First-century Christians could know if they were saved. So can we. The little book of First John gives us some guidelines to help determine our relationship with God. Let us note some of them.
One Who Is Born Of God – “For whosoever is born of God overcomes the world…” (1 John 5:4) To be saved and go to heaven one must overcome the world. Those who have never been born of God are still in their sins, and still lost. Being born of God must refer to the new birth of water and the Spirit whereby one enters the kingdom of heaven. (John 3:5) It is a birth through obedience to the living and abiding word of God. (1 Pet. 1:22-23) It is a birth by faith. “And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God… These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:5, 13) Faith in Christ is essential in order both to obtain and retain salvation.
One born of God does not practice sin (1 John 3:9); therefore, to be born of God one must repent of his sins. (Acts 2:38; 17:30) Again, repentance is essential, both to obtain and to retain salvation. One born of God confesses Jesus before the world. (1 John 4:15; 2:23) And one cannot be born of God without confessing his faith. (Rom. 10:9-10) Confessing Jesus before the world continues through one’s life as an indicator of his relationship with God. Those who have not believed, repented of sin, and confessed Jesus are not saved. And since the new birth includes water (John 3:5), water baptism (Acts 8:36-39; 10:48), for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:27), then one who has never been baptized, or who has been baptized for a reason other than to be saved, is not saved.
One Who Walks In The Light – “God is light…” (1 John 1:5); therefore, fellowship with God is dependent upon one “walking in the light.” (v. 7) “Light” is the opposite of darkness. If God is light, then Satan and sin are darkness. One who claims fellowship with God, but walks in darkness, is a liar. (v. 6) Also, walking in the light is living in accordance with God’s word. (Ps. 119:11, 105, 130) The Bible gives us the guidelines, or standard, that determine our relationship with God. With it we can know how to be saved and stay saved.
One Who Keeps His Commandments – “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1 John 2:3-4) Are there commandments you are not keeping, or refuse to keep? This is an indication of our salvation.
One Who Confesses His Sins – “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.” (1 John 1:8-9) The unforgiven are not saved, and those who refuse to confess their sins are unforgiven. Confession of sin should be made to God (Ps. 32:1-5) and to man. (James 5:16)
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