What Do You Believe?

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?

How We Know We Belong to God: Part 1

1 John 1:1–2:2 (ESV)

What is wrong?—Many doubt their salvation and may even be

told that no one can ever really be sure about such a thing.

What is true?—God puts forth unassailable

evidence, assuring those who believe.

What to do—We are to examine

ourselves against the evidence.

How?—By asking two questions:

  I.     Do We Believe What God Says About His Son (1 John 1:1-4)

1.  Do We Believe that He Is God? (1:1a)

1a ‘That which was from the beginning…’

2.  Do We Believe that He Is Man? (1:1b-4)

1b ‘…which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life.’

 II.     Do We Believe What God Says About Our Sin? (1 John 1:5-2:2)

1.  Do We Believe that We Have Sinned? (1:5-8, 10)

8 ‘If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us…. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.’

2.  Do We Believe that Jesus Saves from Sin? (1:9; 2:1-2)

1:9 ’If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness…. 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.’