Are You A Christian? Prove It! (Part 2)

I. The Liar (v. 4)
A. Claims to be a Christian.
B. Cannot keep His Commandments

II. The Christ Follower (vv. 5-6)
A. Consistent in loving and knowing God

• Three elements to assurance. There is the element of assurance in saving faith itself. Secondly, there is the internal witness of the Holy Spirit who witnesses with us that we are believers in Christ. And finally there is the third and most important verification of one's salvation and it is demonstrated through life in obedience.
  1. Loving God is expressed in obedience to Him.
     Robert Brown observes: "Since keeping the commandments (or God's Word) certainly involves living out the commandment to love one another, the love of God revealed to us in Jesus Christ reaches its perfection when the same love is shown to 'one another' and to the God who abides in the Christian. God's love achieves its purpose when we keep his word.
  2. Knowing God is abiding in Him.
     B. Conformed to Christ's Example (v. 6)
  3. His example of compassion (Matthew 9:36)
  4. His example of serving (Mark 10:45)
  5. His example of holiness (I Peter 1:15-16)
  6. His example of obedience (Philippians 2:5-8; John 6:38)
  7. His example of forgiveness (Luke 23:34)
  8. His example of love (John 15:12)

Conclusion:

How do you know you're a Christian? You believe the gospel. You understand you're a sinner. And from the heart your deepest longings are to obey the commands of God's Word and live the way Christ lived and walk the way Christ walked.