How to Know If You Are Born Again
A wife who professed to be a Christian told me, “I’m living with someone who is not my husband. I don’t love him, but I don’t want to leave him either.” And then she asked, “Do you think I am still a Christian?” I replied, “I do not make the decision as to who is a Christian and who isn’t, nor do I necessarily know. You obviously have this question because of your current behavior. Let’s go to the Bible to answer your question.”
First, we turned to the words of Jesus: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21-23 NIV). I asked, “When did you invite Christ into your life?” She related her prayer as a young girl when she felt she became a Christian. I further explained, “According to the words of Jesus, not everyone who says a little prayer is necessarily a Christian, but everyone who follows His will. Do you think sleeping with someone who isn’t your husband is God’s will?” She silently shook her head. “You may be a Christian,” I continued, “and you may be away from Him now. However, if you truly know the Lord and His Holy Spirit lives within you, you will be miserable until you end this relationship. If you can comfortably continue sleeping with someone who is not your husband, then it raises serious questions about your relationship with Christ.”
Checking the Evidence
We are encouraged in 2 Corinthians 13:5 to test ourselves to see if we are in the faith. The presence of Christ is to be confirmed, and it raises the possibility of failing the test. How do we check the evidence? What is the criteria of genuine faith? There are three criteria, clear evidences to check to know if you’re born again.
Evidence #1: A Genuine Love of Other Christians. Peter says, "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart" (1 Peter 1:22 NIV). John presents the same truth: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 4:7-8 NIV). Our imperfections test this love. There are believers who I have irritated and disappointed. By God’s grace, they have extended undeserved love to me. Because of God's grace in my life, I extended grace and forgiveness to those who have wronged me. This is authenticating evidence of being born-again.
Peter uses the word “sincere” to describe genuine love for believers. This is the Greek word “anupokritos” meaning "without hypocrisy." Alexander Lockhart tells of a couple on a long trip back in the days when gasoline station attendants filled your gas tank, checked your oil, and washed your windows. The couple stopped for gasoline at a full-service station. The attendant washed the windshield, and then the man shouted at the station attendant, "It's still dirty. Wash it again." The station attendant carefully washed the windshield again. After he finished washing it again and started to hand the man his receipt, the man in the car angrily said, "It's still dirty. Don't you know how to wash a windshield?" The man’s wife reached over, removed her husband's glasses from his face, and cleaned them with a tissue. She then placed them back on her husband and behold‑‑the windshield was clean![1] When our spiritual glasses are dirty, the whole windshield of life looks dirty, and we are quick to find faults in others.
Evidence #2: A Hunger for God’s Word. Peter continues the thought of how to know you have been born again.
"For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. . . .Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord" (1 Peter 1:23, 2:1-3 NASB).
The phrase, “If you have tasted the kindness of the Lord,” is crucial to understanding this passage. This phrase in the Greek language is a first class condition which assumes the reality of what precedes it. In simple terms, this means the person who has come to know the Lord intimately and personally will be characterized by a hunger for the Word.
Babies is the Greek word brephos indicating an infant and combined with the word “newborn.” Every healthy baby, without exception, is hungry every few hours . If a baby has no hunger, something is severely wrong. Tasting of the Lord creates an appetite for more of Him. With the spiritual birth, there is an accompanying appetite and hunger. If there is no hunger for the Word of God, something is wrong. Either, they have never come to know the Lord or the disease of sin is hindering a hunger for God.
Evidence #3: A Desire to Forsake Sin. John puts it this way: "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God" (1 John 3:9 NIV). This doesn’t mean the believer will never sin. When John says, “. . . continue to sin,” he uses the present tense to indicate an ongoing pattern of life. Believers are capable of sin, but because God’s seed lives in them, they will be utterly miserable. Sinning as a believer is like having a bad case of the "spiritual hives."
Closing the Door on Doubts
On the other hand, genuine believers may struggle deeply with doubts about their salvation. They tend to agonize over every slip or failure, and continually berate themselves. Their tender consciences raise perpetual doubts. Their faith is real, and God has certainly done His work within their hearts. The Bible presents tender assurances to close the door on doubts. Those who struggle with doubts have sometimes fallen prey to false criteria regarding their salvation. As a result, the enemy uses these issues to place question marks where God has placed a period.
Here are some issues that may erroneously raise doubts about personal salvation.
The Corinthian believers were characterized by a great deal of carnality, but Paul assures them that Jesus ". . . will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 1:8 NIV). Blameless--without a single fault. What a promise to claim--even for those who slip and fall. Let God continue His good work in you until the day He comes to call you home.
Pastor Dave Beckwith
[1] Alexander Lockhart, "The Portable Pep Talk," Zander Press, cited in Bits and Pieces.
Time Out for Personal Growth
Read the Word
Read 1 Peter 1:23-2:3 and 2 Peter 1:5-10.
Refocus for Life
1. What doubts does the enemy throw your way to cast doubts on your salvation?
2. Affirmation of your personal salvation is promised in 2 Peter 1:5-10. Identify the seven quality character goals Peter promises will keep you from doubting your salvation.
Record Your Spiritual Journal
Journal your prayer requests, answers to prayer, joys, disappointments, fears, and gratitude to God.
