FAITH: Be Absolutely Certain Of Eternal Life!

Billy Graham died last week at the age of ninety-nine. Billy Graham preached more than four hundred crusades. He preached behind the Iron Curtain and even in North Korea. He preached in Moscow to one hundred and fifty-five thousand people. It is estimated that more than three million people responded to his invitations! Walking an aisle may represent a commitment but walking an aisle doesn’t save anyone. Salvation is found in repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus.

Billy Graham loved quoting John 3:16, “For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.” Salvation is found in the person and work of the Lord Jesus. Jesus suffered the wrath of God for the sins of His people.

This life is not the end. The Bible is clear- every person will spend eternity somewhere. The greatest thing is to be saved. The next greatest thing is to be certain you are saved. Justification is by grace through faith. Jesus died in our place. He suffered for our sins. How can a person be certain of their salvation? Thankfully, the Book of 1 John deals with the assurance of salvation. In 1 John God provides a series of tests to see if a person’s faith is genuine. You can know for certain that you are going to heaven.

The first test is a sensitivity to sin. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” A true Christian is sensitive to sin. When we sin, we confess and forsake the sin. A true believer mourns over his sin (Matthew 5:4).

The second test is obedience to God’s commands. Obedience to the Bible does not a save a person. However, a follower of Jesus desires to obey the Bible. Obedience is evidence of our salvation. 1 John 2:3 says, “And by this we know we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. Whoever says, ‘I know Him’ but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him….” The pattern of a believer’s life must be obedience to God’s commands.

A third test is a person’s attitude toward the world. 1 John 2:15 says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” The world here is not God’s creation. It is not the planet earth. It is speaking of the evil world system. A negative attitude toward the wicked world system is a positive sign of salvation!

Another test is believing in the basic doctrines of the Christian faith. 1 John 4:1 says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” There are minor differences among believers but these are family discussions! There are basic doctrines that all believers hold in common. A person who is saved believes the basic doctrines of the Christian faith. Examples of these basic doctrines are the inspiration of Scripture, the virgin birth, the substitutionary atonement of the Lord Jesus, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, the fact of His miracles, the Trinity and the deity of Jesus. These are some of the basic, fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith.

A fifth test is loving God’s people. Do you love fellow Christians? 1 John 2:9-11 says, “Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” It is easier to love some people than others! However, every Christian has a love for all people but especially for fellow Christians.

The key verse to the Book of 1 John is 1 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.” God does not want us to be uncertain about our eternal destiny. He wants us to be absolutely sure that salvation is ours.

What is the ultimate legacy of Billy Graham? He wanted people to be certain of their eternal destiny. Let’s honor him by making certain of our salvation. Saving faith is not just a past decision. It is a present reality deep within our souls.

Pastor Ethan Hansen

Faith Bible Fellowship

Big Lake, Alaska