Reading: I John 1-3
This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin(I John 1:5-7).
It is not enough for us to ‘claim’ fellowship with God. Salvation is not something we can give ourselves; merely labeling ourselves ‘saved’ does not make it so. It cannot be bargained for, earned, bought, or stolen; if it has not been freely given to us by God, then we do not have it. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8).
So, how can we know if we are genuinely saved? How can we tell if we really have a relationship with God or are just playing a part? We look to our hearts and the motivations we find there. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates (II Cor. 13:5)? Are our days buoyed by grace and directed by love, or are our actions influenced by a sense of entitlement and selfpromotion? Do we share the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) freely with everyone we come across, regardless of who they are or where they are on their own spiritual journey, or do we pick and choose who we believe worthy of our kindness and ignore the rest? Do we get up every day seeking God’s will so that we know how to align our lives, or do we regularly search God’s Word for validation of our personal choices? Are we really standing in the light, or have we set up artificial lighting to disguise the darkness surrounding us?
These questions are not easy, but it is vital that we give them full consideration and then answer them honestly, even if we don’t like the answer. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. God’s Word is crystal clear on the subject. Anyone who has entered into the body of Christ has been reborn. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (II Cor. 5:17). A child of God has been cleansed of darkness and enfolded in the light—still fallible, imperfect, and vulnerable to human weakness and temptations—but always, always working for the glory of God. If, after intense self-reflection, this is not where you find yourself, but it is where you want to be, then let go of the lies, quit trying to do it yourself, and turn to God. He is waiting to welcome you in, and once He does, He will never let you go.
Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Matt. 7:21-23).
Thought for Today: Much like our fear of sin, we cannot allow our hope for salvation to preoccupy us and avert our eyes from God.
Cross Reference: For I John 1:8: See Eccl. 7:20. I John 3:12: See Gen. 4:8.
Word Studies: 2:3 keep = guard with our lives and obey; 2:20 Unction = Anointing of the Holy Spirit. This is how we can know all things (2:20); 3:9 His Seed = Jesus, the Word of God (Gal. 3:16; John 1:1-14; Luke 8:11).
Pray For Staff:Jennifer Palafox • Country: Madagascar (23,201926) Southern Africa • Major Languages: French, Malagasy • Increasingly anti- Christian • 52% Indigenous Beliefs; 41% Christian; 7% Muslim • Prayer Suggestion: Pour out your heart in prayer to the Lord for your children (Lam. 2:19).