EXAMINE YOURSELF — THE TEST OF TRUE FAITH

“EXAMINE YOURSELF — THE TEST OF TRUE FAITH”

Key Self-Examination and Testing of Faith from 1 John 2–4

Main Text: 1 John 2:3–6; 2:15–17; 2:18–27; 2:28–29; 3:1–10; 3:14–24; 4:1–6; 4:7–21

Theme: True faith is not merely something we profess with our lips; it is demonstrated by our obedience, love, truth, righteousness, and relationship with Jesus Christ.

INTRODUCTION — “TEST YOURSELF”

The Apostle John wrote his first letter so that believers could have assurance of eternal life, but he also gave them practical tests by which they could examine whether their faith is genuine.

John says: – “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.” —1 John 2:3

The question is not merely: – “Do I say that I am a Christian?”

The deeper questions are:

• Do I obey Christ?
• Do I love other believers?
• Do I love the world or Christ?
• Do I believe the biblical truth about Jesus?
• Is my life becoming increasingly righteous?
• Do I recognize and follow the Holy Spirit’s truth?
• Is God’s love being demonstrated through my life?

John gives us several tests of genuine faith.

1. THE TEST OF OBEDIENCE

1 John 2:3–6 , “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.” —1 John 2:3

John gives us the first test:

Do I obey Jesus Christ?

Christianity is not merely knowing Scripture intellectually.

A person can know many Bible verses and still refuse to obey God.

John says that genuine knowledge of Christ produces obedience.

Verse 4 says:- “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar.”

This is strong language.

John is teaching that our profession must agree with our practice.

Self-examination:

Ask yourself:

“Is Jesus truly Lord of my life?”

Not only:

• Do I attend church?
• Do I read the Bible?
• Do I pray?
• Do I sing worship songs?

But:

Do I obey Him when obedience costs me something?

True faith says:- “Lord, not my will, but Yours be done.”

2. THE TEST OF WALKING LIKE CHRIST

1 John 2:6: – “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”

If we claim to abide in Christ, our lifestyle should increasingly resemble Christ.

We cannot perfectly imitate Jesus in our own strength, but genuine faith produces Christlike transformation.

Ask: – “Can people see something of Jesus in the way I live?”

How do I:

• speak to people?
• respond when offended?
• treat my family?
• handle money?
• respond to criticism?
• treat difficult people?
• respond to temptation?
• use my time?

Our Christianity should be visible in our daily walk.

3. THE TEST OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WORLD

1 John 2:15–17: – John gives another serious examination: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.”

The word “world” here refers to the godless system of values opposed to God, not to people whom God loves.

John identifies:

1. The lust of the flesh
2. The lust of the eyes
3. The pride of life

These things compete for our hearts.

Self-examination: – What has captured my heart?

Is my greatest desire: – Christ—or the things of this world?

Money is not necessarily sinful.

Success is not necessarily sinful.

Possessions are not necessarily sinful.

But when these things become more important than God, they become idols.

Jesus said: – “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” —Matthew 6:21

Powerful question:-  If God removed everything except Himself, would I still be satisfied with Him?

4. THE TEST OF TRUTH ABOUT JESUS CHRIST

1 John 2:18–27; 4:1–6 :-  John warns believers about deception.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God.” —1 John 4:1

Not everything spiritual is from God.

Not every preacher is teaching biblical truth.

Not every supernatural experience is from the Holy Spirit.

Therefore: – Test everything by Scripture.

The central question is:- What does this teaching say about Jesus Christ?

John emphasizes the confession that Jesus Christ has truly come in the flesh (1 John 4:2).

This is essential because Christianity stands or falls on the identity of Jesus.

Jesus is not merely:

• a prophet,
• a good teacher,
• a moral example,
• or a religious leader.

He is the Son of God who truly came in the flesh.

Self-examination: – Is my faith centered on the biblical Jesus—or on a Jesus I have created according to my own preferences?

5. 5. THE TEST OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

1 John 2:28–29; 3:7–10

John says: – “He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.” —1 John 3:7

This does not mean that we earn salvation by our good works.

Rather, righteousness is evidence that God’s life is working within us.

John contrasts two lifestyles: –

The lifestyle of righteousness

versus

The lifestyle of continual rebellion against God.

A Christian may stumble.

A Christian may fall.

A Christian may sin.

But genuine faith does not make peace with sin.

There should be repentance.

There should be spiritual growth.

There should be a desire to please God.

Ask yourself: – “Am I fighting sin or making excuses for sin?”

There is a major difference between: –

“I sinned and I want to repent.”

and

“I know it is wrong, but I don’t care.”

The genuine believer may fall, but he does not want to remain on the ground.

6. THE TEST OF LOVE FOR OTHER BELIEVERS

1 John 3:14–18- John gives perhaps one of the clearest tests: – “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.” —1 John 3:14

Notice:

Love is evidence of spiritual life.

If we have received God’s love, God’s love should begin flowing through us.

Verse 18 says:- “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but indeed and in truth.”

Christian love is more than saying:

“God bless you.”

Love becomes practical.

It means:

• helping people,
• forgiving people,
• praying for people,
• caring for people,
• encouraging people,
• serving people.

