FIVE TESTS TO DETERMINE IF WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE
I JN 5
I. John Wrote With A Purpose
A. He wrote the Gospel of John to cause us to BELIEVE that Jesus was the Christ - Jn 20:30-31
B. He wrote I Jn that we may KNOW that we have Eternal Life - I Jn 5:13
C. Peter said we can “make our calling sure” - II Pet 1:10
D. Paul told us to " examine ourselves to see sure we are in the Faith " - II Cor. 13:5
II. He Gave Five Tests For Us To Determine That We Have Eternal Life
A. Faith Test
i) I Jn 5:1 whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God
ii) some give a verbal belief but in daily actions do not practice their faith
iii) going to Church services does not mean we really believe
B. Life Test
i) I Jn 2:29 everyone that does righteousness is born of the Lord
ii) I Jn 3:10 he who does not practice righteousness is not of God nor is he that does not love his brother
iii) eight times John says " if we say " - saying and doing are two
different things
iv) Eph 2:10 we are his workmanship created in Christ for good works
C. Love Test
i) I Jn 3:14 we know we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren
ii) Love Cycle
- I Jn 4:7 love is of God
- I Jn 4:8 God is love
- I Jn 4: 8-9 Jesus is the expression of God's love
- I Jn 4:11 we show how we love God by loving our brother
D. Growth Test
i) I Jn 5:4 whoever is born of God overcometh the world
ii) key is to overcome old habits , sins , temptations
ii) our growth must be demonstrated - we must feed the spirit with God's word
E. Sin Test
i) I Jn 5:18 whoever is born of God does not sin
ii) I Jn 3:4 sin is transgression of God's Law - conscious willful violation of God's word or failure to do his will
iii) our sin alarm goes off when we do wrong - if we keep willfully sinning we will quench the spirit