Is One Saved By Merely Believing In Jesus? Part Two

Appropriate signs

Honest people know that they are not truly living according to the morals of their own conscience. Christ’s message is offered as a solution to this predicament. A moral life is impossible without God. The destruction of sin is our reason for asking people to place their faith in Jesus.

“Show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith by what I do…As the body without the Spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:18,26

The fruit and bi-product of our faith is a changed lifestyle. I am very suspicious of the individual who “received Christ” but has not changed. I have met certain “Christians” who have no more spiritual life than a door knob. Their friends have to practically beg them to get involved with church affairs.

There are definite qualities which will flourish in the life of a born again Christian. Is it wrong to assume that the indwelling Holy Spirit will make Himself known through new feelings and characteristics? Is this not the very reason for His coming?

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith, test yourselves, do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you? Unless, of course, you fail the test. 2 Cor 13:5

The following is a list of qualities which Paul undoubtedly had on his mind when he spoke of examining and testing ourselves.

1) Fellowship. The born again Christian feels a special kinship toward other believers. Even the complete stranger will seem like a brother or sister if they are saved. The enjoyment of church and recognition of its importance are conclusions and feelings produced by the Spirit.

We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. John 3:14

All the believers were one in heart and mind. Acts 4:32

See also Ephesians 4:15-16

2) Special love for the unsaved. When I first heard the gospel, I told the people talking to me that I would never be caught dead sharing my religion with another. I didn’t feel that it was my business to intrude, for one thing. Neither did I want people to view me as a fanatic. But, after the Holy Spirit came into my life, I had a burning desire to share Jesus with every soul. I had once been a person who cared about no one but himself. Now, there was a new compassion for others. I wanted them to have the same blessing which God had given me.

Years later, I remember speaking with a woman who shared the same hesitation about witnessing.

“Don’t worry,” I said, “At the moment it’s natural to feel this way. You haven’t met Jesus yet, so right now, there’s really nothing to witness about anyway.”

My reasoning made sense to her. After asking God to reveal Himself, her face literally changed color. Sensing the Spirit’s presence from head to toe, she smiled and said with enthusiasm; “I can’t wait to tell my mother about this.”

Paul replied “Short time or long, I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, Acts 27:29

“For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19

3) A new outlook on scripture. There is no such thing as “being a Christian in your own way.” Our subjective experiences are kept in check by God’s word. The person who believes in Jesus but does not believe in the Bible is leaving the door wide open to control his/her own life. God conveniently “approves” of all decisions.” It is far too easy to place the label God or Christ on the religions we invent. This is really nothing other than idol worship. We would be much more honest to do as the Philistines and call Dagon by his real name.

The true believers will also see logic in the Bible from a practical perspective. Their new experiences cause them to live the described lifestyle helping them relate to the struggles and commands of the faith.

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. I Cor 2:14

4) Motivated by love, not by law. In the Old Testament days, God kept human nature in line through external measures by a series of legal rules and regulations. The people were compelled to obey God or be punished. The born again Christian is kept in line from within. New desires cause us to delight in God. Certainly there is still a need for discipline but as a general rule we will enjoy walking with Jesus. Such activities as reading the Bible or praying will not be done out of compulsion or drudgery. Christianity is valuable and exciting. It is the greatest experience we have ever known.

The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. Jer. 31:33

Neither is the Christian looking for lollipops. A Christian would serve God even if there were no heaven and no hell. Both Paul and Moses showed a willingness to be separated from God if only their brethren would be saved. What a tremendous example of unconditional love. (Romans 9:3, Ex. 32:32)

5) No continual, habitual sin.

No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him, he cannot go on sinning because he has been born of God. 1 John 3:9

These extreme words were written to combat compromising heresies in the early church. We know John is not teaching that a Christian never sins. (I John 2:11) Rather, he is describing our basic lifestyle. Because of the Holy Spirit, we will sin far less than we did before. In other words, God keeps his children in line.

When I sin, I feel guilty and miserable. I have no peace until I come to God in prayer, begging His forgiveness and promising to repent. Should I ignore my magnified conscience (created by the indwelling Spirit) God will take more severe measures by bringing me through the divine woodshed.

When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. I Cor 11:32

There are many professing Christians who love their evil. They show no intention of ever repenting. They mistakenly view God’s forgiveness as a license to practice sin. Such people are in for a big surprise.

The preceeding qualities are not the only facets of a Christian life, but they are the basic characteristics to watch for. If a new convert doesn’t display all of them immediately, they should at least blossem in time.

By their fruits you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Matt. 7:16-19

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come. 2 Cor 5:17

When lecturing on this subject, I am frequently asked about the “carnal believer.” This popular term is used to describe the “saved individual who is not walking with God.” There is no such animal! The “supporting text” for this “doctrine” is taken from I Corinthians 3:1-3 Paul mentions that he has found carnality in the Corinthian church. It is certainly true that a Christian may have times of immaturity and backsliding. But the traditional words of the warden are appropriate to one who has been born again. “He’ll be back. They all come back.” I seriously question how long a born again backsliders can live with themselves, especially when we read just a little further in Corinthians to find Paul’s warning for the “carnal believer.”

“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. I Cor 6:9-10

We all have carnal tendencies, but Paul has warned the church that those who continue along this path indefinately will discover that they were never a part of God’s kingdom.

Watch for Part Three of this article.

………………………………………………………………

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE

New International Version NIV

Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

Printed in the United States of America