Salvation: Think or Know?

Let's open our Bibles to John, the Gospel of John chapter 5. It's a wonderful thing to have a story to tell, it really is. For 25 years of my life I had religion, I had church, but I also had my sin. And I didn't have a savior, but it was a wonderful thing at the age of 25 when I had come to know that the Lord Jesus Christ had died for my sins through that lovely verse known by many tonight, John 3.16. Tonight I want to notice with you two little phrases.

The first one is found here in John chapter 5 and verse 39. The Lord Jesus is speaking here, and he's speaking to the religious. He says here in verse 39, You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life, and these are they which testify of me.

I want you to think of this little phrase, you think you have eternal life. Turn over to 1 John chapter 5 and verse 13. Again, John is writing here.

And I love John 3.16, but I love 1 John 5 and 13. It says, These things have I written to you, who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. I want you to notice a little expression that we found in this verse, different from what we have in John chapter 5. Here we read that you may know that you have eternal life.

For those that know Christ as Savior, for those that have had a time in their life when they realized I was a sinner that Christ died for, tonight they know that they have eternal life. There's a lot of people who know a lot of things. But you know, there's a lot of people tonight that they don't know this.

They don't know that they have eternal life, because they don't know Jesus as their Savior. You think you have eternal life. You know you have eternal life.

You know, in these two passages we have a number of things in common. First of all, we have the Word of God, and the importance of the Word of God, the Scriptures. And these individuals here in John chapter 5, they had the privilege of handling the Scriptures.

But not only that, in these two verses we have the subject of eternal life, the forgiveness of sins found in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other that can take away your sin. It's only the Lord Jesus Christ, because there on the cross at Calvary He died for sin.

Not His own, but for the sins of the world. And so in these two verses we have the Word of God. We have the subject of eternal life, but we have the Lord Jesus.

And the Lord Jesus is speaking in John chapter 5, and the Lord Jesus is being spoken of in 1 John chapter 5. So there's a number of things that these two passages have in common. You know, as I was thinking of these two expressions, I was thinking of how it's one thing to say you're a Christian, and it's another thing to be a Christian. You know, for 25 years of my life I told individuals I'm a Christian.

But I was quick to add, not a very good one perhaps, but I'm a Christian. I wasn't a Christian at all. It's one thing to call yourself a Christian tonight, but it's another thing to be a Christian.

It's one thing to say tonight, I'm saved. And it's another thing tonight to be saved. And it all hinges on the work of Christ and what you do with the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, I think.

Are you one of those individuals tonight, and you think you have eternal life? Or are you one of those individuals tonight, and you know you have eternal life? Suppose you know you're leaving your house, and you lock your door behind you, and you think you have your keys. And you get to your car, and you want to get into your car, but you don't have your keys. You thought you had your keys, but you didn't have your keys.

And not only are you locked out of the house, but you're locked out of your car. Or you can leave the house knowing that you have your keys. They're right here.

I'm going to make sure that I have the keys. I'm going to lock the door of the house. And I'm going to go to my car, and I'm going to push the button, and the door's going to open, and I'm going to start the car, and I'm going to drive away.

What a difference. I think I have my keys, or I know I have my keys. A few weeks ago, I was asked to go to the store for my wife, and I was happy to do it.

And so I went to the store, and I bought a number of different items, and I came to the cashier. Well, I did the self-checkout, you know, and I did everything, and it was about time to pay, and I was going to pay with my credit card. And so I reached for my wallet, and I realized I didn't have my wallet.

And I thought to myself, now what am I going to do now? I have all these grocery items here, but I have no wallet, no credit card to pay. And so I had to go to the lady and tell her my predicament, and she was very kind. She says, well, I'll set these groceries off to the side, and I just live five minutes down the road.

And so I went home, and I went to the house, and I got my wallet, and I made sure I had my wallet, and I made the trip to the grocery store. And that lady was kind, and she helped me, and I put it again all through that self-checkout, and it was time to pay, and I was able to pay. Why? I had my wallet.

