The biggest question one can ever ask themselves is this: "Am I saved?" This question can be daunting, haunting, or comforting. Many go wrong when they examine themselves--whether to assure themselves that they are saved when they're not or by thinking they're not saved when they are. It is crucial that we learn to answer the question biblically and pastorally.
Jesus makes it clear to Nicodemus in John 3, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God...Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." To be a Christian is to be born again. It is to receive a new nature (Eph. 2:1-10) and become a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). This work is something only God can do and only God does do. We only receive it. We don't make it happen or contribute to it or even grant Him permission to do it. It is sovereignly God.
But, this change produces fruit over time (Gal. 5:16-24). It is a grave error to confuse the "root" with the "fruit". Fruit comes from the root rather than vice versa. Therefore, when we examine the fruit of our lives we need to make sure we always remember the root (i.e. union with Christ).
The first sign of being saved is that one has some desire to love God (Deut. 6:4-6). God and His Word become lovely to the soul (Jn. 15:1-7). It is true that Christians grow in loving God more but every Christian has at least some amount of love for God (1 Jn. 4). We are not saved because we love God enough--only Jesus did that. But, one cannot assure themselves of salvation if they don't have at least some love for God as He is declared in His Word.
And if one loves God, they will grow in obeying His commandments. Jesus says in John 14:15, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." Once again, it does not mean we keep His commandments perfectly or "enough"--only Jesus did this! But, if the life of Jesus is in us then we will grow in keeping God's commandments. Repentance is not fixing our past or making up for it--only Jesus does this! Repentance is confessing our sins, receiving and resting upon Christ alone for all of salvation and striving to move forward in new godliness by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:1-11).
A crucial ingredient in self-examination is actually not self-obsession. It is Christ-obsession. The Christian is one who learns more and more to look outside oneself to Christ alone for salvation. All our salvation--justification, sanctification, glorification--comes from Christ alone. Therefore, the Christian is one who looks to Jesus more and more (2 Cor. 3:18). And it is as we look to Jesus more and more as He is declared in the gospel that we are transformed into His image by the Holy Spirit.
If you are growing in this--whether "slow" or "fast"--then take courage that God is at work in your life!
No posts