1st John 4:13-17 GOD IN OUR LIVES One who is born of God believes in Him, obeys Him and loves Him. These same basics are in our Lord Jesus Christ. There are eight tests of salvation for us that begin with the word "hereby" in 1st John, that testify experimentally to the reality of our faith. The first test is that a child of God keeps His commandments [1Jn.2:3]. That simply means we do what He says - period. The second test is we guard His word [2:5]. To "keep" implies we guard it not as in a place of safe-keeping, but to live our lives as He intends is to live. Thirdly, we are to be living sacrifices for the sake of the people of God [3:16]. To lay down one's life for the sake of others is what our Lord did for us. To give ourselves to serve others without expecting anything back, is a characteristic of appreciation for what we have received from God.
To love in deed and truth [3:18-19] is the fourth test. Love as God expects from us is not something to talk about or write on a card that expresses some sentimental words. It will be easily seen when it is directed toward others in a personal way. The fifth test is the consciousness of the Holy Spirit of God within us [3:24]. The presence of the Holy Spirit in one's life is evident in practical expressions of Christian-conduct, not something mystical. Spiritual life directed by the Holy Spirit will move me to yield to His prompting and guiding, and avoiding everything that is not consistent with my profession of faith in Christ. Linked with the work of the Spirit is the sixth test of salvation which is, a believer in Christ testifies to the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ is the God/man. He is both God and man [4:2]. This truth is often challenged by those who look at our Lord Jesus Christ as only a good teacher of moral living, rather than the eternal Son of the eternal God. The seventh test is that we are conscious of God hearing our prayers [4:6]. Our prayers are not always answered in ways we had anticipated, or perhaps had hoped. The answer of "No" is just as important as "Yes." It may be that an answer of "Wait awhile," is the best one we could ever get. The eighth test is the practical experience of the Holy Spirit working out God's will through us and by His power [4:13]. Love working out toward others is proof of the Holy Spirit in a child of God.