If you consider yourself a Christian, then one or both of the following questions has likely entered your mind.
- How do I know I’m saved?
- How do I show someone who believes they are saved, but is living in open unrepentant sin, that he/she might not understand true conversion?
During my Christian life, I have wrestled with both of these questions. After much search and study, I think a good place to consider the answers to them is 1 John.
Why 1 John?
For quite awhile, I had been contending with the second question listed above. One day, while reading through 1 John, God through the Holy Spirit allowed me to see that John lays out clearly and specifically some characteristics true Christians should possess.
Before we fully dive in, I highly recommend that either before you continue reading, or after you finish this post, that you take time to read through 1 John yourself for full context.
Please know that I am not here “judge” anyone’s salvation. Also, I know we are not saved through works, etc.; this is just meant as a starting point for consideration and further study.
Below are the characteristics. First I will provide the characteristics, the evidence from 1 John, and a brief commentary. Let’s go!
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