Sermon Discussion
Sermon: If Jesus is the Answer then what is the Question? (Hebrews 6)
Q1: from hel07: How can we know that we are saved? You said that the answer is to trust God. Isn't that what it all comes down to - surely we can't "know"
A1: from John: Part of the answer is totally philosophical - can we absolutely know anything? I do not propose to get involved in that discussion.
Assuming we are capable of knowing anything - that is, using language in the normal way then I can know that it is raining now, further I can know that it didn't rain yesterday. If this is so then I can know that God loves me for we live after the death and resurrection of Christ. As Paul says "God shows his love to us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us" (Rom 5:8). Hence, given that we can know anything at all then becasue of history all of us can can know that God loves us.
Can I know that I personally am saved? - which is the burden of the question. I know that some people would claim that it is arrogant to claim to know God's mind. However I disagree for Paul says that because we have the Holy Spirit then we have access to the mind of God. "we have the mind of Christ" (1 Cor 2:16) - see the argument in the preceding verses.
Think of the hymns we had on Sunday - one a direct quote of scripture "I know in whom I have believed and I am persauded that He is able" and the childrens' time song "Jesus loves me this I know" The essence of this knowledge is based on the personal relationships involved, and yes! the word "trust" is necessarily involved. My point in the sermon was that our being saved depends on the fact that God has promised on oath - so by two things that cannot be changed we have an anchor that will hold against all the problems of life and keep us safe to the end. I therefore think that the proof of what we have is so great that the correct word to use is "know". I know that "I am safe in the arms of Jesus trusting in his love" as another childrens' song has it