I just want to say that we must warn ourselves against a false assurance of salvation and calls every person to examine themselves according to the Word of God. Many people claim to be Christians because a preacher told them so, because they prayed once, or because they “feel” saved, yet the Bible says, “There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12). The heart itself cannot be trusted, for “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). True salvation is not proven by emotions, words, or a past experience alone, but by a continuing life of repentance, faith, and walking with Christ.
Through this message I want to explain two biblical truths: the security of the believer and the assurance of salvation. Every true believer is kept by the power of God, for “He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). Yet believers are also commanded to test themselves to see whether they are truly in the faith. As written in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; prove your own selves.” A genuine Christian continues in repentance, continues in faith, and continues walking with God because true grace produces perseverance and holiness.
The text warns that many who profess Christ may actually be deceived. A person who once appeared religious but later loves the world, enjoys sin, and abandons fellowship may reveal that they never truly knew Christ. Scripture teaches, “They went out from us, but they were not of us” (1 John 2:19). Therefore, no one should rely on feelings, comparisons with other Christians, or the opinions of preachers. Salvation must be examined in the light of Scripture alone.
The message urgently calls people to stop trusting in false hope and to seek true conversion. Eternity, heaven, and hell are real. Just as a weak bridge must be tested before trusting your life to it, so every person must test the foundation of their salvation. Jesus Himself said, “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 7:21). Therefore, the call is clear: repent, believe the Gospel, cry out for God’s mercy, and seek assurance through a living relationship with Jesus Christ, evidenced by obedience, perseverance, and love for God.
This message teaches that true salvation is not gained by merely repeating a prayer or making a profession of faith, but by a genuine work of God in the heart. A person may need to seek God earnestly, crying out in repentance and faith until the Lord completes a true work of grace within them. Scripture says in 1 John 5:13 that the epistle was written “that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” Therefore, assurance of salvation must come from testing our lives by the Word of God, not by emotions, family opinions, or outward religion.
The message calls believers to examine their “secret life” — the person they are when no one is watching. Many may appear religious outwardly while inwardly living in sin. God sees the hidden heart, and His Word exposes every false profession. The preacher must urge people to compare their lives honestly with Scripture, because eternity is at stake. Just as someone would urgently warn a child standing before a moving train, the Gospel must be preached with seriousness and urgency.
From 1 John 1:5, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” God is perfectly holy, righteous, and pure. He is not a hidden or undefined god who allows people to live however they please. God has clearly revealed His character and His will through Scripture. Therefore, every person is accountable before Him. True Christianity is not based on a vague belief in God, but on knowing and obeying the God revealed in His Word.
The message explains 1 John 1:6: “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.” A person who claims to know Christ yet continually lives in a lifestyle of sin, rebellion, and disobedience is giving evidence of a false profession. Walking in darkness means living in a manner that contradicts God’s character and commandments. True believers are not sinless, but their lives increasingly reflect God’s holiness rather than continual love for sin.
The text also warns against the false teaching of sinless perfection. According to 1 John 1:8, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Even mature Christians still struggle with sin, but the true child of God confesses sin, repents, and seeks cleansing through Christ. Verse 9 gives the hope of the Gospel: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Through this message I also want to explain that one of the greatest types of evidence of true salvation is sensitivity toward sin. A genuine child of God is convicted by sin, led to repentance, confession, and brokenness before the Lord. Many outwardly religious people remain cold and unmoved, while true believers grieve over their sin. As Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart.” A saved person does not become comfortable in sin, but feels the loving discipline and conviction of God.
Every preacher must explain that God guards His children with jealous love. When believers sin, the Holy Spirit convicts them deeply and draws them back to repentance. Hebrews 12 teaches that the Lord disciplines those He loves. Therefore, a Christian cannot continually enjoy sin without conviction. If someone gradually slides deeper into sin without repentance, it may reveal an unconverted heart. But if God pulls them back through conviction and correction, it is evidence of His saving work.
1.Through this message let us ask an important question to ourselves:- “Do you tremble at God’s Word?” From Isaiah 66:2, God says He looks with favor upon the one “that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word.” True believers do not search for excuses to justify sin or avoid Scripture when convicted. Instead, they humble themselves before God, allowing His Word to expose and correct them. A real relationship with God produces a new relationship with sin — hatred for it, confession of it, and a desire to turn from it.
