Eternal Life

A little boy was offered the opportunity to select a dog for his birthday present. At the pet store, he was shown a number of puppies. From them he picked one whose tail was wagging furiously. When he was asked why he selected that particular dog, the little boy said, "I wanted the one with the happy ending."

If we want to reach out for a life with a happy ending, we have no choice but to accept the living Christ as our Lord and Savior, follow Him daily, and rejoice in the eternal life that awaits us.


Eternal Life: Fact or Fiction?

(1John 5:11-13).

Let Him In

A little girl began to learn all of the traditional fairy tales, like Goldilocks and the Three Bears and the Three Little Pigs. Her mother and father taught her the familiar Bible stories as well. The little girl’s mind was like a sponge, absorbing everything she heard.

One day her mother read the Bible to her. The passage was Revelation 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." When she finished reading the verse she asked the little girl, "If Jesus is knocking at your heart’s door, will you open and let Him in?"

Without a moment’s hesitation she responded, "Not by the hair on my chinny-chin-chin."

That describes the simplicity of a child’s mind. Sometimes they cannot tell the difference between fact and fiction. Do you remember when you discovered that some of the characters you thought existed as a child actually didn’t? Wasn’t it a little disappointing? Didn’t you think that someone was pulling the wool over your eyes?

Somehow that is the way it is for many people. They are confused about the matter of salvation, especially the security of the believer. They are not sure whether they are saved or not. They don’t know for certain if anyone can know it. They cannot tell the difference between fact and fiction.

In an Outreach meeting. Seven people came forward to profess Christ as their Savior. That is wonderful. Still, others came not knowing if they were really saved.

I thought this would be an opportune time to speak to you on the subject of eternal life. I want you to be 100% sure of your salvation experience. I don’t want anyone here to doubt as to whether they are going to Heaven or Hell.

There are many subjects you can be wrong on and it really doesn’t matter much, but where you are going to spend eternity is not one of them.

You see:

"WHEN IT COMES TO ETERNAL LIFE YOU’RE EITHER DEAD RIGHT OR DEAD WRONG, THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND, AND NO ONE CAN AFFORD TO BE WRONG ON THIS SUBJECT."

Let me share three simple thoughts from this passage about eternal life.
Please mark them down either in your Bible or on a piece of paper. They may come in handy one day when a friend cannot tell the difference between fact and fiction. Concerning eternal life, it is important to understand:

I. THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURES - (10-13)

(1 John 5:10-13) He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 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, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (KJV)

As John wrote this letter he made certain he emphasized the authority of the Bible. In verse ten he called the Bible the "record." The word record means "witness, or record of truth." In verse 11, again he called the Bible the "record." In verse thirteen, he emphasized the things he had written to them so they might "know" they had eternal life.

If you don’t get anything else from this message get this: The Bible is God’s record to us. What He wishes us to know is in the Bible. If it’s not in the Bible don’t worry about it, but if it is, don’t neglect it. The Bible is God’s source for revealing Himself and the things of His kingdom to us.

The Bible is authoritative because it is inspired. Because it is inspired it is inerrant. Because it is inerrant it is infallible. The copy of the Bible you hold in your hands this morning is your authority for Christian faith and practice. Everything you need to know is in the Bible. Everything you need to do is in the Bible. Consider some Scriptures that assure us that God’s record is reliable

2 Timothy 3:15-16) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (KJV)

The word "inspired" means to "exhale." Paul said God’s Word was inspired of God. God breathed out the words He wanted recorded in the Bible through "revelation" and men wrote them down as God gave them through "inspiration." Because the Bible is inspired of God, it is completely without error, and therefore infallible.

APP: THE BIBLE IS OUR ONLY INFALLIBLE SOURCE FOR INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTION FROM GOD. THAT MAKES IT AUTHORITATIVE.

(2 Timothy 3:16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (KJV)

(2 Peter 1:19-21) We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. {in old time: or, at any time} (KJV)

(Psalms 119:89) LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. (KJV)

That means in the Bible God said what He means and meant what He said. You can count on the Bible. It is authoritative.

When it comes to salvation many people will not go by what the Bible says but by the way they feel. You know what I’m talking about. You ask someone about his or her salvation and they reply, "I feel like I am saved," or they may say, "Sometimes I feel like I am saved and sometimes I don’t." What they are saying is that they depend on their feelings, or emotions in determining their security of salvation. You cannot do that. Feelings are real, but they are not authoritative. One day you may "feel" saved and the next day you might not. It’s dangerous to depend on your feelings when it comes to eternity.

There must be something more substantial than emotions and feelings to base the destiny of the eternal soul. There is. It is the Bible. One must base his eternal future on what the Bible says and nothing else. It’s important to get this right. It’s imperative to get this right. It’s essential to get this right. If you never get anything else right in the Christian life, make sure you get this right! If you’re mistaken about this it doesn’t matterwhat else you are right about.

CONCERNING ETERNAL LIFE IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE AUTHORITY OF THE SCRIPTURES. SECONDLY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE:

II. SIMPLICITY OF SALVATION - (13)

All four verses in this passage point to the simplicity of the gospel message. It so simple that a little child can understand it. It’s so simple that no one should miss it. It’s so simple that we ought to be telling it to every man, woman, boy and girl. What is this simple message? It is as easy as ABC. It is the message of believing and receiving.

A. ADMIT YOU ARE A SINNER -

(Romans 3:10) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (KJV)

(Romans 3:23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (KJV)

(Isaiah 64:6) But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (KJV)

You’re not a sinner because you sin; you sin because you are a sinner. Fat sinner, skinny sinner, black sinner, white sinner, short sinner, or tall sinner. It makes no difference. Sin is sin and sinners are sinners. As far as God is concerned we are all alike. He hates sin. And because of sin, we have been separated from God. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, young men and young women, we are in a predicament. Our sin has separated us from a holy God, and there is nothing we can do about it.