Introduction:    Someone has said: "Conversion is the end of the Christian life--but it is the front end." Being saved is the starting point not the stopping place. Salvation is where we get in, but there is the matter of going on. Jude describes it as a building process. Salvation is the foundation, but there is a structure that is to be built on that foundation. Once a person is saved, there are certain "blocks" that are to be laid. As each block is laid you are "building on your most holy faith." But before we lay the first block we must be sure of the foundation. If there is not a proper foundation, it is impossible to build a strong and sturdy building. That's why Paul said in 1 Cor. 3:11 "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." The first important matter of the Christian life is the assurance of the proper foundation. If there is not a "most holy faith" there is nothing to build upon. Let's consider three truths that help us to be sure about "our most holy faith."

1.         THE EXAMINATION OF OUR SALVATION (II Cor. 13:5)

(2 Cor. 13:5) "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" I believe that one of the greatest evangelistic harvest fields in America just might be the people on our Church rolls. There are many that belong to a Church who have never been saved. 

·         There are many that have the words, but they don't have the music.

·         Many are professors but they are not possessors. 

·         They are religious but they are not redeemed.

In II Cor. 13:5 Paul presents a series of commands that had the intention of leading the Corinthians believers to be sure they were saved. He tells us to:

A.        Prove The Validity Of Our Claim

·         "Examine yourselves." The word "examine" means "to test, to scrutinize." If you can’t test it don’t trust it.

·         "reprobates." The word speaks of those who have failed the test and have been discredited. This is a test that is important to pass now because on the "Great Day" there will be no second chances to take the test.

B.         Present The Validity Of Our Claim

·         "prove your own selves." Not only should we carefully put ourselves to the test, but also there should be evidence that backs our claim.

·         Salvation is like the measles. If you have it, it will pop out on you. We should not only be able to prove our claim but also present our claim.

C.         Possess The Validity Of Our Claim

·         "Know ye not your own selves."  The word "know" stresses a thorough understanding of one's self. We are to examine ourselves and present the evidence so that anyone would know beyond any doubt that we are saved.

·         Are you saved? Do you have a "most holy faith?" Understand that this is an individual question. It is a question for each of us to answer. (Illus: 2 boys that went into a dentist's office). This is a question you can't answer for another. It is a question you must answer yourself. The Bible says, "examine yourself," "prove yourself," and "know yourself." The question is "Are you saved?"

II.         THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR SALVATION!

To be sure that we have a "most holy faith" we need to consider the experience of salvation. We need to look at the day we got saved. There are some things that we need to be certain of concerning our experience of salvation.

A.        Is Your Experience Based Upon The Word Of God?

"Well I have done what the Baptist say." Since I am a Baptist I trust that the Baptist will tell me the truth, but in all honesty, you can't rely on what the Baptist say, or any other denomination for that matter. Your salvation must depend on what the Bible says. The Bible is our only guide to the way of salvation. It tells us why we need to be saved, how we can be saved, and how to know we are saved. Have you done what the Bible says? Our salvation must be based on the Word of God!

B.         Is Your Experience Based On The Work Of Christ?

Not my work, but His work. Are you trusting in the Lord Jesus and Him alone for salvation? The Bible is clear in the matter, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36). If you ask some people why they think they will go to heaven when they die,

·         They might say, "I am a member of a certain Church." What they are saying is that they are depending on their Church membership or affiliation as their salvation.

·         Another might say, "I was baptized." What they are actually saying is that they are depending on their baptism as their salvation.

·         Another might say, "I went forward in a revival meeting, Vacation Bible School, or a Church service." What they are saying is that they are depending on their going to the altar or the front of the Church as their salvation.

·         Another might say, "I never done anything really bad." What they are saying is that they are depending on how they have lived as their salvation.

·         Another might say, "I have been a deacon, Sunday School Teacher, officer in the Church." What they are saying is that you are depending on their service or position to save them."

Salvation is not in "what" you depend on but "Whom" you are depending. It was Jesus that died for you. Salvation is resting in what He did for you, not what you do for Him. If you are depending on anything but Jesus for your salvation you do not have a foundation to build upon. A "most holy faith" rests on the Word of God and the Work of Christ.

III.       THE EVIDENCE OF OUR SALVATION (I Jn. 2:3-6; 3:14)

I John is a good source for discovering the evidence of salvation. It was written for purpose that we might know we are saved. Notice a couple of things that John mentioned.

A.        There Is The Evidence Of My Life (I Jn. 2:3-6)

 My walk and talk go together. One of the evidences that I am saved is that have a desire to keep God's commandments. The word "keep" was a sailor's word. It spoke of the sailors navigating by the stars. As the sailor set his course by the stars he was said to be "keeping the stars." He’s not talking about a perfect keeping of God's commandments for we all know that’s not possible. God's commandments are our guide and there is a desire in our heart to keep them. If there is no desire to do what God says, it is good evidence that we has never been saved. If on the other hand, there is a deep burning desire in your heart to keep God's commandments, it is good evidence that you have a "most holy faith."

B.         There Is The Evidence Of My Love (1 Jn. 3:14)

Someone that is saved wants to be around God's people and with God's people. Evidence of true salvation will be found in a desire to go to Church, loving the people of God and loving what the people of God love.

Conclusion:     Jude tells us to build on our most holy faith. Before we build we must be sure there is a foundation to build upon. Do you have a foundation?