I knew I had my wallet. Or, you know, driving here, I live in Canada, we live in Windsor, Ontario, and, of course, you have to pass into the United States. We have to drive over the Ambassador Bridge, and we've done it many, many times before, and we come to the customs booth, and one of the first things, you know, they ask you is, Passport, please.

And I perhaps have left my house thinking I have my passport, and yet when they ask me at that little customs booth, Passport, please, I reach for my passport, and I realize I don't have my passport. And so they say, well, can you just pull over to that little area over there and just go in that little room over there, and I know what it's like to spend a little bit of time in that room, so I'm very unpleasant. But I thought I had my passport, but I didn't.

But, you know, before I left the house, I made sure I had my passport, because I knew I was going to pass over the Ambassador Bridge. I knew that I was going to come to that little customs booth. I knew that the first question that they were going to ask me is, Passport, please.

And I said, here it is. What a difference. To think you have something, and to know you have something.

But tonight we're not talking about your keys. We're not talking about your wallet. We're not talking about your passport so you can pass from one country to the next.

No, we're talking about eternal life. We're talking about what is beyond this lifetime. It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this, the judgment.

There's an eternity that awaits each and every one of us, and it's in this life, however short or however long it might be, it's in this life that you need to get right with God. It's in this life that you need to have your sins forgiven. And it's only through the Lord Jesus Christ.

You need eternal life. Do you have it? I think I have eternal life. That won't do tonight.

I know I have eternal life. When we come to John chapter 5 and verse 39, again, I want you to think of three things here in this verse. I want you to think of a search.

That's exactly what the Lord Jesus is doing here. He's telling them to search the Scriptures. You know, when it comes to buying a large item or making a large purchase like an appliance, a car, or a home, you know, it's wise to make a search.

When it comes to the brand, is this a good brand? When it comes to the price, is this a good price? When it comes to the availability, am I going to be able to get it now or in six months? When it comes to the warranty, when you buy a large item, make a large purchase, it's wise to make a search. And to not make a search is foolish. And I think each and every one of us here tonight would agree.

That would be foolish. But you know, here the Lord Jesus, He's talking about a search when it comes to eternal life. The most important thing, to know your sins forgiven, to have eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Have you made the search? Are you searching tonight? Is there a soul in the meeting tonight? And you're searching. And you want this. You want eternal life.

And it's found in Christ. He says, search the Scriptures. You know, that's the Word of God.

This is what God says. This is why we read from the Scriptures. And I hope anytime when you preach the Gospel, you begin with the reading of God's Word.

Because the Word of God is more important than anything else that I would say. It's the Word of God tonight. And the Lord Jesus says in this passage, you need to search the Scriptures.

God is the author. God is the authority. And the Bible says tonight there is no difference.

For all have sinned. You've come short of the glory of God. You've come short of heaven.

And it's not the kinds of sins. It's not the amount of sins. It's the fact that you and I, we have sinned.

And we heard this morning we're sinners. We need a Savior. And the Scriptures tell us that all have sinned.

But the Scriptures tell us tonight of a way to heaven. The Lord Jesus Himself. He says, I am the way, the truth and the life.

No one comes to the Father but by Me. The Lord Jesus, He came from heaven. He went to a cross to provide the way to heaven.

That's what He's talking about in John chapter 14 and verse 6. He died on that cross. He was buried, the proof of His death. He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

God is satisfied. And He ascended back into heaven. And dear friend, tonight if anyone knows the way to heaven, it's the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus is speaking here and He says, search the Scriptures. Not only do we have the search, not only do we have the Scriptures, but we have the subject. Salvation.

Salvation. Eternal life. Salvation tonight is found in a person.

It's not found in religion. It's not found in a sacrament. It's not found in a ritual.

It's not found in good living. No, salvation tonight is found in the person of the Lord Jesus. The one door to heaven.

The one way to heaven. Do you know Him tonight as your Savior? You know, if we were to read on in verses 40 to the end of the chapter, I think this is important. Because the Lord Jesus is now speaking about eternal life.

