Tradition Versus Scripture

[Johann]

You can show MANY Scriptures that back up your opinion but sadly you didn't show MANY Scriptures to back up your opinion.......

According to Jesus if I endure to the end I will be saved (Matthew 24). Will you endure to the end Johann? Or will you fall away (Luke 8:13)?

I provided my source from Scripture

Oh-forgot to mention-very familiar with the Catholic answers-and I provided MY source from Scriptures.

 

[Marymog]

Again-I accept the biblical teachings-as written-not the Church's interpretation.

You accept YOUR interpretation because YOU are right and everyone else is wrong.

 

[Marymog]

Nope-a nice try though-Chabad.org?
it very much matter if the baby/infant KNOWS to make an informed decision-the age of accountability-and is not regenerated and justified in waters of baptism.
BAPTISTS:
By: Joseph Jacobs, A. H. Newman
A Christian denomination or sect denying the validity of infant-baptism or of any baptism not preceded by a confession of faith. Baptists and their spiritual progenitors, the Anabaptists of the sixteenth century (including the Mennonites), have always made liberty of conscience a cardinal doctrine. Balthasar Hubmaier, the Anabaptist leader, in his tract on "Heretics and Their Burners" (1524), insisted that not only heretical Christians but also Turks and Jews were to be won to the truth by moral suasion alone, not by fire or sword; yet as a Catholic, but a few years before, he had cooperated in the destruction of a Jewish synagogue in Regensburg and in the expulsion of the Jews from the city. Hans Denck and Ludwig Hetzer—among the most scholarly of the Anti-Pedobaptists of the sixteenth century, who had devoted much time to learning Hebrew and Aramaic—made, in 1527, a highly meritorious translation of the Prophets from the Hebrew text, and contemplated a mission to the Jews. Their early death prevented the execution of this purpose. The Mennonites of the Netherlands, who became wealthy during the seventeenth century, were so broad-minded and philanthropic that they made large contributions for the relief of persecuted Jews. In England, Henry Jessey, one of the most learned of the Baptist ministers of the middle decades of the seventeenth century (1645 onward), was an enthusiastic student of Hebrew and Aramaic, and an ardent friend of the oppressed Hebrews of his time.

The Seventh-Day Baptists of England and America, from the seventeenth century onward, have insisted on the perpetual obligation of Christians to observe the Jewish Sabbath, and have made this obligation the distinctive feature of their creed. Many of the Seventh-Day Adventists, especially those that practise believers' baptism, have still more in common with Judaism than have the Seventh-Day Baptists proper, and their ideas of the Messianic Kingdom are in many respects Jewish. The colony of Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams and John Clarke—the former for a time and the latter throughout his life connected with the Baptists—on the principle of liberty of conscience for all. Jews early availed themselves of the privileges thus offered, and became influential citizens. In the latter part of the eighteenth century, Baptists were foremost in the struggle for civil and religious liberty throughout the British colonies (United States); and to Baptists was due, in large measure, the provision in the United States Constitution against religious tests of any kind.

BAPTISTS - JewishEncyclopedia.com

Complete contents the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia.

jewishencyclopedia.com

I am not sure what your "jewishencyclopedia" reference has to do with what we are talking about sooooo very confusing, but I digress.


Back to the discussion or point at hand: You are equating an age of accountability to baptism. As I previously pointed out THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH EACH OTHER. Scripture at no point at no time ever says that you have to be at an age of accountability to be baptized.

It's simply not written in Scripture..........And, as I previously pointed out WITH SOURCES.........Uggg!! Never mind. I have wasted enough time with you...........

 

[Johann]

You accept YOUR interpretation because YOU are right and everyone else is wrong.

I know I'm right-you don't have the assurance of you own personal salvation-I have.

