Based on “The End of the World – So What?” by Pastor Mark Balmer;
1/5-6/08, Message #3429; Daily Devotional #5 - “Am I Really Saved?”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): There is really no mystery to finding the answer to whether or not you are saved. It can be found in the source of all Truth; the Holy Bible. 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. (1John 5:13, KJV) Jesus also said that whosoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) The key to receiving salvation then is based on believing that Jesus is who He says He is and accepting His sacrificial offering of Himself on the cross for our sins. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. (John 1:12, KJV)
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): As Pastor Mark reminded us, we are responsible for our own spiritual condition. Therefore the question of whether or not we are saved is one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves. It was the same instruction that Paul gave to the Christians of his day. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (2 Corinthians 13:5, KJV) The Holy Spirit comes and lives in us the day we repent and ask Jesus to come into our lives.
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): The Holy Spirit plants the seed of each spiritual attribute into our hearts at our conversion. Then it is up to us to nurture each seed, to water them with prayer, reading our Bible and worshiping God, so that we may mature the fruits of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, meekness, temperance, gentleness, and faith. (Galatians 5:22-25) As we seek to become like Christ, the transforming power of God enables us to walk uprightly, in the light of God's love, on the straight and narrow path. Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17, KJV). We know we are saved when the indwelling Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and gives us a desire to do the will of the Father. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26, KJV) As children of God we have an inherent need to obey Him.
Cultivating (Additional Reading): 1 John 2:3-6
KOM
Calvary Chapel of Melbourne; 2955 Minton Road; W. Melbourne, FL 32904; 321-952-9673
All Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.
New King James Version = NKJV, King James Version = KJV.