And now He's going to tell these individuals. He's going to give them five reasons as to why they're not saved. I want you to think with me just for a few minutes on these five reasons.

As to why these individuals are not saved. As to why these individuals do not have eternal life. Notice with me in verse 40.

The Lord Jesus said to these individuals. He says, you will not come. Each and every one of us here tonight has a will.

And we can say yes to God or we can say no to God. We can say yes to God's salvation or we can say no to God's salvation. The Lord Jesus said to these individuals.

He says, you will not come. You come to verses 41 and 42. He says, you do not have the love of God in you.

Those individuals that He's speaking about in relation to eternal life. They have no appreciation for Christ. And that's why the Lord Jesus said.

You do not have the love of God in you. The Lord Jesus was sent by God. They claim to know God.

There are many in the world tonight. They claim to know God. But if you don't know Christ, you don't know God.

And the Lord Jesus said to these individuals. You don't have eternal life. Because you do not have the love of God in you.

They were religious. But lost. That was me for 25 years of my life.

I had religion. We read the Bible. Three times a day.

After every meal. We prayed seven times a day. Before and after every meal.

Before we went to bed. We went to church twice on Sunday. It took us an hour to get there one way.

We were very dedicated. For 25 years of my life. I had religion but I didn't have Christ.

I did not have the love of God in me. Do you have the love of God in you tonight? He gives them another reason. Verse 43.

As to why they do not have eternal life. He says, you do not receive me. I've emphasized it already.

But I'm going to emphasize it again. That salvation is found in a person. It's not the church.

I remember after I was saved. I went to my friends. And I told them what had happened to me.

I would have been born again. You know what they told me? You needed it. They were right.

God says, you need it too. Oh, there's many in the world tonight. They have church.

But they don't have Christ. Is that you? Not only that. Salvation, as I mentioned, is not found in a sacrament like baptism.

You know, I talk to a lot of people in the gospel. And they tell me they're a Christian. And I say, well, why do you think you're a Christian? Why is it that you think you have eternal life? And they say, I was baptized.

Baptized as a baby. Or baptized later on in life by pouring. Whatever the case may be.

Baptism will never save you. It's only the blood of Christ. The Lord Jesus says, you don't have eternal life.

Because you do not receive me. Verse 44 is an interesting one. Again, he tells them as to why they don't have eternal life.

He says to them, you want the approval of man rather than God. You know, I think that's true of many in the world tonight. Perhaps even some in this meeting.

You're more interested in the approval of man. You're more interested in the approval of your friends. You're more interested in the approval of your family.

You're more interested in the approval of the church. What do they say? What are they going to say? But you know what makes all the matter tonight? Is what does God say? Again, the Lord Jesus said, search the scriptures. But then he gives them a final reason as to why they're not saved.

Verses 45 to 47. He says, you do not receive my words. To make it very clear and simple tonight.

The reason why they did not have eternal life. Is because they would not believe what the Bible says. Do you believe what the Bible says? Do you believe tonight you're a sinner? Do you believe tonight that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior? We heard this morning that Christ died for all.

What more do you want? Do you believe what God says tonight? In his word. He says to these individuals. You do not have eternal life.

Because you do not believe my words. Is that you tonight? I come to 1 John chapter 5. I love this verse. You know, often times when I speak to individuals.

I share this verse. I share John 3.16. But I share this one here. 1 John 5.13. Again it says here in verse 13.

These things have I written unto you. Who believe in the name of the Son of God. That you may know.

What a difference. Not that you may think. Not that you may hope.

I might be there. No, that you may know. That you have eternal life.

I tell you, it's a wonderful thing to know that. You know, there's a lot of people tonight. They know far more than me.

But one thing I know tonight is this. That I have eternal life. And I won't trade that with any knowledge.

Or the amount of knowledge that one might have. It's very precious tonight to know. That I have eternal life.

In order to appreciate this passage. We have to go back to verse 9. Because in verse 9. We have the witness of man and the witness of God. Now the idea here in verse 9. Is that the witness or the testimony of a witness.

