Eternal Life is in Jesus

1 John 5, we'll read the first 13 verses. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.! And everyone who loves the Father loves his child as well.

This is how we know that we love the children of God, by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.

This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ.

He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify, the Spirit, the water, and the blood.

And the three are in agreement. We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater, because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son.

Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.

This is the testimony. God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life. He who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. If you could have 1 John 5 open before you, it would be helpful this morning.

I've come on a very specific errand this morning. And I want to speak to those of you who are not Christians, or may not know if you are Christians this morning.

And I must admit that I'm quite preoccupied by this, more preoccupied than I thought I would be. And I hope that, as the Lord will give us his help, that we might understand these things.

The Scripture says that when a preacher comes up to preach, he preaches in Christ in the sight of God. And I'm very aware of that this morning, that I come to you and I speak in Christ, which simply means that without Christ I couldn't dare get up here, because I'm a sinner myself, in desperate need of Jesus Christ myself.

And it's a bit foolish in one sense that I'm even up here. But that's God's grace. And the other thing is that we speak in the sight of God. God is in this place. And God has already been working in some of your lives.

I have no doubt about that. God has drawn near to you. God is struggling with you. God is dealing with you. You know that he's spoken to your conscience.

And maybe some of you haven't felt that at all. But maybe in this morning, God will draw near to you as we meet in his sight. And he walks among the lampstands, which are his church.

And he certainly will speak to you. There's no doubt about that. Because this is his gospel and his word. And he is the speaking God. He's not spoke one time and put it in a book and then closed his mouth.

When the word of God goes out, God is speaking to you. So, let us try to understand what God has said to us. Do you know what a testimony is?

Children, you probably even know the youngest children. May not, but sometimes there's a court case, isn't there? Something's happened bad.

And they call someone a witness. And this witness, what they say he has to do is give a testimony. And a testimony is something a little bit special.

It's just saying something. But a testimony is special because the witness has to get up in front of everyone, in front of the jury and in front of the judge. And he has to swear.

And he has to say, what I'm going to say is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So, help me God. That's the way it happens, isn't it?

And now he has to tell the absolute truth about what he saw. That this man did do this or this man didn't do this. And this is the absolute truth.

And I say it in the presence of God. That's what a testimony is. Six times in the passage that Aaron just read you, the scripture, God says to us that God himself has given you a testimony.

God, in effect, has said to you, this is the truth. It's really true. And it's nothing but the truth. And it's the whole truth.

And John has been directed by God to tell us that God has spoken in a special way so that you'll never have any doubt about it.

That you know that there's one thing for sure that's true. And it's this testimony of God. Now, I want to read again what this testimony is. So we're going to pick up a little part of the passage that Aaron read.

It says this. In verse seven. For there are three that testify, the spirit and the water and the blood.

Talk about that in a moment. And these three agree. The things, two of them are happenings in history. Things that happened with Jesus in his life. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater.

For this is the testimony of God. That he is born concerning his son. Whoever believes in the son of God has the testimony in himself.

Once you believe, the Holy Spirit causes this, what God has said and testified to be something that you know inside.

It's true in a way that just gives you an assurance. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar.

Whoever. Anyone. Whoever. Anyone. Who has not believed God. And believing means in that way that you actually embrace what he says and take it on board for you.

I am a believer in this. Whoever has not believed God's testimony in that way has made God a liar. Because he has not believed in the testimony that God has born concerning his son.

And this is the testimony. These two verses are the ones that we want to understand this morning. This is the testimony. God's testimony to you, whoever you are this morning. That God has given us eternal life.

And. Number two. This life is in his son. And number three. Whoever. Has the son.

Has the life. Whoever does not have the son of God. Does not have the life. There is a great.

And this is a word of introduction. And then we're going to talk about these three things. And they're very simple. But I want to give you one more introduction. Now. In some of your lives this morning.

There is a great battle going on. It is not visible. But it is real. It makes. The Lord of the Rings look like a kindergarten party.

