A true believer lives a pattern of life which is conformed, over time, to what God has revealed to us about His nature and will, and this transformation will be evident by:
Walking in the light…
1 John 1:5-7 “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
Living a life that is marked by sensitivity to sin, confession, and repentance…
1 John 1:8-10 “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar, and his word is not in us.”
Seeking to keep God’s commands…
1 John 2:3-4 “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.”
- When we desire to know God’s will, we will strive to obey it and mourn our disobedience. These are actions of true faith!
True believers remain faithful in the most dire and stressful situations of this life. This can be seen as they:
Walk as Christ walked…
1 John 2:5-6 “But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”
- We should desire to imitate Christ and grow in His grace!
Love their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ…
1 John 2:9-10 “He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.”
- We should desire the fellowship of the family of God, and seek to serve each other in deed and truth.
Have an increasing scorn for the things of this fallen world…
1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
- We reject all that contradicts and opposes God’s will
- We seek to faithfully live our life by honoring Him daily.
Hebrews 12:14 “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”
A true believer seeks to live the way of peace with all, truly desiring to be obedient to the Lord, and this is evident by:
Remaining faithful in fellowship…
1 John 2:18-19 “This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.”
- Our test of faith is clearly experienced by love for His church!
- A persistent longing for the return of our beloved Savior…
1 John 3:2-3 “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.”
- Our “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13) is living each day for heaven!
Professing Christ to be God in the flesh…
1 John 4:1-4 “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.”
- The wisdom of this age is found in the truth of knowing Jesus.
A true believer pursues a lifestyle of practical faith and daily drawing near to the Lord, and this is evident by:
Personal actions of righteousness…
1 John 3:7 “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.”
- We should be doing those things that conform to God’s righteous standard and commands.
Overcoming the world…
1 John 5:4-5 “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?”
- Although we are often hard pressed and weary, we press on in faith, knowing our ultimate victory is sure. We continue following Christ and do not turn back!
Believing we have eternal life in Jesus…
1 John 5:11-13 “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”
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The post How To Be Prepared for Eternity :: By James Pannafino appeared first on Rapture Ready.
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