In one of the most frightening passages in scripture, Jesus spoke of “many” who, on the day of judgment, will call him, “Lord,” and will claim to perform great works in his name. Yet, these self-proclaimed followers of Jesus will be cast into eternal punishment solely on the basis that he did not “know” them (Matthew 7:22-23).
By “know,” he means that he has no saving relationship with them. Despite their vehement protest, they are not Jesus’ sheep and he is not their shepherd (John 10:14). In other words, their professed faith in Jesus was not a true faith.
Their proclamation of Jesus as Lord, and their claim to have accomplished great works in his name, demonstrate that they belong (at least in a visible sense) to the church. The startling truth is that when Jesus delivers these final words of rejection, he pronounces them to those who believed they were Christians.
It is a sad reality that our churches are full of those who claim a faith in Jesus but who do not have a faith that saves. The New Testament abounds with illustrations that describe the difference between those who possess true faith and those who do not.
Yet scripture teaches that, for a time, true and false believers will live and operate alongside one another, worshiping and working in fellowship. This is often called the “visible church.” It also teaches that at the end of the church age, true and false believers will be separated by God, their works exposed as either good or evil and rewarded or punished accordingly.
In scripture, true and false believers are depicted as:
- The “wheat” and “chaff” that are mingled together on the “threshing floor” (Matthew 3:12).
- The “true grain” and “tares” that grow together in “the field” (Matthew 13:24-30).
- The “good and bad fish” which are caught in “the net” (Matthew 13:47-48).
- The “wise and foolish virgins” who coexist in the same “house” (Matthew 25:1-13).
- The “sheep” and “goats” that are raised together in “the fold” (Matthew 25:32-46).
Symbolically, in each of these illustrations, those found to have true faith in Jesus are brought into his kingdom, while the imposters are cast into eternal punishment. In light of these sobering examples from scripture, it is of utmost importance that we take the time to look honestly at our own faith.
Examine Yourself
Self-examination is a regular and biblical practice of the true Christian. In Psalm 139:23-24, David cries out to God with a heart of spiritual introspection, saying, “Search me, O God, and know my heart… And see if there is any wicked way in me.”
The Apostle Paul challenged the church in Corinth to examine their own hearts before partaking faithlessly of the bread and cup of the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:28).
In his second letter to the Corinthian church, Paul warns them to examine their own faith before he paid them an admonishing visit (2 Corinthians 13:5).
Understanding that examining one’s own heart is a natural practice of the true follower of Jesus, what signs should we look for when putting our own faith under the spotlight of scripture? What are the distinguishing marks of those who possess a true faith vs. those who are self-deceived?
The Mark of a True Christian
Newness is the recurring theme in scripture that describes those who have truly entered into eternal life. This newness is depicted in various ways in the Bible; new birth (John 3:3), a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26), new mind (Romans 12:2), new clothes (Zechariah 3:4), new life (Romans 6:4). But the common, shining thread throughout scripture is that the moment we are saved we are “made new” (2 Corinthians 5:17, Revelation 21:5).
A heart that has been genuinely made new by the Spirit of God will manifest at least 6 signs of true faith according to the scriptures.
6 Biblical Signs of True Faith:
#1. New love for God
Before any of us come to true faith in Christ, we stand guilty of violating God’s commandments and therefore, have an enemy’s relationship with him. This spiritual separation from our Creator is manifested in an adversarial posture on our part toward the one who made us. In this state of enmity, God’s wrath abides on us and we want nothing to do with him (Colossians 1:21).
Through our faith in Christ, however, God heals our damaged relationship and reconciles us to himself (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). The result of this miraculous rebirth is that we now love the God we used to hate! God’s Holy Spirit supernaturally reorients our hearts to run toward our Heavenly Father instead of away from him (Psalm 119:32).
This results in us putting God at the front of all our pursuits and submitting to his will in everything we do, say, and think. It also results in our seeking God’s glory, and in our daily desire to make him known to the people around us.
Ask yourself:
- Have I experienced a growing love for God since I came to faith in Jesus?
- Do I wake up each morning with an increased longing for God’s purpose in my life?
- Is there a budding desire to share my faith with others and make God known to those around me?
#2. A New Hatred for Sin
This is the flip-side of point #1. To have a new love for God is to share (be in spiritual agreement with) his purposes and values. We will, therefore, share his heart with regard to sin – beginning with our own.
To be born human is to be born a sinner. We are all born under the curse of Adam’s transgression in the garden, and, consequently, are born with hearts that are naturally prone to sin.
When we come to believe in Jesus, however, we are reborn with new hearts that desire obedience to God and that flee from sin.
Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)
This does not mean that we stop sinning. That will not occur until we are finally glorified in heaven. In that final transformation, we will be given new bodies which are not born under Adam’s curse, that do not decay and perish under God’s judgment of death, and that do not possess a proclivity toward sin. Before that happens, however, to come to Christ means that our hearts and wills have been turned around to run away from sin rather than toward it.
