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Are you really saved? Are you sure?

By August 10, 2011April 12th, 2016Assurance, Blog

Am I Really a Christian? by Mike McKinley

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Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you–unless indeed you fail the test?  II Corinthians 13:5

What does the fruit of a genuine Believer look like?  The MacArthur Study Bible has a great tool you can use for examining yourself.  Find a quiet time and place with no distractions, and prayerfully and honestly go over this list with the Lord.  Don’t trust your own opinion of your fruit, ask God to reveal to you what He thinks.

I. Evidences that neither prove nor disprove one’s faith:

  1. Visible morality: Matt. 19:16-21, 23:27
  2. Intellectual knowledge: Romans 1:21, 2:17ff
  3. Religious involvement: Matt. 25:1-10
  4. Active Ministry: Matt. 7:21-23
  5. Conviction of sin: Acts 24:25
  6. Assurance: Matt. 23
  7. Time of decision: Luke 8:13-14

II. The fruit /proofs of authentic / true Christianity

  1. Love for God: Psalm 42:1ff; 73:25; Luke 10:27; Romans 8:7
  2. Repentance from sin: Psalm 32:5; Proverbs 28:13; Romans 7:14ff; 2 Corinthians 7:10; 1 John 1:8-10
  3. Genuine Humility: Psalm 51:17; Matthew 5:1-12; James 4:6, 9ff.
  4. Devotion to God’s Glory: Psalm 105:3; 115:1; Isaiah 43:7, 48:10ff.; Jeremiah 9:23, 24; 1 Corinthians 10:31
  5. Continual Prayer: Luke 18:1; Ephesians 6:18ff.; Philippians 4:6ff.; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; James 5:16-18
  6. Selfless Love: 1 John 2:9ff, 3:14; 4:7ff.
  7. Separation from the world: 1 Corinthians 2:12; James 4:4ff.; 1 John 2:15-17, 5:5
  8. Spiritual Growth: Luke 8:15; John 15:1-6; Ephesians 4:12-16
  9. Obedient Living:Matthew 7:21; John 15:14ff.; Romans 16:26; 1 Peter 1:2, 22; 1 John 2:3-5

If list I is true of a person and list II is false or non-evident, then there could be cause to question the validity of one’s profession of faith. If list II is true of a person, then list I will be true as well.

Source: MacArthur Study Bible Index Notes, 1997.

Additional Reading