I really mean that. That. Battle is for your soul. It's for you. And.

That battle is centering around. And focusing on. One thing. And I'm going to tell you what it is. And may you never forget. That battle is focusing around.

Whether or not. You will believe. God's testimony about his son. Really believe it. That Jesus Christ. Is the son of God.

And the savior. For your soul. And that what he's come to do. Is give you life. And that outside of him. Whatever you have. It's not life. It's not life.

In him is life. That's the testimony. And scripture says. In 2nd Corinthians 4. This.

Don't turn there. I'm just going to read it. He says. That even if our gospel is veiled. Some people. Some of you are not seeing it. It is veiled. Only to those who are perishing.

In their case. The God of this world. Has blinded the minds. Of the unbelievers. To keep them. From seeing the light. Of the good news. Of the glory of Christ. And that is happening.

Right now. In the lives of some of you. Satan is attempting. To blind your minds. So that you won't see. That this is true. But it's true. But it's really true.

For you. It's true. True. And. He is a father of lies. If he can just get you to believe one thing.

That life without Jesus. Doing whatever you're doing. Seeking happiness. Wherever you're seeking. Is really. A better way.

And it's going to get you more goodness. Than God giving you. Eternal life. In Jesus Christ. If he can get you to believe. That one thing.

Then he's gotten you to join him. Because the scripture says here. That you. Will join him. In calling God. A liar. Because God is saying. This is the good news.

For you. I love you. And I'm giving you something. That nothing can compare to. Nothing. And everybody who's seen it. Has been like the man with the hidden treasure.

Everybody who's. Who's seen it. And believed. Has said. I'm willing to give everything. I've got going right now. To get this. Oh my.

So this is the battle that's going on. And the reason I'm up here this morning. Is by God's grace. God is at work. And he is working to bring you.

To no longer believe a lie. But to believe the truth. Just to believe it. It's wonderful. Believe it. And the way he does this. Is he brings his testimony to you.

And the Holy Spirit. Says to you in your heart. It's really true. It's really true. Wow. So now we're going to.

Try to understand these three points. God has spoken to you. It's amazing. He's given you a testimony. And the first part of that testimony.

Is this. Read verse 11 with me again. And this is the testimony. That God gave us eternal life.

Or has given us eternal life. And this life. Is in his son. Now this first point. If I had to summarize it. I would say it's something.

Of which there could be nothing more wonderful. God has given you. Eternal life. As a gift. He has laid it out. He has offered you.

Eternal life. Now what is eternal life? Does it mean. Existing forever? Ugh. I hope not. Because existing forever. Like we do now.

Here. We want it to stop. Don't we? We have enough troubles. But when. God tells you that. He has given you eternal life. He has made eternal life.

Over. Unto you as a gift. That you may take. He means. A quality of life. The eternal life. Is life. Back. In relationship. With the creator.

The living God. To know God. As your welcoming. Forgiving. Reconciled. Creator. And heavenly father. So that you are his.

Forgiven child. And you live under his. Blessing. And his happy smile. Forever and ever. So that you are transformed. Formed. By living in contact with him.

By knowing the living God. By knowing. A loving savior. And one day. Seeing his glory. Forever and ever. In a way that.

Paul says this about it. This is what eternal life. Is all about. It says. But as it is written. What no eye has seen. Nor ear heard. Nor has ever entered.

Into the heart of man. This God has prepared. For those who love him. That's what life is. There is a life. In God's presence.

And in his love. And his sweet mercy. And grace. That God has prepared. For you. Men and women. Young people. And I'm speaking to you. Non-Christians. That it has never entered.

Your heart. The one thousandth. Of what it is. And even Paul. Can't tell us. And he struggles elsewhere. John struggles. He says. To believers.

He says. Now we're children of God. But it hasn't appeared yet. What we shall be. I can't even tell you. But he says. I do know this. That when we see him. We will be like him.

