29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. I John 2:29
He stood there for what seemed like an hour, but it really wasn’t. Finally the owner of the business where he was standing asked, “are you going to do it or not?” The guy responded, “Getting a tattoo is a life-time commitment. I want to be sure.”
Question: do we usually consider the long-term impact of our decisions?
In I John 2 we find strong encouragement to really understand the impact of Jesus in our lives. John writes:
Christ-followers should not want to sin, 2:1. However, if they do, they have both an advocate (defender) and one who pays the price for their sin (propitiation).
Christ-followers have clear marks of true salvation within them:
- There is confession of sin, repentance of sin, and submitting ones life to the Lordship of Christ, 2:1-2.
- There is a new desire to obey God, Vs:3.
- There is a clear lifestyle of keeping His commandments, Vs: 4-5.
- There is an obvious following in Christ’s footsteps, Vs: 5.
- There is growth in loving others, Vs: 7-11.
- There is growth toward Christian maturity, Vs: 12-14.
- There is a loss of love for the things of the world, Vs: 15-17.
- There is the Holy Spirit’s conviction, direction, and empowerment, Vs: 18-28.
As I read back over this list there is this strong longing to do the will of God. But there is also this reality that is hard to write down but I must. “Many people say they belong to Christ, but the tattoos on their lives show nothing different from the world.”
So, I must ask, are we sure we are His? If we are marked by Christ and His Word, we can be sure we are his!!! Today seek to focus on a life-time of being marked by Christ.