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Grant Abbott
Supporter
I believe the signs of a true believer will be evident to the people in their lives. Change of Direction When a person puts their faith in Jesus as a true believer, they have confessed their sin and decided in their mind to forsake their old way of life in the world and to follow Jesus into a brand new life. Change of Focus A true believer's life is no longer focused on pleasing or indulging themselves, but in pleasing God and obeying what Jesus says to do by His Spirit. Their relationship with God becomes the most important thing in their life. Change of Purpose A true believer wants to share their new found faith, to proclaim the gospel and share their personal testimony. A true believer wants to grow up in their faith from a spiritual infant to a mature and complete leader in the kingdom of God. Change of Discipline A true believer will study the bible to get to know God (his nature and character) and to understand God's plan and purpose for their life. A true believer will spend time in prayer every day to lift up the needs of others who are important to them. Change of Family A true believer will want to participate in the local church, for worship, fellowship, service, spiritual growth and to evangelise other people. A true believer will use their spiritual gifts to serve and care for others in the body of Christ as their spiritual family. Of course, all of these changes don't happen at once, but over time, these transformations will be apparent to everyone who knows them well.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
We must live holy lives for God (1 John 2:28-29) The true believer has a new purpose. 1 John 2:28 – "Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming." Our new purpose is living holy lives, trying to win "the unjust" to Christ, being used up, worn out, and spent for the gospel and the glory of God in the process. Next, a true believer has a new desire. John writes about surety (1 John 2:3-14, 28-29): How can we be sure that Jesus is indeed our Savior? One guideline for this is those true believers know that we must obey God. (1 John 2:3-6) 1 John 2:3-4 – By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 3:3,9 – And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. … No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because is born of God. Unbelievers, like I was, didn't care that much about obeying God, yeah, maybe in the big things, but not in the small stuff. Third, a true believer has a new love. 1 John 2:9-10 – The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 1 John 3:14 – We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. John writes about surety again (1 John 2:3-14, 28-29): How can we be sure that Jesus is indeed our Savior? A guideline for this is that we must love God and God's people (1 John 2:7-11--. See John's exhortation to love (1 John 3:11-15): Unlike Cain, who killed his brother, we are to love our spiritual brothers and sisters.). Fourth, a true believer has a new Master. 1 John 2:15-17 – Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. The saved person does not live in continuous sin (1 John 5:18-21). 18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. 19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. 20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. Another translation, the Darby Translation, has "We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the wicked one." Before I was saved, as a non-Christian, my master was the devil. Now, as a Christian my new Master Planner, Jesus! Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/1-John/5/19 says "the whole world lieth in the Wicked One." HW & see Sheila Alewine's 7 "clear indications of true salvation that should be evident in the life of a believer" online.
Tim Maas
Supporter
The primary signs that occur to me: -- Imitating Christ (Ephesians 5:1) -- Living to serve Christ (Galatians 2:20) -- Obeying Christ (John 14:15) -- Not conforming to the world (Romans 12:2) -- Loving and forgiving others as God has loved and forgiven him/her for Christ's sake (John 13:35; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3; Colossians 3:13) -- Bearing good fruit (Matthew 7:18-20; Galatians 5:22-23)
Mark Vestal
Supporter
A Christian is one who has faith in Jesus Christ being their savior (Eph 1:12-13). Faith is to possess belief that Christ died on the cross for the forgiveness of all our sins (1 Cor 15:3), was buried and rose again (1 Cor 15:4), so that we may have everlasting life (Rom 6:22, 1 Cor 15:22). The requirement for salvation today is much easier than in times past (2 Cor 11:3, Rom 3:21). Although we may see results from a believer's life, we cannot know with certainty that they possess the faith required for salvation. Believers today are members of the church, the body of Christ (Col 1:24). God now sees Christ in us, and not who we see when we look in the mirror! We are not righteous enough for God on our own merits (Titus 3:5). The good news is that our belief in what Jesus Christ did on our behalf makes us the righteousness of God (1 Cor 1:30, 2 Cor 5:21)! Christ's death was sufficient to God for the forgiveness of our sins (2 Cor 5:19, 2 Cor 5:21, Rom 6:22), and Christ’s resurrection was for our justification (Rom 4:25). The sin barrier between God and man was removed through Christ’s crucifixion (Rom 6:22, 2 Cor 5:21). God can now work through us once we've removed ourselves