Can you pass the Test of True Salvation?

Can you really have certainty of true salvation?

Assurance is a hot topic among believers. Even for those who might know the “right answers,” it’s one of those lingering questions in our minds. And why wouldn’t it be? Salvation is at stake.

Wouldn’t you love to know with certainty you are guaranteed eternal life with God? I promise it’s a question with which your disciples are wrestling. When they lay their head down on their pillow at night, this is one of those questions that pops up.

Thankfully, God gave us an entire book of the Bible to help answer this question for us. It’s part of our discipleship as believers to wrestle with this question.

The apostle John told us exactly why he wrote 1 John. He says in 1 John 5:13, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

“Know” is a keyword in 1 John that refers to experiential knowledge. He repeats it 31x in the 5 chapters. He says there are certain people who can confirm they are true Christians. They can be sure about it.

So, how can you know?

You have to pass 3 tests. John lays them out repeatedly in every chapter of 1 John. Meditating on these 3 tests can deepen your faith, trust, and assurance of salvation in Christ.

I use these tests with students to heed Jesus’ warning in Matthew 7:21-23:

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Often times I’ll start off the meeting reading that verse to show Jesus’ warning and lead into the test.

Below is what I would use in the 1-1 appointment. I’ll include verses and info here. I’ve also attached the PDF for you to download and use with your disciples in a 1-1.

#1 – The Test of Faith

Look up the following verses and make observations about the test.

• 1 John 2:21-27
• 1 John 3:23
• 1 John 4:1-6
• 1 John 4:13-18
• 1 John 5:1-2
• 1 John 5:10-13

What stands out about this test in these verses? It’s the object and nature of the faith.

A lot of people have a faith that is focused on themselves. They believe in themselves. Rest their hope on a one-time decision they made for Christ. And think Jesus mostly exists to make their life better.

 John makes it clear the object of faith has nothing to do with ourselves, but Christ. True faith rests on the person and work of Jesus on the Cross.

The nature of this faith is not a mental agreement. Most Christians today believe in Christ the same way they believe in George Washington. True saving faith is rooted in surrender and trust.

Evaluate:

Y  or  N         Do you profess Jesus is the Son of God, who died for your sins & rose from the dead?

Y  or  N         Do you trust completely in Him for salvation?

#2 – The Test of Love

Look up the following verses and make observations about the test.

• 1 John 2:7-11
• 1 John 3:10-19
• 1 John 3:23
• 1 John 4:7-8, 11-12
• 1 John 4:19-21
• 1 John 5:1-2

Jesus told his disciples that all men would know they were His disciples because of their love for one another.

Our culture today is on the attack. We’re out to criticize, condemn, and cancel anyone who missteps or misspeaks. True Christians do not get caught up in that. True Christians show love, grace, and forgiveness to one another.

Christianity is also not a solo sport. A True Christian does not say their faith is “private.” By definition, the test of true Christian love requires engagement and service of others. It is sacrificial.

My grandma was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease early in her life and lived 18 more years before passing away. For 10 of those years, she stayed in an assisted living facility and had the motor function equivalency to a 6-month-old baby. She couldn’t walk, talk, eat or use the bathroom. My grandpa went up to take care of her, feed her, and spend time with her every day for 10 years. He honored his commitment to love her in sickness and in health, as long as they lived. That’s the type of love a true Christian demonstrates.

Evaluate:

Y  or  N         Do you love God and love other people?

Y  or  N         Is there evidence in your life of sacrificial service to others?

#3 – The Test of Fruit

Look up the following verses and make observations about the test.

• 1 John 1:5-10
• 1 John 2:3-6
• 1 John 2:15-17
• 1 John 2:28-29
• 1 John 3:3-10
• 1 John 3:22-23
• 1 John 5:2-5
• 1 John 5:18-21

A True Christian is not sinless, but they do sin less. It’s impossible for the Holy Spirit to take up residence in someone and not see evidence of life change. The trajectory and pattern of their life cannot be defined by persistent disobedience.

In fact, the opposite is true. Not only do true Christians avoid sin more, they also produce greater acts of godliness.

Peter echoes John’s test in 2 Peter 1:5-11. After assuring them of their escape from the corruption of the world because of their partaking in the divine nature Peter says,

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, ⁷ and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. ⁸ For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. ¹⁰ Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. ¹¹ For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

A true believer should show signs of growth and love for the Lord’s commands more.

Evaluate:

Y  or  N        Is your life characterized by keeping God’s commandments and growing in Christlikeness?

Y  or  N        Is obedience a burden to you?

Y  or  N        Can you point to recent examples of growth or obedience?

Responding to the Test:

Obviously, how someone responds to the evaluation questions in each test is important. After evaluating their lives in light of the verses they will typically be encouraged or convicted. John tells us our hearts and the Holy Spirit can give us evidence one way or the other (1 John 3:21, 24).

Positive:

If they are a true Christian, they should be able to respond with clear examples of God working in their life to grow them. If they do, you always want to give credit to God. Say something like, “Wow! Praise God. It seems like that the Holy Spirit is doing a work in you. We need to celebrate how God is growing you. Let’s keep relying on Him.”

Encourage them! This is why John wrote the book. He wanted believers to recognize faith, love and fruit and be encouraged.  

Negative:

How do you respond if someone lacks compelling evidence of Christ in their life?

The DANGER and I would say the MOST common temptation after having taken this “test” of true faith is for the student to respond with, “Wow, I need to love people more. I need to try harder to obey. I need to do better.”

This is where you, as the evangelist, need to quickly correct them.

If someone doesn’t pass the test of true salvation they don’t need to work harder at the test, they need to run to Christ!

If someone doesn’t pass the test of true salvation they don’t need to work harder at the test, they need to run to Christ! Click To Tweet

This is not a test of our performance for God. This is a test of God’s work in us. The only ones who pass this test are believers who have the Holy Spirit working in their life.

If someone is convicted by their answers to the test, this is your chance to help them surrender to Christ and receive salvation. They need to turn from their self-effort, their sin, and their own righteousness and ask Christ to save them.

This could be the greatest failed test they ever take in their life! It could lead to their salvation. Help them to respond appropriately with repentance and trust.

As Will Metzger says, “No evangelist is worthy of our support, no matter how superb his presentation of truth about God, man and Christ, if he then walks away without lovingly urging people to respond.”

Put it Into Practice:

You can use this as a great establishing tool for believers or an evangelism tool for nominal Christians. Sometimes you might think it’s establishing and it turns into evangelism!

I have a friend who was once confronted by a campus minister who really cared about him. In a moment of love, the staff person gently said, “Man, I just don’t see evidence of Christ in your life.” That phrase is what the Holy Spirit used to nudge my friend towards true repentance.

My prayer is this test would help you in leading others towards faith and maturity in Christ.

Feel free to download the PDF to use in your ministry.