HOW DO WE KNOW THAT WE ARE SAVED

Proclamation:

“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers.  Anyone who does not love remains in death."  1 John 3:14 (NIV)

Explanation:

The Apostle John, who referred to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved, here in this verse provided the answer to the question, "How do we know that we are saved?"  Under The Divine inspiration of The Holy Spirit of God his answer was, we know that we are saved because we love our brothers.  Those who do not love their fellowman are still lost in sin and are unsaved.

Application:

God is love, and he who does not love is not of God. (1 John 4:8 and 1 John 4:20)  If we love one another, then we are in God and God is in us. (1 John 4:12 and 1 John 4:16)  Jesus, The Christ, taught us that we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. (Mark 12:31)  If The Holy Spirit of God is within us, then we will exhibit evidence of the fruit of The Spirit, part of which is love. (Galatians 5:22-23)  When we display the love of God in our behavior, then we know that we are saved.  Death is the separation from God.  Those who live in the darkness of spiritual death, live a life which is dominated by hate, and not by love, because they have not accepted Christ. (John 3:36)  Therefore, they have not been born into the light of life with Christ.  Salvation is only available to those who believe. (John 3:16 and Romans 10:9)