Sermon – “That You May Know”

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. ² By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. ³ For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. ⁴ For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. ⁵ Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

⁶ This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. ⁷ For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. ⁸ And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

⁹ If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. ¹⁰ He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. ¹¹ And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. ¹² He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. ¹³ These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ² For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

³ By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

⁴ By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

Jn. 3:1-7

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ² This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

³ Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

⁴ Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

⁵ Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

A message I titled that you may know that you may know and you will see why tied with that when we get into the scripture. But I want to begin with a word of prayer because I have a tendency to kind of preach through this. As I go through, so let’s just pray right at the beginning. almighty god, we do give you praise and glory and honor fathers i just spoke. We thank you for your righteousness, father. We know that it is by your righteousness that we are save. We thank you for that. We thank you for your holy word, which I believe is a promise, and we can stand upon it. I believe it is true. And father, i just pray that your word would speak to our hearts to day. I pray your spirit would have by noon way in this place to day father to have your own way in each heart to day. I pray that every heart, every set of ears it hears his word to day or god will receive the word that you have for them. father is not my words, but your words father may they bless us, maybe fill us to overflowing. And father, may you be glorified in jesus name may be glorified in your church in jesus name. amen. So as I was began my little series in the pistol a john, as I think I was in the 2nd chapter, my wife says, where was the birth she was gonna share? I was waiting for those that know me best will know that 1st john chapter 5 has several verses that I can declare that are my favorite irma passages in the entire bible. I can say that I have the, I believe it, it, I know it. And they know they that know me know that I love these verses. So they’re going to be in this, in this passage we read this morning. So here the word, the Lord who ever believes that jesus is the christ, is born of god. Now I read that slowly to let that sink in. whoever is not just some who ever believes that jesus is the christ. The messiah is born of god. There is no, if for maybes in their use or born of god in every one who loves him, who be got also loves him. Who is begotten of him? By this we know that we love the children of god when we love god and keep his commandments for this is the love of god that we keep his commandments in his commandments are not burdensome. And you know, that’s a problem with some feel that god’s commandments are restrictive. They’re too restrictive. They don’t let me do anything to let me have any fun. They’re not restrictive. They’re pleasing. heard the light to keep because we love him, a man for whatever is born of god overcomes the world and this is the victory that has overcome the world. Our faith. Who is he who overcomes a world but he who believes that jesus is the son of god. This is he who came by water and blood. Jesus christ not only by water but by water and blood. And it is a spirit who bears witness because the spirit is truth. For there are 3 that bear witness in heaven, the father, the word and the holy spirit. And these 3 are one. And there are 3 that bear witness on the earth. The spear, the water and the blood and these 3 agree is one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of god is greater. For this is the witness of god which he has testified of his son. He who believes in the son of god has the witness in himself. He who does not believe god has made him a liar because he is not believe the testimony that god has given of his son. And this is the testimony. This is the testimony of god. So you know, very clear was his come from John road as a spirit gay moderns. This is a testimony that god has given us eternal life. And this life is in his son. He who has the son has life. He who does not have the son does not, does not have the son of god does not have life. These things I have written to you believe in the name of the son of god that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may continue to believe in the name of the son of god. There is my favorite verse, an entire bible that you may know that you have eternal life, that you may continue to believe in the name of the son of god. Maybe I should have titled this passage for this message, the passage of certainties. You know, we know that in this world there are but few things that we can think of that are certain there are lot of uncertainties in this world, especially in these times we’re living in I must say that, but there’s been lot of uncertainties in all history right, but there are a lot of uncertainties in our world. There’s a lot of uncertainties in our lives. In 1789, ben franklin said this of our constitution. He said, our new constitution is now established and has an appearance that promises permanent. See, He’s broke right, me didn’t mean I could go off a little tangent here because they, they trample all over. They ignored, they don’t pay much attention to it. So it appeared to be permanent, but