How do I know that I am a Christian?
I once discipled a wonderful man who really struggled with his identity. He was a former drag queen who was incredibly artistic in every way. The logical side of his brain wasn't very strong but his emotional side flourished. It made him an amazing talented guy but who was ruled by his emotions and feelings. He would often "feel" like he was not saved. Worse, he would listen that internal self talk. You know the one, we all have it. The one that says: You are not good enough. A Christian wouldn't do that or think that. You can always diagnose whose voice it is by the condemnation. If you are a believer, Romans 8:1 says there is now therefore NO condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. None. I have it too. The key is to redirect the self talk to Jesus. Jesus, you tell me the truth that I am accepted, loved and forgiven. I need to stand on that instead. Jesus' voice sounds like this: You are my child, I love you and I have better things for you... Not condemnation.
Most of all, feelings are part of being human and it makes life worth living. I say they are indicators of life not fabricators of life. We weren't meant to run our lives by them nor determine our salvation by it. I don't "feel" saved at times but I take God at his word. Truth is what we run our lives by because it never changes and is true regardless of when or where you live or what gender or color you are or how you feel. The truth is the gospel, that we are saved by grace through faith not of works. That if we confess with our mouths, we will be saved. It's 100% because God says so. I live by faith in that statement. Faith that is built on evidence. So there is something tangible to look at when evaluating (or as Paul says: examining) our faith. 1 John gives some great "tests" of faith. There are about 9 of them, here are the 7 biggies. Remember, people grow in holiness and it isn't always a straight line of growth. It's up and down and some people grow faster and a lot, others not so much. Your speed of growth is irrelevant to salvation. You are saved by faith, not works. You grow by your willingness to submit to the work of the Holy Spirit and through applying his word.
1. Increasing love for fellow believers: not perfect but increasing!
1 John 3:14: "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 4:7-8: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
2. Increasing obedience to God's commands:
1 John 2:3-5: "We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person."
3. A pattern of rejection of worldly values:
1 John 2:15: "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them."
4. Belief in Jesus as the Son of God:
1 John 5:1: "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well."
5. Increasing practice of righteousness:
1 John 3:9-10: "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God."
6. Acknowledgment of sin and need for forgiveness:
1 John 1:8-10: "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
7. Increasing love for the truth:
1 John 4:6: "We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood."
These tests in 1 John emphasize that true faith results in a transformed life, characterized by and increasing conformity to the image of Jesus. John presents these as evidence of genuine faith, helping believers to have assurance of their salvation and encouraging them to grow in their walk with God. Also, our only motivation for doing any of this is thankfulness and love for what GOD has done in our lives. Not to earn something, but because you have something already!
Most of all, feelings are part of being human and it makes life worth living. I say they are indicators of life not fabricators of life. We weren't meant to run our lives by them nor determine our salvation by it. I don't "feel" saved at times but I take God at his word. Truth is what we run our lives by because it never changes and is true regardless of when or where you live or what gender or color you are or how you feel. The truth is the gospel, that we are saved by grace through faith not of works. That if we confess with our mouths, we will be saved. It's 100% because God says so. I live by faith in that statement. Faith that is built on evidence. So there is something tangible to look at when evaluating (or as Paul says: examining) our faith. 1 John gives some great "tests" of faith. There are about 9 of them, here are the 7 biggies. Remember, people grow in holiness and it isn't always a straight line of growth. It's up and down and some people grow faster and a lot, others not so much. Your speed of growth is irrelevant to salvation. You are saved by faith, not works. You grow by your willingness to submit to the work of the Holy Spirit and through applying his word.
1. Increasing love for fellow believers: not perfect but increasing!
1 John 3:14: "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 4:7-8: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
2. Increasing obedience to God's commands:
1 John 2:3-5: "We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person."
3. A pattern of rejection of worldly values:
1 John 2:15: "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them."
4. Belief in Jesus as the Son of God:
1 John 5:1: "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well."
5. Increasing practice of righteousness:
1 John 3:9-10: "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God."
6. Acknowledgment of sin and need for forgiveness:
1 John 1:8-10: "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
7. Increasing love for the truth:
1 John 4:6: "We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood."
These tests in 1 John emphasize that true faith results in a transformed life, characterized by and increasing conformity to the image of Jesus. John presents these as evidence of genuine faith, helping believers to have assurance of their salvation and encouraging them to grow in their walk with God. Also, our only motivation for doing any of this is thankfulness and love for what GOD has done in our lives. Not to earn something, but because you have something already!
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