2. Salvation will manifest in outward signs – If a believer has genuine saving faith it will produce genuine works of righteousness in a persons life. I’m not saying once you’re saved you have to turn into the Apostle Paul but there should be changes in your life to reflect your new position with God. Others may not notice the difference in you but the believer will know they have changed inside.
Matthew 7:17-18,20 – (Jesus speaking) – Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
You can only do what God calls you to do and everyone has a different calling. God calls on some to do great things for the kingdom of God and others are called simply to obedience and walking humbly with God. Most of us will fall somewhere in between. There are at least twelve things that believers will manifest when they are saved. A believer should manifest one or more of the following traits:
A. Enjoys fellowship with God, Jesus, and fellow believers.
1 John 1:3-4 – That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
B. A sensitivity to sin.
1 John 1:8-10 – If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
C. Basically obedient to the commandments of Scripture.
1 John 2:3-5 – Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know we are in Him.
D. Hatred of the world and its values.
1 John 2:15 – Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
E. Love of Jesus Christ and look forward to his coming.
2 Timothy 4:8 – There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
F. Sin less as a believer.
1 John 3:5-6 – And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.
G. Loves other believers.
1 John 3:14 – We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.
H. Experienced answered prayers.
1 John 3:22 – And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
I. The inner witness of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:16 – The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
J. The ability to discern between spiritual truth and error.
John 10:27 – (Jesus speaking) – My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
K. Belief in the basic doctrines of the faith.
1 John 5:1 – Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.
L. Experience persecution for their Christian position.
John 15:18-19 – (Jesus speaking) – If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet, because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
As a believer I’ve experienced all of the above traits of salvation in my life to one degree or another, except for persecution for being a Christian. Christians in America haven’t had to face persecution yet but according to the Bible it’s coming. Know what you believe and why so as to gird yourself for the coming hard times. If you’re a Christian and you don’t recognize any of the the above traits in your life you may want to reexamine you faith to see if you’re truly saved. Start by studying God’s Word and praying for God to reveal himself through his Holy Spirit.
Witnessing for Christ