The apostle Paul effectively told the believers in Philippi to “work out” what God had worked in. He did not say to work for your salvation. Salvation is a gift from God. We are told in Ephesians 2:8, “By grace you have been saved through faith, not of works, lest any man should boast.” But we should work out our salvation.
Here are some litmus tests that you can apply in your life to determine whether or not you really are saved—to determine whether or not Christ really lives inside of you.
Practical Principles
- If you are really saved, you will confess Jesus Christ as Lord. 1 John 4:15 says, “He that confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in Him and he in God.”
- If you’re really saved, you will obey God’s commands. 1 John 5:3 says, “This is love for God, that you obey His commands, and His commands are not burdensome, for everyone that is born of God overcomes the world.”
- If you’re really saved, you will be unhappy and miserable when you have sinned. 1 John 3:9 says, “Everyone who has been born of God does not habitually sin because God’s seed remains in him and he is unable habitually to sin.”
- If you want to know if you’re saved or not, do you keep yourself from the evil one? 1 John 5:18 says, “We know whoever is born of God does not sin; the one who has been born of God keeps himself from the wicked one, and the wicked one does not touch him.”
- If you’re really saved, you will love other Christians. 1 John 5:11 says that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God and everyone who loves the Father loves His child as well.
Relevant Reminders
- If you want to be a happy person, do not have unconfessed sin in your life. Happiness does not come from sin. Misery, guilt, and repercussions come from sin.
- Not everybody wants to change. God can offer you forgiveness, but you have to be willing to do your part
- We are the family of God and if we really love the Lord, we will love to be around His people.
Applicable Actions
Work out, carry to the goal, fully complete, discover your own salvation with fear and trembling—with reverence for God and self-distrust. For it is God that works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
Then you will shine as a light in this perverse world. Our work is dark. People are scared. People are desperate. But we want to shine the light of Jesus Christ and let them know that there is a God in Heaven who loves them.
