Love IsThe Fruit Of SalvationIs it possible to “see evidence” that an individual has experienced salvation? On the other hand, is it possible to “see evidence” that an individual is lost? If salvation is completely by grace and not by works, why is it that the bible always seems to be putting emphasis on Christian deeds? Is there a way to know if we are going in the right way before a Holy God? Listen in as Pastor: Landis endeavors to answer these and other questions as he continues teaching in our series through the Epistle of First John. Come and learn the reason why Love is the fruit of salvation.
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Psalms 119:161 – 168 (KJV)
SCHIN Psa 119:161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word. Psa 119:162 I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. Psa 119:163 I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love. Psa 119:164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments. Psa 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Psa 119:166 LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments. Psa 119:167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly. Psa 119:168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.
New Testament Scripture Reading: 1 John 3:9 – 18 (NASB)
1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 1 John 3:10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. 1 John 3:11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 1 John 3:12 not as Cain, who was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. 1 John 3:13 Do not marvel, brethren, if the world hates you. 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. 1 John 3:15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 1 John 3:16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 1 John 3:17 But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 1 John 3:18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
Transforming Power Statements:
#1) Although we have been called not to be judges of one another, we must learn to be discerning of all things, in that growth in the Christian faith must be measured by love and not by tenure, position, nor achievement in the material world; but on the other hand by acquisition and application of the precepts and purposes of Christ which are plainly presented in the Word. #2) The believer is cloaked as it were in the righteousness of Christ, which is invisible to the world who cannot understand the things of God. Therefore, the believer must come to realize this and make all adjustments to bring to pass the purposes of God in every interaction with the lost, knowing that it is God’s will for all to be saved.
#3) Our care for one another and our application of bible precepts toward the lost population of the world, will make our Christ attractive to the lost based not on what we say about what we believe, but based on what we do about what we believe.