13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth— the gospel of your salvation— you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.
V-AIP-2P (BSB Morphology)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Lemma: σφραγίζω
Word: were sealed
Greek: ἐσφραγίσθητε
Transliteration: esphragisthēte
G4972 (Mickelson's Enhanced Strong's Dictionaries of the Greek and Hebrew Testaments)
G4972 σφραγίζω sphragizo (sfra-ǰiy'-zō) v.
1. to stamp (with a signet or private mark) for security or preservation.
2. (by implication) to keep secret, to attest.

13 ἐν ᾧ καὶ ὑμεῖς, ἀκούσαντες τὸν λόγον τῆς ἀληθείας, τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς σωτηρίας ὑμῶν, ἐν ᾧ καὶ πιστεύσαντες, ἐσφραγίσθητε τῷ Πνεύματι τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τῷ Ἁγίῳ, 14 ὅ* ἐστιν ἀρραβὼν τῆς κληρονομίας ἡμῶν, εἰς ἀπολύτρωσιν τῆς περιποιήσεως, εἰς ἔπαινον τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ.


"with the Holy Spirit of promise" The coming of the Spirit was the sign of the New Age (cf. Joel 2:28; John 14:26ff). He was the Father's promise (cf. John 14:16, 26; 15:26; Acts 1:4-5; 2:33). The Spirit indwelling believers is the assurance of their resurrection (cf. Rom. 8:9-11).
1:14 "who is given as a pledge" This concept of a pledge had an OT precedent.
1. a promise to pay a debt (cf. Gen. 38:17,18,20; Deut. 24:10-13)
2. a promise of providing sustenance (cf. 1 Sam. 17:18)
3. a personal promise (cf. 2 Kgs. 18:23; Isa. 36:8).

This Greek term refers to a "down-payment" or earnest money (cf. 2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5). In modern Greek it is used of an engagement ring, which is the promise of a marriage to come. The Spirit is the fulfilled promise of a new age of righteousness. This is part of the "already" and "not yet" tension of the NT, which is the overlapping of the two Jewish ages because of the two comings of Christ (see the excellent discussion in How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Fee and Stuart, pp. 129-134). The Spirit is a pledge given now for a future consummation

Always ten steps ahead Mary.

Next-look at the Perfect Tense re our assurance-but your priest will tell you otherwise.

Shalom
J.

 

[Johann]

I am not sure what your "jewishencyclopedia" reference has to do with what we are talking about sooooo very confusing, but I digress.


Back to the discussion or point at hand: You are equating an age of accountability to baptism. As I previously pointed out THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH EACH OTHER. Scripture at no point at no time ever says that you have to be at an age of accountability to be baptized.

It's simply not written in Scripture..........And, as I previously pointed out WITH SOURCES.........Uggg!! Never mind. I have wasted enough time with you...........

Adieu-
J.

 

[Marymog]

Oh goodness Mary, if Romans 6 isn't God's revealed truth, then by all means look elsewhere for scripture that can be deemed more acceptable, or at least "interpreted", in favour of your opinion and church practise. Unfortunately for your opinion and church practise, Romans 6 is inspired and it's God's truth, and it contradicts the very ethos and philosophy behind infant baptism and the gospel.
Your continued appeal to Jesus's declaration, 'let the children come unto Me' doesn't help you. In fact, by teaching church members that they were baptized as an infant, actually impedes them from thinking they need to come to Jesus.

Lol....Hold on, HOLD ON

There a several references of the baptizing of entire families in Scripture. Which means that HUNDREDS if not THOUSANDS of families were baptized during that time since not all are recorded. But according to your theory no infants were in those families?

The earliest Christian writings we have from the 2nd-3rd century say infants were baptized and the earliest church debate on it was if they could be baptized BEFORE the 8th day after birth. So for the first 250 years of Christianity, we have Scripture and Christian historical writings that back up infant baptism.......but you think infant baptism is a possible impediment???

And Romans 6 proves infant baptism is not Scriptural....

Ok brakelite.....Keep reading what your 500-year-old men have wrote. I will stick to what men wrote 2,000 years ago.

