Can We Know We are Saved
Can We Know We are Saved!
1 John 5:13-15 (KJV 1900)
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
Can we know that we are saved? Yes we can, but be careful, “saved” is a word in the PAST Tense eternity is FOREVER so to make it we must live constantly in His Love!
The book of 1st John has 3 tests for us to take that we may know
1. Belief/Faith, Style of Life, and our Love
a. Believing
1 John 5:1-5 (NAS)
1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
b. Having the Son of God (Jesus is the way, truth, and the life)
1 John 5:11-12 (NAS)
11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
c. Abiding in Christ
1 John 4:14-16 (NAS)
14 We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
2. Style of Life, the way you live.
a. Keeping His commandments
1 John 2:3 (NAS)
3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
b. Not leaving those commands
1 John 2:4-6 (NAS)
4 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; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
c. Pure sinless life
1 John 5:18 (KJV 1900)
18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
3. Love
a. Love and keep his Word
1 John 4:8 (KJV 1900)
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Jesus’ words in Matt. 7 and Mark 7 were adequate for the early church! Jesus looks for disciples, not decisions, long term lifestyle faith, not short-term emotional faith (cf. Matt. 13:10–23; John 8:31–59). Christianity is not an isolated past act, but an ongoing repentance, faith, obedience, and perseverance. Christianity is not a ticket to heaven, purchased in the past, nor a fire insurance policy taken out to protect one from a lifestyle of selfish, godless living![1]
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[1] Utley, R. J. D. (1999). Vol. Volume 4: The Beloved Disciple's Memoirs and Letters: The Gospel of John, I, II, and III John. Study Guide Commentary Series (242). Marshall, Texas: Bible Lessons International.