How To Prove You Are A Christian - Part 3

“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, …” 1 John 5:13

Evidence #4 Do You Love the World or Love God?

Holiness is a non-optional change of allegiance from leaving the ranks of God’s enemies to joining the ranks of God's people.This means a change of allegiance of yourself to God's Kingdom through teaming up with the other Christians of your city into a local church, Christ's subculture, the narrow way underground.

Christians Are A Minority!

A true Christian changes sides! This means breaking from rugged individualism and self centered living to a commitment to a local church where you serve God and obey the church leaders. God's culture, or social structure is carefully designed and described in the New Testament.

“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.” 1 John 2:15;5:19

“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. 35 ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 Your enemies will be right in your own household!’ 37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it." Matt 10:34-39 (NLT)

Removing your allegiance from everyone or anything of the world that you loved, to fully love God, is non-optional.

Jesus Christ is your absolute authority, your master. You are His slave. This was clearly understood by the followers of Jesus who knew Him personally in the very first century. When Peter spoke to the mainly Jewish crowd in Jerusalem, he clearly got to them. So he answered them on what they should do to obey God...

"Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins, turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to show that you have received forgiveness for your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.39 This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles —all who have been called by the Lord our God.”40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

The Believers Formed a Community Leaving Their Old World Behind Them

42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper ), and to prayer. 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had." Acts 2:37-44 (NLT)

“...in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,” Ephesians 2:2

What is so Evil About the World?

“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.” 1 John 2:16; 5:19 Satan’s darkness rules the world. This means the whole population of the world outside of Christians is blinded, or in the dark about God, heaven and hell, eternity, God's will, etc. The Devil's powerful army of supernatural beings works at keeping mankind confused and disconnected to their loving Creator. In this type of bondage, people are enslaved by the "normal" things of life and driven by strong selfish desires [lust] of what they see to buy and own, by the fleshly desires of uncontrolled pleasure and partying, and their opinion that they are doing fine apart from any God telling them what to do. God calls them the "sons of disobedience."

“...as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:3-4

“...in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,” Ephesians 2:2

Evidence of Salvation!

“And the world is passing away, and the lust of it [strong desire for it], but HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF GOD abides forever.” 1 John 2:17; 5:19 Only Christians have God’s power to do right and consistently obey God.

The World Rejects You!

“Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.” 1 John 3:1b

Evidence of Salvation!

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world – our faith.” 1 John 5:4

Only Christians Overcome

“Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” 1 John 5:5

Only a born again real believer can experience the mighty power of God to pull them from the strong addicting force of the world and all it offers. The natural world we know can only be left behind through the supernatural power of Jesus Christ. The step from being "a son of disobedience" to a son of obedience takes one of the most unpopular choices. Jesus explains this through a farming story.

Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others.15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away.16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word,19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.20 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Mark 4:13-20 (NLT)

Nothing of this world can stop a true believer. Not the devil, sin, people, or circumstances. He does overcome, win the battle, change allegiance, and experience a total change of life through the Good News of Jesus. "For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God." 1 John 5:4-5 (NLT)