 

[Marymog]

I know I'm right-you don't have the assurance of you own personal salvation-I have.

13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth— the gospel of your salvation— you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.
V-AIP-2P (BSB Morphology)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Lemma: σφραγίζω
Word: were sealed
Greek: ἐσφραγίσθητε
Transliteration: esphragisthēte
G4972 (Mickelson's Enhanced Strong's Dictionaries of the Greek and Hebrew Testaments)
G4972 σφραγίζω sphragizo (sfra-ǰiy'-zō) v.
1. to stamp (with a signet or private mark) for security or preservation.
2. (by implication) to keep secret, to attest.

13 ἐν ᾧ καὶ ὑμεῖς, ἀκούσαντες τὸν λόγον τῆς ἀληθείας, τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς σωτηρίας ὑμῶν, ἐν ᾧ καὶ πιστεύσαντες, ἐσφραγίσθητε τῷ Πνεύματι τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τῷ Ἁγίῳ, 14 ὅ* ἐστιν ἀρραβὼν τῆς κληρονομίας ἡμῶν, εἰς ἀπολύτρωσιν τῆς περιποιήσεως, εἰς ἔπαινον τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ.


"with the Holy Spirit of promise" The coming of the Spirit was the sign of the New Age (cf. Joel 2:28; John 14:26ff). He was the Father's promise (cf. John 14:16, 26; 15:26; Acts 1:4-5; 2:33). The Spirit indwelling believers is the assurance of their resurrection (cf. Rom. 8:9-11).
1:14 "who is given as a pledge" This concept of a pledge had an OT precedent.
1. a promise to pay a debt (cf. Gen. 38:17,18,20; Deut. 24:10-13)
2. a promise of providing sustenance (cf. 1 Sam. 17:18)
3. a personal promise (cf. 2 Kgs. 18:23; Isa. 36:8).

This Greek term refers to a "down-payment" or earnest money (cf. 2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5). In modern Greek it is used of an engagement ring, which is the promise of a marriage to come. The Spirit is the fulfilled promise of a new age of righteousness. This is part of the "already" and "not yet" tension of the NT, which is the overlapping of the two Jewish ages because of the two comings of Christ (see the excellent discussion in How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Fee and Stuart, pp. 129-134). The Spirit is a pledge given now for a future consummation

Always ten steps ahead Mary.

Next-look at the Perfect Tense re our assurance-but your priest will tell you otherwise.

Shalom
J.

Hey ten steps,


You THINK you are right but what you have are men lying to you OR in your arrogance you are lying to yourself!! 2 Peter 3:16

good luck

 

[amigo de christo]

Oh-forgot to mention-very familiar with the Catholic answers-and I provided MY source from Scriptures.

I thought you were gone my friend . POINT TO CHRIST JESUS till the last breath my friend . Reminding with all
sound biblical doctrine . For the HARLOT sleeps not and has taken many captive to a lie .

 

[amigo de christo]

Of course, in the Christian age baptism represents the death of the one repenting of sin, death being the only solution to the sin problem. It reveals his willingness to become one with Christ in His death and in His resurrection. It reveals to all witnessing the event, which includes heaven, that He is willing to place his life in the hands of Christ and allowing Him to deal with that old sinful life in the only way that offers a permanent solution, being one with Christ in death. Their old life of sin and rebellion is to die with Christ, and a new life of righteousness and love to be realised in the resurrection. Thus they are are lowered into the water, and lifted up by hands not their own. This signifies that they have been born again.
An infant cannot ever decide to make such a decision. Our parents, our spouses, cannot choose on our behalf who our master is to be. Everyone must decide and choose for themselves as individuals whom they shall serve. That is the beauty of religious liberty.
One now chooses his own master, and Christ died that such choices was made possible.