from His path (Col 2:14, Phil 1:6). We can now focus on what we can do for Him once we've stopped focusing on ourselves and our iniquities (Rom 7:22-25). Basically, we do not work in order to be saved, we work because we are saved (Eph 2:10, Eph 4:12), and it is our works that will be judged for reward at the judgement seat of Christ (1 Cor 3:15). Works, with the belief that they are to obtain or maintain salvation, actually puts us into debt with God as this shows lack of faith in Christ (Rom 4:4, Eph 2:8-9). If you're asking for forgiveness of sins for example, who's doing the asking? We can’t save ourselves (Titus 3:5), which is why we place our faith in Christ (2 Cor 1:9). Forgiveness occurred when Christ died on the cross regardless of our belief (2 Cor 5:19). Salvation occurs at the moment of believing it (Eph 1:13)! It is of utmost importance to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15), the gospel of our salvation (Eph 1:13), that was given to our Apostle Paul, from that of biblical Israel when studying the bible. Jesus, while living, and the 12 apostles were for the lost sheep of the house of Israel, which is not you or I (Mat 10:5-6, Mat 15:24). Paul received the revelation of the fellowship of the mystery from Christ ascended (Eph 3:9), which was before kept secret since the world began (Rom 16:25). Had this mystery information been known prior to Christ's death, the princes of this world would not have crucified Christ (1 Cor 2:8). We today are no longer under the law of Moses (Rom 6:14), but under God’s dispensation of grace (Eph 3:2). We must simply have faith in Christ’s finished cross-work as payment for our sins (Rom 3:28, 1 Cor 15:3, Gal 2:20, Col 2:13, 2 Cor 5:19), and that Christ was buried and rose again for our justification (2 Cor 1:9, Rom 4:25). It is the gift of God made possible by His grace (Rom 5:18), and our belief is acceptance of His free gift (Eph 2:8. Eph 1:13). You’ll find doctrine for how we are to live today in the 13 epistles of Paul, Romans through Philemon (Rom 3:21). When you’re a passenger in a vehicle, you have faith that the driver will safely get you to your destination. Jesus Christ is our ‘spiritual driver’ (Rom 5:10, Rom 8:32), and the holy Spirit, our 'spiritual seat-belt' (Eph 4:30), that seals our souls until the day of redemption at the moment of belief (Eph 1:13)! We can’t lose our salvation, but living as we should as Christians can still be difficult at times (Rom 7:23). We will certainly fail on occasion while Satan reigns in this present evil world (Gal 1:4, 2 Cor 4:4, Rom 7:24-25), but our resolve should never waver (2 Cor 7:1), as God’s love for us becomes more evident in our daily walk (2 Cor 13:14).
James Kraft
Supporter
Since salvation is by faith alone, it is impossible to tell a true believer from an unbeliever. Romans 4:5. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him who justifiieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Romans 11:6 Salvation is all grace apart from works. Romans 6:23 For the penalty of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Those who have accepted the free gift of eternal life are saved. John 3:18 Believers are no longer condemned, but unbelievers are condemned already because they have not believed on the name of the Son of God. Believers and unbelievers look alike. God knows his sheep but we have no way of knowing except by what people say. If a person says they believe Jesus died for all their sins and they know they are going to heaven because of what Jesus did for them plus nothing. We have to assume they are saved. But there are believers who have lost their faith, or do not remember ever believing the gospel. Second Timothy 2:13. If we believe not, after we have once believed, He abideth faithful, He cannot deny Himself. So there is no outward evidence that a person is saved or lost. There are many wonderful people in the eyes of the world who may dedicate their lives to a god, but never accept Jesus as their savior. John 3:18 is the dividing verse in the bible. Knowing who they are may be hard to tell. You cannot tell a book by its cover and you cannot tell who has believed the gospel and is saved except by what they say. Romans 8:9 Without the spirit of God their is no salvation. With the spirit we have eternal life. Ephesians 1:13-14. Guaranteed eternal life of the believer. God knows His sheep. Second Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless, the foundation of God is sure, having this seal, (Ephesians 1:13) the Lord knoweth them that are His. John 6:39. He has never lost one sheep. First John 2:2 Jesus died for every sin of everyone in the whole world. Romans 3:26-28 For He is the just and the justifier of them that believe in Jesus. Since salvation is a free gift from God to all who have believed on Him alone, for the free gift have eternal life. We have nothing to boast in. Unbelievers may boast in what they do or do not do. But believers have nothing to boast in. Jesus paid it all and we paid 0. You cannot boast in 0. Romans 1:16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the POWER of God unto salvation to everyone that BELIEVETH, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Jesus said He will separate them at harvest time. The wheat from the tares. First John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God, that ye may KNOW YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.
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