Evidence of true faith

The first letter of the Apostle John to the Christians of his day is a letter of assurance. He outlines the evidences by which Christians know for sure that we are Christians. He talks about knowing and loving God, humility in confessing sin, loving other Christians, answered prayer, the inner witness of the Holy Spirit, and obedience to God. In other words, those who are really Christians show it by a changed life.

John also says this:

We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. (1 John 5:18)

John’s letter is helpful even today because there are many who claim to be believers, even give evidence with ‘biblical’ actions, but do not fulfill the criteria that John lists, particularly this last one about leaving a sin-filled life behind.

I thought of John’s verses when reading Tozer’s Scripture for today’s devotional . . .  

While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” (Acts 10:44–47)

In this description, the evidence of faith and the Holy Spirit was speaking in tongues and praising God. Peter was satisfied that these Gentiles had been saved. Even though the passage describes a valid evidence of faith and the work of Holy Spirit at that time, it falls short of what John later wrote. Nevertheless, these new believers were genuine and I’ve no doubt that they began to exhibit the evidences that John described in his letter.

However, both passages are important, particularly what John wrote. I say this because in today’s religious world, at least one cult speaks in tongues and many of them go through the motions of praising God. However, they give no evidence of the changed life that John describes. Tozer says that “the Holy Spirit identifies Himself with the Lord Jesus and that the coming of the Comforter is just the coming of Jesus Himself to the heart.”

This is true, but the Lord God in the Persons of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit cannot enter the lives of anyone without making a difference. God is holy, righteous, true and powerful. He hates sin and loves to wipe it out, ruining its power to hold people in bondage. Those whose beliefs and message are contrary to the Word of God are still in the power of the Liar and unchanged by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

^^^^^^^^^^

Lord Jesus, as I pray today, I am thankful for Your mercy and grace, and for the faith to believe in You. I’m also thankful for all those You have saved, changing their lives by grace. Yet I know of many who profess faith, but their lives show no evidence of it as described by John and other Bible writers. Grant me the grace to know how to pray for them too.