In his book
on the topic of the Perseverance of the Saints (the Reformed understanding of
“eternal security”), John MacArthur, influenced by Jonathan Edwards’ A Treatise Concerning the Religious
Affections (1746) discussed the following eleven tests for someone who
wishes to have evidence they are truly converted:
1.
Have you enjoyed fellowship with Christ and the Father?
2.
Are you sensitive to sin?
3.
Do you obey God’s Word?
4.
Do you reject this evil world?
5.
Do you eagerly await Christ’s Return?
6.
Do you see a decreasing pattern of sin in your life?
7.
Do you love other Christians?
8.
Do you experience answered prayer?
9.
Do you experience the ministry of the Holy Spirit?
10.
Can you discern between spiritual truth and error?
11.
Have you suffered rejection because of your faith?
Here is what
MacArthur writes for nos. 2 and 3:
Are you
Sensitive to Sin?
Let’s go back to chapter 1 of John’s first
epistle, to this declaration in verse 5: “This is the message which we have
heard from Him and announces to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no
darkness at all.” John was saying that the message the Lord sent to us is about
Himself, specifically that He is absolutely sinless. The Greek text literally
says there’s not a single bit of darkness in Him. Therefore, “If we say that we
have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not
practice the truth” (v. 6).
Light and darkness do not coexist. One drives
the other away. John went on to develop that theme: “If we walk in the light as
He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood
of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we
are deceiving ourselves, and the truth I not in us. If we confess 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” (vv. 7-10).
Some people make some pretty amazing claims
that hold no water. They claim to have fellowship with God—to be Christians (v.
6), to have no sin (v. 8), and even to have never sinned 9v. 10). They think
they are walking in the light when actually they are walking in darkness. It is
characteristic of unbelievers to be oblivious to the sins in their lives. The
individuals mentioned in verse 8 are not dealing with their sins because they
think they’ve reached a state where they have no sin. But they are deceiving
themselves. Those mentioned in verse 10 have never even confessed or
acknowledged sin. With that attitude they are in fact denigrating God because
God says “all have sinned and fallen
short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23, emphasis added). Since unbelievers are
so insensitive to the reality of their condition, human sinfulness is the right
starting point in sharing the Gospel.
Believes, on the other hand, “walk in the
light as He Himself is in the light” (v. 7). We walk a virtuous walk, and
what’s more, “we confess our sins” (v. 9). True believers have a right sense of
sin. They know I they’re going to commune with God, they have to be holy. When
sin occurs in their lives, they know it must be confessed.
John takes this teaching a step further in
the next chapter. “My little children,” he explained, “I’m writing these things
to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the
Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (v. 1). True believers realize they don’t
have to sin. But when they do, they know whom to go to—Jesus Christ, the
believer’s advocate. As we explored in chapter 1, the intercessory work of
Christ is one of the great trinitarian securers of our salvation. That’s an
encouraging reality to hang onto when confronted with personal sin.
He person who is truly saved is sensitive to
the sinful realities in his or her life. That’s the example Paul left us in
speaking of his heightened awareness of sin’s work in his own life (Rom.
7:14-25). Consider how that applies to you. Are you very much aware of the
spiritual battle raging within you? Do you realize that to have true communion
with God, you have to live a holy life—that you can’t walk in darkness and
claim to have fellowship with Him? Are you willing to confess and forsake any
sin in your life as you become aware of it? Do you realize you can choose not
to sin—that you’re not fighting a battle you’re obliged to lose? But when you
do fail, do you go to your divine Advocate? Do you sometimes cry out with Paul,
“Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?”
(Rom. 7:24) because you’re so weary of the burden of sin in your flesh? If so,
you are obviously a Christian. And since salvation is secure, you might as well
enjoy it and be fully assured.
Do You Obey
God’s Word?
First John 2:3 couldn’t be clearer: “By this
we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.” If you
want to know whether you’re a true Christian, ask yourself whether you obey the
commandments of Scripture. That’s how Jesus described a true disciple when giving
His Great Commission to go into all the world and make disciples (Matt. 28:20).
Obedience to the commands of God produces assurance—the confidence of knowing
for sure “that we have come to know Him.” The Greek word translated “keep” in
verse 3 speaks of watchful, careful, thoughtful obedience. It involves not only
the act of obedience, but also the spirit of obedience—a willing habitual
safeguarding of the Word, not just in latter but in spirit. That’s supported by
the word translated “commandments,” which refers specifically to the precepts
of Christ rather than laws in general. Legal obedience demands perfection or
penalty, while 1 John 2:3 is a call to gracious obedience because of the penalty
Christ has already paid.
Verse 4 presents a logical contrast: “The one
who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a
liar, and the truth is not in him.” That person is making a false claim. “But
whoever keeps His Word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected” (v.
5). How can you determine if you are a true Christian? Not by sentiment but by
obedience.
If you desire to obey the Word out of
gratitude for all Christ has done for you, and if you see that desire producing
an overall pattern of obedience, you have passed an important test indicating
the presence of saving faith. (John MacArthur, Saved Without a Doubt: How to Be Sure of your Salvation [Colorado
Springs, Colo.: Victor Books, 1992], 70-73; cf. pp. 67-91 for a discussion of
the 11 evidences of conversion)
I do find it
interesting that if a Latter-day Saints were to write something similar and/or
provide a similar listing of “evidences” of their being true believers critics
would charge us with being legalists; if a Protestant (correctly) notes the
importance of producing good works and not have a “dead” faith, very few are
bothered by such (to be fair, MacArthur, who was [correctly] attacked the
No-Lordship position as heresy [which it is] has sometimes been accused [falsely]
of advocating a works-based salvation).
