HOW TO BE SURE

How tragic it would be if we went through life thinking we were saved and then woke up on Judgment
Day to find out we were mistaken!

Napakasakit at napakalungkot na pangyayari kung pag nag-rapture ay maiiwan ang ilan sa atin dito sa mundong ibabaw. Maiiwan sa
ating kinauupuan, kinatatayuan o sa ating kinahihigaan. Marami po cguro ang tatangis, malilito, at maghahanap ng kani-kanilang mga
mahal sa buhay dhil cla ay mga nangawawala or nagsipaglaho.

But the Bible teaches that this will be the case with many people.

Christ said, (Matt.7:22-23).

Mismo pong si Hesukristo ang nagsabi.

Mat 7:22 Many 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?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity
"In that day", the Lord Jesus Christ will exposed those people who sounded religious but had no personal relationship with him (those
who didn't genuinely accepted Jesus as their Lord and Personal Saviour
At "that day", (the day of Judgement) only our relationship with Christ - our acceptance of Him as Saviour and our obedience to him -
will matter.

However, we do not have to go through life without the assurance of salvation.

Nandyan po ang Rom 5:8, Rom 10:13, John 1:12

In 1 John 5:13 the apostle says, "These things have I written unto you...that ye may know that ye
have eternal life."

1Jn 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.

How then can we have this assurance?

Or be assured that we really are with Christ and have been born again.

This is the most important question we will ever face in life because our eternal destiny is at stake!

The Bible teaches that those who remain unsaved will spend eternity in a place of perpetual torment
(Matt. 25:46; Rev. 14:9-11).

Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark
in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation;
and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast
and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

Sa ating mga mananampalataya ay alam na po natin yan. At sa mga hindi pa tumatanggap sa Panginoong Hesukristo bilang kanilang
Panginoon at tagapagligtas at ganoon din sa mga taong hindi totoong tumanggap or hindi nakakasiguro (sa labi lang ang pagtanggap
at hindi sa puso) ay dun sa eternal impyerno ang punta nila.
The reason for this is because their sin has not been paid for, and God's perfect justice requires that
payment be made for sin (Rom. 6:23).

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Therefore, it is vital that we know the answer to this question.

Are we truly save and are we genuinely born again?

This is why the Apostle Peter wrote, "Give diligence to make your calling and election sure" (2 Pet.
1:10).

2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never
fall:

It is true that we must believe in Christ in order to become saved (Acts 16:31),

Act 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

But how can we be sure we have genuinely believed in Him?

- Certainly we cannot rely upon our feelings since feelings can be misleading.

- kaya po wala tyong drums or pasayaw-sayaw at pataas-taas ng kamay (Praise God,

Allelujah).
(dahil pag ikaw ay pinawisan, naturally na gumagaan ang pakiramdam mo, pag ikaw ay
sobrang ginutom - kung ano-ano na ang naririnig mo, naiisip mo, lambot na ang tuhod mo,
etc.)
- we let the Holy Spirit to work and guide us in our worship and our daily walk in life.

- Some might suggest we can be sure by acknowledging the facts of the gospel or saying the
sinner's prayer.

- tama na po ba na "alam" natin ang Gospel of Christ (his death, burial and resurrection) or
sambitin ang Sinners prayer (Inaamin ko , blah, blah, blah).

However, the Bible indicates it is not possible to believe without being regenerated because by nature
we are spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1 cf. 1 Cor. 2:14).

Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned.

This is why Christ said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of
God.

Therefore, we cannot know we have truly believed until we know we are born again.
But what does it mean to be born again?

Is this some kind of emotional experience?

No, the Bible teaches that being born again means our life is changed.

From being spiritually dead to being spiritually alive / born again.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17 we read,

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The Bible also tells us what changes will take place in our life when we are born again.

First, we will not habitually commit sin.

"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin."—1 John 3:9

"How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein?"—Romans 6:2

"Religion, in the spring of it, is not an art, an acquired dexterity and skill, but a new nature. And
thereupon the consequence is the regenerate person cannot sin. That he cannot commit an act of
sin, I suppose no judicious interpreter understands. This would be contrary to 1 John. 1:9,

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Where it is made our duty to confess our sins, and supposed that our privilege thereupon is to have
our sins forgiven.

He therefore cannot sin, in the sense in which the apostle says, he cannot commit sin. He cannot
continue in the course and practice of sin.

"Doth not commit sin" and "cannot commit sin" means the person born into God's family does not make a practice of sinning, nor does
he or she become indifferent to God's moral law. All believers still sin, but they are working for victory over sin.

He cannot so sin as to denominate him a sinner in opposition to a saint or servant of God."—Matthew

Henry

Second, we will seek to live a holy life by obeying God's Word.

"Everyone that doeth righteousness is born of Him."—1 John 2:29

1Jn 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

"And hereby do we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments."—1 John 2:3

1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

"Where the righteousness of Christ is imputed to an individual, a principle of holiness is imparted to

him; the former can only be ascertained by the latter.
It is impossible to obtain a Scriptural knowledge that the merits of Christ’s finished work are reckoned
to my account, except by proving that the efficacy of the Holy Spirit’s work is evident in my soul."—
Arthur W. Pink

Third, we will love others, regardless of who they are or what they have done.

"Everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God
is love."—1 John 4:7-8

1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

"We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren."—1 John 3:14

1Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in
death.

"All the fruits of the Spirit which we are to lay weight upon as evidential of grace, are summed up in
charity, or Christian love; because this is the sum of all grace. And the only way, therefore, in which
any can know their good estate, is by discerning the exercises of this divine charity in their hearts; for
without charity, let men have what gifts you please, they are nothing."—Jonathan Edwards

Fourth, our affections will not be upon the things of the world.

"If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."—1 John 2:15

1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the
things of the Spirit...But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in
you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His."—Romans. 8:5, 9

Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of
Christ, he is none of his.

"If our principal treasure be as we profess, in things spiritual and heavenly, and woe unto us if it be
not so! on them will our affections, and consequently our desires and thoughts, be principally fixed."—
John Owen

These changes are not the cause of our salvation for we are saved by faith (Eph. 2:8-9).

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

But rather, they are the evidence that we truly have been born again.

If they have not taken place in our life, then it is vital that we earnestly seek God and implore Him to
regenerate us. He promises we will find Him if we seek Him with all our heart (Deut. 4:29),

Deu 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy
soul.
and the way to begin is by reading His Word. The Bible says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and
hearing by the Word of God" (Rom. 10:17).

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.