The Deciding Factor

     How can you tell if a person is of God or not? What is the key? What is the deciding factor?
     According to the Bible, it's love.
     I John chapter 4 verse1 says: "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
    We are not supposed to just accept everyone and believe what they are saying. That's gullibility, not faith. We are supposed to 'try the spirits' to make sure that they are of God.
    I John chapter 4 goes on to say: "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:  and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:  and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come and even now already is it in the world."
    If a person is not of God, they won't be able to confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. In fact, from my experience, they won't even like to hear the name of Jesus Christ. That name has power in the spiritual realm that causes the little minions of the devil to want to run! I have seen His name bring about a physical reaction from unbelievers. It's like blinding them with the light, exposing their darkness and they physically back off, turn away and flea.
     Furthermore, it says: "Beloved, let us love one another:  for love is of God:  and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."
     And there you have it. God is love.
     Now, what more do you need to know?
     Look beyond a man's/woman's religion. Look beyond his/her monetary wealth, the colour of his/her skin, the car he/she drives. Even look beyond his/her church attendance.
     If he does not or cannot love, he does not know God.
     Of course, believers fall down on occasion; we make mistakes, fail others, even commit crimes. We are human. The question is, do we love? (If you're asking, "What is love?", you can read I Corinthians chapter 13 to find out exactly what Love is.)
     I John 4 verse 16 says: "...God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him."
     Or, you could say, "God is love and he that lives in love lives in God and God in him." That to me means that if you are a believer, God's love is alive in you. And it will show!
     The opposite of that? --You might say, "hate". But, really what is hate? It's fear. Fear is weakness. Love is strength.
     "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear because fear has torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."
     Again, none of us is perfect. But, if we suffer from any type of fear, we should know that that is not of God. Chase away your fears with the love of God.