Dear Brethren,

In 1970 Billy Graham came to Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and asked the crowded stadium attendees, “Do you know that you are going to heaven when you die?”  It seemed that everyone believed that heaven was the reward of the saved.  And since Billy Graham held the protestant doctrine of ‘once saved, always saved,’ the throng also knew that nothing could prevent their entrance into heaven.  It is utterly amazing how the world has been duped by false religion.

Revelation 12:9  The great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, who deceives the whole world.

Let me ask a similar question of the people of God’s Church.  “Do you know that you have eternal life?”  In today’s sermon we will show beyond a shadow of a doubt that true Christians know that they have eternal life.  It is however absolutely required that one remains a true Christian.  Make no mistake about it, God is not mocked (Galatians 6:7):

Mark 13:13  You [true Christians] shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

The beloved apostle John assures us that we do indeed have eternal life.

1John 5:13  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

God does not promise universal salvation to everyone.

Romans 2:6-7 God will render to every man according to his deeds:  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life.

Nominal Christians who possess little true faith would be wise to examine themselves with regard to eternal life.  For example, obedience to God is required:

1John 3:24  He that keeps His commandments dwells in Him, and HHe in him.

1John 2:5  Whoso keeps His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him.

As true Christians we wish to help foster the brotherly concern for one another that is absolutely required of us.  We recognize that all too often, genuine care for the brethren, within the Church of God, has not been taught and practiced as much as it is in the gospel record.

1John 4:11-12  Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another... If we love one another, God dwells in us, and His love is perfected in us.

Perhaps God is giving the Body of Christ additional time to grow up spiritually in an area in which we come short.  Sure, we know doctrine, we know prophecy, we keep the Sabbath, etc., but there is much more.  Paul tells us that we still have a lot of growing to do – and we must know Jesus Christ in order to do so.

Ephesians 4:13  Until we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

In this selfish world, we often witness the "every man for himself" attitude that permeates society.  We should certainly understand the extent to which Jesus Christ demonstrated His love for us in giving His life – but to what extent have we followed His example in demonstrating our loving concern for each other?

1Peter 2:21  For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.

1John 2:25  And this is the promise that He has promised us, even eternal life.

1John 5:11  And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

Jesus Christ is “the resurrection and the life.”

John 11:25  Jesus said unto [Martha], I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Jesus is eternal life.

John 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

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Sermon:

"Knowledge of Eternal Life"