Self-examination: – Can I genuinely love people who are difficult to love?

What happens when another believer:

• disagrees with me?
• hurts me?
• receives the blessing I wanted?
• succeeds when I struggle?

Our response reveals the condition of our heart.

7. THE TEST OF THE HEART BEFORE GOD

1 John 3:19–24 John says: – “For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.” —1 John 3:20

Sometimes believers experience condemnation and fear.

But John points us back to God.

Our assurance does not ultimately rest upon our emotions.

It rests upon God’s character and God’s promises.

However, John also calls us to maintain a clear conscience before God.

There are two dangers:

False assurance: – “I am fine because I said a prayer once.”

False condemnation: – “I can never be accepted because I have failed.”

The gospel gives us a better foundation:

Christ has saved me, and His grace is transforming me.

Therefore, we continually come to God in repentance, faith, and obedience.

8. THE TEST OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

1 John 4:1–6 :-  “Try the spirits whether they are of God.”

The Christian must learn spiritual discernment.

The question is not: – “Was it emotional?”

The question is: – “Is it biblical?”

The question is not: – “Was it supernatural?”

The question is: – “Does it agree with the truth about Christ?”

The Holy Spirit never contradicts the Word He inspired.

Therefore, we should test:

• teachings,
• prophecies,
• spiritual experiences,
• doctrines,
• claims,
• preaching.

Spiritual maturity requires discernment.

Paul says:- “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” —1 Thessalonians 5:21

9. 9. THE TEST OF LOVE — 1 JOHN 4:7–21

John reaches the heart of Christian living: – “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God.” —1 John 4:7

Then comes one of the greatest declarations in Scripture: “God is love.” —1 John 4:8

God’s love was demonstrated by sending His Son: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son…” —1 John 4:10

Therefore:- We love because He first loved us.

Christian love begins with receiving God’s love.

When we understand:- “God loved me when I was unworthy,”

we become able to love others who are also imperfect.

10. PERFECT LOVE DRIVES OUT FEAR

1 John 4:18 ;_ “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear.”

Fear can dominate the heart:

• fear of rejection
• fear of failure
• fear of people
• fear of the future
• fear of judgment

But God’s perfect love gives security.

We don’t obey God merely because we are terrified of Him.

We obey because we love Him and have been loved by Him.

🔥 THE SEVEN SELF-EXAMINATION QUESTIONS

Based on 1 John 2–4, ask yourself honestly:

1. OBEDIENCE

Am I obeying Christ? —1 John 2:3–5

2. WALK

Does my lifestyle increasingly resemble Jesus? —1 John 2:6

3. WORLD

Does Christ have my heart, or does the world have my heart? —1 John 2:15–17

4. TRUTH

Do I believe and confess the biblical truth about Jesus? —1 John 4:2–3

5. RIGHTEOUSNESS

Am I pursuing holiness and resisting sin? —1 John 3:7–10

6. LOVE

Do I genuinely love God’s people? —1 John 3:14–18; 4:7–12

7. DISCERNMENT

Do I test spiritual teaching according to God’s truth? —1 John 4:1–6

THE ULTIMATE TEST: DOES CHRIST LIVE IN ME?

The goal of self-examination is not to make us permanently afraid.

The purpose is to bring us closer to Christ.

John says: – “And hereby know we that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” —1 John 3:24

The Christian life is not:- “Try harder to become a Christian.”

It is:- “Abide in Christ, and allow His life to transform you.”

Jesus said:- “Abide in me, and I in you.” —John 15:4

🙏 FINAL CHALLENGE

Church, don’t examine somebody else’s faith today. Examine your own.

Don’t ask: – “Is my brother spiritual?”

Ask:- “Am I walking with Christ?”

Don’t ask:- “Does my pastor obey God?”

Ask:- “Am I obeying God?”

Don’t ask:- “Is somebody else loving?”

Ask:- “Is the love of Christ operating through me?”

Don’t ask:- “Is everybody else deceived?”

Ask:- “Am I holding firmly to biblical truth?”

The Holy Spirit is inviting us today to come before God and say:- “Lord, search me. Examine me. Reveal my heart. Remove everything that does not belong to You. Help me to walk in truth, righteousness, obedience, love, and holiness.”

Remember:

True faith obeys.
True faith walks with Christ.
True faith rejects worldly values.
True faith believes the truth about Jesus.
True faith pursues righteousness.
True faith loves God’s people.
True faith discerns truth from error.

And above everything: – “We love him, because he first loved us.” —1 John 4:19

May our confession of Christ be confirmed by the character of Christ in our lives.

Closing Prayer:- Father, in the name of Jesus, search our hearts. Help us not to deceive ourselves with religious words while our hearts are far from You. Give us grace to obey Your Word, walk as Jesus walked, reject the values of the world, discern truth from error, pursue righteousness, and love one another sincerely. Where there is sin, bring repentance. Where there is fear, reveal Your perfect love. Where there is weakness, give us strength. May the Holy Spirit produce the life of Christ in us. Let our faith be genuine—not merely something we profess with our lips, but something demonstrated through our lives. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.