Our annual Bible Conference was in Braintree, Massachusetts in 2004. Dr. Donald R. Hubbard was the Bible teacher. After one of the meetings a young man who was a graduate of a fine seminary came to me with the comment, “In view of what Dr. Hubbard said tonight, I am not sure I have had a genuine conversion.” That night he made sure on the basis of the tests for certainty found in 1 John. If a seminary graduate could have doubts, I would imagine he is not alone in this world of uncertainty. My thanks to Dr. John MacArthur for the suggestions he gives based on 1 John.
11 Tests of 1 John
The Issue: Are you aware of 1 John 5:13 - Saving Faith involves an objective certainty (i.e. we base our assurances on the Bible) plus a subjective certainty (moral changes in our life)
The two cannot be separated.
For example look in Acts -
Acts 8:13 - Simon had only an objective certainty.
Acts 8:18-20 proves he had no subjective certainty.
Here are the tests:
1. We enjoy communication with God - we enjoy the word of God - 1 John 1:3
2. We are sensitive to sin and confess it -1 John 1:6-10
3. We obey God’s commandments - 1 John 2:3
4. We love God and reject the world and it’s philosophies - 1 John 2:15
5. We look for the Return of Christ - 1 John 3:2-3
6. There is a decreasing pattern of sin in our life - 1 John 3:9
7. We enjoy fellowship with believers - 1 John 2:10
8. We are aware of answered prayer - 1 John 3:22
9. We are aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit - 1 John 4:13
10. We discern fake doctrine - 1 John 4:1-3
11. We are not popular among nonbelievers - 1 John 3:12 & 13 (Note also 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Our relationship with unbelievers is Acts 1:8)
Application: Matthew 7:14 - “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
In contrast note Revelation 7:9:
“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands.” This takes place during the Great Tribulation - converted Jews are the evangelists- Rev. 7:4-8.
If you read Revelation, you will notice that there is no mention of the church after Rev. Chapter 4. Why? The Rapture of The Church is the answer. See John 14:3 & 1 Thes. 4:16-18. By the way, Dr. David Allen does an excellent teaching on “The Rapture of the Church” in this months “Galaxy of the Giants”, CS-06. Contact Songtime and get your copy today!