Test to see if you have eternal life.
A. Yes, we know whether we have eternal life--> 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. 1 John 5:13
B. Most churches promise this--> all you need is believe in the name of Jesus, you will have eternal life!
1. They quote Jn.1:12--> Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--
They interpret this as--> When you believe in Jesus’ name, you’re a child of God, you have eternal life!
2. John 3:15-16--> That everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
They say these 2 verses say, once you believe in Jesus you may have eternal life.
3. John 3:36--> Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."
They say this very by itself makes it clear once you believe in Jesus, you have eternal life.
4. Eph.2:8-9--> For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.
They people get eternal life by the grace of God, people don’t need to do anything, just believe!
5. John 6:40--> For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
This one is clear everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life!
B. Do you know what it means to believe in Jesus’ name?
1. Please read and know why Jesus called those having believed Jews children of the devil! John 8:31-44
2. Please read and know why Jesus called those super believers evildoers! Matt.7:21-23
3. Watch how Apostle Peter explains what believe in the name Jesus mean! Acts 2:36-42
a. They we told to repent and be baptized for forgiveness of their sins… 3000 of them did it!
b. This was what they did--> Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about 3000 were added to the church that day.
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:41-42
4. Watch how Apostle Paul explains! Romans 6:22-23
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
5. Watch how Jesus’ brother James explains it! James 2:24-26
a. James 2:24--> You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
b. James 2:26--> As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
C. Here are a few simple things to test yourselves!
1. Jesus added the saved into the church of Christ! Acts 2:47, Ro.16:16
What is the name of the church which you worship on Sunday?
2. Don’t claim to be a child of God, if you don’t do righteousness in this life. 1 John 3:10
Because if you claim to be a child of God and don’t do righteousness, you a twice a son of hell!
3. Are you spreading the fragrance of the knowledge of God? 2 Cor.2:14-16
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.
For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?
D. Please make no mistake about these 2 scriptures--> Ro.2:7 and Gal.6:8!
1. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.
2. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Video: English Cantonese – Recorded 8/11/13
Part 1