From Clochr Valley in County Tyrone we present Let the Bible Speak. It's good to have you join us as Gospel Minister the Reverend Peter McIntyre is here to let the Bible speak and preach Christ in all his fullness. Good afternoon, you're very welcome to the Sunday afternoon edition of Let the Bible Speak. Today I want to share with you a message about knowing that we have eternal life. Going to heaven and being absolutely sure of it, it's such an important message. But before we come to that, here's Kirsten McMullen singing a gospel piece. Lord, what have I ever done to deserve even one of the blessings I've known? Why me, Lord? What did I do? to deserve love from you or the kindness you've shown. Lord, help me, Jesus. I've wasted it so heavily. My soul's in your hands. Pry me, Lord, if you think there's a way I could ever repent. What I've taken from you Maybe, Lord, I can show someone else All I've been through myself On my way back to you Help me Jesus, I have wasted and so help me My soul's in your hands Now that I know that I'm needed You so help me, Jesus My soul's in your hands This afternoon I'm going to consider one verse from 1 John chapter 5 and the verse 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, and that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. We know that God will bless his word to our hearts. There are times in our preaching that we must take the lid off hell and peer into the caverns of the damned. There are seasons when we must draw back the curtain of time and take a look at the end of the world, the great white throne and the terrible judgment of those who have refused Jesus Christ. There must, however, be grace in our preaching also. The gospel is essentially a message of love, and if that does not come through in our ministry, then we have failed. This afternoon I wish to talk about the great provision that God has worked out for lost sinners. This provision is eternal life. Why does God give human beings eternal life? Because He loves us. John's letters are a good place to turn to if we want to discover the love of God. Love is a key word in this little book. The God of Love wants you to have and enjoy eternal life. This is why these broadcasts are sent out. We want you to possess eternal life. I would be delighted if you were a recipient of this great honour. There's nothing more important in this world than to know that you have eternal life. And our text does speak of more than eternal life. It speaks of being sure. It is one thing to have eternal life, it is another thing to be certain of it. God wants you to be certain that you have eternal life. There are some who believe that it is impossible to be sure. Some say that it is a presumptuous thing to be confident of eternal life. Is this the case? Not according to God's word. There are very religious people around our countryside. who are simply hoping that God will not turn them away. The Bible however teaches that we can know and be sure of eternal life. This is what I want for you today and it is to that end that I bring this simple message. This afternoon let us think about eternal life. We'll consider the possibility first of all. It is possible for you to have eternal life. If such a thing exists, then you should make this your life's purpose. You should not rest until you discover this holy grail, which is within the grasp of every man and every woman. There is life beyond the grey youth. Not just life, but abundant life, eternal life. It is possible that this afternoon, you could possess this very thing. Eternal life. Whatever sins you have committed, however irreligious you may have been, there is a God of mercy who will supply you with this thing, eternal life. There is also the purpose. This was why the Bible was written. God has given you his word that we might know that we have eternal life. All of the doctrine, all of the history of the Bible leads us to this great, inescapable and most comforting fact, we can have eternal life. For 1500 years God inspired men to write this book. In that period of time he sent his son into the world and he finally completed the manuscript over 2000 years ago. And here we possess this sacred and precious book written for you and written for me that we might know that we have eternal life. We'll also think about the people. The people who know that they have eternal life are those who have believed on the name of the Son of God. What is belief? Is it simply saying I know there was a man called Jesus that he died and rose again? If that were the case then 95% of Ireland would be Christians and there would be little need for gospel broadcasts like these. But we know that this is not the case. Many people accept the facts of the Bible. Many people will say there was a man called Jesus. Many people will say I believe he died for my sins. But that does not make those people Christians. That does not give them eternal life. That does not mean that they have exercised true saving faith. This belief the Bible commends to us is more than a head knowledge, is more than just an intellectual assent to the facts. This is the belief that saves a soul and that prepares a man or woman for heaven. In 1 John chapter 1 verses 7 through to 10 we discover what this belief is. Listen to these words as I read them to you. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We discover some basic truths there. We all have a big problem, the problem is our sin. If we say that we haven't got sin, we deceive ourselves. We need to be saved and if we do not admit that need, we're living in some kind of delusion. We are sinners. We have to come to God and confess our sins. This belief in Jesus Christ involves a confession of sin. Coming to God and saying, Lord I'm sorry for my sin, I'm turning from it, it's destroying my soul. And when we confess our sins, God will forgive us our sins. He will give us eternal life. He will give us a new life. Suddenly we'll start walking in the light as God is in the light. We'll be different. The person who says they're a Christian and holds on to the old life, who does not repent, that person is not a Christian, not a true Christian in biblical terms. A Christian has a changed life. He walks in the light. And because he walks in the light, he is at assurance that Christ's blood cleanseth him from every sin. His sins have been washed away. The fact of the new birth is lived out in his life. This is true belief. Coming to Christ. Turning away from sin. The one who alone can save you. These are the people who have eternal life. The people who have come to God in this way. Have you come to God in this way? We'll also think about the possession. Eternal life is something that we possess now. It is something that we possess today. It is not a future thing. It is very much a present possession. In John chapter 17 verse 3 we read and this is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. So when we believe in Jesus Christ today we have eternal life today. You can possess this very thing now. That's the certainty of it. At this moment in time you can come to God and know that you have eternal life. There is also the preservation. Who preserves eternal life? Do we exercise self-preservation? I want to tell you this. If I am depending on myself to preserve my eternal life, I would have lost it long ago. I would have lost it the moment I had attained it, because what I do will never be good enough. I could not save my soul as you cannot save your soul, and I cannot keep my soul as you could never keep your soul. No, we are kept by the power of God, and because God's power preserves us, Eternal life is something that we are absolutely assured of without any doubts. Is this not what Christ said in John 10, 27? My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. Therefore the Christian rests on Christ alone for salvation. On Christ the solid rock I stand, while other ground is sinking sand. Because we're on Christ, we are preserved. It is not our hand holding Christ. It is Christ's hand holding us and we'll never be plucked out of that hand. Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. You cannot be sure of your wealth. You cannot be sure of your health. But you can be sure of eternal life because it is depending on Christ for salvation. Let us also consider the prospect. For those who possess eternal life there is a great and a glorious prospect. When we die we shall see Jesus face to face. We shall be forever with the Lord. We will meet our loved ones who have gone on before. But best of all we will see Jesus Christ. Is this prospect yours today? Is the only thing worth looking forward to? What do we have in life but bitterness, tears, suffering, old age? What do we have to look forward to in Christ? Glory, happiness that could never be equated to any kind of earthly pleasure. I would love this to be yours. I would like this eternity to be your eternity. I want to share this eternity with you. Come and place your faith in Christ. Find rest in Him and know that you have eternal life. I thank you so much for listening. you've been listening to Let the Bible Speak if we can be of any further spiritual help or if you would like to receive some free gospel literature we invite you to write to us our mailing address is Let the Bible Speak Reverend Peter McIntyre 13 Willand Crescent, Five Mile Town, County Tyrone BT75OQL that's Let the Bible Speak Reverend Peter McIntyre Thirteen, Willand, Crescent, Five Mile Town, County Tyrone, BT75, OQL. You may hear Mr. McIntyre preach each Lord's Day here in Clocker Valley Free Presbyterian Church at 11.30am and 7pm. For further information you may phone us at 028 8952 1611. 028 8952 1611. We assure you of a very warm welcome at all the services and look forward to having you visit with us. Thank you for listening today. May the Lord richly bless you, and don't forget to tune in on this same station at the same time next week, when once again we turn to the scriptures and let the Bible speak.