ETERNITY

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True Believers

"These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us." ~ 1 John 2:19

When someone who has made a profession of faith suddenly walks away from it (seemingly out of nowhere), the question is often asked, “Did he lose his salvation?”

But the question I would ask is, “Did he ever have it to begin with?” Really, the only way to tell if a person is a genuine Christian is whether that commitment stands the test of time. So how can you tell if you are really saved? Here are some questions to ask yourself.

• Is Jesus Christ Lord?

"All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God." ~ 1 John 4:15

Christianity is Jesus. And if you don’t have a relationship with Jesus Christ, then I don’t know what you are. You may be religious, but you’re not a real Christian.

• Do I obey Christ’s commands?

"Loving God means keeping His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome." ~ 1 John 5:3

This doesn’t mean that if you are a Christian, you will be sinless. But it does mean that if you are a Christian, you will sin less . . . and less . . . and less.

• Am I unhappy or miserable when I’m sinning?

"Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God." ~ 1 John 3:9

If you continue in a pattern of sin without remorse, without conviction, then one would have to ask whether you really are a Christian.

• Do you keep yourself from the devil?

"We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them." ~ 1 John 5:18

Or, are you sort of going as close to the edge as you can get? A really bad question to ask is, “How much can I get away with and still be a Christian?”

• Do I love other Christians?

"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ [Messiah] has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves His children, too." ~ 1 John 5:1

When you love God, you will love His children. If you find yourself not wanting to be around other Christians, it’s an indication that something isn’t right.

The true test is where a person winds up. And a true believer always will come home.

https://www.harvest.org/devotions-and-blogs/daily-devotions/2018-01-18