There was a day when just about everyone would identify as being a “Christian” of some flavor. Today, things are different but there are still a majority of individuals who would hold to the same religious affiliation. Yet, when we consider the teachings of Jesus and the Bible, it raises questions concerning what are the marks of genuine faith.
The Bible provides us with several demonstrations of individuals marked by genuine faith. One that I want to focus on is that of a changed life. There are many passages that speak of the radical transformation of the follower of Jesus. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The moment an individual chooses to follow Christ by accepting His substitution on the cross, their life is radically changed. The catalyst for that change is the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Prophet Jeremiah spoke of a New Covenant in which God would establish a new relationship with us through a radical transformation of our being. The Bible is filled with passages reminding us that a genuine faith is reflected in a life emulating Jesus.
It is interesting to talk with professing “Christians” about how they came to faith in Jesus. The responses that I have heard over the years have included: being raised in a Christian family, trying to be a good person, association with a Christian family member, church attendance, giving or even serving. While, all these should be true of a person with genuine faith, they do not make a person a Christian. The challenge with many of these statements, is the individual is not living a life reflecting the lifestyle of Jesus and the teachings of the Bible.
I do want to clarify that there are not any perfect people alive today. All of us sin, we break God’s rules. Yes, even those with a genuine faith sin, probably several times a day. What makes the genuine believer different is that they are working out living a life of faith as a follower of Jesus. They are bothered by their sin and working towards making amends with God and others. They have a desire to invest in their spiritual development which is reflected in practicing the Christian faith. They also make fellowship with others in their faith a priority. But all of this points to what we are discussing, the mark of a changed life.
The reason I write this article is to challenge you to evaluate your relationship with Jesus. The Apostle Paul wrote something similar to the church in Corinth. “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Corinthians 13:5).
I do not want to fall into the trap of giving individuals a false sense of assurance. If there is no spiritual fruit in one’s life, we have to wonder if they are known by Christ. If you have no desire for spiritual things, you have to ask yourself where you stand!
Of course, we are always available to help you understand God’s Word in a better way!
-Pastor Joe Parkinson