Many years ago in a suburb of Washington, DC, a woman came up to me after my talk. I asked her if she was a Christian.
She replied, “I am a Methodist.”
I said, “You did not answer the question.”
“Aren’t Methodists Christians?”
“You tell me. For words to be synonyms, they have to be interchangeable. For instance, all rocks are stones and all stones are rocks. Now, are all Christians Methodist?”
“No, some are Presbyterian and some are Baptist.”
“Here is a stickier question: Are all Methodists Christian?”
She thought for a moment and then said, “No, I don’t think all Methodists are Christians.”
“Well, then, you did not tell me much. You did not tell me whether you are one of the Methodists who is a Christian or one who is not.”
“Well, what is a Christian?” It turned out that she realized that she was not a Christian and became one.
It is my purpose to give a short definition of a Christian and then how you can tell if you are one.
A Christian believes certain truths about man:
Man is alienated from God by sin.
He cannot save himself from judgment.
A Christian believes a certain minimum of truth about God:
God created everything from nothing.
God is love.
God is just.
God is merciful.
God sent His son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to this earth to be come a man to die for sin, sinners and sins.
Jesus Christ arose from the dead to justify sinful man, that is, to give him a righteousness from God.
A Christian is someone who has responded to God in belief and repentance.
A Christian is someone whose sins have been forgiven.
A Christian has the fruit of the Spirit.
A Christian is someone in whom Jesus Christ dwells.
Assuming that you believe these things but have doubts about your salvation, here are a few passages in the Bible that describe experiential changes that belong only to Christians. If they fit you and you believe the things listed above, then thank God for your salvation. If they do not fit, then you have good reason to doubt your salvation.
1. Love for the Brothers
“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him” (1 John 3:14-15). Loving our brothers is not the means of salvation; it is an evidence to us that we have passed from death to life. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).
2. Love for our Enemies
Loving one another is an evidence to everyone else that we are followers of Jesus. “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?” (Matthew 5:44-46).
Loving an enemy is another distinctive of a Christian. Here there are two distinctives of those who have passed from death to life: he loves Christians, and he loves his enemies. Non-Christians do not love Christians and do not love their enemies.
Look back on your life to see when you started to love Christians and your enemies. Shortly before that you passed from death to life.
3. Obedience to God
“We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:3-6). Obedience is not the means of knowing Him; it is an evidence that we already know Him. Obedience is how we know for sure that we know Him.
4. Spiritual Understanding
“...but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment: ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:10-16).
Spiritual understanding is given to those who have the Spirit of God. If spiritual truths seem foolishness to you, then you are still a natural man, one without the Spirit.
5. Change in Character
“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:19-24).
There are two lists in the above paragraph. Which list describes you the best? If the first, then you will not inherit the kingdom. Jesus Christ died and rose in order to save us from the first list and save us into the second list. If you are unsure because you think you are saved but the first list still describes you in part, then confess and forsake these things immediately. Jesus did not save you so that you could sin.
6. Increased Discipline from God.
“In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.’ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:4-11).
This text says several things: a) I should resist sin to the point of death; b) If I do not resist and do sin, God will discipline me. This discipline will be an encouragement; it will be painful; it will be for my good, my holiness, my righteousness and for my peace; c) discipline from God is proof of my sonship. If I do not get disciplined for sin, it will prove that I am not a son of God.
“For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Romans 8:13-16).
It is hard to describe because this witness of the Spirit is an interior witness, but very real.
Now—all of the letter of 1 John is on this subject of assurance of salvation. Read and re-read this small book.
In addition to biblical experiences, there are clear statements, promises of God predicated upon man’s response:
“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life” (John 5: 24).
“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:11-13).
It is not self-righteous presumption to say that you know that you are saved if you recognize that your salvation is all the work of God. It is presumptive if you think you earned it or deserve it for any reason.
Thank God!
If you have received the Lord Jesus Christ by faith because of the faith created in you by reading this good news, then do several things:
• Thank God and keep on thanking.
• Be baptized in water.
• Obey His commands.
• Read your Bible daily.
• Meet with believers regularly.
