maix? (CC BY-SA 2.5) + P.D. smiley It's time for Assurance of Salvation Part 10 Knowing the time of your "conversion experience" MISSION MOMENT! Eva K. (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0) Assurance of Salvation (Make sure while you can!) Things that prove nothing. Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed you fail to meet the test! (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV) Their ABSENCE is a good indicator that you do not know God But their PRESENCE does not guarantee salvation, for an UNSAVED person can do it! TODAY'S TOPIC: Knowing the TIME of your "conversion experience" - - - - - - - - - - ALSO: "Anything else" we haven't mentioned, but which fits in the category. There are lots of "events" you can remember or keep record of. Baptism Confirmation "Walking down the aisle" Praying "the prayer" A sudden "feeling of enlightenment" Something your parents did (while you were a baby) Etc. But is there any guaranteed relationship between these and your salvation? Isabelle Grosjean (CC BY-SA 3.0) Template:AprilCalendar; Wikimedia Commons 1
S Sepp (CC BY-SA 3.0) (Or you can write it in the front of your Bible.) You can have a special certificate to "prove" it. Consider what the Bible says about this issue. In both Old and New Testaments, the Jews tended to think they were in God's favor. They had rites and rituals they could point to as "proof" and they could tell you the time and day these things happened. But what does a piece of paper really prove? Yet over and over again, we read about God's judgment on them, because they weren't genuine followers of God! Consider also the very things we see in a typical church. We see people who give testimonies about what they claim is a "life-changing" experience. They can tell you the time and place where it happened. The next thing we know, they are gone. And they're wallowing deeper in sin than they ever were before. ON THE OTHER HAND What about those who DON'T know the time and day it happened? Does this prove they are lost? [No] Does not knowing it matter? [Hint: Read the clock!] [God often begins to work in a person's life BEFORE the person is aware of it.] eric molina (CC BY 2.0) Ben Hinks Besides, anyone can have a "born again experience"! Knowing the time: Conclusion? Do you know the date and time of your "conversion experience"? Rursus (CC BY-SA 3.0) Cackie777 (CC BY-SA 3.0) And they can often tell you the day and time they had it. Clock Agilight (CC BY 3.0) If YES It doesn't guarantee that you're saved. If NO By itself, it doesn't mean there is a reason to worry! Dennis Hinks 2
maix? (CC BY-SA 2.5) + P.D. smiley FINALLY!! "ANYTHING ELSE" that might be in the "no proof" category Other things that prove nothing may exist If you keep your focus on the Bible, you will recognize them, and you won't be sidetracked by them. Just one example: The ability to do miracles Matthew 7:22-23 (NIV) Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' 2 Thes. 2:9-10a (NIV) The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. MIRACLE-WORKING IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE PERSON IS SAVED! Consider also this passage: One day Jesus called together his twelve apostles and gave them power and authority to cast out demons and to heal all diseases. Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the coming of the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Do you realize ( Luke 9:1-2 NLT) One of the "twelve" who was given this power to just happened to be Judas Iscariot. CONCLUSION (to this entire section) Don't cling to any of these "no proof" things as evidence of salvation! Not proof for yourself. Not proof for others. TWO WRONG RESPONSES TO ALL THIS Wanting to make-believe that people are saved (when no evidence exists). Not wanting to hear the truth. A Wrong Response (#1): People desperately want to believe that their family and friends are saved. When no GENUINE evidence of salvation is present, they tend to grasp at any "hope" they can find including things that prove nothing. 3
Sometimes taking it to an extreme! A Wrong Response (#2): People don't want to know. When they are shown Scripture, they get offended and say things like, "Don't judge me!" "I know he was saved, because he died with a smile on his face!" Yet what good will it be If we don't point out the truth If we choose to remain silent If we refuse to obey God in this matter What good will it be when they are cast into the lake of fire? What excuse will you make then? Are you going to say, "At least I didn't hurt their feelings!" () YOUR MISSION We have completed this part of our "journey" to assurance of salvation! Remember the nature of these things, and you won't be sidetracked by them. Even when they are a necessary part of living for Jesus, they are not the proof that we actually are living for him! YOUR MISSION Pray for us as a group, - that God will prepare us for what will come next, in: "Part 3 - Actions that prove we are saved." If these lessons have left you concerned about your salvation Start reading the Bible (or learning it in some other way), to find out what God says about your situation. & Accept what it says. Pray that God will work in you, to accomplish anything that is necessary. Commit the final results into God's hands; for he is faithful and can be trusted. 4
Credits (1) Credits (2) SCRIPTURE 2 Corinthians 13:5 - Scripture quotation from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (www.gnpcb.org) Matthew 7:22-23 & 2 Thes. 2:9-10a - Scripture quoted from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. (www.zondervanbibles.com) Luke 9:1-2 - Scripture quoted from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. (www.newlivingtranslation.com) YELLOW LIGHT - By maix? (Image:Ampel.svg) [CC-BY-SA-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:traffic_lights_dark_yellow.svg GREEN LIGHT - By maix? (Image:Ampel.svg) [CC-BY-SA-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:traffic_lights_dark_green.svg Frown emoticon (placed on yellow light), by Tkgd2007, Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:emoticon_frown.svg Two shelves full of clocks - By Eva K. (Eva K.) [FAL(http://artlibre.org/licence/lal/en)], via Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:vitrine_weckersammlung_dsc_5043.jpg Clock gears - By Nargilé (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:horlogedijon.jpg (cropped) Pocket watch - By Isabelle Grosjean ZA (Self-published work by ZA) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:montregousset001.jpg Calendar - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/template:aprilcalendar (Latest revision as of 08:16, 14 February 2012) Hourglass - By User:S Sepp (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:wooden_hourglass4.jpg Confirmation certificate - By Photo: Andreas Praefcke (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:konfirmationsschein_charlottenburg_1918.jpg (slightly modified) Pig in mud - By eric molina [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:let%27s_not_forget_how_well_mud_will_exfoliate_and_moisturize_your_skin.jpg (cropped) Clock with "who cares" Ben Hinks 2013; used with permission. (cropped) Person behind the mask - By Cackie777 (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:brian_corsetti.png (not implying anything about the person in the picture) The mask - By Rursus (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:emblem-evil-devil.svg (modified) Atheist badge Author unknown [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:born-again_atheist_badge,_c.1987.jpg Tiny alarm clock - By Agilight (Own work) [CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:%22%d0%a2%d1%8b%d0%b2%d0%b0%d0%bb%d0%b0%d0%bf_%d1%87%d1%83%d0 %B3%D0%B0%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B6%D1%8B%D1%8B%D0%BB%D1%8B%D2%A3%D0%B0%D1%80%22._%D0%A7 %D1%83%D1%80%D1%83%D0%BA_15.jpg Credits (3) Sundial Dennis Hinks 2006 Casket - By Fennimore - Photographer (Leslie's monthly magazine) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:justice_at_last.jpg (cropped, modified) Angel smiley - By The people from the Tango! project (The Tango! Desktop Project) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:face-angel.svg (modified) "Hell" - James Tissot [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:brooklyn_museum_- _The_Bad_Rich_Man_in_Hell_%28Le_mauvais_riche_dans_l%27Enfer%29_-_James_Tissot_-_overall.jpg (modified) Presentation and any textured backgrounds (i.e., not a solid shade) Dennis Hinks 2013 DISCLAIMER: The use of a picture does not imply that the author of that picture agrees with the views of this presentation. Some might agree; some might not. 5