The most critical subject that the human mind can ever ponder is the central question: "Am I a true believer in Jesus? How can I really know? How can I really be sure that I am a true believer in Christ?"

There are many characteristics that do not verify in and of themselves the reality of salvation. A lot of people are relying upon the wrong things to give them assurance of salvation. We will go over them briefly to remind us of them.

The first false test is "trusting in some past event" that gives us some type of false assurance of salvation. Many people look to a past event in time when they walked an aisle, prayed a prayer, or something happened to them that they believe is some type of conversion event that really was not; it was a sham event. But they look back at that and draw assurance from it.

I want to say clearly that true believers often have a past event. You may have walked an aisle or prayed a prayer, and it may have been genuine; you may truly be a believer in Jesus Christ, so I am not denigrating the idea of a past event. It is very critical that at some point in a person's life he becomes a believer, but I find that in my experience all too many people have their confidence in this past event that in fact is not real at all.

Another false test is "living a moral life." A lot of people think that if they live a pretty good life, that gives them some kind of assurance of salvation. Other people think that just knowledge of the facts is enough, in and of itself. Other people think that if they are busy in religious activity, or in service for see if indeed we be in the faith, and that is what Paul tells us to do in 2 Corinthians 13. He says, "Examine yourselves," test yourselves, know for sure that you have truly placed saving faith in Jesus Christ.

So what we are doing in this study is going through the book of 1 John and looking at twelve tests of true salvation, because the book of 1 John was written to give those who have believed in Christ assurance that they truly are believers. First John 5:13 gives us the purpose of the book. John says:

"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."

John wrote this book to give assurance, and as you go through this book, as you read through it, you find that there are at least twelve different tests of true salvation. These are the criteria that God Himself gives for those who are His own, for those who are true children of God. As we mentioned earlier, every person on this earth falls into one of two categories: You either have the Son and have life according to 1 John 5:12, or you do not have the Son of God and you do not have life.

This is the most critical test that you will ever take. I invite you as we go along to take this test with me to see if indeed you are in the faith.

1. SAVING FAITH

The first test that John lists for us is found in 1 John 5:13; the test is this: Have you believed in Jesus Christ as your Savior? This is the first and foundational test. You notice I did not say, "Have you prayed the sinner's prayer? Have you walked an aisle in a church? Have you believed in certain facts about Jesus Christ?" I said, "Have you believed?" That is, have you put saving faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior?

Many people think that they are believers because they have gone through some act, or prayed a prayer, or made some type of assent to a group of facts about Christ. But true saving faith is the committal of a person's trust and faith and rest in Christ, and Christ alone, for his salvation, realizing that there is nothing he can possibly do to earn it. In fact, realizing that all of their righteousness is like filthy rags, they come to Him and rest in the wonderful, finished work of Christ.

That is the message of the gospel of John. You remember John 20:31, where John says:
"But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."

That is why John wrote the gospel of John. John 3:36 says:
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

Finally, John 5:24 says:
"Verily, verily, I say unto you. he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

The critical question is: Have you believed in Jesus Christ as your Savior? One thing that many people never think about when it comes to believing in Christ is that believing in Jesus Christ is a command; God commands all people to believe in His Son. First John 3:23 says this:
"And this is his commandment. That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment."

It is a command for you to believe in His Son. If you have believed in Jesus Christ as your Savior, and if you have put true saving faith and trust in Him, you can know for sure that you will have eternal life. You have God's Word on it. First John 2:25 says:
"And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life."

You can know for sure today that if you have believed, truly put your faith and trust in Christ, and in Him alone for salvation from your sins, that indeed you are a true child of God.

2. FELLOWSHIP

Another test that John sets forth for us in his epistle is in 1 John 1:2-3: Do you enjoy fellowship with the Father and the Son?

"(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."

