1 John 3
Pastor Wil Mouer
The Ultimate Litmus Test!
There are all kinds of tests to determine accuracy or truth…lie detectors, Carfax reports, blood tests, SAT’s and the like. These tools help us.
“Am I really living like a Christ-follower?” is a common question. It is not really about self-doubt, but concern. It is like a self-evaluation. 1 John 3 gives us several points (“tests”) to consider as we gauge how we are doing.
Question #1 - Are you a child of God? The test for this question is found in verse 10, “Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God...” Are you doing what’s right by being obedient to God’s commands?
Question #2 - Is the love of God in you? The test for this question is found in verse 18, “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” Are you loving others through actions and not just words?
Question #3 - Do you have confidence of being right with God? The test for this question is found in verse 21, “Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God.” This one requires a little explanation. It means that if God’s Spirit truly lives in you, then you are convicted when there is an area of your life that is not right. You sense conviction, which leads you to confession and repentance.
Is there an area of your life about which God is convicting you?
These simple questions can be ways to check ourselves periodically. Although the questions are simple, living them out requires accepting a challenge. I can guarantee you that as Christ’s followers do these things, it will change our families, communities, nation, and world.
When asked about his favorite meal, Pastor Wil described “a ribeye steak, loaded baked potato and chocolate cake for dessert.”