Is like the eyewitness account of a person in court. And maybe you've been in court before. And you've observed what goes on in court.

And the witness now is based on what the person sees. And what the person says. And the individual that is on trial.

They can be either found guilty and convicted. Or found not guilty and acquitted. Based on the testimony of a man.

And oftentimes we believe what man says. Even though what man has to say is oftentimes inaccurate. Sometimes you know the story changes.

You find that in the court systems. The witnesses are changing their story. And sometimes you find out that what they're saying is not even true at all.

Oh we have the witness of man. That is not reliable. But then we have the witness of God.

And John tells us here that what God says. The witness of God is far greater. Why? It's true.

And it never changes. One of the things I've appreciated from verse 9. Is that God is a witness to our sin. You know every last sin has been committed and will be committed.

In this life. In this world. Right from the very beginning.

Right to the very end. God is a witness of it all. Oh you might think you're alone.

You might be out with your buddies. And you think well nobody knows. God knows.

God knows each and every last sin. That has ever been committed. God is a witness to our sin.

He knows all about you. And not only that. God is a witness to his son in the work of the cross.

And there in the cross at Calvary 2,000 years ago. God punished his son. For the sin of the world.

Every last sin. That would be committed from the very beginning to the very end. God knows them all.

And God took all those sins. And he placed them upon his son. He punished his son.

God tonight is the witness. To the work of Christ on the cross. And based on that work tonight.

God can forgive you of your sins. And he can give you eternal life. If only you will put your trust in his son.

You come to verse 10. In verse 10 again we have two witnesses. And two kinds of people.

We have the testimony of the word of God. That's a witness. And we have the spirit of God.

And the Holy Spirit of God uses the word of God. To convict men and women. Boys and girls of their sin.

Does your sin bother you tonight? Do you have a desire in this meeting tonight? To be saved. To have eternal life. I want to tell you tonight.

The spirit of God uses the word of God. He is not going to use other books. He is not going to use the ideas of men.

And the thinking of men. Get into your bible. Because God speaks through his word.

And if it wasn't for the spirit of God tonight. None would seek after God. God has an interest in your soul.

Whether you are young or whether you are older. His desire tonight is that you would be saved. But not only do we have two witnesses in verse 10.

We have two kinds of people. We have those that believe. And those who believe not.

There are those tonight that believe God. They believe what God says in relation to their sin. They believe what God says in relation to the Lord Jesus Christ.

And by putting their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. They are saved. Why? Why? They believe God.

It's not about believing the preacher. It's not about believing the person beside you. It's about believing God.

And there are those in this verse. Verse 10. They believe God.

And they are saved. But there are those in this verse that will not believe God. And by not believing God.

You are calling God a liar. I asked a man that not too long ago. Do you believe God? Because if you don't believe God, you're calling God a liar.

You're like so many. I'd never do that. I'd never do that.

Tonight, if you won't accept what God says. If you won't put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. That's exactly what you're doing.

You're calling God a liar. And you're still in your sins tonight. I come to verse 11.

And in verse 11, we have the record or the testimony. Again, the word of God living and eternal. And what is the record, John says.

The record is that God has given to us eternal life. And this life is found in his son. I want to tell you tonight.

God has given this world. God has given you eternal life. It's available to you tonight.

It's been made available to this world tonight through the Lord Jesus Christ. It's a free gift. Received by faith.

As already mentioned, it's available to all. I'm so thankful for that tonight. That it's not an elect few or select few.

But it's to all. I know that that includes me. I'm part of the all.

All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And the Lord Jesus Christ, he gave himself a ransom for all. But I want to make it very clear tonight.

That doesn't mean that all are saved. No, no. It's been made available.

Again, this verse tells us. That God has given to us eternal life. And this life is found in his son.

It's been made available to all. And God's desire, again, is all men be saved. But that doesn't mean that all are saved.

And it doesn't mean that all will be saved. Because we come to verse 12 now. And what does verse 12 say? He who has the son has life.

And he who does not have the son of God does not have life. Again, there's two kinds of people in this verse. Those that have the son.

