If You Know Him, You'll Show Him

“And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.”

1 John 2:3

Have you ever wondered how you can know if you are saved? There are many people in the world today who have a false sense of salvation. They may think that because they prayed and invited Jesus into their hearts as children, they are Christians. Some will point to their baptism as evidence of their salvation. Years ago, a woman was talking to one of our pastors about her son, with whom she was having problems. He asked if he was a Christian, and she said yes and pulled out his baptism certificate to prove it. Needless to say, a baptism certificate or the fact that one has been baptized is not proof of salvation.

So how do we know we belong to Christ, that we are born again, a child of God? The proof is in our fruit. Just as you can’t get grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles, you can’t get godliness from a corrupt heart. Faithful followers of Christ bear fruit that reflects their connection to Him—fruit like “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22–23).

In addition, John informs believers that if we are truly His, we will keep His commandments. If we obey the three great commandments: Love God, Love your neighbor, Love fellow believers, then it is evidence that we have come to know Him. We won’t do it perfectly, but our lives will be devoted to obeying His commands.

Have you come to know Christ as Lord and Savior? Have you acknowledged before a Holy God that you are a sinner and that you cannot earn your way to be with God forever? Have you turned from that sin and trusted Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection as payment for your sin? If you have not, I beg you to turn to Christ, turn from your sin, and make Jesus Lord and Savior of your life.

If you think you are His, ask yourself, am I bearing fruit in evidence of my salvation, and am I obeying His commands?

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark