Assurance

The sermon by Pastor Chris is an in-depth exploration of the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus as recorded in the third chapter of the Gospel of John. It focuses on the concept of being "born again" and clarifies that being born again is not a category of Christian but a necessity for all who wish to attain eternal life. Pastor Chris emphasizes that Jesus is offering a gift of eternal life, not posing a daunting demand. This eternal life is not something one earns but rather a gift to be received. The gift hinges on the notion of believing in Jesus Christ, which is not merely intellectual assent but deep, heart-felt trust. The sermon notes that this belief is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process, as suggested by the use of the present active participle in the original Greek text. A significant portion of the sermon deals with the assurance of eternal life. Pastor Chris suggests asking oneself two questions to evaluate this: "Am I believing in Christ?" and "Am I hating sin?" The sermon clarifies that while one might still struggle with sin, the critical factor is how one responds to that sin. If sin bothers us, it is a sign that we are indeed "born again." The sermon is a call to both understand and accept the gift of eternal life through belief in Jesus Christ. It underscores the importance of this belief being an ongoing, lived experience and encourages the listeners to examine their own lives and beliefs critically.   www.venicepres.org