福音的重要信息:得救的确据
约翰壹书五章7至13节
7并且有圣灵作见证,因为圣灵就是真理。
8作见证的原来有三:就是圣灵、水,与血,这三样也都归于一。
9我们既领受人的见证,神的见证更该领受了(该领受:原文作大),因神的见证是为他儿子作的。
10信神儿子的,就有这见证在他心里;不信神的,就是将神当作说谎的,因不信神为他儿子作的见证。
11这见证就是神赐给我们永生;这永生也是在他儿子里面。
12人有了神的儿子就有生命,没有神的儿子就没有生命。
13我将这些话写给你们信奉神儿子之名的人,要叫你们知道自己有永生。
信息分享
我们若不能够肯定自己得救,那我们就不能为基督作见证,我们的服事也会被影响。我们就会像一个雇员,心中经常注重自己的问题,而不是要做的工作。
我们如果从没有确切表明接受耶稣基督,当然就不会有得救的确据。约翰福音一章12节清楚指出,唯有那些接受祂的人,才能称为神的儿女。如果我们曾经亲口承认并决志(即使我们忘记了决志的日期),我们仍然可以拥有确据,相信我们已经得救和得蒙赦罪。
我们怎能确定呢?就是相信神在祂话语里所作的承诺。当你接受基督的时候,你是相信祂能够拯救你。因此,如今你只要相信祂必照着应许救你,就行了。
罗马书十章13节说:「凡求告主名的,就必得救。」你是否真心呼求基督救你?如果是的话,这节经文怎样说?你如果呼求了基督的名,基督就必照着祂的应许,在你呼求的那刻拯救你。
让我们再次翻看约翰壹书五章13节:「我将这些话写给你们信奉神儿子之名的人,要叫你们知道自己有永生。」这节经文就是你的属灵生命出生证明书。你可以在你的圣经中圈起这节经文、背诵它。每当你的信心出现疑惑的时候,就再次反思它的意思。
牢记:基督是来拯救我们。我们从圣经所应许的话中,可得到救恩的确据。
GREAT WORDS OF THE GOSPEL - ASSURANCE
1 John 5:7-13
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.
Message
If we are not sure of our salvation, we will never be a good witness for Christ. Our service for Christ will be affected. We will be like an employee whose mind is continually on his own personal problems rather than on his work.
We cannot have assurance of course if we have never personally and definitely accepted Jesus Christ as our Saviour. John 1:12 makes it clear that only those who have received Him can say that they are children of God. But if we have done that (even if we don't remember the date or time), we can have assurance that we are saved and our sins are forgiven.
How can we be sure? By accepting what God has said in His Word. When you came to Christ, you believed He could save you. Now you need to believe that He has saved you exactly as He promised.
In doing so you accept His Word. Romans 10:13 says, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Did you sincerely ask Christ to save you? Then what does this verse say? If you do your part, if you call on Him, Christ will save you at that moment.
Look again at 1 John 5:13. 'I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.' That verse could be your spiritual birth certificate. Mark it in your Bible. Put the initials SBC alongside it - Spiritual Birth Certificate. Memorise it and be able to quote it when doubts come.
REMEMBER: Christ's work for us is what saves us. His Word to us makes us sure.
TOMORROW: the Holy Spirit's witness in assurance.