I’m not sure are permanent. It is. He says, but in this world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes. Right? He was given unto men wants to die. We’re all gonna die if the Lord terry’s ain’t right. An taxes you are going to pay taxes one way or another. They tax your paycheck, they tax everything, you go to buy separate food in some states. They tax your gas, they tax your property, they tax our cars every year. In Maryland, we are a west Virginia, i mean we pay taxes on our car every single year over and over and over in Pennsylvania too. So maybe they should have said they’re going to tax you to death. That’s how they know you’re going to die. Right. Everybody loves paying taxes, right. But we love our rosa. Yes, we pay taxes and we love their kids. Go to school, we need to pay taxes, but they don’t need the taxes to death. James 4th, 13 through 16 says, come now you who say today or tomorrow we will go to sets in such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell and make a profit. Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow for what is your life. It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, if the Lord will use, we shall live and do this or that. But now you boast in your arrogance offsets boasting is evil. We hope that we will do this for that, but we should say if the Lord wills, we will do this for that. First timothy 6 verse 17 says command. Those who are rich in this present age, not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches. But in the living god, who gives us richly all things to enjoy Many of us can probably think of some one that we know that they trust in the riches. James, rightly points out that the uncertainties of this world. When you do not know what will happen to morrow, you know, we hope that we have a tomorrow. We do. You know, we think we do because we’ve had many yesterdays right. We think we’re going to have many, tomorrow’s, but we cannot even be certain of that. I’m sure that when my cousin’s daughter got in her car just little over a week ago to go to work in frederick that she thought she was going to arrive safely at work. That did not happen. She lost her life in a car accident. So there’s no certainties, right? We don’t know. We don’t know that when we hop on an airplane, we’re pretty certain that’s pretty safe, warmer travel. But we don’t know for certain did a flock of birds not gonna fly in front of that engine. Cause that plane to go down. You know, when you go in for a surgery, even it’s a minor surgery. They had to tell you, you could possibly die even up. Sorry, john, they’ll tell you that. Don’t go over surgery tuesday, but they tell you that they tell you what could happen because they are not absolutely certain that you’re not going to have a bad reaction to the anesthesia or this or that. So there’s very few certainties in life, right? There’s the, all these possibilities. There’s so many uncertainties don’t trust in your riches a whole life. Time of savings could be gone in one day, one day. Why should we trust in the riches of this world? And I know that’s a lot of negativity, right. On sorry, where I’m going to get to the whole part. There is one in whom you can trust and know for certain that what he says is absolutely true. You can trust that he is absolutely faithful. You can trust that he is righteous, and that is god. hebrews, 618 and 19 and new living translation says. So god has given both his promise and his oath. These 2 things are unchangeable because it is impossible for god to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into god’s inner sanctuary. He is our confidence. There are certain teasing god because he cannot lie. It goes completely against god’s nature. He can not lie is not possible for him to lie. He is the anchor for our souls. What is an anchor? Where does an acre? It’s a big chunk of metal. You’re right, it’s a great, it depends on the size of the vessel. How big the anchor is, right? You go on one of those big cruise ships. They had a huge anchor in that anchors big chunk of metal and has teeth on it. And once it do, it goes down, it drops to the, the bad, it drops to the bottom of the, the sea or, or wherever you are. It prevents that vessel where that ship from drifting due to the wind are due to the current, right? So an anchor holds its secure, god’s promises or the anger that keeps us from drifting from getting lost in the many storms of life. Is he your anchor? anchor yourself to God and to his love and to his word Or passage from 1st john is filled with lots of certainties. I will review a couple of these a hard laid em i’d actually just did this morning as we’ve worked our way through the epistle with John. I might not have gotten them all in chapter 2. Birth 3. It said, now by this we know. So there’s a certainty by this. We know that we know him. If we keep his commandments In verse 5, god is perfected in him and by this we know that we are in him. He says he buys in him, ought himself also to walk jestus. He walked in chapter 3 by this we know love because he laid down his life for us in verse 19, chapter 3. And by this we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before him. verse 24. And by this we know that he abides in US by the spirit whom he has given us chapter 4. Now by this, you know, the spirit of god tells us how to identify the spirit of god. verse 6. By this we know the spirit of truth than the spirit of error burst 13 by this we know that we abide in him and he in US because he has given us his spirit Than what are read to day by this. We know that we love the children of god. When we love god and keep his commandments, and that you may know That you have eternal life. Again, could god cannot lie. whoever believes in jesus christ is born of god. This sound familiar being born of god. Remember jesus words to nick adamus, one of the rulers of the jews. You must be born again. Well, this was a very strange thing. For nicodemus, his ears, what do you mean? Can