If you and I claim to be Christians - to be saved and headed for heaven - what evidence can we offer to back up that claim? In this passage for this message, the Apostle John lays out the evidence of true salvation. This issue comes down to knowing Jesus and being able to demonstrate that we know Jesus. We are going to look at this under four points: how we know that we know Him; how we know the one that does not know Him; how we know we have the love of God in Him; and how we know that we are in Him.

Among us American citizens, there is a sharp divide over how to apply the independence our Founding Fathers declared for us almost two and a half centuries ago. There is that sharp divide because there is a sharp disagreement over what freedom means for us internationally, politically, financially, morally, and spiritually. We are known around the world as the land of the free, but not everyone in this land at all agrees on what it means to be free. As the disagreement rages on, we Christians must stay centered on the Author and Perfecter of our Faith. We must ask Him, "Lord, what does it mean to be free?" For an answer from Him, we turn to this passage to look at four points: the true disciple, the truth that sets us free, the truth of enslavement to sin, and the true freedom in the Son.