Did you know that in several places the Bible tells believers to examine themselves to see whether they are truly in the faith (e.g. see 2 Corinthians 13:5, 1 Corinthians 9:27, Hebrews 3:12-13, etc)? That is, God exhorts those who profess to be believers that they ought to consider their actions and attitudes to see whether they are really saved.
Why does God command us to do this? The reason God does this is that there are many, many people who ‘believe’ in Jesus but are really unsaved. In fact the Bible teaches:
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Mat 7:21-23 (see also Luke 13:23-30)
We see in these verses that in the day of the Lord there will be many who thought they were saved, but were really not. During their lives on earth, they believed in Jesus. They attended church and even did great things in His name. Yet, they were not saved. Rather, they were workers of iniquity.
Now one may wonder: if I have believed in Jesus, isn’t this all that is required for salvation? The answer to that question is no. You see, the Bible teaches that simple faith generated by man does not save. An example is Simon the Sorcerer. He believed in Jesus but later proved that his heart was not right with God (Acts 8:12-21). His self-generated faith was not saving faith. There are many other examples of this in the Bible (see James 2:14-25, Jude 4, 2 Pet 2, 2 Cor 11:26).
Well, one may ask: what type of faith (i.e. belief) in Jesus is necessary for salvation? Surely, the church has taught me that I just need to believe to be saved. I’ve always heard that everybody and anybody who believes in Jesus will be saved. However, this is very far from the truth.
True saving faith is that faith generated by God that is given as a gift to those being saved (Ephesians 2:8-9, Phil 1:29, John 6:65, 2 Pet 1:1). It is that belief that results in one being able to cry out in repentance for salvation (Luke 13:3-5, 24:46-48, Ps 34:18, Is 55:6-7). It is that faith that allows one with a humble and contrite heart to beg God for forgiveness. This faith is not man’s feeble attempt at believing. Rather, it is the working of God through the Holy Spirit resulting in a circumcised heart that can call out to God (Ezekiel 11:19, 36:26-27, Romans 2:29).
The reason that God must do all the work of salvation is that man is unable. In his own efforts, the best man can do is try to believe in Jesus in his own strength. This type of self-energized belief is not saving faith. He will not have the change of attitude that results in repentance and obedient faith.
How then can one tell if their belief in Jesus is saving faith or dead faith that is man-generated? The answer to this is one of the great messages of the New Testament. You see, there are literally scores of passages in the New Testament that indicate what fruit that will be evident in the true believer. These passages teach that certain behaviors will be evident in the true believer’s life.
For example, the Bible teaches that no idolater, homosexual, adulterer, drunkard, or contentious person can inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Gal 5:19-21). Therefore, we see that one who practices such a sinful lifestyle yet believes in Jesus can not in reality be saved. This is not to say that God can not still save such a one for that is what He came to do. Rather, it means that one who has believed and thinks he is a Christian really is not if he finds this type of sin present in his life.
God tells us that when we become saved, we become new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 6:15). Our sinful, selfish minds are transformed so that they dwell on the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:1-11). They no longer are infatuated with the things of the world. As a Christian matures, God is gradually transforming him day by day (2 Corinthians 3:18, 4:16). Although all people still occasionally sin (1 John 1:8-10), Christians are being made more holy as time goes on. The physical man is decaying, but the inner man of the spirit is being built up day by day by God. In fact, the Bible teaches us that another proof of true salvation is that the true believer is in the process of becoming more and more holier.
The Bible teaches that if the love of the world is present in the one who thinks he is a Christian, then he is deceiving himself (1 John 2:15-17). A Christian can not serve God and the world at the same time. The Bible also teaches us that if we do not love our brother, then the love of God can not be in us (1 John 3:17). In other words, the Bible teaches true saving faith will result in loving our brother. If we find ourselves in a condition that we do not love our brother, then we are very possibly not saved. Another proof of being a true believer is that we are a disciple of Jesus (John 6:48-58, 8:30-32, Mat 28:19-20, John 12:24-26). That is, the true believer will earnestly desire to study his Bible and be obedient to it. The true believer will overcome and be more and more obedient to the word of God (1 John 2:3-6).
How about you? You are most likely a ‘believer’. But are you saved? Have you experienced the life changing power of God that result in a spirit of discipleship, love, and obedience? If not, you are not saved!
But, today is still the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). You can still be saved. Can you cry out to God for His mercy? Can you repent of your selfish ways and be his disciple? If you can, cry out with a humble and contrite heart for His mercy:
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Ps 34:18
Seek the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
Isaiah 55:6-7