A young woman confides to a friend about the confusion of her heart, her voice heavy with the weight of her doubt. “I’ve been in church all my life, just like my parents and grandparents before me. I rarely miss a service. But sometimes, I’m not sure what I really believe about saving faith in God. I mean, am I doing this right?”
A wealthy businessman flips through a mental checklist, making note of his recent donations to worthy causes. From childhood, he was groomed to be successful and generous. The walls of his office are adorned with awards detailing a lifetime of kindness and philanthropy. But in quiet moments alone, he wonders. Is it enough? Is God pleased with my generosity?
Most people claim to know and love God but are unsure what genuine saving faith actually means. What is enough to find favor with God? Is there a way to know for sure that our faith is authentic?
Genuine saving faith occurs when someone recognizes their unworthiness before a Holy God, confesses and turns from their sin—falling short of God’s holiness (Romans 3:23)—and then makes a conscious decision to live for God each day. Authentic faith is much more than long-standing church membership, good deeds, and simply living a “good” life. Romans 10:9-10 states, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
A true relationship with God through Jesus Christ is a decision of the whole person—the heart, mind, and soul—through the drawing power of the Holy Spirit. We believe in our heart that God sent His only son, Jesus, to die on a cross for our sins—thereby bridging the gap between sin-filled mankind, and a Holy God (John 3:16, Romans 6:23). We acknowledge that three days after his death, Jesus rose from the grave, defeating sin and death and restoring us to a right relationship with God (1 Peter 1:3).
Genuine saving faith is walking with God on a personal, fulfilling journey of joy, hope, and purpose.
We have all been confused by someone who claims to be a Christian, but whose life doesn’t reflect the teachings of Jesus. Instead of joy and compassion, they may exude anger, bitterness, and constant irritation with others.
There are times when genuine followers of Jesus Christ can be lulled into complacency and indifference. But the Bible is clear about the one who really belongs to God. “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God” (1 John 3:9). To the true believer, God’s word brings an awareness and conviction of sin and a deep sorrow for hurting the One who died to give us life. Genuine repentance and restoration will follow this awareness, and the Christ-follower will once again long to honor and glorify God with their words and actions.
This is far different from those who act in apostasy—those who fake being saved for personal gain or profit, or who “fall away” by denying Christ and serving false gods (like money, power, fame, or possessions).
In the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:1-23, Jesus describes in detail the responses to the sharing or planting of the Gospel. Those who receive the planting of the word of God in good soil—in a tender, humble heart—hear the word, understand it, and yield a “crop,” or a life of love and service for God. In contrast, those whose hearts are full of “rocks” or “thorns” (are stubborn and hard-hearted), may initially receive the Gospel with excitement, but they fail to develop “roots,” and they quickly fall away when trials and hardships come.
In addition, those who fake being saved will eventually be known for their works. Do they overflow with the light and love of Jesus, or do they sow seeds of division and selfishness? In ministry, do they desire to honor and glorify God, or do they seek to gain glory for themselves?
True saving faith always seeks to reflect Christ to the world.
We all experience seasons of doubt in our walk of faith, but just as a doctor checks our physical health by monitoring our pulse, taking a quick “spiritual pulse” will do wonders for our confidence in Christ. Here are five signs of genuine saving faith:
We have a desire to walk in holiness. When doubts about the genuineness of our faith slip in, Philippians 2:13 is a go-to power verse. “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” This is exciting news for the child of God. When we are moved to love God and others, it’s not because we’re so amazing, but because God is moving in us to accomplish His will and purposes. This desire to honor God is proof positive of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. Oh, how affirming!
We bear good fruit. How do we know if an apple tree is healthy? The tree gives (bears) delicious apples for us to enjoy! The same is true for authentic faith. If we are in a relationship with our Creator God, the evidence will show in our “fruit” or our actions. Are we living in joy and hope? Scripture tells us that the “fruit” of a Spirit-filled life is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Do we display a life of healthy fruit or are our branches clothed with the dried leaves of anger, bitterness, and selfishness?
We walk in forgiveness and love. Ephesians 4:32 calls us to be kind and compassionate and to forgive others as we are forgiven in Christ. When we extend grace and mercy to family, friends, and others, we are modeling true saving faith.
We long to know Christ more. If we truly love Jesus, we want to spend time with Him through prayer and in the study of His word. The more we learn, the more we realize the depth of our ignorance and poverty. And the most fascinating aspect is that the closer we grow to Him the hungrier we become for His presence and for time in His word.
Our love for God overflows to others. 1 Corinthians 13 is sometimes referred to as the love chapter. These verses are a roadmap of the way of love—how to let God’s love flow through us to those around us. If we profess to love God but neglect to love His people, true love—and genuine faith—is not in us.
Jesus came to offer us life—abundant, full, and free (John 10:10). He did this by laying down His life—stepping in front of our death penalty, and by paying the ultimate price for our sin. We can have the assurance of genuine saving faith and we can walk in confidence under the guidance and leadership of the Holy Spirit. To know we are created for a relationship with our Heavenly Father and that He designed us for a unique purpose is the greatest adventure we can experience. May the prayer of our hearts be for the strength and vision to glorify the Lord with our lives, and to reflect His love to the world.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/shuang paul wang
You’ll find Leigh Ann on an adventure with her sweetheart of 39 years, getting silly with her grands, or daydreaming story plots on the front porch.
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