Because we will see. Jesus Christ. As he is. And Paul says. That one time. He doesn't know. If he was in the body. Or out of the body. But he was lifted up. Into the third heaven.

Into the very presence of God. And he said. I saw things. That it's not permitted. For a man to utter. Eternal life. Glory.

Happiness. Beyond what you can imagine. Happiness in God. Happiness in God. Loving you. God. Has given us.

That. That is his testimony. This. Is the testimony of God. The truth. Nothing but the truth. And the whole truth. That God has given.

Eternal life. Is he given it to you? I'm not talking about. Where you have. Whether you have it yet. But I'm talking about. Whether the gift is there. Well you know. The best known verse. In the Bible.

Don't you? For God so loved the world. That he gave. There it is. The gift. His only begotten son. That whoever. Should believe in him.

Should not perish. But have what? Eternal life. If you don't. If you're not sure about that. If Satan still has got you.

Somehow he's saying. Could this be true? Has God really said. Here's eternal life. Come on. Go ahead. Take it. Take it. Take it. Take it. I think God's sort of doing like this.

Excuse me for doing this in the pulpit. But he's saying. Here's eternal life. Take it. Take it. I love you. Take it. Excuse me sir. That was a good catch. That's what.

That's the sort of thing God is doing. According to the scriptures. Well if you want to see it. At the end of the Bible. God speaks like this to us. The spirit and the bride.

That means the church. People like me and other believers. Who talk to you about Jesus. The spirit and the bride say come. And let the one who hears say come. And let the one who is thirsty come.

Let the one who desires take the water of eternal life without price. Come. That's God's testimony. That's not my word. That's the word of God. And it's a word to you.

And it's true. And today it says to you. Come. Come. Isn't that wonderful? Well. I said nothing could be more wonderful than that.

What could be more wonderful? That you could leave this place today with eternal life. More than 30 years ago. I was standing in a hall of a dormitory at the University of Georgia.

I'd seen a bunch of guys talking. And went to find out what they were talking about. And some fellows were sharing the gospel with them. I didn't know the gospel. I hadn't heard the gospel.

Grew up in a Catholic home. Thought you got to God by your works. And these guys explained it. Christ had done everything. That the gift had already been bought at an awful price.

At a great price. By the Son of God Himself. And now He would give it to me free. Well on one condition. That there were no conditions.

And I remember that night. Just being amazed. You mean. I don't have to be good enough.

Or any different than I. As I am right now. With all that I've done. And all my sin. I could be given eternal life. And walk out of here.

Saved. And sure to be in heaven. I thought. That is. How could I walk away and refuse? That is wonderful.

And that's the first thing that God says to us. I want to read one more passage. Because. The scripture. The word of God is a sword of spirit. Against Satan.

And his lies in your hearts. And I know that there are some people. That he's wound around. Knots in your little heart. And he's got you to believe. Well.

God's given eternal life for other people. And he's offering it to other one. And they're the elect. But I'm not. And that my friends. Is a lie. The scripture says that.

Every one of you. God has brought the gospel to you. And that gospel is good news to you. And it says. You. May come. To Jesus Christ.

Let me read this passage to you. It's in. Acts 13. And it's a preaching. It's a sermon. And one of the apostles. It's. Paul. He says this.

Let it be known to you. Therefore brothers. He says brothers. Not because they're Christians. Because they're Jews. And he's a Jew. Okay. Let it be known to you brothers. That through this man.

Jesus Christ. Through Jesus Christ. Through this man. Forgiveness of sins. Is proclaimed to you. Did you get that? Paul doesn't know these guys. But he says.

Whoever you are. In this crowd. Let it be known to you. That through this man. Jesus Christ. And I say it to you. Dear young people. And older people. Let it be known to you.

This day. And let Satan. Never convince you. Of the contrary again. That through this man. Jesus Christ. Is proclaimed to you. The forgiveness of sins. And I stand before God.

And don't his testimony. That this wonderful fact. For you is true. The second aspect. Of God's testimony. We find. In the latter part.

