The Importance of Assurance

OUTLINE FOR MESSAGES ON ASSURANCE
MESSAGE ONE—THE IMPORTANCE OF ASSURANCE
MESSAGE TWO—THESE THINGS I HAVE WRITTEN/EXPOSITION OF 1 JOHN 5:13
MESSAGE THREE—AN OBEDIENT LIFE
MESSAGE FOUR—REJECTING THE LOVE OF THE WORLD/EMBRACING THE WORLD TO COME
MESSAGE FIVE—LOVE FOR THE BRETHREN
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MESSAGE ONE—THE IMPORTANCE OF ASSURANCE
I  THE LEGITIMACY OF THE QUESTION
-Some never deal with the issue
-Some believe you can never have assurance, others that you should never doubt
Not all our profess faith in Christ will enter heaven—see Matt. 7:21ff
The Bible warns about the possibility of being spiritually deceived—see 1 Cor 6:9-11; Gal 6:7,8  James 1:22-26
The Bible demands self-examination 2 Cor 13:5;  2 Peter 1:10
The Bible speaks of the possibility and the blessedness of true assurance John 10;27-29, 2 Tim 1:12

II  THE FOURFOULD BASIS FOR BIBLICAL ASSURANCE
The Objective—have I embraced the Chris of the bible?
The Observable—am I bearing fruit?
The Inward—do I enjoy the inner witness of the Holy Spirit?
The Onward—am I persevering in the faith?