I am about to remind you of something JESUS once told the religous harlot and those who followed it .
For she sleeps not my friend .
They claim to hold the keys , and yet they themselves have not entered into and are hindering all who sit under her from doing so .
MAKE SENSE . ITS STILL HAPPENING BIG TIME . The harlot that sat in JERUSALEM and influenced the sold out leaders
HAS INFECTED CHRISTENDOM . THEY claim to hold the keys my friend , YET THEY THEMSEVES have not even ENTERED IN
and are HINDERING all who sit under them FROM DOINGSO . aint nothing new under that ol sun my friend .
The harlot rests not .
Something else many might not realize .
The most dangerous , deadly , deceptive deciever is not one who comes FROM OUTSIDE
But rather one who cometh FROM THE INSIDE . ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT .
That was JESUS main warning . BEWARE OF WOLVES that come to you IN SHEEPS CLOTHING .

 

[amigo de christo]

Again-I accept the biblical teachings-as written-not the Church's interpretation.

That is why YE BE NOT DECIEVED my friend . FOR THE LAMBS FOLLOW THE KING and take HIM at HIS WORD
and they stay well DUG in them scriptures . NEVER let the harlot and her decievers
try and tell one , YE CANNOT DISCERN NOR KNOW TRUTH , LEST YE SIT UNDER US .
That is a recipe for one thing . TOTAL POWER AND ALL CONTROL .
And now a word .
IS it possible for one to come in the name of Christ , to come from WITHIN
and yet DECIEVE .
I TELL US ALL this was one of the main warnings FROM JESUS HIMSELF , even paul warned on it .
BEWARE OF WOLVES that come to you dressed in sheeps clothing .
THE MOST DANGEROUS , DEADLY and DECEPTIVE ONE is not one who cometh from WITHOUT
though they are decievers too . ITS ONE WHO COMETH FROM WITHIN . And stands daily
and can claim to KNOW GOD and to know HIS CHRIST and yet LEAD MEN ASTRAY INTO DITCHES OF PERDITION .
THE HARLOT cometh FROM WITHIN . WAS NOT JERUSALEM once called , BY GOD A HARLOT .
SEE it wasnt other faiths or other men LEADING JERSUALEM , IT WAS THEIR OWN leading them INTO LIES .
WE Better be on guard and watch out . FOR MANY , so high a number this man cannot count , ARE WITHIN
CHRISTENDOM as we speak , they are within but they are NOT OF US . they come and have come TO DECIEVE and MANY have bought the lie and sit under them as ONE . .

 

[amigo de christo]

Adieu-
J.

The truth is scripture never does say they have to be of an age of accountablity to be baptized .
BUT HERE IS what IT DOES SAY . SIR , see here is water , what does HINDER ME FROM BEING BAPTIZED .
well it wasnt his age . IT WAS THIS ONE REQUIREMENT .
IF YE BELEIVE , IF YE BELIEVE YE MAY BE BAPTIZED . now i have a serious question .
Babies cannot comprehend nor have made the choice at all to BELEIVE IN AND FOLLOW CHRIST .
THUS , EXACTLY . What does hinder one from being baptized . WELL THEY MUST BELIEVE . IF NOT ITS USELESS
as teets on a boar hog .

 

[Johann]

The truth is scripture never does say they have to be of an age of accountablity to be baptized .
BUT HERE IS what IT DOES SAY . SIR , see here is water , what does HINDER ME FROM BEING BAPTIZED .
well it wasnt his age . IT WAS THIS ONE REQUIREMENT .
IF YE BELEIVE , IF YE BELIEVE YE MAY BE BAPTIZED . now i have a serious question .
Babies cannot comprehend nor have made the choice at all to BELEIVE IN AND FOLLOW CHRIST .
THUS , EXACTLY . What does hinder one from being baptized . WELL THEY MUST BELIEVE . IF NOT ITS USELESS
as teets on a boar hog .

LOL!!
Ai-Amigo! "As teets on a boar hog" man, you are the only one that can bring a smile to my face.
Shalom brother.
J.

