One often hears of "check-list repentance"; the following, from John F. MacArthur (Reformed) is "check-list assurance" (cf. John MacArthur's (and Jonathan Edwards') 11 Tests of Examining if One is a True Convert):
There is first of all
an objective test, which asks, "Do I believe?" Ask yourself if you
affirm the Scripture's record of the person and work of Jesus Christ. Do you
believe that He is God manifest in the flesh? Do you believe that God saves
sinners solely through the merits of Jesus Christ's obedient life and
substitutionary death on the cross?
Second is the
subjective or experiential test of assurance in which you ask yourself,
"Is my faith real?" The apostle John's purpose in writing the epistle
of 1 John was to give true believers assurance of their salvation (1 John
5:13). In that small epistle John gives several marks to distinguish a true
believer.
True believers walk
in the light (1 John 1:6-7). The light here means both intellectual and moral
truth. Ask, "Do I affirm the truths of Scripture, and desire to obey
them?"
True believers
confess their sin (1:8-2:1) Confess here doesn't mean to recite every wrong
that we have ever done. Rather, it means to agree with God about our sin. That
means that true believers hate their sin; they don't love it. They acknowledge
they are sinful, and yet they know they are forgiven.
True believers keep
His commandments (2:3-4; 5:2-3). The term here refers to a watchful, observant
obedience. Here the believer desires to obey truths he deems precious. It
involves a proactive approach to obedience-the Christian studies Scripture in
order to understand and obey it.
True believers love
the brethren (2:9-11; 3:10, 14-15; 5:2). Ask yourself the question, "Do I
love God's people and desire to be around them?"
True believers affirm
sound doctrine (2:20-23; 4:2,6). John here teaches that no true believer will
fall into any serious, Christ-denying error or heresy.
True believers follow
after holiness (2:29; 3:3-4, 6-9). These verses certainly aren't talking about
sinless perfection, or even the frequency or duration of sin. The term sin in
these verses describes one who lives an immoral, ungodly, unrighteous life as a
matter of continual practice, and carries the attitude of hardened hate for
God's righteousness.
True believers have
the Holy Spirit (4:13; 5:10-11). This is an over-arching test summing up all the
others. Is there evidence that the fruit of the Spirit is present in your life
(Galatians 5:22-23)?
Of course, MacArthur is a leading advocate
of the blasphemous, anti-biblical doctrine of Calvinism and imputed
righteousness. For refutations thereof, see:
Response to a Recent Attempt to Defend Imputed Righteousness
An Examination and Critique of the Theological Presuppositions Underlying Reformed Theology
