"Church, The Way it Should Be"
Can you pass the test?
2 Corinthians 13:5 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?
Every person that has professed faith in Jesus Christ is commanded in the Word of God to examine themselves in order to see if they are truly saved. Many people profess to be saved, but actually have never possessed salvation.
At the time of your profession…
Did you first experience a drawing from God whereby you were made aware of your need for salvation?
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Were you willing to change your attitude and conduct, thus repenting of your sins and truly never meaning to commit them again?
Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
More than just mentally agreeing with the historical facts, did you, with your heart, put your faith in Jesus Christ, thus allowing Him full control of your life for its destiny and your life for His service?
Rom. 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Since your profession…
Have you enjoyed spiritual fellowship with God, with Christ, and with fellow believers?
1 John 1:3-4 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
Do you have a sensitivity to sin; afterward, do you experience guilt, remorse, and regret?
1 John 1:5-10 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. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Do you desire to be perfectly obedient to the commandments of scripture?
1 John 2:3-5 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
Do you now have a different attitude toward the world and its values?
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Do you love Jesus Christ and look forward to His coming?
2 Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
1 John 3:2-3 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Even though at times it is a struggle, do you now desire to live a sinless life?
1 John 3:5-6 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
Do you love other believers?
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
Have you experienced answered prayer?
1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
Do you have the inner witness and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?
Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
1 John 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
Do you have the ability to discern between spiritual truth and error?
John 10:3-5 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
1 John 4:1-6 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Do you believe the basic doctrines of the faith and do you want to study God’s Word?
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Do you love sinners and do you have a desire to win them to Jesus?
Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Is it a delight and a joy to live a separated life and serve King Jesus?
Romans 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
When you sin, does God chasten you?
1 Corinthians 11:31-32 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Hebrews 12:6-8 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Have you experienced a change in your life and are you a different person?
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Having answered all the questions honestly, would you say that you are truly saved?
1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Matthew 7:22-23 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.