© Dave Beckwith 2009
First, we turned to the words of Jesus: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21-23 NIV). I asked, “When did you invite Christ into your life?” She related her prayer as a young girl when she felt she became a Christian. I further explained, “According to the words of Jesus, not everyone who says a little prayer is necessarily a Christian, but everyone who follows His will. Do you think sleeping with someone who isn’t your husband is God’s will?” She silently shook her head. “You may be a Christian,” I continued, “and you may be away from Him now. However, if you truly know the Lord and His Holy Spirit lives within you, you will be miserable until you end this relationship. If you can comfortably continue sleeping with someone who is not your husband, then it raises serious questions about your relationship with Christ.”
Checking the Evidence
We are encouraged in 2 Corinthians 13:5 to test ourselves to see if we are in the faith. The presence of Christ is to be confirmed, and it raises the possibility of failing the test. How do we check the evidence? What is the criteria of genuine faith? There are three criteria, clear evidences to check to know if you’re born again.
Evidence #1: A Genuine Love of Other Christians. Peter says, "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart" (1 Peter 1:22 NIV). John presents the same truth: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 4:7-8 NIV). Our imperfections test this love. There are believers who I have irritated and disappointed. By God’s grace, they have extended undeserved love to me. Because of God's grace in my life, I extended grace and forgiveness to those who have wronged me. This is authenticating evidence of being born-again.
Peter uses the word “sincere” to describe genuine love for believers. This is the Greek word “anupokritos” meaning "without hypocrisy." Alexander Lockhart tells of a couple on a long trip back in the days when gasoline station attendants filled your gas tank, checked your oil, and washed your windows. The couple stopped for gasoline at a full-service station. The attendant washed the windshield, and then the man shouted at the station attendant, "It's still dirty. Wash it again." The station attendant carefully washed the windshield again. After he finished washing it again and started to hand the man his receipt, the man in the car angrily said, "It's still dirty. Don't you know how to wash a windshield?" The man’s wife reached over, removed her husband's glasses from his face, and cleaned them with a tissue. She then placed them back on her husband and behold‑‑the windshield was clean![1] When our spiritual glasses are dirty, the whole windshield of life looks dirty, and we are quick to find faults in others.
Evidence #2: A Hunger for God’s Word. Peter continues the thought of how to know you have been born again.
"For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. . . .Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord" (1 Peter 1:23, 2:1-3 NASB).
The phrase, “If you have tasted the kindness of the Lord,” is crucial to understanding this passage. This phrase in the Greek language is a first class condition which assumes the reality of what precedes it. In simple terms, this means the person who has come to know the Lord intimately and personally will be characterized by a hunger for the Word.
Babies is the Greek word brephos indicating an infant and combined with the word “newborn.” Every healthy baby, without exception, is hungry every few hours . If a baby has no hunger, something is severely wrong. Tasting of the Lord creates an appetite for more of Him. With the spiritual birth, there is an accompanying appetite and hunger. If there is no hunger for the Word of God, something is wrong. Either, they have never come to know the Lord or the disease of sin is hindering a hunger for God.
Evidence #3: A Desire to Forsake Sin. John puts it this way: "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God" (1 John 3:9 NIV). This doesn’t mean the believer will never sin. When John says, “. . . continue to sin,” he uses the present tense to indicate an ongoing pattern of life. Believers are capable of sin, but because God’s seed lives in them, they will be utterly miserable. Sinning as a believer is like having a bad case of the "spiritual hives."
Closing the Door on Doubts
On the other hand, genuine believers may struggle deeply with doubts about their salvation. They tend to agonize over every slip or failure, and continually berate themselves. Their tender consciences raise perpetual doubts. Their faith is real, and God has certainly done His work within their hearts. The Bible presents tender assurances to close the door on doubts. Those who struggle with doubts have sometimes fallen prey to false criteria regarding their salvation. As a result, the enemy uses these issues to place question marks where God has placed a period.
Here are some issues that may erroneously raise doubts about personal salvation.
- A conversion experience that was not highly dramatic
- Never having led another person to Christ
- Irregular pattern of reading the Bible
- Lacking boldness to share personal faith
- Unable to share personal testimony before a group
- Less than satisfactory marriage relationship
- Feelings of low self esteem
- Depression or frequent discouragement
- Thinking a sin is too horrible for God to forgive
- Struggles with worry and anxiety
- Children who rebel or walk away from their faith
- Feelings of anger
- Difficulty forgiving others (though willing to forgive)
- Struggles with overeating or chemical dependence
The Corinthian believers were characterized by a great deal of carnality, but Paul assures them that Jesus ". . . will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 1:8 NIV). Blameless--without a single fault. What a promise to claim--even for those who slip and fall. Let God continue His good work in you until the day He comes to call you home.
Pastor Dave Beckwith
[1] Alexander Lockhart, "The Portable Pep Talk," Zander Press, cited in Bits and Pieces.
Time Out for Personal Growth
Read the Word
Read 1 Peter 1:23-2:3 and 2 Peter 1:5-10.
Refocus for Life
1. What doubts does the enemy throw your way to cast doubts on your salvation?
2. Affirmation of your personal salvation is promised in 2 Peter 1:5-10. Identify the seven quality character goals Peter promises will keep you from doubting your salvation.
Record Your Spiritual Journal
Journal your prayer requests, answers to prayer, joys, disappointments, fears, and gratitude to God.
© Dave Beckwith 2009