I worry about people who claim to be Christians but have no desire to take part in the church. In fact, I would go so far to say that you can’t be a Christian on your own. We are a “one another” type of people. And a verifiable love for the people of God is a mark of true salvation. This third verifiable test is a way to be assured of your relationship with the Lord.

I John 3:16 says, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

I John 4:12-13 says, “No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit.”

Stated negatively, I John 4:20 affirms, “If a man say, ‘I love God,’ and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”

The visible expression of Christ on earth is the church. The church is the body of Christ. If you don’t love Christ’s body, you don’t love Christ. If you don’t love Him there is no way that you are truly saved.

Are you and your family firmly planted in a local New Testament, Bible-preaching church?