TEXT: I John 5:13

SUBJECT: Christian's Great Interest #4

Tonight we come to chapter four in William Guthrie's book, The Christian's Great Interest. He wrote it in the late Seventeenth Century to help believers obtain and keep their assurance.

How do you know that you're saved? Or what are you looking for to answer the question? Guthrie says you're to look for two things: (1) faith in Christ and (2) a new life in Christ.

Last week, we learned what faith is, on whom it is placed, and how it gives assurance. Now, we come to what the old writer calls, "The new creature as an evidence of an interest in Christ".

PROOF

The first thing to note is: Every believer is a new creature in Christ. II Corinthians 5:17 could not be plainer:

Notice the language, "if anyone is in Christ Jesus..." Renewal is not for some only, but for everyone who finds salvation in Christ.

The change is seen throughout the Bible. Paul himself is the best example. Out of Christ, he was "a persecutor, a blasphemer, and an insolent person". In Christ, he is a servant, apostle, and martyr for the Lord. The change in his life could not have been more dramatic.

The same change occurred in the life of the Corinthians. These brethren were far from perfect--very far! If you read the Epistles to them, you'll see they were tangled up in all kinds of bad things. But they were new men,

Not every believer is changed as drastically as Paul and the Corinthians. Especially those brought up in Christian homes. But everyone is changed. Life in Christ means "new life".

About the change, Guthrie says three things:

THE WHOLE PERSON MUST BE RENEWED (OR CHANGED FOR THE BETTER).

Unbelievers differ from each other in many ways, but one point they all agree: The Gospel is foolish! "The preaching of the cross is to them who are perishing foolishness..." Some say it didn't happen; others say it won't work; still others say it's immoral. In any event, they despise the cross or laugh at it.

But believers know better! To us, the Gospel is God's "wisdom and power". We see it as the perfect plan to display God's supreme justice and mercy--at the same time!

The most ignorant and mixed-up believer in the world knows the Gospel. Why? Because his understanding has been renewed.

He also understands creation differently. Being saved doesn't make you a scientist; it doesn't tell at what speed light moves. But it does something better than that: it tells you the Source of Light!

Believing in Christ gives you no facts about science, but it gives you a perspective on science. That the facts are made by God and serve His glory. This means the saved astrophysicist and the little believing boy see the same thing when they look at the stars--the glory of God! Why? Because their understanding is renewed.

The believer also sees Providence differently than he used to. Why do things happen the way they do? Unbelievers say "fate"; they say "chance"; they say "evil conspirators". But believers see the Lord in every event. They see Him "killing and making alive"--and everything in-between. Why? Because their understanding is renewed.

In the New Covenant, God "takes away the heart of stone" and replaces it with "a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26).

A new love is given. A love for Christ; a love for God's Word; a love for the Church; a love for the lost. In short, the man who once was "hateful and hating others" is now loving.

A good example here is John the Apostle. As a young man, his nickname was Boanerges--Son of Thunder. That's because his temper raged like a thunderstorm. But in Christ, he became "the Apostle of love", who wrote more about love than any other Inspired Author.

Not only is a new love given the believer, but so is a new hate. Look at the Psalms: "You who love the LORD, hate evil"; "I hate every false way"; "I hate vain thoughts"; "I hate and abhor lying"; and so on.

These things are hated because they're contrary to God and hurt you and others. The believer's heart is renewed.

Referring to Romans 6:19, Guthrie says,

Human nature is divided into body and soul. The soul is further divided into mind, will, emotions, and so on. In any event, Jesus Christ changes the whole person. The change is not perfect, but it is real.

If you want assurance, ask yourself: Have I been changed? You haven't been fully changed--no one on earth has. But have you been changed through-and-through?

That's the first heading. The second expands on it,

YOU MUST BE RENEWED, TO SOME EXTENT, IN ALL YOUR WAYS.

Guthrie is very careful here. Your whole life must be changed. But that change is never complete in this life; it's only "to some extent".

He gives five examples of the change.

Some people have wicked ambitions. I talked to a man once who no higher goal in life than to murder his wife. He wasn't just mad; he meant it. And planned it before being saved.

Guthrie includes this kind of person, but doesn't limit himself to him. He's also thinking of people who have good ambitions--to make a living for their families; to serve their countries; to add to human learning; and so on. These are all good things.

But the believer aims higher. His ambition is to please the Lord. This, I think, is the biggest change of all. It is the re-direction of one's life. From self to Christ. Paul put it this way: "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain".

Here, he doesn't mean your church or form of worship. But the heart of worship. It's worshiping in spirit--and not just the body; it's worshiping in humility and not pride; it's worshiping in gratefulness and not a mere sense of obligation. In short, it's drawing near to God in soul not just in word.

The lazy man is now "fervent in spirit"; the complainer now works "in sincerity of heart, fearing God". And so on.

This is a point worth taking some time to consider. "Lawful liberties" are those that are neither commanded by God nor forbidden. You're permitted to do them if you want--and nobody can judge you for them.

These liberties are a great blessing, for they allow us to do what we like without feeling guilty. For one person, it's fishing; for another is tinkering with a car; for somebody else, it's reading; for another, it's working out in the gym. And so on.

The believer does not give up his liberties. But he subjects them to his own good and the welfare of others. This means:

Review your ambitions, your worship, your work, your relations, and your liberties. Has each been renewed "to some extent"? Or are they unchanged? If changed--even a little--that means you have renewed and ought to know you have eternal life.

THE SUPPOSED UNATTAINABLENESS OF SUCH A RENEWAL

Is the change real? Or is it just a matter of word? Many say it's just talk. But people who have had it know better. Without being perfect, believers are "new creatures in Christ".

The reason: There is enough in Christ to change you. If being saved was a matter of self-help, the change would be unattainable. But it's not self-help! It occurs through the Almighty work of Jesus Christ.

The qualification: The change is real, but never complete in this life.

The best time to examine yourself: When you are at your best.

This is against what we often hear from Reformed pulpits. But Guthrie knows better. He says, "We must choose a convenient time when the spiritual part is not by some temptation worsted and overpowered by the flesh; for in that case, the new creature is driven back...For now is the time of winter in the soul, and we may not expect fruit".

This is very insightful. Most people who doubt their salvation doubt it when they're at their worst! Do you think Peter felt saved five minutes after denying the Lord with curses? Do you think David felt saved those weeks after killing Uriah? Do you think Moses felt saved right after hitting the rock? Of course not. They were all good men, but had they examined themselves at these particular moments, would have had no assurance.

Be reasonable about this. Your worst day is not the best time for self-examination.

CLOSE

We started with II Corinthians 5:17; we'll end with it too. "If anyone is in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold all things become new".

Are you "a new creature"? A man once told me, "I'm not what I ought to be and not what I want to be. But thank God, I'm not what I used to be!" Can you say the same thing?

If not, I urge you to quit seeking assurance and start seeking the Lord.

If so, I implore you to find the assurance in what Christ has done for you and what Christ has done in you. Do you believe--yes or no? Are you a new creature--yes or no? If yes, you have life now and you'll have it forever. God give you an answer of peace. For Christ's sake. Amen.