Do you know that you're saved?
Some religions would teach that you can not know for sure that you are saved. That basically you need to live your life as good as you can, and at the end of the day, hopefully, for your sake, you have done good enough.
The Bible teaches that you can know that you are saved. In 1 John 5:13, John tells us that he wrote these things so that those that believe on the name of Jesus could know that they are saved. The apostle John, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost seemed to think that we could know that we're saved.
Next question: HOW do you know that you are saved?
John said you can know, and he says that he wrote "these things" so that we could know. So, what are those things?
Well, if you peruse the book of 1 John, he goes through a variety of different ways how you can KNOW for sure that you're saved. A quick side note: Understand that John is not telling you how to GET saved in 1 John. He is telling you how to KNOW that you ARE saved. It is an important distinction.
Anyway, something that just didn't set very well with me at first was something found a couple of times in 1 John - things that John says you'll know you're saved if... And one of the things he says was - that ye have love for the brethren.
Some religions would teach that you can not know for sure that you are saved. That basically you need to live your life as good as you can, and at the end of the day, hopefully, for your sake, you have done good enough.
The Bible teaches that you can know that you are saved. In 1 John 5:13, John tells us that he wrote these things so that those that believe on the name of Jesus could know that they are saved. The apostle John, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost seemed to think that we could know that we're saved.
Next question: HOW do you know that you are saved?
John said you can know, and he says that he wrote "these things" so that we could know. So, what are those things?
Well, if you peruse the book of 1 John, he goes through a variety of different ways how you can KNOW for sure that you're saved. A quick side note: Understand that John is not telling you how to GET saved in 1 John. He is telling you how to KNOW that you ARE saved. It is an important distinction.
Anyway, something that just didn't set very well with me at first was something found a couple of times in 1 John - things that John says you'll know you're saved if... And one of the things he says was - that ye have love for the brethren.
1 John 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
1 John 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
1 John 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
1 John 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
1 John 3:10 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 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
I can understand the other principles taught throughout the book, that if we are born again, that is, if we were born of the Spirit, having the Holy Ghost living in us, that we will be changing due to His working in us... I can get that.
But, it sticks out to me that God says that one way to know whether you're saved or not, is whether or not you love the brethren. He seems to put some pretty heavy weight on that characteristic of a person - I mean, I guess that is how people will know that we are His disciples if we have love one for another.
Just a thought...
But, it sticks out to me that God says that one way to know whether you're saved or not, is whether or not you love the brethren. He seems to put some pretty heavy weight on that characteristic of a person - I mean, I guess that is how people will know that we are His disciples if we have love one for another.
Just a thought...
