Characteristics of Genuine Saving Faith
from John MacArthur Study Bible
What a disaster it would be to come before Christ on Judgment Day and discover you are sentenced to hell because you didn't come to Him His way! Examine yourself to see whether you are in the faith. As Peter said, "Be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you" (2 Peter 1:10 ; New American Standard Bible ).
2Cor. 13:5 “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith”….
Seven conditions/evidences that do not prove or disprove genuine saving faith.
1. Visible Morality: Matthew 19:16-21; 23.27
2. Intellectual Knowledge Romans 1:21; 2:17
3. Religious Involvement Matthew 25:1-10
4. Active Ministry Matthew 7: 21-24
5. Conviction of Sin Acts 24:25
6. The Feeling of Assurance Matthew 23
7. A Time of Decision Luke 8: 13-14
The fruit/proof authentic/true Christianity:
Love for God Ps. 42:1; 73:25; Luke 10:27; Romans 8:7
Repentance from Sin Ps. 32:5; Proverbs 28:13; Rom. 7:14; 2 Cor. 7:10; 1John 1:8-10
Genuine Humility Ps. 51:17; Matt. 5:1-12; James 4:6
Devotion to God's Glory Ps. 105:3; 115:1; Isaiah 43:7; 48:10; Jeremiah 9:23-24; 1 Cor. 10:31
Continual Prayer Luke 18:1; Eph. 6:18; Phil 4:6; 1 Tim. 2:1-4; James 5:16-18
Selfless Love 1 John 2:9; 3:14; 4:7
Separation from the World 1 Cor. 2:12; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17; 5:5
Spiritual Growth Luke 8:15; John 15:1-6; Eph. 4:12-16
Obedient Living Matt. 7:21; John 15:14; Rom 16:26; 1 Peter. 1:2, 22; 1John 2:3-5
Hunger for God’s Word 1 Peter 2:1-3
Transformation of Life: 2 Cor. 5:17
If list #1 is true of a person and list #2 is false, there is cause to question the validity of one’s profession of faith. Yet if list #2 is true, then the top list will also be true.
Source: John MacArthur Study Bible
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