Of the verse. That we just read. It's verse 11. We'll reread it. It says. And this is the testimony. That God. Has given us eternal life.

And this life. Is in. His. Son. Now that's a bit. Of a strange phrase. Eternal life. Is in. His Son. Son. Now.

If. The first part of the testimony. We could say. Nothing more wonderful. God has given us eternal life. Made eternal life. A gift for us. Then here. We must say.

There's nothing more specific. Nothing more specific. This life. Is in. His Son. That's where it is. That may seem.

A bit strange to you. But the scripture says. That eternal life. Is in a person. Eternal life. Is not something. At the end of the road. Of your doing.

If you do enough stuff. You get eternal life. Eternal life. Comes from. Not what you do. But someone. You have. Did you know that?

That's completely different. Isn't it? Did you realize that? Not from what you've done. But from who you have. Is a gift from God.

Eternal life. And this life. Is in. His Son. Would you turn a few pages. And read in the first chapter. With me. The first chapter.

In the first verse. John is talking about. How he had seen. Jesus Christ. He calls Jesus Christ. The word of life. Or he calls him. The eternal life.

Because. Jesus. Walked on this. Earth. As someone. Who was in. Fellowship. With God. And that's what eternal life is. It's knowing God. He had it in himself. He's always had it in himself.

Fellowship with God. And so he says this. That which was from the beginning. Which we have heard. Which we have seen. With our eyes. Which we have looked upon. And have touched.

With our hands. Concerning the word of life. The life was made manifest. And we have seen it. And testify it. To it. And proclaim to you. The eternal life.

Which was with the father. And was made. Manifest to us. John says. I saw eternal life. Because eternal life. Is the eternal son of God.

Who's the one. Who's always been in fellowship. With God. And if you have him. He brings you into fellowship. With God. Because of who he is. And what he's done. That's amazing.

Now. Think about this. How could eternal life. Or how could salvation. Because eternal life. Is salvation. Isn't it? It's another way of talking about it. How could salvation. Be in a person.

We think. We like to think of it. As a thing. Sometimes. We think forgiveness. Of sins. As a thing. But God doesn't really speak. In that way. To us.

He says. What we need. Is him. Everything. That we need. Is in him. Jesus Christ. Is. And who he is. And all the great merit.

And righteousness. Is in. That's in him. Through his perfect life. And his atoning death. But think about this. Here's a drowning man. He's in the water. He doesn't have any more strength.

He's gone down a couple of times. He's fighting. He's panicking. The heart. He's. He's swallowing water already. And his deliverance. Is going to come.

His deliverance. Is in a person. His deliverance. Is a person. There's this lifeguard. And this lifeguard. Comes. And pulls him out. What he needs. Is a person. Doesn't he? Or you might think.

Of a. Lonely. Single person. Who wants to know. The joys. Of married life. And all. All the. Single people.

All the young people. Are going. Yeah. Yeah. What are you saying? But. Now. How can the joys. Of married life. Come to you? Well. The joys. Of married life. Are not a thing. They're a person. Aren't they?

They're all wrapped. Up in. Him. Or in her. Right? So you got to have the person. And once you have the person. If she. Or he. Is really all. She's cracked up to be.

Or he's cracked up to be. You get all the joys. Of married life. By having him. By having her. Right? Or we could give. Many other examples. That sometimes.

Certain blessings. Or certain good things. That we have. That we can receive. They're in a person. You got to have the person. And the testimony of God is. God has given eternal life.

And that life. Is in. His. Son. The Lord Jesus Christ. Now. Do you want eternal life? You know where to find it.

It's not in Buddha. It's not in Muhammad. It is not in Mary. Or the saints. According to the word of God. And it is not in some system.

Of rights. And works. And things that you have to do. Let's be ever so clear. And never doubt it again. And never be a testimony. Against God.

And call God a liar. God says. Eternal life. Is not in all of these things. It is in. Jesus Christ. The glorious Lord of glory. The crucified Savior.