• Tell others the Good News as it is in the Bible and how He has changed your life.
She replied, “I am a Methodist.”
I said, “You did not answer the question.”
“Aren’t Methodists Christians?”
“You tell me. For words to be synonyms, they have to be interchangeable. For instance, all rocks are stones and all stones are rocks. Now, are all Christians Methodist?”
“No, some are Presbyterian and some are Baptist.”
“Here is a stickier question: Are all Methodists Christian?”
She thought for a moment and then said, “No, I don’t think all Methodists are Christians.”
“Well, then, you did not tell me much. You did not tell me whether you are one of the Methodists who is a Christian or one who is not.”
“Well, what is a Christian?” It turned out that she realized that she was not a Christian and became one.
It is my purpose to give a short definition of a Christian and then how you can tell if you are one.
A Christian believes certain truths about man:
Man is alienated from God by sin.
He cannot save himself from judgment.
A Christian believes a certain minimum of truth about God:
God created everything from nothing.
God is love.
God is just.
God is merciful.
God sent His son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to this earth to be come a man to die for sin, sinners and sins.
Jesus Christ arose from the dead to justify sinful man, that is, to give him a righteousness from God.
A Christian is someone who has responded to God in belief and repentance.
A Christian is someone whose sins have been forgiven.
A Christian has the fruit of the Spirit.
A Christian is someone in whom Jesus Christ dwells.
Assuming that you believe these things but have doubts about your salvation, here are a few passages in the Bible that describe experiential changes that belong only to Christians. If they fit you and you believe the things listed above, then thank God for your salvation. If they do not fit, then you have good reason to doubt your salvation.
1. Love for the Brothers
“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him” (1 John 3:14-15). Loving our brothers is not the means of salvation; it is an evidence to us that we have passed from death to life. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).
2. Love for our Enemies
Loving one another is an evidence to everyone else that we are followers of Jesus. “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?” (Matthew 5:44-46).
Loving an enemy is another distinctive of a Christian. Here there are two distinctives of those who have passed from death to life: he loves Christians, and he loves his enemies. Non-Christians do not love Christians and do not love their enemies.
Look back on your life to see when you started to love Christians and your enemies. Shortly before that you passed from death to life.
3. Obedience to God
“We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:3-6). Obedience is not the means of knowing Him; it is an evidence that we already know Him. Obedience is how we know for sure that we know Him.
4. Spiritual Understanding
“...but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment: ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:10-16).
Spiritual understanding is given to those who have the Spirit of God. If spiritual truths seem foolishness to you, then you are still a natural man, one without the Spirit.
5. Change in Character
“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:19-24).
There are two lists in the above paragraph. Which list describes you the best? If the first, then you will not inherit the kingdom. Jesus Christ died and rose in order to save us from the first list and save us into the second list. If you are unsure because you think you are saved but the first list still describes you in part, then confess and forsake these things immediately. Jesus did not save you so that you could sin.
6. Increased Discipline from God.
“In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.’ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:4-11).
This text says several things: a) I should resist sin to the point of death; b) If I do not resist and do sin, God will discipline me. This discipline will be an encouragement; it will be painful; it will be for my good, my holiness, my righteousness and for my peace; c) discipline from God is proof of my sonship. If I do not get disciplined for sin, it will prove that I am not a son of God.
“For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Romans 8:13-16).
It is hard to describe because this witness of the Spirit is an interior witness, but very real.
Now—all of the letter of 1 John is on this subject of assurance of salvation. Read and re-read this small book.
In addition to biblical experiences, there are clear statements, promises of God predicated upon man’s response:
“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life” (John 5: 24).
“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:11-13).
It is not self-righteous presumption to say that you know that you are saved if you recognize that your salvation is all the work of God. It is presumptive if you think you earned it or deserve it for any reason.
Thank God!
If you have received the Lord Jesus Christ by faith because of the faith created in you by reading this good news, then do several things:
• Thank God and keep on thanking.
• Be baptized in water.
• Obey His commands.
• Read your Bible daily.
• Meet with believers regularly.
• Tell others the Good News as it is in the Bible and how He has changed your life.
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