There are those who mistakenly tell the doubters to X-ray themselves, that is, to look at their lives for proof of their salvation. One author writes, "Surely a Christian cannot claim to be saved and yet hate his brother or sister." He goes on to write, "Christians still sin, but they do not remain in sin or keep on sinning as if nothing is wrong." Not stopping there, he says, "If you have no desire or interest to share the gospel with the lost, then you do not have the same kind of desire that God has for those who will perish without Christ." He points to another test to see if you're saved in the form of a question: "Do you visit orphans and widows?"
A popular author tells us (wrongly) that John gives three tests so you can know if you're saved: the moral test (obedience to Christ); the relational test (love for others); and, the doctrinal test (believing the truth about Christ).
Each of these authors is missing the point of the Epistle of I John. They are going against John's statement of the purpose which is his letter on maintaining an abiding fellowship with God, not giving "tests" to see if the reader is saved. In the epistle, he knows that they are saved and assures them that they have eternal life. He knows they're saved because he calls their faith "a world-conquering faith."
What does I John tell us about having the assurance that we're saved? If one looks to his life and deeds, it is certain he won't have any assurance because I John 1:8 says that we (believers) are tainted by sin day in and day out. Are we to look, as the author noted above says, to our obedience to Christ? if so, how does that bring any assurance? To look at our performance of obeying Christ destroys assurance. Who among us can even say that we're trying our best to obey Christ? Are we to look and see if we "love the brethren" as one author says to see if we're saved or not? If so, that's an assurance killer, to be sure.
So, how does John tell us that we can be assured we're saved? It's by going by the Word of God, specifically, His promises and His testimony that Jesus is His Son. To put our examination of our experience of obedience, loving our fellow believers on the same level as the promises of God is getting close to blasphemy.
If you need assurance of your salvation, go back to the promises God gave you. These promises will bring assurance. (John 3:16, 18, 36; 5:24; 6:35-40, 47, et al.) Our assurance rests on the “testimony of God.” This is the only testimony that has such authority. We aren’t to base our assurance of salvation on the lives we live. It’s putting our human experience with its limitations and errors, on par with the perfect word of God.
The Bible is clear: those who believe that Jesus is God come in the flesh, who believe that He died for their sins and rose the dead, trusting Him ALONE (no works, no church, no trying to be good) have everlasting life and John wants his reader to be assured that they do have that eternal life through faith alone in Christ alone.
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