2. Let us test with another test of salvation is obedience: - According to 1 John 2:3, “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.” Assurance does not come from emotions, repeating a prayer, or a preacher’s words, but from a life that continues in obedience to Christ. The believer’s life is marked by a growing love for God’s Word and a sincere desire to obey it. Though Christians are not sinlessly perfect, their lifestyle reflects repentance, perseverance, and submission to God’s commands.
3. let us strongly warns ourselves against false professions of faith:- 1 John 2:4 says, “He that saith, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar.” A person may loudly claim to know Christ, yet if their life continually rejects God’s will, their profession is empty. True Christianity is not merely verbal confession but a transformed life empowered by grace.
4. Let us examine with another Bible verse: - I point out the Christ as the example for every believer. 1 John 2:6 declares, “He that saith he abides in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” Christians are called to imitate the character, holiness, and obedience of Jesus. Though believers stumble, their direction is toward Christlikeness. A true child of God desires to walk as Jesus walked, loves His Word, hates sin, and continues in repentance and faith until the end.
5. another question: This Bible teaches that a true believer desires to walk as Jesus walked. Using the illustration of a child stepping into his father’s footprints in the snow, I just explain that although Christian’s stumble and fall, the deepest desire of their heart is to follow Christ and become like Him. As 1 John 2:6 says, “He that saith he abides in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” The evidence of salvation is not perfection, but a sincere longing to imitate Jesus in holiness, obedience, and love.
6. Let us ask ourselves next question: - Whether a person truly desires Christ or whether they love the world instead. If someone continually desires to live like the world, speak like the world, and fellowship with the world more than with Christ, it reveals the condition of the heart. Romans 12:2 commands believers, “Be not conformed to this world.” True Christians identify themselves with Jesus Christ rather than the sinful ways of the world.
7. Another important test of salvation is: - love for fellow believers. From 1 John 2:9-11, the verses teaches that a person who claims to know God but hates or neglects fellow Christians still walks in darkness. Genuine believers love the brethren in practical and sacrificial ways. Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). Christian love is more than attending church services; it is serving, praying for, helping, and sacrificing for God’s people.
The preacher gives examples of believers risking their lives, caring for missionaries, feeding Christians in prison, and helping fellow saints in need. This reflects the love described in 1 John 3:18: “Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but indeed, and in truth.” True faith produces active love and fellowship with the family of God. A saved person desires to be with believers, speak about Christ, worship together, and strengthen one another in the Lord.
8. Next test: - The message also warns against loving the world. 1 John 2:15 says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.” The “world” refers to everything opposed to God’s nature and will. Anything that promotes sin, rebellion, impurity, or disobedience to God draws the heart away from Him. A Christian must examine whether the things they enjoy, listen to, watch, or pursue honor God or contradict His holiness
The Bible warns believers not to love the world or the sinful things of this passing age. According to 1 John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.” A true Christian is no longer enslaved to worldly pleasures, sinful entertainment, pride, beauty, wealth, or fleshly desires, but is set free to pursue Christ and eternal things. The pleasures of this life are temporary, for “life is a vapor” (James 4:14), and everything earthly will one day pass away.
9. The Next question we must ask ourselves: - The Christians who fill their minds with ungodly entertainment while expecting God to move powerfully in their lives. Loving sinful jokes, impurity, and worldly pleasures reveals divided loyalty. Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24). A believer cannot claim devotion to Christ while continually delighting in the very things that dishonor Him and contributed to His suffering on the cross.
10. The next test for us is:- We must remind ourselves of the certainty of death and eternity. Beauty, strength, money, fame, and worldly success all fade away, but “he that doeth the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17). The only lasting treasure is Christ Himself. True wisdom is to live for eternal glory rather than temporary earthly pleasures. The Christian life becomes sweeter with age because believers look forward to the glory of God and eternal fellowship with Christ.
11. Next question for young believers: - I call young people to seek God early in life. Many servants of God in Scripture, like Samuel, were called while still young. Rather than delaying repentance or obedience, believers are urged to seek the Lord wholeheartedly now. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
12. Another mark of true salvation is perseverance in the faith;- From 1 John 2:19, those who permanently abandon biblical Christianity and depart from Christ reveal that they were never truly converted. Genuine believers remain in Christ because God Himself preserves them. Salvation is secure not because of human strength, but because believers are kept by the power of God in Christ.
