NINE CONDITIONS THAT PROVE GENUINE SAVING FAITH!
1. LOVE FOR GOD
A deep abiding love for God is one of the supreme evidence of genuine saving faith.
Romans 8:7 ‘The carnal mind is enmity (hostile, hatred) against God”
Matthew 10:37-39
What you love is what you make time for.
Loving God is represented most fully by obeying God’s Word.
2. REPENTANCE FROM SIN
Repentance means a complete change of mind.
Repentance of sin causes hatred of it.
3. GENUINE HUMILITY
A humble spirit that seeks to win the favor of God and man.
Proverbs 16:18 ‘Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall’.
James 4:6 ‘God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble’.
Luke 15:11-24 – The Prodigal son.
Humility is not passive, it’s a confidence in knowing God is greater.
4. DEVOTION TO GOD’S GLORY
The top 3 conditions point to a life that is devoted to God glory.
Doing well in life, moral standards and choices.
It’s not perfection in ones life but the direction of a life that provides evidence of faith.
5. CONTINUAL PRAYER
Humble, submissive, believing prayer is a mark of true faith.
Reliance on God, being God dependant.
The Lord’s Prayer is a model of daily communication and dependence with God.
6. SELFLESS LOVE
Jesus said we will know that we are His disciples by our love for each other.
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’.
Taking the fall for someone else, covering love.
Pastoring involves raising others to fulfill the purposes of God.
7. SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD
We are different by our behaviour to the pressure of this world.
We know how to say ‘NO’!
True believers are not ruled by worldly affections but their affection is for the kingdom.
1 John 2:15 ‘Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him’
8. SPIRITUAL GROWTH
True believers grow and this growth occurs by regular examination.
Philippians 1:6 ‘Being confident, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it’.
Out of the High Chair, out of the Easy Chair into the Modern Swivel Chair.
9. OBEDIENCE
Obedient living is not an option but the culture of the Kingdom of Heaven.
John 15:1-8 ‘Every branch that abides in Him bears fruit’.
Obedience says ‘Yes Lord’ and obedience ‘Chooses Life’.
