Bible Question:  How do you test yourself? Is it when you ask yourself or someone else asks you if you are really a Christian and you are not offended? Is it okay to have doubts about your salvation and then check your life to make sure that you are going to heaven? I believe in this case the answer is "yes" because one can look at our life and see where it needs to be fixed so that you can go to heaven. That way God can be happy in all areas of your life. Do you think this is right?   Bible Answer:  Persons who want to be Christians should test themselves to be sure that they are Christians. A person once said to me, "I am Christian." I was not sure what he meant so I asked again and he repeated the words exactly. He used "Christian" as an adjective - one who acts morally as a Christian - and not as a follower of Jesus Christ. Other people say they are Christians and do not follow Jesus. As a result, their lives are not changing and they do not act as Jesus wants. This was the problem with the Christians in the church at Corinth. So the apostle Paul encourages them to . . .     Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test? (NASB) 2 Cor. 13:5         Changes In Our Life. What did Paul mean by "test yourselves"? He was calling them to look at their actions and attitudes to see if they were Christians. The proof that a person is a Christian is not having said a prayer or claiming that you are a Christian. The proof that a person is a Christian is a transformed life. One proof that a person is a Christian is that he or she wants to be like Jesus. But God makes the change in us through His Holy Spirit.     So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (NASB) Philippians 2:12-13   In both 1 and 2 Corinthians the apostle Paul tells them one thing after another that is wrong in their lives. Their sins included competitiveness, gluttony, sexual sins, pride, the lack of love, lack of humility, and greed. I would encourage you to read these two books.       Testing Yourself. How do we test ourselves? We look for sin in our life and we look for holiness. That is what Paul looked for. There are a number of things a person should look for in his or her life. First, one should ask, "What do I believe about Jesus?" Second, one should look at his or her own attitudes and conduct and then ask, "Are my attitudes and actions like those of a real Christian?" The test comes in the answers. How a person lives does not make his or her a Christian. But a Christian will increasingly become like Jesus. A Christian will have a unique life.   Conclusion:  Did you know that there is nothing you can do "so that you can go to heaven," except to believe in Jesus? That means you stop trying to "make God happy" by your conduct. You must want Jesus to forgive your sins and you must believe that ONLY Jesus can do that. Do you want that? Do you believe that only Jesus - God - can do that? That is the first test.       If you do believe, then there are some other tests or questions you may want to ask yourself. Some of the most important questions can be found at this web site. They will help you determine if you are a Christian. They can be found at the link called "True Christian?" Pray that God will help you know if you are real.         < Back
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