Tests from 1 John

This lesson was based on a sermon by Paul Washer named "A Sermon That Has Angered Many".

2 Cor. 13:5; 1 John assorted verses

We must test ourselves in light of scripture rather than comparing people to people, we need to look to God for our testing. If we fail the test we must repent and cry out to God until the work is done!

According to some SBC stats, 10-15% of the professing believers are probably actual believers!! That is a sad statistic! Just think in small terms that won't be accurate for a minute, in a church with 100 in attendance, 10-15 of them would actually be following Christ if these numbers are close to correct. (I've heard/read lots of similar stats lately.)

In 1 John 5:13, John tells his readers that the reason he wrote the letter was so that his readers might know that they have eternal life.

We must compare scripture to our "secret life", the life that only we and God know about.

There are some tests in 1 John that we can look at to see if we "know that we know Him". Test number one is found in 1:6: If we say that we are saved but walk in darkness, we are lying. If we harbor or enjoy sin then we are walking in darkness. We all sin because we are still in the flesh, but we shouldn't be enjoying it or having sin as a lifestyle.

2.) 1:8, Are we sensitive to sin or desensitized by the things we allow into our lives? If we push God out we will not be sensitive to sin and if we allow the acceptance of sin, we will not be sensitive. We don't "fall" into sin, we slip into little by little.

3.) 2:3-4 Do we keep the commandments of the Lord? Keep is present tense meaning keep on keeping, or persevere in keeping--a lifestyle.

4.) 2:6 We ought to walk as Jesus walked. How did He walk? In complete obedience to the Father.

5.) 2:9 Do we hate our brother? (brother=believer) We need to love the brethren in a practical way.

6.) 2:15-17 Are we in love with the world? What is the world? Everything that contradicts the attributes of God or the character of God. If we love the things/sins of the world, we love the very things that nailed our Saviour to the cross! Sin is such a big deal. We are saved because Christ bore our sins and all the hatred that God has for sin was poured out upon His only begotten Son. He was crushed for our sins, forsaken by God to pay for our sins; the very things we laugh about and love.

7.) 2:29 Righteousness is everything that conforms to the nature and law of God. Righteousness can and should be reflected in every decision we make and thought we have. As we strive to walk in righteousness we may be called legalistic. Legalism is death:OBEDIENCE is life. We must guard against those who would tell us that nothing is required of the Christian. That goes against scripture after scripture.

8.) 3:3 Purify yourself. What are we doing to purify our lives? We strive after holiness while resting in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

9.) Whoever has the Son has life. Do we have the Son? Do we love Jesus? What/who do we think about most? Who or what we think about most is usually who or what we worship!

Sometimes people work and trust in their works for salvation, but that is totally wrong. We have no works worthy of Christ, all our righteousness is as filthy rags! However, once we are saved we will work for Christ, through Christ and by His strength. Fruit is the manifestation of the love He has for us and we have for Him because of the love He has for us. James said, Faith without works is dead. So, although we don't believe in a works-based salvation, we do believe in a salvation that produces work!!

May God Bless!!