a man enter a 2nd time into his mother’s womb and be born a 2nd time? Now he out? No, no one cannot. Jesus shared with nicodemus. chapter 3 verse 5 mood. Jesus answered most assuredly i say to you. Unless one is born of the water in the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of god. That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Do not marble that I said to you, you must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is every one who is born of the spirit. Being born again, born of the spirit, the word translated here again means from above borne from above. You know, our natural burst introduce us to the light of this war to this world. Not the light but its introduces us to the world. Our natural lives or the beginning of our lives on this earth. The problem is that our natural birth also introduces us to a world of sin, introduces us to a world of sin. It says all have transgressed all have fallen short of the glory of god. The imagination and the thoughts of the heart are evil. From the time we were young, not just when we’re old, we are conceived and sin, we are brought forth in iniquity. It says there is none that do with good know not one. The carnal mind is in the T against god, and by nature we are dead trespasses in our trust passes and sins right. By nature we are dead and are trespasses and sins all sin. All cinnapool short. All sin exposes men to misery. Here in this world and the world to come the hereafter to escape from sin. We have an inheritance But we have to allow him to change our nature. Being born again from above. New birth regeneration, webster defines regeneration as to subject to spiritual regeneration or to change radically for the better. Some I was need radically changed for the better to generate or to produce a new or to replace a body part by new growth of tissue. I remember years ago, my sister sharing with me how a friend of hers was getting part of his liver to his son because he had a disease liver. And she said, the amazing thing is where they take that part. It’ll grow back. I’m like, I did know that But my friend is not the liver that, that, that god wants to deal with. It’s the heart. He wants to give us a new heart. He wants to regenerate a new heart in US. He wants to take that old callison harden heart of stone, if you will, replace it with want is full of love and compassion and kindness in his goodness. In his righteousness, he wants to create a new, a new heart. He wanted to be born again, regenerate a new heart 1st for said it is certain that whoever is born of god, born again has overcome the world to overcome means to subdue, to conquer, to prevail against, to get the victory. If an army loses a battle loses a war, they come home secretly, don’t they? I mean, because they come home and disgrace. There is no fanfare, but at the army winds the war, they come home to a celebration right there, celebrating their line in the streets. They are the victors. When one is born a god, they have conquered sin. They have conquered descend, that separates them from god. We have the victory over sin. That victory comes bar faith by faith in jesus christ. Our faith is to have moral conviction is to rely upon jesus christ for salvation. Deal moody once told a humorous story. I’m going to share too heavily intoxicated men who on one night went down to their boat to return to their homes across the Bay. They got into the boat and began to row and they rode in the road in the road in the road. They rode hard all night long. Wondering why was taking them so long to get to the other side. But when the sun came up and they began to sober a little bit, they discovered that their more in line had never been loosened. And the anchor had not been raised. Though the story be quite funny, it is sad that so many people are trying to get to heaven in similar fashion. As moody says, they cannot believe because they are tied to this world. cut the cord, cut the cord, set yourself free from the clogging weight of earthly things. And you will soon go warned to heaven. cut the cord. Believe just believe in his righteousness, hebrews 11. We know the passage of faith one through for now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen for by the elders obtain a good testimony by faith. We understand that the world’s refrain by the word of god, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible by faith able offered to God a more eczema sacrifice than cain. Through which he obtain witness that he was righteous god testifying of his gifts and through it he being dead still speaks phase of the pilgrims, the fine faith as belief in god or in the doctrines or teachings of religion. faith is also defined as belief that is not based on proof a confidence or trust in a person or thing. Does everyone here believe that abraham lincoln was the 16th president of the United States? I think everyone’s not ahead. I think most everyone believes that right. What did you personally meet him If you did, you’re really old. You’re really old. If he did? No, you didn’t personally meet him. But you read the history books. You were taught in school that abraham lincoln was a 16th president of the United States. You can go to get his bergen read on the plaque the speech that he gave there. You may have read a book on his life as history. I’ve read a book on abraham like an amazing man. A very unlikely man to be president, but he became president, was one of our great presidents. We believe that because we read, we see the history, we hear the testimony or the witness of those. It did know him as it passed down through history. Right. So you believe, I believe he was an honest man. It said that he did not lie. Says, why did one ask him to this address, make me look fat. But he’s going to tell the truth. Remember hebrew said god cannot lie. So you do, do you believe the testimony of god? I’m asking that question. Do you believe the testimony of god? Now after 6 days is Matthew 7171 through 5. Now after 6 days, jesus