Posted on 01/04/2013 7:15:20 AM PST by xzins
11 Biblical Tests of Genuine Salvation -
In 1746, about six years after the Great Awakening, in which Jonathan Edwards was the primary instrument of God to preach the gospel and bring about the greatest revival in American history thus far, Edwards wrote A Treatise Concerning the Religious Affections. He wrote it to deal with a problem not unlike one we face today: the matter of evidence for true conversion. Many people want the blessings of salvation, especially eternal security, but no more.
In the explosive drama of the Great Awakening, it seemed as though conversions were occurring in great numbers. However, it didn't take long to realize that some people claimed conversions that were not real. While various excesses and heightened emotional experiences were common, scores of people didn't demonstrate any evidence in their lives to verify their claim to know and love Jesus Christ, which led critics to attack the Great Awakening, contending it was nothing but a big emotional bath without any true conversions.
Thus, partly in defense of true conversion and partly to expose false conversion, Jonathan Edwards took up his pen. He came to this simple conclusion. The supreme proof of a true conversion is what he called "holy affections," which are a zeal for holy things and a longing after God and personal holiness. He made a careful distinction between saving versus common operations of the Holy Spirit. Saving operations obviously produce salvation. Common operations of the Holy Spirit, he said, "may sober, arrest and convict men, and may even bring them to what at first appears to be repentance and faith, yet these influences fall short of inward saving renewal" (lain H. Murray, Jonathan Edwards: A New Biography [Carlisle, Pa.: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1987], p. 255).
How can you tell whether the Holy Spirit has performed a saving operation? As the principle evidence of life is motion, Edwards wrote, so the principle evidence of saving grace is holy practice (pp. 262-63). He said true salvation always produces an abiding change of nature in a true convert. Therefore, whenever holiness of life does not accompany a confession of conversion, it must be understood that this individual is not a Christian.
In the very year Edwards' treatise was published, popular teaching asserted that, to the contrary, the only real evidence of true salvation is a feeling based on an experience--usually the experience at the moment of the alleged conversion. That teaching introduces the prevalent but erroneous concept that a person's true spiritual state is known by a past experience rather than a present pursuit of holiness. Edwards flatly contradicted that notion: "Assurance is never to be enjoyed on the basis of a past experience. There is need of the present and continuing work of the Holy Spirit ... [in] giving assurance" (p. 265). This is no esoteric theological debate: the substance of your assurance is at stake.
A number of New Testament writers, of course, were very concerned about this matter of true salvation, as was our Lord Jesus Himself. The apostle John dedicated his first letter to the subject, stating his theme at the end: "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:13). Throughout the letter is a series of tests to determine whether you possess eternal life. If you don't pass these tests, you'll know where you stand and what you need to do. If you do, you'll have reason to enjoy your eternal salvation with great assurance.
1- Do You Enjoy Fellowship with Christ and the Father?Jesus is Lord!
This is an essential element in true salvation and the first test John presented. Look with me at chapter 1, which begins: "We [John and his fellow apostles] have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us--what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ" (vv. 2-3). Obviously he was going beyond just the earthly acquaintance he had with Jesus because he had no such earthly acquaintance with the Father. Rather, he was presently enjoying communion with the living God and the living Christ.
Now at first you might be tempted to think, Well, good for John, but his was not an isolated experience. In 1 John 5:1, he says, "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God; and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him" (emphasis added). It is characteristic of any believer to love God and Christ. It is a sign of the holy affections Jonathan Edwards spoke of. A relationship with God is basic to salvation. It is what we as believers were called to. "God is faithful," Paul says, "through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor 1:9).
Paul described what that fellowship meant to him personally: "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself up for me" (Gal 2:20). There's something very experiential about that truth--it's not just a cold fact that we as believers have divine life living in us; there's an experience to be enjoyed in knowing God intimately.
Jesus implied as much when He said, "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10: 10). If He had just said, "I came that you may have life," we could conclude He was talking only about His gracious provision of eternal life. By adding that life could be abundant, Jesus was moving into the dimension of experience. The Christian life is a rich life. We're meant to experience joy, peace, love, and purpose. When someone who's about to be baptized testifies about coming to Christ, you won't hear, "The fact is, folks, I'm saved, and I'm just here to announce that." Invariably the person will describe to you the feeling--the overwhelming sense of forgiveness and purpose in his or her life.
Here's a taste of the abundant life Scripture describes in terms of our fellowship with the Lord. The "God of all comfort" (2 Cor 1:3); "the God of all grace" (1 Peter 5:10); the God who supplies all [our] needs according to His riches in Christ (Phil. 4:19); the God who leads us to speak to one another in psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in our hearts to Him (Eph 5:19); the God to whom we cry "Abba! Father!" (Rom 8:15) like little children to the daddy we adore; the God we draw near to in time of trouble (Heb 4:16)--He Himself so greatly enriches us. Our fellowship with Him is the abundant life we experience.