They're saved. I want to ask you tonight. Are you saved? Do you have the son? He that has the son has life.

He who does not have the son of God does not have life. If you do not have the son of God. If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ is your savior.

You do not have life. See, it all determines on the son. The Lord Jesus Christ.

And what you do with the son. Whether you put your trust in him. Or you reject him.

You know, as I was thinking of this. I was thinking of an illustration. Perhaps, you know, you get into a plane.

And you go to about 10,000 feet. And then they slide open the side door of the plane. And they tell you to jump out.

Would you do that? No, before you jump out. You want to make sure that you have a parachute on. You want to make sure that you know how to work the parachute.

Which cord to pull. But you would never jump out of a plane without a parachute. I don't think I'd jump out of a plane with a parachute.

And yet, the Lord Jesus Christ tonight is like the parachute. And you need to be sure tonight that you have the parachute on. You need to be sure that you're strapped in.

Secure in Christ tonight. You need to be sure that you have eternal life. And yet, there's multitudes upon multitudes.

They're jumping out into eternity. Not just jumping out of a plane. But they're jumping out of eternity.

Without Christ. Is that going to be you? Is that going to be you tonight? Again, verse 12. He who has the son has life.

He who does not have the son of God does not have life. Do you have eternal life? Oh, I think I do. Do you got your keys? Do you got your wallet? Do you have your passport? Or can you say tonight, I know I have my keys.

I know I have my wallet. I know I have my passport. But what's more important tonight, I know I have Christ.

I have the son. I have eternal life. I come to verse 13 and I close.

These things have I written unto you who believe in the name of the son of God that you may know. Listen to these words tonight. Might they ring in your ears.

That you may know that you have eternal life. Again, three things as I close. These things have I written.

That's the authority of the word of God. Do you believe what God says tonight? Those who believe. That's the acceptance of the word of God.

God says it, I believe it. Is that enough for you tonight? Are you willing to receive what God says? Are you willing to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your savior tonight? As you sit in your seat. We have the authority of the word of God.

We have the acceptance of the word of God. But we have the assurance from the word of God. That you may know that you have eternal life.

You can be saved tonight and know it. And young or old, don't leave the meeting tonight without God's salvation. It was a Friday night.

And you being farmers, you might know what a tractor pull is. There was a tractor pull back home there. And the last words of my brother, Melvin, who was 17 years of age at the time.

He says, Bert, I'll see you in the morning. And one hour later, he was hit by a drunk driver head on. And in eternity.

And I fear without Christ. That could be you tonight. That could be me tonight.

Do you have the assurance of God's word? Do you have the assurance that you're saved? That you have eternal life? Because you put your trust in Christ. You know, a number of years ago. And I close with this.

A number of years ago, we had a table set up at a farmer's market. We were there for about 10 years. Every Wednesday.

We faithfully went to the farmer's market. And we had seed sower texts. And we had Bible texts.

We had different tracts. We had some of Murray's tracts there as well. And we gave out tracts.

And we talked to people about eternal life. Knowing your sins forgiven through the Lord Jesus Christ. And we would have people come by every Wednesday.

And sometimes Wednesday after Wednesday. And amazing. But I remember one night.

Or rather, it was one Wednesday. Sorry. And there was a man.

He was about 60, 65 years of age. I didn't know the man. And he came along.

And he saw the sign. And he asked, what is this all about? And he says, well, we're giving out Bible verses. And we're giving out Bible literature.

And we want to tell people how they can know their sins forgiven. And have eternal life. And be sure of heaven as their home.

And he says, I don't believe that. So I had a Bible. And I opened up the Bible to 1 John 5.13. And I gave it to him.

And I said, I want you to read this verse. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God. That you may know that you have eternal life.

And that man, he looked at that verse. And he read it again. That you may know that you have eternal life.

And he says, what does the Bible say tonight? The Bible says tonight for those that put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. For those that have the Son. They have eternal life.

You know what that man said to me? I close with this. He says, if you could know that. That would be worth knowing.