Note the repetition in verse three of the word "fellowship"; in verse six you have the word "fellowship"; mentioned again; the word "fellowship" also appears in verse seven as well. This word "fellowship" denotes the active sharing or participation in what one has in common with others. You might ask, "What do we have in common with God? What do we share in or participate in with God?" Well, one thing is His life. When you and I became believers in Jesus Christ, if indeed you have put your trust in Him, we received His life. Eternal life is God's life; it is life that never had a beginning and will never have an ending. We become a sharer in His life.

Second Peter 1:4 tells us that we become "partakers of the divine nature." The word "partakers" is the same as the word "fellowship." We have "fellowship" with God with the very nature of who He is. God is a spirit. We have fellowship with Him in our spirit; we know Him intimately. Let me ask you this question: Is there an active sharing in what you have in common with God and His Son? Is there a personal relationship? 17:3 says:
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

Do you know God? Do you know Christ? Do you have personal relationship with God through His Son? Do you have fellowship with Him, and enjoy the sharing of the common life and the common nature that you have with God and with His Son?

This is one of the criteria of whether you are a true believer in Jesus Christ. Do you enjoy an intimate, close relationship with the Father and Jesus Christ? Do you experience communion with God? Do you sense His presence in your life? Do you have a love for Him that draws you to His presence? If so, you have experienced the fellowship of salvation.

3. SENSITIVITY TO SIN

Another important criteria that we need to consider in this matter of whether we are indeed true believers is found in 1 John 1:5-10, and the test is this, simply stated: Are you sensitive to sin? First John 1:5-10 says:
"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

The Bible is clear that light and darkness do not coexist. First Peter 2:9 tells us that we have been called "out of darkness into his marvellous light." We are called in Ephesians 5:8 "children of light." In 1 Thessalonians 5:5, it talks about the "children of light" and "children of the day," referring to believers. A true believer, according to 1 John 1:7, walks in the light as Christ and the Father are in the light.

Now we know that the true believer is not perfect. Verse eight says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. " So a true believer is not perfect, but what we are saying is that the true believer walks in the light as the pattern of life, but when he does sin, he confesses the sin to the Father through his advocate Jesus Christ. True believers have a right sense of sin. As a pattern of their life they "walk in the light" but when they do fall and stumble and sin, there is a sensitivity to it. They go to God and confess it.

Are you aware of the spiritual battle raging within you? Do you realize that you cannot walk in darkness and claim to have fellowship with God? Do you know when you have sinned, and do you confess it? Is there a desire to go to God and to confess your sin, to agree with Him about what you have done and to make it right? If this is true in your life, this is another part of the criteria, it is another test that you are a true child of God.

4. OBEDIENCE

Another test that fits in well with this last one is found in 1 John 2:3-6, and that is, very simply stated: Do you obey God's Word?

"And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."

Now friends, words really could not be clearer. These verses tell us that if we know Him, we keep His commandments.

The word "keep" here in verse three-"we know him, if we keep his commandments"-means a watchful, careful, thoughtful obedience. How can you know if you are a true Christian? It is not really by sentiment or emotion or feelings; it is by obedience; and it is not just obedience, but it is careful, joyful obedience. In 1 John 5:3, we read these words:
"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."

Those who are true believers in Jesus Christ do not just carefully obey; they joyfully obey. To obey God is not grievous; in fact, it is something that we desire and long for, to be obedient children. If you desire to obey God's Word out of gratitude for all that Christ has done for you, and if you see that desire producing an overall pattern of obedience, you have passed an important test. You notice here that the obedience is not to gain merit with God; it is not to gain favor with God; it is out of a heart of gratitude for what He has done for us through His grace that we desire to obey Him.

Theirs an old song that says:
Could my tears forever flow, could my zeal no languor know, these for sin cannot atone, thou must save and thou alone. In my hands no price I bring, simply to the cross I cling.

Our obedience does not save us; it does not earn merit with God; it does not even pay God back for the salvation he has given us. God has never asked us once to pay Him back for the salvation He has given us. It is salvation, and salvation is not a debt. There is no sense of debt or obligation. It is a free gift of God through Jesus Christ. For those of us who know Him and have experienced His wonderful grace, there is a desire in our heart and life to carefully and joyfully obey the One who saved us from our sins.