- The Underlying Motivating Factor Which Prompted The Apostle To Write This Epistle:
-"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." (1 John 5:13)
- Various Standards Used In Evaluating Our Overall Relationship With God:
-According to 1 John 2:1-6, assurance of salvation is based on whether or not we genuinely know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. False professions of faith do exist.
-Our life should be characterized with a desire to please God and obey His commandments (1 John 5:2-3). We should continually be striving for sanctification.
-If believers do stumble, then Christ is their advocate before the God (1 John 2:1). He is the "Attorney" Who intercedes before the Judge on our behalf.
-A lack of concern regarding one's status with God or consistent failure to make Him top priority in our lives is sufficient reason to doubt having been saved. It indicates a serious need to examine what has gone wrong in our Christian walk.
-A person who loves God and loves neighbor as himself or herself can confidently assert being justified before God (1 John 3:16-24). A Christian will love truth and is changed by the Holy Spirit (1 John 4:4-6).
- Other Points Of Consideration:
-This is not meant to be viewed as an all or nothing proposition or some sort of a legalistic checklist. Rather, the central point of emphasis here is our current state of heart. Are we striving to approach and worship God on His terms or living consistently in sin? God will not accept our worship based on a lie.
-If a person has doubts regarding his or her salvation, then he or she need not at the moment focus on sanctification, but on justification. Find the root cause of that doubt using Scripture and strive diligently to resolve it.
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