Today’s scripture goes along with the previous couple blog posts. They describe what Jesus did for us so that we can be saved and how to be saved. 1 John describes how we know we are saved. We are not saved by these things, it is evidence that we are saved.
1 John 4:7-5:5
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
So, how do we know that we are saved? First, that we confess that Jesus is the Son of God and that He is Lord of our life. Second, that we obey His commandments and that our life reflects the life that He has called us to. And third, that we love our brothers. The way we treat others reflects that we are truly saved. When you decided to follow Christ, was there a change in your life? Do you love God and love others? Do you have the hope of being with Jesus in heaven and look forward to His return? Do you have a desire to follow Him and serve Him? It is my prayer that we all do and that our faith will remain strong.
My Daily Scriptures 