Second Friend Day - Elmer Towns

The Bible teaches that God is not obligated to hear the prayer of the unsaved man. "Now
we know that God heareth not sinners" (in. 9:31). This same truth is repeated in the Old
Testament, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me" (Ps. 66:18). Since God
does not hear the prayers of the unsaved, yet he has obligated Himself, to hear Christians; you
should have no doubts about your salvation if God has answered one of your prayers.
"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his
will, he heareth us; and if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the
petitions that we desired of him" (I Jn. 5:14-15).
3. You know you are saved if you understand the Bible. Once again John promises,
"And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding" (I Jn. 5:20).
When you have an inner understanding of the Bible that is proof that you are a Christian. Why?
Because unsaved people are blinded t - o spiritual truths. "But the natural man receiveth not the
things of the Spirit of God" (I Cor. 2:14). This is again described by Paul,, "Having their
understanding darkened" (Eph. 4:18). Just as a blind man cannot see the world about him, the
unsaved man is blind to God's Word. He cannot understand the message of the Bible. Oh, he
can tell the meaning of words and tell the plot of a story, but the spiritual message of redemption
is withheld from him.
Before you were saved, the Holy Spirit convicted you of sin, righteousness and judgment
(Jn. 16:9II). The word "convict" means to cause to see; the Holy Spirit made you see or
understand God's plan of redemption. This is the work of God in your heart to bring you to
salvation. Those who reject are further blinded. Now, if you have a desire to read the Bible and
understand God's message, you are saved. This does not mean you could pass a test in Bible
knowledge, but you understand the plan of salvation.
4. You know you are a Christian when you love the brethren. Another proof of your
salvation is love for Christians. "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we
love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death" (I Jn. 3:14). Love does not
mean mushy kisses and homechurned ice cream. It manifests itself first in fellowship. When
'you are born again you want to be around other Christians. Since God is Father to both you and
other Christians, there is a common bond among Christians. Love manifests itself in a burden for
other Christians. When you see a Christian sin and it bothers you, that is a sign you're saved.
When you see Christians have need and you want to help them, that also is a sign that you're
saved. When you see victorious Christians, and you want to live like them, rejoice for your name
is written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
A minister recently went to a mission church to preach for prayer meeting. The host
pastor and his wife prepared a steak dinner with all the trimmings, including apple pie for
dessert. The crowd was small, with only 26 present. The love offering for the guest preacher
came to $26.00. When the visiting preacher found out the financial pressures in the mission
church and that the pastor only had a can of beans left in the cupboard, he gave him the $26.00.
Both gave evidence of the fellowship of salvation: the mission pastor and his wife because they
gave all except a can of beans, and the visiting pastor because he gave all in return.