 

[Johann]

I thought you were gone my friend . POINT TO CHRIST JESUS till the last breath my friend . Reminding with all
sound biblical doctrine . For the HARLOT sleeps not and has taken many captive to a lie .

Still around brother-don't want to spend too much time online.
J.

 

[amigo de christo]

LOL!!
Ai-Amigo! "As teets on a boar hog" man, you are the only one that can bring a smile to my face.
Shalom brother.
J.

You will find many will hate me my friend . cause i can bring scripture to show them their fault REAL FAST .
I can only THANK GOD FOR THAT TOO . IT was HE who called me out of darkness
and it was HE who put HIS LOVE FOR T RUTH upon my heart . But beleive me THEY WILL HATE US my friend .
THEY HATED JESUS for He exposed their sin . THEY WILL HATE US TOO . They called him OF the DEVIL
and all the while claimed to KNOW GOD as their FATHER . THEY WILL US TOO .
The servant is NOT above HIS master , if they have called the master of the HOUSE beelzabub , How much more will they YOU .
THE HARLOT is no lover of lambs . Nor those who sit under her .
BUT ITS WE WHO DO LOVE and have the LOVE OF GOD and its why we expose lies and point only TO CHRIST , TO TRUTH .

 

[amigo de christo]

Still around brother-don't want to spend too much time online.
J.

We have to understand something my friend .
I had to learn this . years and years ago i too once was becoming so weary .
so weary and tired cause so few would even listen .
THEN a simple reminder came . YE ARE NOT GOD amigo . YE CANNOT GIVE THE INCREASE .
YOUR ONLY JOB IS , PREACH THE TRUTH . whoever hears AMEN and whoever rejects its on them .
BUT I CANNOT GIVE THE INCREASE and the TRUTH IS MOST WILL REJECT .
DO Not let them wear you out , do not let you wear you out . JUST CONTINUE to sound out truth .
OUR SUCCESS cometh not based upon if one hears or dont hears . OUR SUCCESS is Based on what SONG DID WE SING .
IF WE SANG THE SONG OF TRUTH then the SONG ALONE is what mattered . WHAT SONG did we sing .
FOR unto many we sing the SONG of beauty , the song of life unto those who recieved it .
And though it is a song of life , IT WILL BE THE SONG of death unto all who rejected it . FOR THEY REJEJCTED THE TRUTH .
and thus the end is DEATH . BUT THE SONG is beautfiful whether it was accepted or rejected .
We cannot and i repeat cannot give the increase . BUT WE CAN SING THE SONG

 

[amigo de christo]

Still around brother-don't want to spend too much time online.
J.

No matter where spend our time THE MISSION IS SING THE SONG . SING IT and continue to SING IT .
TRUTH IS A SONG of beauty . THOUGH it often be rejected .
Now what i say next might offend a few , but let me just say it anway .
ITS QUITE clear mary mog , BOL , ELIMINATOR or ILLUMINATOR as he calls himself
DONT want a thing to do with me . THUS i dont spend all day battling with them .
NOW it is still true if we do see one preaching lies we shall correct those lies .
But i dont sit around and debate them over and over again .
WHY
cause every time i have brought scriptures , ALL THEY DO IS TWIST THEM and OMIT THEM in favor OF THEIR OWN TRADITIONS .
Its easy to discern when wisdom is not in one .

 

[amigo de christo]

I know I'm right-you don't have the assurance of you own personal salvation-I have.

13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth— the gospel of your salvation— you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.
V-AIP-2P (BSB Morphology)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Lemma: σφραγίζω
Word: were sealed
Greek: ἐσφραγίσθητε
Transliteration: esphragisthēte
G4972 (Mickelson's Enhanced Strong's Dictionaries of the Greek and Hebrew Testaments)
G4972 σφραγίζω sphragizo (sfra-ǰiy'-zō) v.
1. to stamp (with a signet or private mark) for security or preservation.
2. (by implication) to keep secret, to attest.