The Lamb of God. The one who was with the Father. And became man. And took upon sins. The problem that separated you from God. He's the one. And the only one. Who's taken it on.

And buried sin. And cancelled it out. And risen. With all the glorious righteousness. Of a man who's obeyed God perfectly. As a man. A human righteousness. That God says.

Yes. That's what I wanted. I can give it to you. But this eternal life. We need to be absolutely clear. That it's in Jesus.

What I need is Jesus. The last point of this testimony. We find in the next verse. So we'll read it. Verse 12. And this is where we close.

Whoever has the Son. Whoever has the Son. Has the life. Glory to God.

And whoever does not have the Son. Does not have the life. It all depends on Him. And what your relationship is.

To the Lord Jesus Christ. The Son of God. Let's go back to a couple of our illustrations. Because we need to understand. What it means to have.

The Son of God. Don't we? He comes down to the end. And he says the testimony. Is whoever has. The Son of God. Has eternal life. And whoever does not have.

The Son of God. Does not. Have. Eternal life. So we better understand. What it means to have. The Son of God. Now we use that language all the time.

You. Every one of you does. If you married people. Think. You probably remember. That when you got married. That day you said your vows. You probably said something like this.

That you vowed to. Take so and so. As your lawfully wedded husband or wife. To have. And to hold.

To love. And to check. Do you have a wife? Do you have a. Yes I have a wife. I have a husband. But we talk about that.

We talk like this in other areas too. Do you have a dentist? On the way in the car. We saw a car pass in front of us. And Pastor John says.

That's my. Mechanic. I have. A mechanic. We're always talking like this. Do you have a mechanic?

Now how do you get to have. A dentist. Or have. A mechanic. Well here's how it happens. There's two steps. First of all. That person has to offer himself to you.

In that capacity. Okay. You may have a next door neighbor. Who's a mechanic. But if he says. Look I got too many clients. I can't take anymore. I'm really sorry.

Then you don't have him. As your mechanic. Do you? Alright. But if he offers himself to you. And you embrace that offer.

Your other neighbor is a dentist. And he sees you holding your jaw. One day. And he says. Do you have a dentist? And I said. No I don't have a dentist. He says. I'll be your dentist.

You can have me as your dentist. Come to the office. And we'll get you set up. You'll write down all your information. And we'll put it in the little archives. And you'll be one of our patients. And your teeth will be my affair from then on.

I'll take care of that. Isn't that how you get there? And the scripture says. That God has offered to us. Jesus Christ.

In the capacity. Not of mechanic. Or dentist. But savior. And source of eternal life. And that he has everything that he needs.

To grant you eternal life. Right now. Right now. I have a dentist. He's in Atlanta. That's where our home church is.

And every time we come back from France. We go to the dentist. And all our family. And unfortunately. We go to the dentist a lot. This time. I guess we must have had.

Eight or nine appointments with him. If we count all five people in our family. So he's checking. And doing x-rays. And checking. And cleaning teeth. And there's a cavity here. A cavity there. And one of my kids had a crack in her tooth.

So. But it's interesting. You see what happened was. This is a man in our church. And he said to me. Now. Dental care in France is not very good.

Is it? I said. No. It's not good. So do you know what they do. When they clean teeth in France. They take their little. Metal thing. And they scratch around a little bit. And once they've scratched around for ten minutes.

That's it. Bye bye. No fluoride put on your teeth. No nothing. If you saw my dentist's teeth. You wouldn't believe it. It's not a pretty sight. It's just not the same.

In other areas in medicine. France is our leaders. They have great medical care. But not in. So he says to me. Look. Every time you come home. I want to be your dentist. So you come home.

And I will see. I said. Look. My French. Social security. And insurance. Is not going to pay you. They're not going to pay in overseas. It won't work. He said.

No. No. No. That's not what I'm talking about. I do this free. For pastors. This is part of my ministry. So you come to me. Let's make a deal. I'm offering myself to you. Here's my dentist. And the condition is.

