THE REAL DEAL – Am I really a Christian? Part 4

There is a perfect balance in discomfort and comfort, in anxiousness and peace, in doubt and assurance when we are exposed to God’s teachings. The correct preaching of the Word will make me uncomfortable and expose my needs by convicting me of my shortcomings, but if the word is preached with balance, it will also point me to God’s grace and love, bringing comfort, peace, and assurance. There is sin, there is condemnation, there is punishment, there is torment, there is eternal death and, yes, hell is a real place, but there is also virtue, there is salvation, there is reward, there is happiness, there is eternal life and, yes, heaven is a real place. God shows the wound to heal it. That’s the driving purpose of these series of articles. Being mistaken about your salvation will have the most catastrophic eternal effect. So run to Jesus!

4. Do you love your brothers and sisters? If there is one specific element given to us when we were saved by Jesus it is love. Not loving should raise a big red flag in our minds regarding the genuineness of our salvation. The apostle John says in 1^st John 3:14 that “we know that we have passed from death into life because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.” This is clear and simple: no love = no God; Know love = know God. Love is part of the standard equipment given to every believer when we first believed. Romans 5:5 says “because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Notice that is says that “has been poured out,” this is an event in the past, it happened already, we have the love, we just need to use it. Are your actions done in love? Is love predominant in your live? Or is it hate and criticism, and envy. One place where we can easily test ourselves in the matter is at home. Do you love your spouse and your children, your parents and those around you? Are there needs around you that you can do something about it, but you don’t?

The book of 1^st John is filled with verses that deal with this very important matter of “love.” The passage in chapter 3 continues like this:

15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.17 But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

This one is a tough element, I know, and hard to swallow, but better to be convicted and repent, than to neglect or ignore God’s opportunity of grace.