in the mud, but he will not stay there but will shake himself and get to higher ground. If one is a child of God he will not continually wallow in the sinful pleasures of this world and like it. He may, through the weakness of the flesh and through the many temptations thrown about him, fall into the mud of sin. However, if he is a child of God, he will loathe it, shake himself and get to higher ground. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him," (1 John 2:15) Do You Feel at Home With God's People? Do you love God's people? Had you rather be with Christians than any other people in the world? Do you feel at ease around them? If you love the 11

13 brethren, it is indisputable evidence that you are saved. "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that lovetk not his brother abideth in death," (1 John 3: 14). If one loves God, he will love God's people. It's impossible to love God and hate His children. "If a man say, [love God, and hatetb his brother, he is a liar...," (1 John 4:20). Unsaved people do not love Christians. They admire them, but they do not have that peculiar, distinctive love for the Lord's people that the Lord's people have for each other. Whiie J was yet unsaved, I often worked with an aged and consecrated man of God. One day while we were working together Mr. Lee said to me, "Paul, I am praying for you and I hope that you will be saved during our revival." 12

14 Such words of tenderness and concern made me miserable and I no longer enjoyed the company of this fine old man, but later when I was saved it was altogether different. I wanted to be around him then. "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God," (1 John 4:7). Do You Want God's Will Done in Your Life? Do you want to keep God's commandments? Do you want to do God's will? Is the Lord's work a burden to you? "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous," (1John 5:3). The word translated "grievous" means heavy or burdensome. Is it a

15 burden for you to be baptized? Is it a burden for you to go to church? Is your service a burden? Would you like to get out of it all? If this is your attitude, you may well question your salvation; for if the love of God is in your heart, it will not be a burden to serve Him. Is There a War in Your Soul? Are you conscious of the conflict between the flesh and the spirit? When we are saved we become "partakers of the divine nature," (1 Peter 1:4). The new birth is the implanting of this divine nature. When one is born again, he is born of the spirit, but the flesh remains unchanged. "That which is born of the flesh isflesh. And that which is born of the spirit is spirit." (John 3:6) According to Paul, there is no good thing in the flesh. "I know that ill (that is, in my flesh), 14

16 dwelleth no good thing." (Romans 7:18) The flesh has no good thing in it. Therefore, it is all bad. The spirit is without sin, therefore, it is good. When two natures like these are in one personality there is warfare. This is what Paul meant when he said: "The flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh: And these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would," (Galatians 5:17) The unsaved have no such conflict. This warfare belongs to the child of God and is an evidence of salvation. Does the Holy Spirit Testify of Your Salvation? Do you have the testimony of the Holy Spirit that you're saved? "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we 15

17 are the children of God, " (Romans 8: 16). Do you have the inward witness of the Holy Spirit that you've been born again? The same Holy Spirit that tens us of our faith in Christ tells us in His written word "that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life," (John 3:16). The Spirit tells me that I believe in Christ and then tells me I am saved, thus giving a double testimony. The work of the Holy Spirit is what gives us heart-felt salvation. We have been made alive. We have contact with God. There is feeling in salvation. The story is told of a little boy who ate too many green apples and as a result took the "tummy" ache. His mother, a Christian Scientist (which religion is neither Christian nor scientiflc), reminded him that his "tummy" did not hurt, but that it was merely a wrong idea in his head. 16

18 Sonny retorted, "But I know better, Mother. I have too much inside information." The child of God has inside information and that information is in harmony with the written word. What Is the Way of Salvation? Perhaps many who are unsaved will read this article. I would be unfair to you if I did not tell you the way of salvation. John 1:11, 12 gives us the necessary information: "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." Believe that Christ is the Saviour and receive Him as your Saviour. The word "receive" means the same here as it

19 does any where else. Recognizing yourself as a condemned sinner you simply turn to Christ and commit yourself into His hands, trusting Him and Him alone to save you. Do it now. Dr. Paul Goodwin is a Baptist minister who pastored churches for over four decades. He taught evangelism at the Missionary Baptist Seminary in Little Rock, served as president of that institution, and two terms as moderator of the American Baptist Association. 18

20 1. Do you know FOR CERTAIN that if you died today you would go to Heaven? Yes No _ 2. In determining whether you have been saved, is it valid to try to compare your emotional experiences to those of another? According to Galatians 3:26, what is the one criteria by which you can determine if you have been saved, or become a child of God? 19

21 4. Why was the Gospel of John written? 5. What are five evidences of salvation listed in this article? 20

22 6. What is meant by the phrase "to receive Christ"? 7. If you died today and stood before God and He said to you, "Why should I let you into Heaven?" What would you say? 21

23 How May I Know I Am Saved? Answers to Questions 1. You need to pray about this question, so you can give a sincere answer. If after reading this article, you are still confused, please call the pastor or a counselor at the church. 2. No. To depend upon feelings and emotions alone is dangerous. 3. Faith in Jesus Christ. This means we must have placed our faith in what He did on the Cross to pay for our sins. This alone will save us. 4. The Gospel of John was written so people might know how to have eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. 5. Five evidences of salvation are: a. A child of God will not enjoy 22

24 How May I Know I Am Saved? Answers to Questions 1. YOUi need to pray about this question, so you can give a sincere answer. If after reading this article, you are still confused, please call the pastor or a counselor at the church. 2. No. To depend upon feelings and emotions alone is dangerous. 3. Faith in Jesus Christ. This means we must have placed our faith in what He did on the Cross to pay for our sins. This alone will save us. 4. The Gospel of John was written so people might know bow to have eternal life through faith in Jesus Chrlst. 5. Five evidences of salvation are: a. A child of God will not enjoy

25 wallowing in the sinful pleasures of the world as he once did. b. A child of God will want to be with other saved people. c. A child of God will want to do the will of God. d. A child of God will be conscious of a warfare going on inside between the old flesh nature and the new spiritual nature received when saved. e. A child of God will have the inward witness from the Holy Spirit that he has been saved. 6. It simply means to truly trust in Christ as Saviour. 7. In effect, the answer to this question is the same as the answer to question number three above. Have you actually done this? If not, do it now! 23

26 Grace Missionary Baptist Church Sounding Out The Word Ministry 1823 Aldin Route Houston, TX (281)