13.Next tests for ourselves is:- I just express that a true child of God practices righteousness and seeks holiness in every area of life. According to 1 John 2:29, “Every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.” Righteousness means living in a way that conforms to the nature, will, and commands of God. A genuine believer desires to obey God’s Word, practice His wisdom, and submit daily to His truth. Jesus warned in Matthew 7:23, “Depart from me, ye that work iniquity,” showing that those who claim Christ yet live lawless lives give evidence of false conversion.
14. The next question to ourselves: - The text emphasizes that Christianity is not merely verbal profession but practical obedience. A true disciple seeks to know and obey God’s commands in thoughts, speech, actions, entertainment, conduct, and daily living. The Bible speaks to every part of life, and believers are called to conform themselves to Scripture. God’s commandments are not burdensome to the saved heart, for 1 John 5:3 says, “His commandments are not grievous.” Obedience flows from love for God rather than legalism.
I also explain about biblical modesty and holiness. God desires His people to be decent, pure, and beautiful in a godly way. Christians are not to live according to worldly fashions or sensuality, but in a manner that honors Christ. The principle is that everything about a believer’s life — even clothing, speech, and behavior — should reflect godliness and point others toward the glory of God rather than toward fleshly desires.
15. Next question we must ask ourselves: - sanctification. From 1 John 3:3, “Every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.” True believers who are waiting for the return of Christ actively strive for holiness. Salvation does not produce spiritual laziness but a continual desire to become more like Christ. Christians are called not only to trust in Christ’s righteousness but also to pursue purity, repentance, and growth in godliness through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The message asks believers to examine themselves honestly: Are they fighting sin? Are they seeking purity in thought, word, and action? Are they striving after holiness? The Christian life is not casual religion but a continual pursuit of Christlikeness. Hebrews 12:14 teaches, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”
16. The next question tok ourselves: I just want to explain that true believers rest in the finished work of Christ while also striving after holiness. According to 1 John 3:3, “Every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.” Genuine Christians pursue righteousness because they have been changed by God’s grace. Holiness is not an attempt to earn salvation, but the fruit of a transformed heart that desires to please God.
17. Another question: - We must emphasize the seriousness of sin. 1 John 3:4 declares, “Sin is lawlessness.” Sin is not merely a mistake or weakness; it is rebellion against the Lord of Glory. The message describes how all creation obeys God — the stars, seas, mountains, and planets follow His command — yet sinful humanity resists His authority. This reveals the horror and wickedness of sin. Therefore, believers must never treat sin lightly, because it opposes the holy God who created all things.
18. Next question: - The preacher explains the difference between a believer who struggles with sin and an unbeliever who practices sin as a lifestyle. Christians may fall into sin, but they are convicted, repent, confess their sins, and continue growing in holiness through God’s discipline. However, those who continually love and practice sin without repentance reveal an unconverted heart. As 1 John 3:8 says, “He that committeth sin is of the devil,” referring to a continual lifestyle of rebellion and love for sin.
19. The next warning: - Another warning is given against deception. Believers are urged not to trust false teachers, careless Christians, or worldly opinions, but to examine themselves according to Scripture. True righteousness is shown by a life that increasingly reflects obedience to God and hatred for sin. A person who claims Christ while continually loving the world and walking in habitual sin gives evidence that they do not truly know Him.
20. Next question: - The mess also points to Christ as the center and source of life. 1 John 5:12 says, “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” Jesus is not merely an addition to an already comfortable life; He is life itself. Wealth, health, success, family, and earthly blessings are empty apart from Christ. A true believer treasures Jesus above all things and desires Him more than the world.
At the same time, the preacher must comfort struggling believers. True Christians are not sinlessly perfect, and they may grieve because they feel they do not love Christ enough or are not as holy as they desire to be. Yet this very struggle is evidence of spiritual life. A heart that longs for holiness, grieves over sin, and desires Christ is evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work within. The concern is not for believers battling sin, but for those who live comfortably in sin without repentance