took peter, james and John, his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves and he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light and behold, elijah and moses appeared with them talking with him. Then peter answered and said to jesus, lord, it is good for us to be here if you wish. Let us make 3 tabernacles, one for you, one for moses and one for elijah. And while he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. And suddenly a voice came out of the clouds saying, this is my beloved son. In whom I am well pleased. Hear him. What does he say hear him b, leave him. Have faith in him. This is god’s testimony of his son. We believe abraham lincoln with a sick thing present. Do we believe that jesus is the son of god? Here’s the history book. We didn’t meet him face to face, but we met him right here in these pages. We met him in the testimony in the witness of others. How can it be that some believe in abraham lincoln? But they, if they fail to believe the testimony of god, the one who cannot live Again, I’ll say that I believe versus 11 through 13 in or passages. Some of the most important passages in the bible, the most important versus and this is the testimony. Remember, this is the testimony of god that god has given us eternal life given. Didn’t say you are ness, given us eternal life. And this life is in his son. We’re not talking just about this natural life. We’re talking about eternal life. He has given us eternal life and his life is in his son, jesus christ. He has a son, has life and he does not have the son of god does not have life period. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the son of god that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may continue to believe in the name of the son of god. This is our victory. This is our confidence, this is how we can know for certain that we had eternal life. And the person that showed us that scripture many years ago and church is sitting behind his church. Our spiritual mentor showed us that passage opened her eyes up to it. You know, I’ve talked with, I’m not going to say many, many people, but I’ve talked with some people over the years and asked them if your life were in today. Do you know for certain that you’re gonna enjoy internal life? You’re going to be with the Lord people that have been in church for years say well I hope so. I think I’m a pretty good person. I’ve gone to church all my life. I’ve done a lot of good. I’ve not harmed anybody. Yeah, I think so. My friends, that’s not the response that we who believe in the name of the son of god should have it should be yes. I know. So I know so because he says he things are written that you may know my friends. God loves you. He doesn’t want you wandering through life, uncertain about your eternal salvation. Hear that word. He does not want you to be uncertain about your return about eternity. He want you to know, he want you to know it. If we have doubts about our eternity, eternal salvation than we are saying that the sacrifice of jesus christ upon across was not sufficient To cover our sins. Let that sink in a minute. If you have doubts about your salvation, your same cry, sacrifice was not good enough. It did not cleanse me. My friends, his sacrifice cleanses us from all unrighteousness. And some may say that, Well, if you profess that you are over confident, You are over confident I can open my faith verse or to get me fired upright. It’s not my confidence in myself. That makes me say, I know that I am saved, that I know where I’m going to spend eternity is not confidence in me. But it’s my confidence in him is my confidence in the work of the cross. In his word tells me you can know john wesley, after john wesley had been preaching for some time, some one said to him, are you sure mister wesley, of your salvation? Well, he answered, jesus christ died for the whole world. Yes, we all believe that. But are you sure that you are saved? West replied that he was sure that provision was made for his salvation. But are you sure, wesley, that you are saved? It went like an arrow through his heart, and he had no rest or power until the question was settled in his heart. He found the answer and I believe he turned to 1st john chapter, but I can’t say for certain but I believe that’s where he might have turned right. latimer wrote really once that when he was settled and steadfast about his own salvation, he was as bowed as a lion. But at that hope became eclipse. He was fearful and afraid and was dis qualified for service. men are disqualified for service because they are continually doubting to roam salvation. How are you going to lead some one? The cries of you doubt your own salvation Is not over confidence, friends in what we have done. We’ve got a tie 1st, john chapter 5 with ephesians, chapter 2 or say through 9 for by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves. It is a gift of god, not of works lest anyone should boast for we are his workmanship created in christ jesus for good works, which god prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. My friend, that is the gospel message That if we believe in christ we are saved. We are born again. Believe in him, continue in him. If you’ve been in church for years and your uncertain. Karen said, these orders are open, may men come to them and pour out your heart to him. Let him commend your heart. Leave your sins, air, the foot of the cross. Don’t take him back up with you. Oh, because you can know for certain you can know for certain that your his if you believe in his son, he has a son, has life. We don’t need to paint anything else on that doing. He has a son as life, he does not have the son does not have life. He has given us his word so we can know not yes, if we can have the confidence. But so that we can have the piece that might even be more important than the confidence we have. peace in our souls. So the week it’s saying it is well with my soul it is well with my soul because of the cross a man.