13 ἐν ᾧ καὶ ὑμεῖς, ἀκούσαντες τὸν λόγον τῆς ἀληθείας, τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς σωτηρίας ὑμῶν, ἐν ᾧ καὶ πιστεύσαντες, ἐσφραγίσθητε τῷ Πνεύματι τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τῷ Ἁγίῳ, 14 ὅ* ἐστιν ἀρραβὼν τῆς κληρονομίας ἡμῶν, εἰς ἀπολύτρωσιν τῆς περιποιήσεως, εἰς ἔπαινον τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ.


"with the Holy Spirit of promise" The coming of the Spirit was the sign of the New Age (cf. Joel 2:28; John 14:26ff). He was the Father's promise (cf. John 14:16, 26; 15:26; Acts 1:4-5; 2:33). The Spirit indwelling believers is the assurance of their resurrection (cf. Rom. 8:9-11).
1:14 "who is given as a pledge" This concept of a pledge had an OT precedent.
1. a promise to pay a debt (cf. Gen. 38:17,18,20; Deut. 24:10-13)
2. a promise of providing sustenance (cf. 1 Sam. 17:18)
3. a personal promise (cf. 2 Kgs. 18:23; Isa. 36:8).

This Greek term refers to a "down-payment" or earnest money (cf. 2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5). In modern Greek it is used of an engagement ring, which is the promise of a marriage to come. The Spirit is the fulfilled promise of a new age of righteousness. This is part of the "already" and "not yet" tension of the NT, which is the overlapping of the two Jewish ages because of the two comings of Christ (see the excellent discussion in How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Fee and Stuart, pp. 129-134). The Spirit is a pledge given now for a future consummation

Always ten steps ahead Mary.

Next-look at the Perfect Tense re our assurance-but your priest will tell you otherwise.

Shalom
J.

Because they preach NOT THE ASSURANCE . IF our FAITH , HOPE and TRUST is NOT IN CHRIST ALONE
then where is our hope faith and trust , ITS IN US . AND that my friend is no BLESSED ASSURANCE AT ALL .
JESUS CHRIST is this lambs BLESSED ASSURANCE and all THINGS HE DID TEACH and later the apostels taught are OUR MEAT .
IF anything , any leader , any man , even an angel or speaking donkey comes along
and tries to add in anything contrary or tries to remove THE TRUTH of that ORIGINAL DOCTRINE ,
WELL , lets just say , AINT NO LAMB GONNA SIT UNDER SUCH A ONE .

 

[Johann]

Hey ten steps,


You THINK you are right but what you have are men lying to you OR in your arrogance you are lying to yourself!! 2 Peter 3:16

good luck

Ever considered you might be lying to?

 

[amigo de christo]

Ever considered you might be lying to?

They know not my friend . But the lambs know .
What is this that i am talking about my friend .
They choose and have chosen the traditions of men over Plain biblical doctrine .
A fact that can easily often be proven too .
How do we know we are following men and their traditions .
WHEN one cometh and brings biblical doctrine to correct them and they simply continue to hold to the tradition .
They cannot see my friend .
Anytime we learned something and one comes along and brings biblical truth , IF a lamb had understood something wrong
learned it wrong from men , IT would realize , oh wait something must be wrong in the teaching i believed .
BUT THEY DONT . rather they double down on why THEIR CHURCH is RIGHT , WHY THERE TRADITIONS ARE RIGHT .
EVEN WHEN THE BIBLE PROVES IT TO BE DEAD WRONG . You ever heard
the saying , Even as they wrest other scriptures unto their own destruction . YOU SEE THEY GONNA TWIST and OMIT STUFF
rather than simply heed the correction of scripture . THEY DO TWIST my friend . THEY TWIST , OMIT STUFF
say things like that no longer applies or that is for another group ortime .
THE one thing they all have in common is , THEY WONT RECIEVE THE BIBLICAL TRUTH
THEY WILL HOLD RATHER to what their men or own minds have led them too . NOW A lamb , IT DOETH NO SUCH THING .
IT Holds TO SCRIPTURE . IT TESTS ALL BY THE SCRIPTURE . IT SAYS , LET GOD BE TRUE BUT EVERY MAN A LIAR .
Many have no idea what that even means . BUT , LET GOD BE TRUE and EVERY MAN A LIAR . AND on that i do stand .
GOD IS TRUTH , HIS CHRIST IS TRUTH , HIS WORDS ARE TRUTH . WE HOLD TO THE BIBLE AS TRUTH . THEY DONT .
OH they may say it is , but WHY TWIST IT . THEIR TRUTH cometh of men and that is no truth . And its high time
folks understood this .

