Everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. – 1 John 2:29
Some Christians feel as though they must receive Christ over and over again to be sure they are truly saved. It is understandable to question how one can know if they are actually viewed as “righteous” by God. Is there any way that one can actually know they are truly saved?
The answer to this question can be found in the book of 1 John. The apostle John wrote this letter specifically to assure believers of the certainty of their faith. At this point in history, Christianity was fifty or sixty years old. One whole generation had already grown up in the faith, but some had begun to distort the meanings of some teachings. The Lord worked through John to point followers of Christ back to the truth.
John’s answer to the question of whether or not someone can be entirely certain is simple – yes, they can! He wrote in today’s passage that those who know that God is righteous and practice righteousness themselves are born of Him. You can cut through the attempts by others to complicate the Christian faith by returning to the basics – those who believe in Jesus will strive to do what is right toward everyone, while the unrighteous do not. Being saved is not about being flawless, but about always seeking to do what is good in God’s sight.
Trust what the Bible says. Read John’s letters often as a reminder. Pray for God’s protection over public servants in the United States, and that they would seek to pursue righteousness to the glory of God as they do their jobs.
Today’s Verse: 1 John 2:29
If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: James 2:14-26
4 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