Because we are no match for sin (which is why we need a savior), we will continue to stumble in sin. This should result in our continual repentance – bringing our transgressions daily to the cross of Christ in prayer (1 John 1:9). While we remain on this earth, our persistent, unyielding desire should be for holiness and righteousness – both for ourselves and for our fellow believers.
In his letter to the Christians in Rome, Paul says, “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.”
(Romans 6:6)
Ask yourself:
- Do the sins I used to take pleasure in now fill me with conviction and guilt?
- Do my sins bring me to Christ in repentance?
- Do I experience a growing desire for my own righteousness?
- Do the sins I used to ignore or even approve of in my friends and family now bring a sorrow and concern for their soul?
#3. A New Love for God’s Word
The Bible is the means by which we are saved. Romans 10:17 tells us, “faith comes from hearing… the word of Christ.” 1 Peter 1:23 tells us, “you have been born again… through the living and enduring word of God.” The Bible is the instrument that the Holy Spirit uses to save and sanctify us. This is why Paul calls it the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17).
Being transformed by God’s word produces a transformed attitude toward God’s word. In our old life, we were dead to the things of God, (Ephesians 2:1-2, Colossians 2:13) and therefore, were neither drawn to nor had any affection for the words of scripture. When we are transformed by his word, we view the bible as the only true source of life and godliness.
This will result in a greater frequency in our Bible reading. Because we now see the word of God as our “spiritual food,” by God’s Spirit, we crave it and give it the priority we would give any daily meal (Job 23:12).
A believer will also have a growing understanding of the scriptures. Part of the Holy Spirit’s role in the Christian’s life is the illumination of scripture – that is, he reveals God’s word to us. Those passages in the Bible that used to seem so dull, or that seemed so hard to understand, are now made more alive and clearer because of the Spirit of God’s work in our minds (Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:23, Philippians 2:5, Hebrews 10:16).
Ask yourself:
- Do I seek God’s word as my sole source for life and godliness?
- Do I have a growing desire to read the Bible with greater frequency?
- Do I allow the words of scripture to have such authority over my thoughts, words, and actions that I’ve noticed personal changes that are the result of the Bible’s teaching?
- Do I experience a greater understanding of the teachings of scripture?
#4. A New Love for Fellow Believers
This could easily be placed as number one in this list. After Jesus’ resurrection, he confronted Peter on the shores of Galilee with a probing question-and-answer combo which he repeated three times. “Do you love me? Feed my sheep.” (John 21:17)
Jesus’ words reveal two things about the reality of the church body.
- They reveal his extravagant love for those whom he calls his own (John 10:14).
- They reveal that how we treat those for whom Jesus laid down his life is a direct result of the genuineness of our love for him.
Christians’ love for each other is the high-water mark of those who have truly been transformed by the grace of God. Likewise, one’s lack of love for a fellow believer is sure sign that no transformation has taken place in that person’s heart.
A heart that has been changed by the love of Jesus will, in turn, love those for whom he died (1 John 5:1). When we come to Jesus we are given a heart of growing resemblance to the love demonstrated by our Master Shepherd.
In the 4th chapter of his first epistle, the Apostle John affirms that a love for fellow believers is the litmus test by which a Christian’s faith is proven.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:7-11)
Ask yourself:
- Do I see a growing love for the people of God in my own heart?
- Do I seek their fellowship, as well as their spiritual growth and maturity in the church?
- Do I look forward to being with them in our weekly meetings?
#5. A New Attitude and Values
This is the “Fruit of the Spirit” listed in Galatians 5:22-23 – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. As these are the fruit that are born from the Spirit indwelling our hearts, these will undoubtedly touch on several (or all) of the points already listed.
A.W. Tozer said, “If we are not changed by grace, then we are not saved by grace.”
When we are saved by Christ, we are changed by Christ. This change results in a day-by-day, gradual change in our outlook, motives, responses, disposition, etc. Those once defining personality traits that came out of our sinful nature are gradually replaced with new, Christ-reflecting qualities that are born out of the presence of God’s Spirit indwelling our hearts.
Our impatience is replaced over time with patience and contentment. Our fears eventually give way to a peace and trust in God’s sovereignty in our lives. When we are wronged by others, forbearance and graciousness grow to replace our natural response of vengefulness and spite.
This evidence of spiritual fruit is born out in the scriptures. Jesus warned his audience to beware of those claiming to speak for God but whose lives showed no evidence of being in fellowship or obedience to him; saying, “You will know them by their fruit. (Matthew 7:15-20)” Paul instructed the believers in Rome that a “new mind” would be the evidence of a life that is transformed by Christ’s gospel (Romans 12:2).
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)
Ask yourself:
- Am I growing in those attitudes that mark someone who has been born of the Spirit of God?
- Do I see an increased measure of humility, meekness, patience, etc., in myself?
- Do my friends and family see the evidence of this new heart in me?
#6. A New Manifestation of Good Works
This last sign of true faith cannot be overlooked. While good works are not the cause or the source of our faith, they are the necessary result.