That you pay nothing. But I get your teeth. And when he says. I come. I have to come. When he sees something. That's wrong. And he doesn't want to say that way. Got to come.

But he takes care of everything. Isn't that amazing? We see the Lord Jesus Christ. He comes to you. Like that. And he says. Here's the condition. It's all free.

I love you. And I've done everything. Now you come to me. And you don't. You don't contribute anything. Your salvation. Is my concern. It's all taken care of.

But now when I see something. That needs to be changed. And put into line. You. I deal with it. Now you're mine. I have Jesus Christ.

As my. Savior. Says the Christian. On that basis. So did you see. Christ offers himself. To you. In the capacity. Of savior.

He will do. Everything. That needs. Saving. So that you are. In relationship. With God. From now on. It's all done. And you are his.

Now. There might be someone. Who says. Something like this. And I want to ask you. First of all. The question. Obviously. Is do you. Have the son of God.

He who has the son of God. Has. Eternal life. Do you have. Jesus Christ. The way someone. Could say. I have. A mechanic. And I know he's mine. And he. My mechanic.

And he recognizes. That I'm his client. It's a thing. That's clear. And. And. And clean. Can you say that. This morning. I. Have. The son of God.

He's offered himself. To me. And. And heartily. And really. I have taken him. That can happen. Even as you're sitting there.

Because it is. Ever. So simple. If I had to say. The first point. Was nothing more. Wonderful. God gives us. Eternal life. And the second point. Is nothing more specific.

This life is in his son. I would say. The third point. Is nothing more. Free and simple. He who has the son. Has the life. But you may be saying. But what about. All that I owe to God.

Because of my sins. What about my unworthiness. And John's already. Given us an answer to that. He said in chapter 1. Verse 7.

Simply. That the blood of Jesus. Cleanses us from all. Sin. Do you have the son? He has everything. The blood of Jesus Christ.

Cleanses. Has already paid. The price for sin. And on. Further. He says. My little children. I'm writing these things to you. So that you may not sin.

But. If anyone does sin. We have an advocate. With the father. Jesus Christ. The righteous. Do you have Jesus Christ? Then you have the one. Who is righteous.

Righteous. And his righteousness. Is so great. That you stand in it. And you're right. You're right. Because of him. All your sins. Swallowed up. And his death.

And all his righteousness. Imputed to you. And put to your account. As if you lived his life. His perfect life. That's the gift. If you have him. He's yours. And everything he's done. Is yours.

It's yours. And everything he's lived. Is yours. Is counted to you. And you stand in it. That's the glory. Of it all. It's free. And it's simple. Charles Wesley.

Said it this way. Thou oh Christ. Art all I want. More than all. In thee I find. Plenteous grace. With thee is found. Grace to cover all my sin.

Let the healing streams abound. Make me. Keep me pure within. Thou of life. The fountain art. Freely let me take of thee. Spring thou up. Within my heart. Rise to all eternity.

You see. You don't need anything else. Other. Than the Lord Jesus Christ. But you need him. Someone may be saying. But what about my dead heart? I know I don't love God.

Well do you think. You're going to change that. Without having Jesus. Have we gotten it. So backwards. Are we so self-righteous. Do we want to.

So. Call God a liar. And say. Your son is not all I need. I need something else. That comes from me. Or I've got to work out. How could you ever love God.

Until you have. Jesus Christ. For in him is life. Isn't it? And that's what John. Has said to us. In the third chapter. In verse eight.

He says this. Whoever makes a practice. Of sinning. Is of the devil. For the devil. Has been sinning. From the beginning. The reason. The son of God. Appeared. Was to destroy. The works of the devil. No one born of God.

Makes a practice. Of sinning. For God. God's seed. Abides in him. And he cannot. Keep on sinning. And then over in chapter five. Everyone who believes. That Jesus is the Christ.

Has been born of God. There's a new birth. There's a new life. There's a change. That causes you. To love God. And he goes on to say this. In verses three. To five. He says.