 

[Johann]

Because they preach NOT THE ASSURANCE

ASSURANCE

A. Can Christians know they are saved (cf. 1 John 5:13)? 1 John has three tests or evidences.

1. Doctrinal (belief, 1 John 1:1,5,10; 2:18-25; 4:1-6,14-16; 5:11-12)

2. Lifestyle (obedience, 1 John 2:2-3; 2:3-6; 3:1-10; 5:18)

3. Social (love, 1 John 1:2-3; 2:7-11; 3:11-18; 4:7-12, 16-21)



B. Assurance has become a denominational issue

1. John Calvin based assurance on God's election. He said that we can never be certain in this life.

2. John Wesley based assurance on religious experience. He believed that we have the ability to live above known sin.

3. Roman Catholics and the Church of Christ base assurance on an authoritative Church. The group to which one belongs is the key to assurance.

4. Most evangelicals base assurance on the promises of the Bible, linked to the fruit of the Spirit (cf. Gal. 5:22-23) in the life of the believer (i.e., daily Christlikeness).



C. Believers' primary assurance is linked to the character of the Triune God

1. God the Father's love

a. John 3:16; 10:28-29

b. Romans 8:31-39

c. Ephesians 2:5,8-9

d. Philippians 1:6

e. 1 Peter 1:3-5

f. 1 John 4:7-21

2. God the Son's actions

a. death on our behalf

1) Acts 2:23

2) Romans 5:6-11

3) 2 Corinthians 5:21

4) 1 John 2:2; 4:9-10

b. high priestly prayer (John 17:12)

c. continuing intercession

1) Romans 8:34

2) Hebrews 7:25

3) 1 John 2:1

3. God the Spirit's ministry

a. calling (John 6:44,65)

b. sealing

1) 2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5

2) Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:3

c. assuring

1) Romans 8:16-17

2) 1 John 5:7-13



D. But humans must respond to God's covenant offer (both initially and continually)

1. believers must turn from sin (repentance) and to God through Jesus (faith)

a. Mark 1:15

b. Acts 3:16,19; 20:21

2. believers must receive God's offer in Christ

a. John 1:12; 3:16

b. Romans 5:1 (and by analogy 10:9-13)

c. Ephesians 2:5,8-9

3. believers must continue in the faith

a. Mark 13:13

b. 1 Corinthians 15:2

c. Galatians 6:9

d. Hebrews 3:14

e. 2 Peter 1:10

f. Jude 20-21

g. Revelation 2:2-3,7,10,17,19,25-26; 3:5,10,11,21



E. Assurance is difficult because

1. often believers seek certain experiences not promised in the Bible

2. often believers do not fully understand the gospel

3. often believers continue to willfully sin (cf. 1 Cor. 3:10-15; 9:27; 1 Tim. 1:19-20; 2 Tim. 4:10; 2 Pet. 1:8-11)

4. certain personality types (i.e., perfectionists) can never accept God's unconditional acceptance and love

5. in the Bible there are examples of false professions (cf. Matt. 13:3-23; 7:21-23; Mark 4:14-20; 2 Pet. 2:19-20; 1 John 2:18-19

J.