James testifies to this reality in his letter, saying, “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” (James 2:17-18, 20, 26)
If our hearts have truly been transformed by God’s grace, we will have a persistent desire to put our faith into practice. We will seek out practical avenues to exercise our faith in the various areas of our lives – our work, our church, our home, our community, etc.
…so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; (Colossians 1:10)
What if I don’t show any of these signs?
It’s important to understand that we cannot manufacture these sign by our own effort. The six signs we’ve just explored are the result of God’s Spirit working within us. They will, therefore, be the natural by-product of a transformed heart. When God’s Spirit is truly working within us, we cannot help but manifest these signs to some degree.
If, upon honest examination, you recognize that you don’t manifest any of the signs, then let this article be your wake-up call. You may not be genuinely saved. You may be self-deceived.
I do not write this lightly but with grave concern and love for your eternal soul. Remember at the beginning of this article, we saw that Jesus is speaking to professing Christians when he rejects them and casts them into hell (Matthew 7:22-23). Realize that the word Christian means to be Christ-like; that is, to be a follower of Christ – both in his words and his ways.
But does your daily life demonstrate that you follow him or that you follow the world? Would you look like Christ if you were observed on a daily basis?
Do the movies or television shows you expose your mind to, the internet content you consume, the books you read, the language you use, the way you dress, or what you fill your time with, give evidence that your professed faith has any significant bearing on how you live out your life? Does what you do in secret demonstrate that you have actually been born of the Spirit? (John 3:3)
If you suspect that you do not possess a genuine faith, it could be that you have never truly embraced the true gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s possible that you have created a false Christ in your own mind – one whom you claim as Lord but that you do not live your life for and are not accountable to.
What if I only show some of these signs?
The signs of true faith listed above are the result of a miraculous and continual work of the Holy Spirit known as Sanctification. The Westminster Shorter Catechism (Q. 35) explains the process of Sanctification as, “the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.”
In other words, it is a continual work in us by God himself, which frees us from sinful habits and forms in us Christlike affections, dispositions, and virtues. It does not mean that sin is instantly eradicated. It is also more than just a counteraction, in which sin is merely “held at bay” or repressed without being gradually destroyed.
Sanctification is not just the outward appearance of transformation; it is a real transformation. (2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Thessalonians 2:13)
Understand that sanctification is gradual. It is only after the seed of the gospel takes root in our hearts and changes us into believers in Jesus, that we begin to grow. An acorn does not become an adult oak tree the moment it touches the soil. It grows over many years. Likewise, spiritual growth is a gradual and often seemingly slow process.
Paul knew that the believers in Corinth had not reached full spiritual maturity the moment they came to believe in Christ. Many of them were still quite immature in their faith. This is why he says to them, “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready…” (1 Corinthians 3:1-2)
The Christian life is one marked by direction, not perfection. In this perpetual state of spiritual growth we can take two vital steps to foster continued maturity in our faith and a resemblance to our Creator:
- Read God’s word every day.
As explained in point #3, the Bible is the tool that God’s Holy Spirit uses to save us and transform us into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). In order for any spiritual growth to take place in our lives, therefore, we must submit ourselves daily to the sanctifying work of scripture.
To advise that we do this daily is not legalistic. The Bible is God’s own words to mankind for our salvation and spiritual wellness. This means that the Bible is a divine and supernatural letter of Love from our Creator.
Imagine if you came to me for marital advice and I instructed you and your spouse to set time aside each day to spend together – just the two of you. Would you call this advice legalistic? Of course not. Would you say to me, “Wow, do we have to spend every day together? Isn’t once a week enough?” I certainly hope not.
Anyone truly devoted to their relationship would never say such a thing. The daily setting aside of time together shows that you have given this relationship priority in your hearts.
It is the same with our relationship with God. If we love him, we will want to foster that relationship every day. And there will never exist a day where we will not need the loving, transforming, and authoritative words of God to wash us, instruct us, and edify us.
- Pray every day.
Like my previous point, this is also not legalistic counsel. Personal, honest, and daily communication with our Heavenly Father is a natural outcome of a loving Father-child relationship.
I have two precious daughters who currently still live at home. If either of them decided that they did not want to talk with me every day, I would know something was wrong with our relationship.
Imagine my coming to them and saying, “Hey, I love you and miss spending time with you. Can we sit and talk today?” Now imagine if either of them responded to me, (as they sat watching YouTube, or while playing on their phone, or while watching TV) saying, “Can we do it next week? I’m kinda busy”; or, “I don’t really feel like it right now.”
This is how we respond to our Heavenly Father each day in our hearts when we let every possible distraction pull us away from time in honest prayerful conversation with him.
Our prayers to God don’t need to be eloquent, profound, wordy, or sound overly spiritual. We simply need to come to God the way a child should come to their Father – with honesty, humility, and love.
In the end, these six signs of true faith are a work of God alone and not of ourselves. I hope this article has been a help, an encouragement, and a challenge to your growing faith. In closing, I’ll leave you with 5 scripture passages that perfectly describe the transformed newness that is present in a life of true faith.
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)
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)
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)
But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code. (Romans 7:6)
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. (Romans 6:6)
~Tim Baker