| Evidence
of Pardon INTRODUCTION I. The question of how one may know that
he is a child of God is of vital concern to everyone A. It has to do with a person’s
happiness, both here and in eternity.
B. The Lord does not want a person to be in doubt about his
salvation. PRESENTATION: Are
Feelings the Evidence of Salvation? I.
Many rest the evidence of their pardon on the basis of fleshly feelings. A. Feelings cannot be relied upon as
evidence. II. ONE MAY BE HONESTLY
MISTAKEN. A. Many feel right,
true of Saul of Tarsus before his conversion. (Acts 23:1; 26:9) B. Although Paul had a clear
conscience and was very religious, he was wrong in his fight against the
church. C. The conscience does
not determine right and wrong.
D. The conscience is a safe guide only when God is the guide of the
Moral judgment. III. FEELINGS ARE
BASED UPON TESTIMONY. A. If one
believes he is pardoned, he will feel so, whether it is true or not. B. The feelings of joy or sorrow will
be just as intense when produced by error (if the testimony be believed), as
when produced by truth. C.
Example- Jacob mourning over his beloved son, Joseph. D. Believing a falsehood does not
make it the truth (John 8:31, 32)
E. If one accepts feelings as an evidence of salvation and correct
worship, he can prove heathenism to be true just as easily as
Christianity. IV. WHAT, THEN, IS
THE EVIDENCE OF PARDON? A.
Forgiveness of sins occurs in the mind of God, not within the heart of the
sinner. (Neh. 9:17) B. If
sinners are ever pardoned, God must do it. C. Pardon is not an inward change of
the heart. (Acts 2:36-38). D. A
person can know that he is pardoned only by a statement from God who has the
power to pardon. V. THE LORD HAS
CONDITIONS FOR PARDON A. When
God promises to forgive sins, it is his right to determine the basis upon
which it is to be done. B. In
order to have the knowledge of one’s salvation, he must learn what the Lord’s
terms of forgiveness are and obey them.
C. What, then, are the terms? (Mark 16:15, 16; Luke 13:3; Rom. 10:10;
Acts 8:37; Acts 2:38) 1.
Whatever the Bible teaches about man’s salvation is right, regardless of any
preconceived ideas. VI.
INVITATION |
