Walking The Talk
Introduction
Can someone really know whether or not they are genuinely saved? The answer is, “Yes!!!” That is one of the reasons why God has given to us the book of 1 John!
“know” = Is used nearly 40 times! “These things have I written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you might know that you have eternal life . . .” 1 John 5:13.
However, one cannot know for sure that he is saved just because he “says” that he is. Note 1 John 2:4, “He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him”. And, you will remember that Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
Again, notice what Paul said in Titus 1:16, “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work”
One way to know whether or not I am truly saved is to truthfully answer this questions, “Has My Life Really Been Changed???” Paul penned in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “herefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
There are 4 changes that occur in every person who becomes a Christian.
I. There Is A New Dedication To God's Word (3-4)
A. I Will Honor The Word Of God
The word “keep” means to treasure, guard and respect God’s Word. In addition it means to hold in high esteem. That is how a Christian views and loves God’s Word.
B. I Will Hunger For The Word Of God
“Your Words were found and I ate them, and Your Word was to me the rejoicing of my heart . . . (Jeremiah 15:16).
“As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby” (! Peter 2:2).
C. I Will Desire To Hear The Word Of God
A true believer has a desire to hear God’s Word. After all, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Since faith pleases God, the Christian wants to hear the Word and act upon.
D. I Will Desire To Hide The Word Of God – In My Heart
“Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11).
E. I Will Desire To Heed The Word Of God
“Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).
It is not enough to know the Word and hear the Word, we must obey the Word. True believers desire to “heed” what God has said and we are grieved when we know we have failed to obey God’s Word.
II. There Is A New Determination To Obey God's Word (3- 5)
Many people who are not Christians seek to live moral lives. But, a Christian bases his or her actions on God’s Word.
III. There Is A New Devotion For God’s Word (5)
“the love of God is perfected” = my love for God is maturing
Christians are always seeking to grow in their love for God. We realize that we love Him because He first loved us and we will spend a lifetime seeking to make our love more like His love.
IV. There Is A New Desire To Be Like God’s Son (6)
All in all, the Christian wants to be like the Savior. This requires the New Birth, of course, because no one possesses the ability to be like Jesus through personal effort. It is God’s Spirit working in you that makes you more like Him. The more we yield to Him and His power within us, the more we act like the divine nature He has placed in us through the New Birth.