For this is the love of God. That we keep his commandments. As his commandments. Are not burdensome. For everyone. Who has been born of God. That overcomes the world. And this is the victory. That has overcome the world. Our faith.

Our faith. It's believing Jesus Christ. And everything changes. Because when you have Christ. You have the life changer. The heart changer.

So there's no reason. Absolutely no reason. For any of you. To feel that you're too unworthy. That you're too dead.

That you're too guilty. Because God's testimony is. That's not what he's interested in. The way of you getting back. By being something you're not. Has already been blocked. It's impossible.

God has shut that off. You're too sinful. You're too guilty. You can't come that way. The scripture says. Now it's got to be. Not through something you give to God.

But something he gives to you. And when he gives it. It's done. This is the good news. God has given us eternal life. The life is in his son. He who has the son. Has the life.

Will you. Have Jesus Christ. Will you take him. This morning. As your savior. Will you. No longer.

Call God a liar. In his testimony. When he says. That eternal life. Is the greatest thing. That could ever happen to you. No matter what you're feeling.

No matter reason. Will you please go against your feelings. This morning. Because you know it's true. If you accept the testimony of men. The testimony of God is greater.

Greater than the testimony of your heart. And your reason. It's all wrong. It's part of the lie of Satan. And of your own heart. Will you go against it. And say. I will cast myself out on Christ.

I will take this step. Even if I'm afraid. Of what people. The young people say about me. Or this or that. God has given us eternal life. And I can have it. And I must have it.

And I will have it. Maybe somebody here is saying. Well I'm not calling God a liar. Because. I'm hoping one day.

That I will have Jesus Christ. I don't have him now. And I'm not doing anything about it. You are calling God a liar. This is a frontal attack.

On God's character. The way you're living. It is a frontal attack. Because your way of living. Is saying to everybody around you. And to yourself. That God is offering me something. That is not good enough.

For me to let everything else drop right now. That hidden treasure. You're saying that eternal life. Is not glorious enough. And wonderful enough.

For me to leave the things of this world. It's okay. And I guess I've got to have it. But as long as I can put it off. That would be the better.

Is that what God says about eternal life? Is that what he says about his love? About his warning for you to come home like a prodigal. And jump into his arms. And he'll cover you with kisses.

And say throw the feast. Kill the calf. My son has come home. Is that something to put off?

Don't let Satan. Don't let Satan. Not your heart up and your mind up. And make you think foolish. And deceitful. And wicked things like this about God.

Don't let him take you to the garden like Eve. And convince you that God is not good. And he gives you all this. But you need something else over here. Don't let him do it.

The testimony of God is that God has given us eternal life. This life is in his son. And he who has the son has the life. May you not even leave this place.

Dear people. If you're not Christians today. Without closing up this matter. With Jesus Christ. So that you can say. Okay now Lord. It's done.

I know you've loved me unto death. And I know it's true. And I'm going against my own heart. And I am yours now. And your word is true.

He who has the son. Has the life. Let's pray. Our God and Father. Father we thank you.

That you are that good. That you should give to sinners who deserve hell. Eternal life. Glorious so that no heart can imagine.

And no tongue can tell. And no ear is heard. All that it will mean to us. To be in a world of glory. In a world of love. Love for you.

Loved by you forever. We thank you. For making it so clear to us. That this life is in your blessed son. Your only begotten.

The one and only savior. That name. That you have given. By which we must be saved. We thank you. That we don't need to look around.

Or wonder. Where eternal life might be found. We thank you. That we may have you. For you said in your word. If anyone comes to me. I will not cast him out.

We thank you. That you are not like the mechanic. That says I have got too many clients. I can't take you on. We thank you. That you are one who says. I never cast a client out.

And how we pray. Oh God. This day. By your. Amazing grace. That you would intervene. In the lives of men and women.

And young people. And bring many. To have the son of God. We pray for his glory. And in his name. Amen. Amen.