One of the saddest truths is the fact that there are thousands of people who claim to be a Christian and even have convinced themselves that they are a Christian, but in reality they have no proof in their life of their faith in God. The Bible says MUCH about the actions and lifestyle of a TRUE Christian. Jesus said in John 14:23, “…“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” And the Bible tells us quite plainly in 1 John 2:15, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
I like what J. C. Ryle wrote about True Faith:
True faith does not depend merely on the state of man’s head and understanding, but on the state of his heart. His mind may be convinced. His conscience may be pierced. But so long as there is anything the man is secretly loving more than God, there will be no true faith. The man himself may be puzzled, and wonder why he does not believe. He does not see that he is like a child sitting on the lid of his box, and wishing to open it, but not considering that his own weight keeps it shut.
Let a man make sure that he honestly and really desires first the praise of God. It is the lack of an honest heart which makes many stick fast in their false religion all their days, and die at length without peace. Those who complain that they hear, approve, assent, but make no progress, and cannot get any hold on Christ, should ask themselves this simple question – “Am I honest? Am I sincere? Do I really desire first the praise of God?”
A true believer’s religion does not consist in mere intellectual assent to a certain set of propositions and doctrines. It is not a mere cold belief of a certain set of truths and facts concerning Christ. It consists in union, communion, and fellowship with an actual living Person, Jesus the Son of God. It is a life of faith in Jesus, confidence in Jesus, leaning on Jesus, drawing out of the fullness of Jesus, speaking to Jesus, working for Jesus, loving Jesus, and waiting for Jesus to come again.
Jesus said clearly in John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me…” If you don’t have a desire to truly know and follow Jesus Christ, you have no true saving faith. If you love this world or anything in it more than you love God, you have no true faith in Him. Salvation is nothing to mess around with – it will impact your life for ALL of eternity as well as this life here on earth.
Isaiah 55:6 – “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;”