Hello Friends!
Welcome back to the final segment of our study from the book of 1
John as we seek to answer the eternally important question: Are You Truly
Redeemed?
As we come to our last of the “10 hallmarks” of a true believer in
Jesus Christ, we find that when the attributes of sound faith in Jesus
Christ, obedience to His commands and love for God & fellow
believers operate in concert together, they result in joy, holiness
and assurance. These godly attributes indeed constitute the evidence or
“the litmus test” of a true Christian…
Are You
Truly Redeemed? ~ 10 Hallmarks of a True Christian (Part 6 of 6)
Here we find that John also refutes defectors of the Faith with
sound doctrine – exhibiting no tolerance for those who pervert the divine truth
of the Scriptures. The Bible is the only authority and source for Truth and
Devine doctrine and is our resource for the day and age we live in today – a
day of great spiritual decline and rank apostasy.
9. A true convert rejects the false teachings of apostates
They expose heresy and false doctrine whenever necessary:
Who is
a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies
the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either;
he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also – 1 John
2:22-23
10. A true convert abides in the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ
They persevere in the faith of the Father through Jesus Christ
the Son:
Therefore
let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard
from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the
Father – 1 John
2:24
Remember: Our
faithfulness to proclaim the Truth of God’s Word as well as defend the Gospel
of Jesus Christ may very well assist others in examining their own faith to
verify if they are indeed a true convert of Jesus Christ – their very
soul may depend upon it!
Closing thoughts:
Here’s
a final thought from the Apostle Paul's sojourn in Berea outlined in the book
of Acts. He preached there and the Bereans heard the Word and then searched the
Scriptures to see if Paul was correct:
These were more fair-minded
than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness,
and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so – Act 17:11
This
too is a great principle – Hear the Word preached/taught and study the
Scriptures for yourself to see if the preacher/teacher is Biblically correct. I
encourage each of us to apply this same principle to our own Christian studies
– let’s be “good Bereans” in our search for The Truth!
May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect
love, mercy and grace!
Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah
and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!
Blessings!
Shane <><