It is a very common struggle in this world for God’s children to wonder “am I really saved?” Let me first say before we dig into this lesson, that is never a question that a person will ever ask that is unregenerate, so just your desire to ask that question is evidence that you are already born again and the Spirit inside you is stirring for you to ask that question. God gave us the scriptures and the gospel that we would have “assurance” of our salvation; that we would “know” we have eternal life. That language of “I know” I am saved has got a lot of attention in Christian circles. Some might even say that you cannot “know” you are saved. This thought runs in direct contradiction to the assurances to “know” you are saved that we will study in 1st John. It is not prideful or presumptuous to use Biblical language that we can “know” we have eternal life. God does not intend for his children to be constantly doubting if they are his child or not and if he really loves them or not. To put it another way, I want my children to “know” I love them and never to doubt that. I want to verbally tell them I love them, but there are other ways they can see through my actions that I love them, and I want them to be assured to have total confidence of how much I love them. In a much greater sense, it’s obvious that God wants us to “know” he loves us, and he has given us great assurances to examine to “know” how much God truly loves us. We will study some specific language from the epistle of 1st John of actions where we can “know” we have eternal life.

First, we need to consider who the audience is that is receiving the epistle of 1st John. “12) I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. 13) I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14) I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.” (1 John 2:12-14) These verses make it clear that the readers of this epistle are already devoted members of the church who had felt assurance before, have already known the Lord, it was evident to John’s view that they were strong, the word of God abided in them, and they were faithful in their discipleship to overcome the wicked one. Furthermore, the audience of this epistle were already believers in Christ. “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.”  (1 John 5:13) They already believed, but he is writing to reaffirm them that they may “know” they have eternal life, and “may” believe. They already believe, so the “may believe” is an encouragement for them to continue to remain faithful to “keep believing” and continue to experience assurance and peace in Christ. For these believers in Christ, John is writing to encourage them to greater fellowship with Christ (1 John 1:1-3), that their cup of joy may be full and overflowing, not just a little (1 John 1:4), and the way to do that is by living out these actions we will consider that give the child of God the greatest joy, and also are great assurances of our salvation as well.

Let me clarify that we are primarily dealing with the internal assurance of a child of God in their own heart in this article – how can I know in my heart that I am saved? Our evaluation of others in our “courtroom of justification by works”, so to say, is an entirely separate matter and discussion. We can see some of these actions, both positive and negative, and with limited information and limited interactions can reach incorrect conclusions in our mind in both directions. These actions are the general dispositions of God’s children, as opposed to the general disposition of the world in not performing these actions, but it is never our place to speak negatively on one’s eternal state. If in my evaluation, these items seem to be lacking, the worst I can ever say about anyone is “the Lord knoweth them that are his.” We never have any scriptural right to positively declare anyone as a goat going to hell. The person who answers these questions is the reader themselves. I ask myself, do I believe in Jesus? do I have a desire to keep his commandments? do I have a desire to do righteous works? do I love God? do I have a desire to love the brethren? am I willing to sacrifice of my deeds (not just words) to show love to others? do I feel the movement and power of the Holy Spirit in my heart and life? If you answer yes to those questions, then you can “know” you are God’s child. You can “know” that you are saved. Let’s consider the statements from 1st John that describe the actions to where the child of God can “know” and have positive, peaceful assurance in their heart that they have eternal life.

Belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. This epistle was written to those who already believed in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, but the apostle John is encouraging them to “keep believing” and remain faithful. One of the stated purposes of this epistle was that these believers would “know” that ye have eternal life. “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.”  (1 John 5:13) Just a few verses before in this chapter, it is affirmed that anyone that believes in Christ is evidence they are already born of God. “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” (1 John 5:1) The believer manifests publicly that he already has the witness of the Holy Spirit in himself. “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” (1 John 5:10) Also, specifically in the discussion on belief, anyone that confesses that Christ has come in the flesh is of God. “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:” (1 John 4:2) The language here specifically is addressing the Gnostic heresy that was prevalent in the apostle John’s writings, that denied the bodily incarnation of Jesus in the flesh. If someone affirms their belief in the bodily incarnation of Jesus as the Son of God that is evidence that they are already born again.

Keeping God’s commandments. If you have a desire to keep the commandments of God, then we “know” that we “know him”. “3) And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4) He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5) But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6) He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” (1 John 2:3-6) A person’s desire to keep the commands of God is evidence that God dwells inside of him already. “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” (1 John 3:24) All of these commands are closely interconnected. We show the love of God by obeying his commandments, and his commandment is to love God and love our brethren. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” (1 John 5:3)

Doing righteous works. If we have a desire to “do righteousness” then we “know” that we are “born of him”. “If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.” (1 John 2:29) The world is bent towards unrighteousness. Our carnal mind is enmity with God and cannot be obedient to God and pulls us in the exact opposite direction of living righteously. We manifest the laws written in our hearts by the Lord at the new birth when we have an inward desire and compunction followed through by external actions to do righteous works.

