I have a feeling in my heart

• I Have a Feeling in My Heart
• Romans 8:9-17
• People of different beliefs often say …

• “ I know I am saved because I
• have a feeling in my heart ”
• Examining this belief…
• Some problems with this philosophy …
• Why do people say this ..
• How to really know we are saved …
• How should we respond …
• Problems with this philosophy…
• Feelings not a consistent standard …
– Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

• Problems with this philosophy…
• Feelings only as good as the information …
– Genesis 37:32-33 Then they sent the tunic of many colors, and they brought it to their father and said, "We have found this. Do you know whether it is your son's tunic or not?" 33 And he recognized it and said, "It is my son's tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces."

• Problems with this philosophy…
• Feelings only as good as the information …
– Genesis 45:25-26 Then they went up out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father. 26 And they told him, saying, "Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt." And Jacob's heart stood still, because he did not believe them.

• Problems with this philosophy…
• Bible says feelings are not reliable …
– Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
– Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?

• Problems with this philosophy…
• Feelings are not reliable …
– Acts 23:1 Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day."
– Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
• Why do people say this…
• Because it’s easy …
– To accept the truth is difficult and requires change …
– Acts 17:11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
• Why do people say this…
• Because they can’t answer the truth …
– Mark 16:15-16 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
• Why do people say this…
• Misunderstanding of the scriptures …
– Luke 24:32 And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"

• Why do people say this…
• Misunderstanding of the scriptures …
– Luke 24:25 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.... 32 And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"

• Why do people say this…
• Presence of the Holy Spirit …
– 2 Corinthians 5:5-6 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.

• Why do people say this…
• Presence of the Holy Spirit …
– Ephesians 5:18-19 be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
– Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
– Ephesians 6:17 take .. the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God ...

• Why do people say this…
• How to really know we are saved …
– 1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
– 2 Timothy 4:6-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

• Why do people say this…
• How to really know we are saved …
– Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

• What do we respond to this …
• There is a standard by which we will be judged …
– John 12:48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him — the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.
– Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

• What must I do to be saved ?
• I Have a Feeling in My Heart
• Romans 8:9-17