If faith does not mature, is it saving faith? 17 statements from 1 John
We may not know whether one is truly born again, but God does, and, He has set in the life of the followers of His Son “signposts” of their salvation.
Recent studies indicate the confusion over this basic Biblical truth that justification (salvation) does indeed anticipate sanctification (transformation).
George Barna, says that some 60% of Americans profess to go to church, and, 30% say that they are born again. Yet, only 3% demonstrate a life that reflects the most basic teachings of Jesus.
The Apostle John records in his first letter, signposts that are not the works that make one saved, but the beliefs and actions that demonstrate that one is already saved:
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 2:15
but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 2:17
If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son 2:24
If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. 2:29
And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure 3:3
Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 3:4
No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 3:6
Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous 3:7
No one born of God makes a practice of sinning 3:9
whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. 3:10
We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. 3:14
Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. 3:24
for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 3:9
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 5:2-3
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 5:12
know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. 5:18
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. 5:20
John’s objective with these signposts, is not to judge, but to encourage. “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” 5:13
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