The Bible tells us to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. (2 Corinthians 13:5a Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. ESV) The test on this page is a self examination if you profess to be a Christian but want to examine yourself to see if you really are a genuine believer destined for an eternity in Heaven. The primary evidence is a faith and trust in the work of Christ alone that leads to repentance and obedience to the the Word of God. If you do not do well on your self examination on this test all hope is not lost and I suggest you go on to the Good Person Test on this website. The test here is not a list of things that you must do to be saved but is what you will want to do if you have been saved. If you come to a conclusion after taking this test that you might not really be a Christian, then I want you to know that by the very fact that you are willing to examine yourself, you show that your heart may have been opened to a genuine commitment to God. You have taken the first steps to repentance and a new life in Christ. If you do well in this self examination then praise the Lord as you continue to grow in Him. May God bless you as you seek Him.
- Do you have a love for God and His Word? (John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” ESV, Matt 22:37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” ESV)
- Have you repented (changed your mind and turned from) your sin? (Luke 13:5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. ESV)
- Do you no longer love the things of the world? (1 John 2:15 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. ESV)
- If you know something is wrong in your life are you willing to change it? (James 4:17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. ESV)
- Do you understand that Salvation is by God’s Grace through Jesus Christ alone and not by your own doing? (Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ESV)
- Do you follow the commands of the Bible so that you can be saved or do you obey God from a heart of gratitude for His salvation? (Romans 3:20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. ESV)
- Do you understand that you are not a good person? (Mark 10:18 And Jesus said to him,“Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. ESV, Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God ESV)
- Is your life exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit? love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control ESV)
- Is God’s Word your ultimate Authority in all things? (Luke 6:46 Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? ESV)
- Do you share your faith with others? (Mark 16:15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. ESV)
- Are you ashamed of your faith in Jesus Christ? (Luke 9:26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. ESV)
- Do you love your fellow Christians? (John 13:35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. ESV)
- Do you meet regularly with fellow believers? (Hebrews 10:25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, ESV)
- Are your closest relationships with believers? (2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; ESV, James 4:4 Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ESV)
- Do you read the Word of God regularly? (Psalms 1:2 his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. ESV, Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. ESV)
- Do you pray regularly? (Ephesians 6:18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, ESV, Colossians 4:2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. ESV)
- Do you forgive others? (Matthew 6:12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors. ESV, Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. ESV, Acts 7:59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. ESV)
- Do you hate anyone? (1 John 3:15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. ESV)
- Do you show love to those who are unloving to you? (Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ESV)
- Do you thank God you are not as other sinners? (Luke 18:10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee,standing by himself, prayedthus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” ESV)
- Do you have an eternal perspective on life? (2 Peter 3:13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. ESV)
- Do you think differently about everything since you have become a Christian? Has your world view changed? (Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. ESV)
Being a Christian does not mean moral perfection. (1 John 1:10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. ESV) Being a Christian is a new direction away from sin. Jesus Christ will never lead us to sin if we are following Him. A Christian is a person who has repented (turned away from) and is no longer a habitual practicing sinner. Repentance is not just a one time past event but a continued action that is a part of the life of a Christian. If a Christian does sin he needs to confess his sin to God and God will be faithful to forgive his sin. (1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ESV) Moral perfection will only be achieved when Christ Himself finally completes the work that he has started in us. (Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. ESV) The Christian life is also a process of growth just like a new born baby grows and gains more abilities and strength. (1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation ESV) Don’t be impatient and condemning as you grow in the Lord. (Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ESV) When you fail (sin), thank God for His salvation and forgiveness, confess your sin and move on and away from it. If you are using the excuse however that you are just a babe in Christ to remain in sin then you are likely not a truly born again Christian. All hope is not lost though. You can repent while you still have life, doing so will demonstrate that you have been born of God (1 John 5:1) and are destined for an eternity in Heaven with God.