THE TESTS OF SALVATION (Pt.1)
2 Corinthians 13:5
Doubts and uncertainties often rushed through my mind as a new believer. Am I really a Christian? I don’t feel like it sometimes. Perhaps some of you may still experience doubts. How do I know that I’m really saved? I lack certainty of eternal life? Paul told the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 13:5,
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.
Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course, you fail the test.
The apostle John wrote in the first 4 chapters of his first epistle using simple language about the basics of belief, and the appropriate evidences of true faith. Then, he summed up his purpose in writing in chapter 5:13,
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God
so that you may know that you have eternal life. I John 5:13 (NIV)
John wanted to help his believers to gain confidence in their Christian faith by “knowing” that they have eternal life.
Today, I want to look at the specific evidences in 1 John that we can use to examine our own hearts to test ourselves and determine if we “pass the test” of realization that Jesus does in fact live within us. Then, we can safely conclude that we have eternal life.
THE FIRST TEST: THE TEST OF THE BIBLE.
Do you hunger for and set your will to obey God’s Word, the Bible? 1 John 2:3-6; 3:24 says,
3By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
When someone asks after a sermon on generosity and giving how they should tithe, I immediately conclude that this is someone who wants to obey God’s command to be generous. Doesn’t that seem reasonable? Do those same types of questions and thoughts go through your mind after you read Scripture or hear a message about what Scripture teaches? What does this mean to me? How am I to obey these words? How does the Spirit that God gave you move in your heart as you read God’s commands in the Bible?
THE SECOND TEST: THE TEST OF GOD’S PEOPLE
Do you have a genuine love for and choose to identify with God’s people?
1 John 2:9-11; 3:10, 14; 4:7, 20
9The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates (misew chooses to separate from) his brother is in the darkness until now. 10The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 1 John 2:9-11
This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. . . We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 1 John 3:10, 14
7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. . . 20If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 1 John 4:7, 20
The most obvious sign that someone wants to be around God’s people is when they assembled together for worship. Hebrews 10:24-25 says,
24and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Do you want to be with other Christians? Do you want to encourage other believers to attend worship together? Let’s examine ourselves and ask ourselves this test question: Do I WANT to be with other Christians? Test your own heart. Is that true of you? If you desire to be with other Christians, but you don’t do it, that probably means there’s a degree of hatred in there. What does your desire to assemble together with other believers tell you about your heart?
Let me ask the question this way as well: Have you decided to identify yourself as a true believer in Christ by being baptized? Jesus not only commands his disciples to spread the Gospel, but also he commands that they baptize his disciples. Matt 28:19 “. . . make disciples of all nations, baptizing them . . . .”
If you have chosen NOT to be baptized, you have likely failed the 2nd test. Because, you have chosen NOT to identify yourself with God’s people. I don’t say that to be unhappy with you. I say that because if you lack confidence in your faith, perhaps you should look at this 2nd test. This may be what’s holding you back from experiencing that freedom of being a fully devoted follower of Christ. You may just need to publicly identify yourself with God’s people in baptism.
Do you have a genuine love for, and choose to identify with God’s people?
THE THIRD TEST: THE TEST OF THE WORLD
Do you find your lifestyle and choices incompatible with the world’s system? 1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
We don’t naturally comply with the world’s expectations. The world says it’s okay to get drunk. It’s okay to live together or have sex before marriage. It’s okay to read books or look at pornographic images online, and even celebrate one’s lavish materialistic lifestyle. Some people just love that life.
Here, I see more overt conformity to idolatry than in many other countries. Idolatry is a clear expression of the world’s system. It certainly didn’t come from God. People worship their ancestors, but they refer to it as honoring them. Burning incense, giving offerings, bowing to inanimate objects on an altar, all constitute idolatrous behavior. It’s all part of the world’s system. And some people are happy to participate in that system. But remember what God’s Word says, “if you love the world, the love of the Father isn’t in you.” And that world system and behavior includes a specifically defined meaning that you the individual don’t redefine. The world defines it. You don’t get that privilege. Idolatrous behavior is defined by the idolatrous world system, not you. You don’t get to say, “well this is what it means to me.” “This is what I believe.” You don’t get to define the meaning of idolatrous rituals any more than a woman wearing an Islamic hijab gets to define the meaning of her clothing. Scripture defines ritual behavior around ancestral practices as “worship,” even if some prefer to call it respect and honor. Performing or appearing to perform or support religious rituals that Scripture prohibits occurs often today. Some want to see how closely they can keep to their ancestral traditions and rituals, and still claim to be in the family of God. Perhaps they want to “attend” an idolatrous practice so others see them. They want people to believe that they’re present for the ritual, but they don’t intent to “do” anything. They’re happy to appear or look like they’re supporting the idolatry by their presence is out of fear of what other people or family members might think of them. In other words, their fear of family is greater than their fear of God. “I’m afraid of people, what will they think or say if I don’t support or appear to participate?”
Fear of people is a key element in the world’s systems. Even among teenagers we have peer pressure. It’s no less true with adults. Japanese pastors have told me almost without exception that they look for a definitive moment in a disciple’s life where they chose to identify with God by demonstrating a clear break with the idolatry of their ancestors. They “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.”—1 Thes 1:9.
Actions Speak Louder than Words-Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego
QUESTIONS
Do you hunger for and set your will to obey God’s Word, the Bible?
Do you have a genuine love for and choose to identify with God’s people?
Do you find your lifestyle and choices incompatible with the world’s system?
David Ronan, Ph.D.