TWELVE TESTS ON ASSURANCE
A. Do You Enjoy Fellowship with Christ and His Redeemed People?
If you regularly participate in such fellowship, that's a sign you are a Christian (cf. Heb. 10:24-26). First John 1:3 says, "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ." We have fellowship with God the Father, God the Son, and everyone who has fellowship with the Father and the Son. When you were saved you entered into fellowship with Jesus Christ and His redeemed people. If you have shared in the prayers, praises, and testimonies of God's people, that's an indication you belong to Him.
B. Are You Sensitive to Your Sin?
First John 1:8, 10 says "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.... If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." If you have a continual sensitivity to the sin in your life and are in awe of holy God, that's an indication you are a Christian.
C. Do You Tend to Hate the World and its Evil?
First John 2:15 says, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." If you love the system of the world and all that it stands for, that indicates you are not a Christian. However, if you have a basic hatred of the evil in this world, even though you may fall into its trap now and then, that's an indication you are a Christian.
D. Are You Obedient to God's Word?
First John 2:3-5 says, "By this we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whosoever keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected; by this know we that we are in him."
E. Do You Await the Coming of Jesus Christ?
First John 3:2-3 says, "Beloved ... it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure." If you love Christ and eagerly await His coming, that indicates you are a Christian.
F. Do You See a Decreasing Pattern of Sin in Your Life?
First John 3:5-6 says, "Ye know that he was manifest to take away our sins, and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not; whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him." A true Christian will experience a decreasing frequency of sin in his life.
G. Do You Make Sacrifices for Other Christians?
First John 3:14 says, "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death." Then in verses 16-17 John says, "We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whosoever hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his compassions from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"
H. Do You Experience Answered Prayer?
First John 3:22 says, "Whatever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." Answered prayer is the result of keeping God's commandments and doing what is pleasing in His sight. So if you're seeing answers to your prayers, that indicates you are a Christian.
I. Do You Experience the Internal Work of the Holy Spirit?
First John 3:24 says, "By this we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit whom he hath given us." John also says, "By this know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit" (1 John 4:13). The Spirit in us cries, "Abba, Father" (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6). Although you may be experiencing doubt at the present time, if you can look back and see the Spirit's leading in the past, that's an affirmation that you belong to God.
J. Are You Able to Discern Between Spiritual Truth and Error?
First John 4:1-6 says, "Believe not every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world. By this know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God; and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God; and this is that spirit of antichrist, of which ye have heard that it should come, and even now already is in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world; therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God. He that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. By this know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error." A true Christian does not fall prey to false teaching about Jesus Christ, the doctrine of salvation, and other basics of the faith.
K. Do You Believe What the Bible Teaches?
First John 5:1 says, "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God." Why should you believe that? Because the Bible, which proves itself to be the Word of God, says so.
L. Have You Ever Suffered on Account of Your Faith?
The devil doesn't attack the tares; he attacks the wheat (Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43). Philippians 1:28 says, "In nothing [be] terrified by your adversaries, which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation." When you are attacked by the enemy, remember that he is judged, but you are saved.
2007-06-28 05:26:39
·
answer #1
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
What is it that you believe? What part of Jesus do you believe in? Do you believe that he came to earth to buy back the right to everlasting life for all humans?
If so, then what should you do to show your appreciation?
He said at John 17:3 if we wanted to live we needed to know God and his son, to know means to gain knowledge of some one so you can understand and follow him as a leader. You then would become an imitator of his ways, then this helps you to become a disciple.
As disciples of Jesus we would follow his commands at Mathew 28:18,19. This responsibility was not put on a clergy class, it belongs to everyone that claims to be a follower of Christ.
We were not to keep this knowledge to ourselves.
If you knew that the world was coming to and end, and you could prove it through scriptures, because of the knowledge you gained through bible study. Would you keep it to yourself or would you try to warn others of the impending destruction, so they too could have a opportunity to survive?
You see this is what it means to be a true christian. So the key to being SAVED is accurate Bible Knowledge, Testing your beliefs to be sure you have the truth? then helping others to come into an accurate knowledge of truth. Then after doing this you might have a chance of survival. See Zephaniah 2:2,3
If you have more questions or need help feel free to ask.
gemhandy@hotmail.com
2007-06-28 12:59:30
·
answer #2
·
answered by gem 4
·
0⤊
0⤋
You must believe Jesus Christ.
2007-06-28 12:49:53
·
answer #3
·
answered by Steel Rain 7
·
0⤊
0⤋
It takes more than Just believing in Jesus Christ to be saved.
You have to do the will of his father. (Matthew 7:21-23) Many people will claim to be followers of Christ, but he sees through their hypocracy and he will dismiss them into everlasting destruction.
EXERCISING involves more than belief, it involves ACTION.
Body builders can believe all they want that if they lift wieghts they will gain muscle, but until they actuall pick up the weights and start lifting them, they won't get any results. So too it is with spiritual strength, you have to take action, you have to search through God's inspired word the Bible and find out what his will is, and change your life accordingly. You are to be commended for your interest in spiritual things. I would encourage you to read the Bible every day and meditate or think deeply about what you learn.
I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses and I would be happy to talk to you about the Bible. We are under obligation as True Christians to preach the life-saving Good News to all we meet. Jesus commands all who would follow him to "Go therefore and make disciples of peoples of all the nations, Baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son abd of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things that I have commanded you..." (Matthew 28:19,20)
Please think about these scriptures and do not let anyone discourage you. Keep searching and you will find the truth about what the Bible Really teaches.
2007-06-28 12:48:21
·
answer #4
·
answered by ? 2
·
0⤊
0⤋
IF you were saved, and you believed in Christ- you would know it- Satan is deceiving you, because He believes too-
This is how you know that you are a born again believer
1- Have you admitted that you are a sinner?
2- Have you asked God to forgive you of your sins, through the shed blood of Jesus?
3- Have you decided to repent- TURN- from your sin back to God, and accept Him as payment for your sins?
If you confess with your mouth and believe with your heart, you will be saved. Email if you want to chat more about this important decision.
2007-06-28 12:16:28
·
answer #5
·
answered by AdoreHim 7
·
0⤊
1⤋
Do you realize you are a sinner? We ALL are! Do you believe that God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ to this earth to die on the cross for ALL of our sins?? Past present and future sins?? Do you believe that Jesus rose on the 3rd day and is alive and well and in heaven?? Do you believe that God is the ONLY God?? If so, please just pour your heart out to God.
Tell Him you know you're a sinner, and you deserve hell, but through His mercy and the shed blood of His Son on the cross that you know your sins are forgotten, no matter HOW your past has been. You want Him to come into your life and be your Lord and Saviour, and you want Him to work in your life, and you want to be more like Him. You want to enter into heaven when you die and you LOVE HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART! If you pray something like that to Him and mean it with every fiber of your being, you WILL be saved and you WILL know it!!!! Please let us know??!!!!
2007-06-28 12:17:50
·
answer #6
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
satan believe in God and Jesus Christ usless you give your life to God willingly it is not enough.
2007-06-28 12:12:19
·
answer #7
·
answered by Mim 7
·
0⤊
0⤋
Would you like to know for sure?
Pastor Art
2007-06-28 12:17:03
·
answer #8
·
answered by Anonymous
·
1⤊
0⤋
You're not saved, it's called the Placebo Effect.
2007-06-28 12:11:44
·
answer #9
·
answered by Adam 2
·
0⤊
3⤋
think again
2007-06-28 12:17:50
·
answer #10
·
answered by slopoke6968 7
·
0⤊
2⤋