The test of being “born again” is simple.

Just answer this question: Do you love your Christian brothers and sisters?

If your answer is “Yes” you are born again.
If your answer is “No”, you are not born again.

For confirmation, you may refer to the following Scripture of 1 John 3:11-24 wherein we read:

“For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. And for what did he kill him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s things were righteous.

Do not marvel, my brothers, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brothers. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Everyone hating his brother is a murderer. And you know that no murderer has everlasting life abiding in him. By this we have known the love of God, because He laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But whoever has this world’s goods and sees his brother having need, and shuts up his bowels from him, how does the love of God dwell in him?

My children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And in this we shall know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him, that if our heart accuses us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not accuse us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

And this is His commandment, that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment. And he who keeps His commandment dwells in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit which He gave to us.”

For those unable to fathom the Lord’s argument to the above conclusion, please refer to the more secular explanation of modus tolens which argues the following in support of the Lord’s Word:

“If P, then Q. Not Q. Therefore, not P.”

The above quoted Scripture declares that if one is born again, one will love Christian brothers and sisters. Ergo, of you do not love Christian brothers and sisters, you are not born again.

Or, put another way, if P (one is born again), then Q (one will love Christian brothers and sisters).
Not Q – (you do not love your Christian brothers and sisters). Therefore, not P(one is born again).

How wonderful is that!!

Thank you Lord for Your Word; Word which You hold higher than Your own name!! (Psalm 138:2b)

Thanks for this teaching to Mr. Douglas Groothuis, PhD and his book “’Truth Decay’ – Defending Christianity Against the Challenges of Postmodernism” page 177.