Loving God. The greatest commandment is for us to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matt. 22:37). Therefore, if you can truly say you love God, that is evidence that God loved you first and you are his child. “We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) We manifest our love to God by obeying his commandments, principally the second commandment to love your neighbor and the children of God. “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.” (1 John 5:2) The pinnacle way we obey the greatest commandment to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind is by loving our neighbor (Matt. 22:37-39), but principally loving God’s children in the church (Inasmuch as you’ve done it unto the least of these [my sheep], you have done it until me, Matt. 25:40)

Loving the brethren. Loving the brethren is a natural extension of loving God. We need to love others in general, but this love is specifically identified as a love of “the brethren” which are our brothers and sisters in the church. Do you love your brothers and sisters in the church? If you can say yes, then you “know” you have already passed from death unto life. “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” (1 John 3:14) Those who love the brethren manifest that they love God who has begotten them. “1) Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2) By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.” (1 John 5:1-2) If we love one another, that is evidence we are born of God and know God. “7) Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8) If we dwell in love, that is evidence that God dwells in us. “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16)

Exhibiting that love to others by actions, not just words. In the New Testament, the pinnacle of discipleship is “charity” – not just a general affection for others, but sacrificial love in action. The way we show love to God and to the brethren is not solely by words, but by showing that love in “deed and truth”. Do you have a desire to sacrifice for the brethren through your actions, not just your words? If you can say yes, then you “know you are of the truth”. “18) My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.” (1 John 3:18-19) Furthermore, when you exhibit love in action, we shall “know” we are of the truth, but also “assure our hearts before him”. Showing love to others through our deeds gives us great assurance in our hearts that we are God’s child.

The presence of the Spirit in your life. We “know that we dwell in him” because we can feel the presence of the Holy Spirit that God has given us in your heart and life. Do you feel the movement and conviction and guidance of the Holy Spirit? If you can say yes, then we “know that we dwell in him”. “12) No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13) Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.” (1 John 4:12-13)

The reason why these actions above are such strong evidence of assurance that you are a child of God is because the opposite actions are the general dispositions of those who are not of God. Let’s consider briefly the opposite side of these actions that are generally indicative of someone who is not walking with the Lord.

Rejection of Christ. While we cannot speak definitively about anyone who is not a believer in Christ, the general disposition of those who reject Christ is that they are not 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, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” (1 John 4:3, see also 2:22-23) It is a reality that not every born-again child of God will come to an evangelized belief in Jesus, and every child of God varies in their belief and unbelief at various points in their life. We will not deal with all of those variable situations, so this is not an absolute statement, but generally, an adamant rejection of Jesus Christ as the Son of God is not in alignment with one who is of God.

Hating your brother. If one expresses a vehement hatred toward the brethren, towards those who are loving God, loving others, and living righteously, that is not indicative of one who is a child of God. “14) We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15) Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” (1 John 3:14-15, see also 2:9-11 and 4:20) Of course, this is another example of this not being an absolute statement in isolation. Jesus was telling and cautioning disciples in Matt. 5:21-22, to not hate their brother which means a child of God could fall into that sin of hating their brother in Christ. David committed murder, and he was a child of God who had eternal life abiding in him. We are all murderers in our heart if we hate our brother in our heart. However, if we encounter someone who is displaying not just words, but “hate in action” (in contrast to charity, love in action) towards those loving brethren in the church, that is not indicative of one who is of God. “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” (1 John 4:20)

Not obeying God’s commandments. This also shows these stark statements in 1st John are not intended to be taken as absolute statements in isolation. None of God’s children obey God’s commandments in the manner we ought to. However, if we encounter someone whose greatest desire is to do the opposite of God’s commandments when they say they know God, scripture affirms its possible the truth is not in him. “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1 John 2:4) Remember, we never have the scriptural right to declare anyone as a goat going to hell. However, if one’s actions of perpetually rejecting God’s commandments stands in opposition to their verbal statement that they know the Lord, then that is not someone we should have confidence in.

Not doing righteous deeds. None of our actions are as righteous as they should be, but if one’s actions are primarily bent towards unrighteousness rather than the righteousness of God, that is not a positive indicator of their position. “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” (1 John 3:10) The general disposition of those who are influenced by the devil instead of influenced by God are that they do ungodly deeds, rather than righteousness.  

Abiding in perpetual, unrepentant sin. Every child of God sins every day, and we can certainly make shipwreck of our life and become a castaway. However, a child of God should not perpetually “abide in sin”. If one continues to abide in habitual, perpetual, unrepentant sin, when we continually call on them to repent, that could be evidence that they have not seen the Lord and do not know the Lord. “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” (1 John 3:6)

These actions are questions that each person has to answer truthfully in their own heart. It is not up to us to judge others and give them assurance. The Holy Spirit gives assurance to the child of God’s heart (Rom. 8:16), not us. I can have opinions based on my assessment of their actions and life, but these questions primarily deal with how do you answer these questions in your heart? For any person struggling with their salvation, you need to ask yourself these questions: do I believe in Jesus? do I have a desire to keep his commandments? do I have a desire to do righteous works? do I love God? do I love the brethren? am I willing to sacrifice of my deeds (not just words) to show love to others? do I feel the movement and power of the Holy Spirit in my heart and life? If you answer yes to those questions, then you can “know” you are God’s child! You can “know” that you are saved!

However, even if we struggle with these questions and know we are not what we ought to be, always remember that even if we do not “feel assurance”, even if we don’t “know” right now, that God is greater than our heart and knows all things. “18) My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19) And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20) For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21) Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” (1 John 3:18-21) The only person who struggles with these thoughts are a born-again child of God. To put this another way – do you believe the things of God and the gospel is “foolishness”? If you don’t think it’s foolishness, but you have felt the power of the gospel in your life, that is one more evidence that you are a born-again child of God. The natural man does not understand these spiritual things and thus the gospel is foolishness (1 Cor. 2:14) unto the person who is not born again. If the gospel is not foolishness to you, if you believe in Christ, if you love God and love others, desire to do righteousness and obey God’s commands, then take comfort, you are a child of God and there is nothing that can ever separate you from the love of God!

Sermon

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