Evidence Of Being A Christian

Many people call themselves a Christian. There are some who are probably not sure if they are. This article will provide evidence of being one

Confession 

Romans 10:9-10 says, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified and with the mouth, one confesses and is saved.”

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit.When a person confesses their salvation, the Holy Spirit of God enters their life. “Anyone who does not have the spirit of Christ does not belong to him”(Romans 8:9). Romans 8:16 adds, “The spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” “When we come to faith, Christ comes to dwell in our lives by the presence of the Holy Spirit. This is a foundation of true faith that forces us to measure all we do against this reality. Any thought or action that is inconsistent with this truth is defective and to be resisted. The Holy Spirit becomes our ultimate motivation. His presence permeates and penetrates every fiber of our being.”*

The evidence that the Holy Spirit is in our lives.

As the Holy Spirit works within us, our lives will show the fruits of the spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23. “The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control…” 

There will be a “peace of God that passes all understanding…(Phil. 4:7).

When the spirit of God enters our lives there will be battles in our character. This is a good thing because it shows that even though we still have our old sin nature, we have a new nature in Christ. This is evidence that the Holy Spirit is in our lives. Galatians 5:17 says, “The desires of the flesh are against the spirit and the desires of the spirit are against the flesh, but these are opposed to each other…”

There will also be a love for the word of God. Psalm 19:7-10 says, “The law of the Lord is perfect reviving the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean enduring forever. The rules of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired, are they than gold even much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.”

The verdict.

If you have made the confession and have the evidence in your life, you can be sure that you are a Christian. You will become more and more separated from the world of sin and darkness. You are part of the universal spiritual family of God for all eternity, and there is a place in heaven reserved for you. This is expressed in 1 Peter 1:3-4. “According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living Hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading kept in heaven for you.”

Rejoice in your eternal salvation. Nothing can take it from you.

*William Wilberforce, Real Christianity, 1797, Revised and updated by Dr, Bob Beltz, Regal Books, 2006, pgs. 69-70