HOW CAN WE KNOW?
A. Ralph Johnson
A. Have an “honest and good heart.”
Luke 8:15 And that in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it fast, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Hebrews 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows. (Christ's example)
If people do not love the truth, God allows them to follow falsehood.
2Thessalonians 2:10-12. ...they received not the love of the truth, that they may be saved. And for this cause God shall send them a working of error, that they should believe a lie: 12 that they all might be condemned who believed not the truth, and had pleasure in unrighteousnes.
Matthew 13:10-15. Because they would not see, Jesus spoke in parables that they might not see.
Matthew 11:25. At that season Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them unto babes:
1Corinthians 1:19, 21, 25, 27-29; 2:2-14. but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise 29 that no flesh should glory before God.
2Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables.
B. We must have the will to do God's will. John 7:17
1. We must be determined to put into action what we learn.
It is not enough to have an idle desire to know something about the Bible. As each new step is revealed before us, we must obey. God then reveals more.
Matthew 7:21-23. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
James 1:21-25. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves.
James 2:14-26. 14 What does it profit, my brethren, if a man say he has faith, but have not works? can that faith save him? 24 Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith. 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.
Luke 6:46. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
John 14:15. If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments.
John 14: 21-24.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me
23 If a man love me, he will keep my word
24 He that loves me not keeps not my words
John 15:14. Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I command you.
John 8:31-32. If ye abide in my word, (then) are ye truly my disciples; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 12:47-48. And if any man hear my sayings, and keep them not, I judge him not. He that rejects me, and receives not my sayings, hath one that judges him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day.
1John 2:3-6. 3 And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that says, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoso keeps his word, in him verily has the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him: 6 he that says he abides in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked.
Hebrews 5:9. he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;
2. We must do the will of God rather than that of ourselves, our relatives, or our friends.
Luke 9:23-25.
23 And he said unto all, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose or forfeit his own self?
Matthew 19:29 And every one that has forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Luke 14:18, 26, 33. So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounces not all that he has, he cannot be my disciple.
Matthew 6:10. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.
Matthew 12:50. For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Matthew 26:39. not as I will, but as thou wilt. (Jesus' prayer)
James 4:3. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend (it) in your pleasures.
James 1:5 if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,
Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
1 Corinthians 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him:
Acts. 17:11-12. Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so. 12 Many of them therefore believed;
James 1:21 receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
2Timothy 3:16 Every scripture inspired of God (is) also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. 17 That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.
Colossians 3:16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms (and) hymns (and) spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.
2 Peter 1:19-21 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
No man comes to the Father, but by Jesus. (John 14:6)
The way to life is narrow. The broad way leads to destruction.
Not everyone who says, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven but he who does the will of my father who is in heaven, --not even if they claim to prophesy, or to cast out demons, or to have done many mighty works. (Matt 7:21-23)
He who hears and does what Jesus commands is like a wise man built upon a rock (Mat. 7:24.
Matthew 15:1-14
Worship is vain when the doctrines of men are taught. (vs. 9)
If the blind lead the blind they will both fall into the pit. (vs. 14)
John 8:31-32
We must abide in His word to be His disciples. (cf. 1John 2:3-6; 5:3; John 14:21-24)
The truth makes us free. (cf. John 17:17)
“The time will come when they will not endure the sound teaching; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the