Are you a Christian?

The greatest thing is to be saved. The next greatest thing is to know that you are saved. Between 90 and 95 AD the apostle John wrote the Book of 1 John. 1 John is written with a purpose. 1 John 5:13 says, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Assurance of salvation produces joy. Chapter 1 verse 4 says, “These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.” Joy is a deep seated confidence that God loves you and is with you and that your eternal destiny is certain. Joy is better than happiness. Joy rises above circumstances. Joy transcends the tough times in our lives.

Three types of tests in 1 John reveal salvation. The key is not perfection but a pattern. Every follower of the Lord Jesus passes these three tests.

The first tests involve knowledge. A Christian believes or knows certain facts. A believer understands that Jesus is the Messiah. “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) is born of God (5:1).” A saved person knows Jesus is God. “Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God (5:5)?”

Eternal life is possible only through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life (5:11-12).”

The second tests are moral. There must be a pattern of obedience to the Lord Jesus. Again, it is not perfection. Even the apostle Paul thirty years after his conversion said, “For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want” (Romans 7:19). Every one of us fail. No person apart from the Lord Jesus is perfect. However, there is a general pattern of obedience in the life of every Christian.

John wrote, “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The 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 (2:3-4).’”

The third tests are social. A saint not only believes certain things and obeys God’s truth but he or she also loves God’s people. It is impossible to love God and to hate His people. Chapter 3 verse 14 says, “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.” Chapter 4 verse 7 reads, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”

John and his brother James were nicknamed by Jesus “The Sons Of Thunder” (Mark 3:17). At one point they wanted to call down fire on the Samaritans (their enemies) in Luke 9:54. John learned to love others. Loving others is a mark of a disciple of Jesus.

We live in crazy times. We can rise above hard circumstances. One Bible scholar said, “Joy is the flag that flies on the castle of the heart when the King is in residence there.” Certainty of your salvation will produce joy. If you failed these tests, repent and put your faith in the Lord Jesus today. God sent His Son to give us life. We must follow Him.

Ethan Hansen is a pastor at Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake.