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Evidence of Pardon

TEXTRom. 8:12-17

INTRODUCTION:

A.  MAN’S GREATEST NEED – PARDON FROM SIN

          1.  Our condition (Gal. 3:22Rom. 3:9, 23).

          2.  In order to go where Christ is, we must be pardoned (John 8:21).

          3.  The wages of sin (Rom. 6:23).

          4.  What can we do about sin?  Just ignore and deny? (1 John 1:82 Cor. 5:10).

B.  PARDON IS THE ONLY REMEDY FOR SIN.

C.  1 John 5:132 Pet. 1:10-11.  HOW DO WE KNOW?

I.      GOD AND PARDON.

A.  GOD WANTS TO PARDON US (John 3:16Rom. 5:81 Tim. 2:42 Pet. 3:9).

B.  PARDON TAKES PLACE IN THE MIND OF GOD (Isa. 55:6-743:25).

          1.  Evidence must come from God who pardons (1 Cor. 2:10-11).

          2.  Illustration:  Pardon of the criminal must have the governor’s seal (2 Tim. 2:19).

II.     SOME PEOPLE’S EVIDENCE OF PARDON (Rom. 8:16).

A.  “I HAD A DREAM;”  i.e.

          1.  One man dreamed he swallowed a wagon.  He took this as evidence of salvation.

          2.  One dreamed he saw Jesus.  My dad dreamed he had all his teeth pulled.  Guess what!

          3.  Ecc. 5:3Jer. 23:25-26.

B.  “I SAW THE LIGHT” (Acts 9:5-622:16).  So did Saul and Hank Williams.  Not saved yet.

C.  “I SAW AN ANGEL”  So did Cornelius (Acts 10:1-311:13-14Gal. 1:8-9).

D.  “I FEEL IT IN MY HEART”  (Jer. 17:9).

          1.  Feelings should be a product of what believed.  Faith doesn’t come from feelings

                   (Rom. 10:17).

          2.  Jacob felt that Joseph was dead (Gen. 37:33-34).

E.  LED ASTRAY (Col. 2:8).

F.  “THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS MIRACLES IN ME.”

          1.  Describe the H. S. ecstasy of young caller.  I cannot deny his experience.

          2.  I can deny the meaning he assigned it.

          3.  1 John 4:1-4.  Does he teach the truth.  His admission about women (1 Cor. 14:33-34).

          4.  Miracles, demonic powers, psychotic delusions?

III.    BIBLE EVIDENCE (Rom. 8:16).

A.  WHERE IS THE HOLY SPIRIT’S TESTIMONY?

          1.  The Holy Spirit speaks through the apostles (John 16:12-13Eph. 3:3-5).

          2.  They not only spoke, they wrote (Eph. 3:3-41 Pet. 1:12).

B.  THEY HOLY SPIRIT LEADS BY THE WORD (Titus 2:11-122 Tim. 3:16-17).

C.  Rom. 8:14-15

          1.  The fruit of following the Spirit (Gal. 5:16, 22-23).  Where do we learn these things?

          2.  How do we know God is our father? (1 John 3:1Philem 3).

D.  THE NEW TESTAMENT REVEALS CONDITIONS OF PARDON

          (Acts 2:3716:3022:10-11).

          1.  Were these questions answered?

          2.  What were the answers given? (Act 2:3816:31-3322:16)..

E.  THE SPIRIT BEARS WITNESS “WITH,” NOT “TO” OUR SPIRIT.

          Holy Spirit                                                                               Our spirit

            1.  Hear                                 Rom. 10:14                              1.  Yes.

            2.  Believe                     John 3:16Mark 16:16                    2.  Yes.

            3.  Repent                          Acts 17:302:38                         3.  Yes.

            4.  Confess                   Matt. 10:32Rom. 10:9                   4.  Yes.

            5.  Baptism                   Mark 16:16;   Acts 2:38                   5.  Yes.

            6.  Saved                      Mark 16:161 Pet. 3:21                  6.  Yes.

            7.  Go to Heaven                   Rom. 2:10                                7.  Yes.

CONCLUSIONHeb. 5:8-9Matt. 7:21.

A.  HAVE YOU OBEYED?

B.  WHY NOT NOW?