CHRIST?
lst John 2:3-6
A man was called Old Pete was talking to a doctor about his new birth into the family of God. The doctor said, Old Pete what would you say, if when you died, God took you to the mouth of hell and said, this is what you deserve, in you go? I would say you are right, but your Son will have to go with me. We are now one and He must go too.
There have been many people who have asked me the question, how can I know I know Jesus and saved? This morning I want to answer that question using the Word of God. In our text this morning I believe there are Biblical principles that we can use to know whether our husband, wife, children or a friend is truly a Christian. You know the Bible teaches us we aren’t to judge, but the same Word of God tells us we can judge the fruit of a person, his deeds and works. If a person doesn’t reveal these principles then he is not a true Christian. You may be even wondering for yourself about your own Christianity. How can I know I know Jesus and saved? One thing is longing for obedience. Look at verse 3, 4. This is one way to know if there is a longing in your heart to be obedient to the Word and will of God for your life. If this principle you find in your husband wife, or children and friend, they do show evidence of being saved.
Now pay attention to how this principle is stated. There is a positive and negative point of view. The positive is “if we keep His commandments. Folks this doesn’t mean the l0 commandments, even though they ought to be kept. But if that husband, wife, child, or friend is a true Christian there will be a desire to be as close to Jesus as possible. There will be a desire to hear and read His Word. There will be a desire to give of our money to His cause. There will be a desire to follow His orders for our life. A longing for obedience.
I said there was not only a positive but a negative point of view spoken of as well. “H that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” Preacher that is hard preaching. I know for a fact it is, but its not what Melvin says but thus saith God to all of us. If we say we are saved and go on living a life of disobedient we are telling and living a lie. We are no more saved than a duck. True faith in Jesus is followed by obedience to God.
How can I know I know Jesus as Savior? There will be a longing for obedience. Also there will be a loving faithfulness. v-5. The words I want to bring to your attention is “His Word.” I believe this to be the whole Word of God which is our bible. What I am trying to say is, we can’t pick certain text and by them and ignore the rest. God said we are all of the high priesthood when we are saved. Bless God we say we can live with that title. But God said fail not to assemble yourselves as the manner of some is. His word involves the whole of the bible. A true Christian will love to read and obey the Word of God.
How can I know I know Jesus as Savior? A longing for obedience, a loving faithfulness and last, our living in Christ likeness. 6. Hudson Taylor said:
“If your father and mother, your sister and brother, if the very cat and dog in the house, are not happier for your being Christian, it is a question whether you really are.”
The word abide means to live in fellowship and communion with our Lord Jesus Christ. If a person is a Christian, he will become more and more like Jesus Himself. He will order his life style to thus saith God. When this happens, others will know. We can fool all people some of the time but can never fool people all of the time.
Once at a meeting, some young people were discussing the text, “ye are the salt of the earth.” They were suggesting uses of salt, and the meaning. Salt gives flavor to food. It preserves food to keep it from decaying. Then one girl said, salt makes you thirsty. They all got quiet and thought have I ever made anyone thirsty for Jesus?
I believe a true Christian will cause others to get thirsty for Jesus. Are these principles a longing for obedience, a loving faithfulness a part of your life. If not according to the very Word of God you are lost without Jesus.
