The book of 1 John has very stark black and whit statements that confirm your salvation and walk with Christ. Use them to constantly test and grow your faith. This is not a homework book that you force yourself to do it. This is a test book that you test yourself in and affirm your faith and love in Christ.
- The test of Christ- We proclaim a true Christ
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 1 John 1:1
- The test of walking in the light- fellowship with Christ
If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 6:7
- The test of Confession- we all are sinners and need to confess in faith and through Christ
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. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:8-10
- Test of obedience- Jesus is the best example of obedience we need to follow
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. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. 1 John 2:3-6
This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. 1 John 5:2-3
- Test of Love- you can’t be saved and hate especially a fellow christian
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them. 1 John 2:9-11
Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:7-8
Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.1 John 4:20
- Test of worldly desires-do not love the world
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 1 John 2:15
- Test of belonging – belonging to the church
This is how we know it is the last hour.They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but thier going showed that none of them belonged to us. 1 John 2:18-19
- Test of testimony- not ashamed to proclaim Jesus
Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 1 John 2: 22-23
This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.1 John 4:13-16
- Test of Righteousness- not continuing in sin
No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. 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.This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. 1 John 3: 6,9-10
- Test of charity/faith in action- we don’t just profess but possess the qualities of Christ
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:16-18
- Test of the Holy Spirit- the spirit testifies for you, your conscience.
This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. 1 John 3:19-20, 24
2 Responses
Accepting whatever happens in life is obedience to God.
He gives me everything I give Him everything.
God centered philosophy is the best philosophy
‘DIVINE CONSCIOUSNESS’ the in-thing.
Thanks Dr. Henri for your comment and reflection. To be Christ centered is central to our very existence as it is by His grace we take every breath in this world. Glory be to God.