“The driver on the highway is safe, not when he reads the signs, but when he obeys them.” ~ A.W. Tozer

3 Tests of Authentic Salvation

1. Obedience: The Moral Test (1 John 2:3-6)

2. Love: The Social Test (2:7-11)

3. Belief: The Doctrinal Test (2:18-27)

1. Obedience is the proof of Faith. “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.” 1 John 2:3. “In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome” 1 John 5:3. To the true Christian, obeying God is not a burden, it is the joy of your life! Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands.” John 14:15. Keep here means to guard the commandments, revere them, they are precious. It doesn’t mean that if we ever sin, we have blown it and indicated that we do not love God – it means don’t look at the Polaroid, the snapshot, of your life – look at the camcorder, the overall view… is the overriding view of your life to “guard, revere, continue in” the commandments of God?

2. Disobedience Reveals the Absence of Faith “Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.” 1 John 2:4. Many people have come under conviction, but never come to Christ. Many have walked an aisle, but never walked away from their sin – without repentance, there is no salvation. In authentic salvation, everything becomes new! “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17. My view changed. My love changed. Things that did not bother me now started to bother me.

3. Obedience Produces Love for God, Not Legalism. Legalism means keeping the rules because I’m scared not to, so others will think I’m better than I really am, or maybe so God will not be mad at me. To try to impress God. It stresses us out, robs us of the joy of obedience. In true salvation we are free to obey God! 2 Corinthians 3:17. Let’s all encourage each other to live a life of obedience today and every day!