A The Baptist Deacon

1st John 4:14 – 16

deaconfarley | August 23, 2008 05:00

14And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. To be a true believer (saved Christian) we must admit and believe that the Father sent the sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.  This is where faith comes in. What is faith? Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ~ Hebrews 11:1 To be saved you must believe within your soul that Jesus died and rose again. There is no other way. The repeat after me prayer does not work. The confession that Jesus is the Son of God has to be made in faith. 

I personally have never seen Jesus with my natural eyes. My spiritual eyes however are a different story.  One day twenty – one years ago my eyes of faith were opened and I believed. I was saved by the Grace of God. By my confession God dwells in me, and I in Him. I must tell you that God is so much better to me than I am to Him. I do not deserve the grace, love, protection and even the salvation He has provided to me.

The Father sent the Son, he willed his coming into this world. The apostle attests this. And whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. This confession includes faith in the heart as the foundation; makes acknowledgment with the mouth to the glory of God and Christ, and profession in the life and conduct, against the flatteries and frowns of the world. ~ Matthew Henry.

I feel that I must also point out that not everyone that cries Lord, Lord shall enter in. This is another reason I am not a fan of the repeat after me prayer.  Look at Matthew 7:15 – 23. Jesus is warning about false prophets.  15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Isn’t it great to see how scripture ties together? When I started today’s lesson I had no ideal that I would be referencing from Matthew’s Gospel. Not only did God have me to reference, but He tied it together, at least in my mind.

We must be drawn by the Holy Spirit, then in faith believing, if we confess that Jesus is the Son of God, we shall have eternal life. Idle words alone cannot and will not get you to Heaven.  

1st John 4: 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. We will close today’s lesson with this verse. God has great love for His creation, His people. God is love. Look at the last part of the verse; he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. This is another great promise from our Heavenly Father. God dwells in His people, and we in Him.

God Bless You!

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