There are always those who wonder about Assurance of their Salvation; John Wesley stated that it is the common privilege of all believers. A common privilege it is, but so many fail to question their own position with Jesus.
During my twenty plus years as a Pastor I have heard many answer , when asked about their salvation, “I hope so.” What a terrible place to be, not knowing the answer to the most important of all questions, and having only an “I hope so” to stand between them and an eternal hell. At some point in our lives we must all ask ourselves whether or not we truly know Jesus as our Lord and Savior. It is a natural question, and one that God anticipated, we know this because He provided Scripture to answer that question.
“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him”, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in Him.” 1 John 2:3-4 (NKJV)
What a simple test of our relationship with Jesus. We know Him if we keep His commandments. Verse 5 tells us more good news; “but whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in Him. By this we know that we are in Him.” Perfected means completed, accomplished, fulfilled, having reached maturity; when His love is perfected in us we are in a righteous relationship Him.
Verses 6-11–Our true relationship with God is evidenced by our relationship with those around us. We can’t have it both ways, if we say we love God then we must love those around us. It is a spiritual impossibility to love God and not love your neighbor.
The commandment to love one another is first given in
Leviticus 19: 18 –“You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
In John 13: 34, it is stated as a new commandment because now it uses the Love of Jesus as it’s basis for comparison. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” Words that can’t be misunderstood. If we are His we will love one another.