Have you experienced communion with God and Christ? Have you sensed Their presence? Do you have a love for Them that draws you to Their presence? Have you experienced the sweet communion of prayer--the exhilarating joy of talking to the living God? Have you experienced the refreshing, almost overwhelming sense of grace that comes upon you when you discover a new truth in His Word? If you have, then you have experienced the fellowship of salvation.
I agree. In these “tests” MacArthur is pushing us to do some soul-searching.
It is hard to examine our own life and ask if our salvation was authentic. It’s too easy to dismiss the biblical reminders of what authentic faith looks like.
And it’s very hard to admit we don’t like what we see when we do examine ourselves.
Paul says, “Should we go on sinning so that grace may abound? May it never be!”
In other words, believers are repulsed by the very notion of abusing grace.
Someone above mentioned "easy-believism" and that's part of it. Since others have departed the faith and were not really part of us, then it behooves us: 2 Peter 1:10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
It certainly cannot be denied that even the most spiritual of believers today fall short of God's standards, nor is there a true lack of spirituality among today's Christians. BUt the question is: How do we measure our spirituality? And how can we know that we are doing what God wants us to do and are approved workman for Him? How do others (believers and non-believers) perceive us? Look at the Corinthians for example.
Paul called them UNspiritual babes (1 Cor. 3:1) and rebuked them for their carnality, for their "envying, and strife, and divisions" (1 Cor.3 :3), for their immorality (1 Cor. 5:1), for their dishonesty and oppression of each other (1 Cor. 6:7,8), for their unfaithfulness in giving (1 Cor. 9:11-14), for their selfishness and pride (1 Cor. 11:21,22), and told them: "And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned!" (1 Cor. 5:2, 4:18).
Yet this SAME Corinthian church, at this SAME time, ABOUNDED in miraculous gifts (1 Cor. 1:7, 12:8-11, 14:12, 18,26).
If these Corinthians had received an "11 Biblical Tests of Genuine Salvation", how would they have scored? They were saved believers, don't forget. And how would others have scored them? Would they believe these Corinthians were saved?
There is more to the subject, but I'll leave it at this for a moment..:)
he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works...be fully persuaded in your own mind...persuaded that He is able to keep that which you have entrusted to Him...to Him who is able to keep you from falling and present you faultless...be found in Him, not having your own righteousness.
For He has said... Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save...Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver?...even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you...with exceeding joy...be not afraid,only believe...this is the work of God...for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
See 2 Corinth 13 quote by Paul at post #37
I noticed the same thing about the Corinthians church.
There was also the issue of the sin in their midst. Paul seemed to consider the man who was having relations with his father’s wive as a believer, and he had to rebuke the church for bragging about it.
It’s almost like God put 1 Corinthians in the Bible just almost as an enigma.
Amen HD!
(From another thread)...The scary thing (the fear and trembling type!)is that not only does the Creator of the cosmos know every single word that gets posted here but also every single thought and intent behind it.I'll freely admit that I don't have an absolute handle on every agenda that dwells deep within me because my heart is also desperatly wicked and deceitfull and I do not fully know it.That is not humility that is a cold hard fact.Would anyone here say they've done nothing but post exactly how God's Spirit would have us post?When I contemplate the utter depth of myself,as far as I can know with any semblence of certainty,I shudder at the thought that I could possibly think I have anything in the way of 'good' to offer God.It would say to me that I have absolutely no idea of the dire depths I am in.It would be (as I've ranted many times before)akin to me standing on the surface of the sun expecting to cast a shadow. I can't say I know every thought and intent of my own heart but I can thank God for sending His only begotten Son to RESCUE ME.Jesus is Lord.Maranatha
I agree. I was told one time that when the rapture occurs, we will be shocked to see who is part of it. And who is not. I believe that..
Then there should be no problem with following Paul’s advice in 2 Co 13 to examine ourselves to see if we pass the test. Nor should there be problem with Peter’s admonition that we be eager to make our calling and election sure.” 2 Peter 1:10
BFRL.
Absolutely not.If we were doing the "work of God" we'd see ourselves in a proper light on a daily basis yes?
"Nor should there be problem with Peter’s admonition that we be eager to make our calling and election sure.” 2 Peter 1:10"
I'm not sure that 2Peter 1:10 means what you seem to think it means.
If you had a choice between doing what had been asked by Jesus and not doing it, then surely you would say that you’d rather be doing it than not doing it.
And, if as one who was doing what the Lord asked, would that not give you greater assurance than if you were not doing what had been asked.
As Jesus said, “Happy is the man who does these things.”
“Let me take just a slight bit of issue with the “even myself” part. “
No problem. I suspect that in my daily reading the HS would also have corrected my thinking.
Thanks
Not all are given the same gifts or talents. Paul said in Romans 12:4 For we have many parts in one body, but these parts do not all have the same function.
I’m sensing a danger when we try to analyze either ourselves or others. God has given each of us different talents, different gifts and different functions within His church. Not only that but I find in my own life that God has used me differently in periods of my life. If we take a standard and try to apply it to ourselves or others we risk demanding things from either ourselves or others that perhaps God doesn’t have for us.
Satan is the accuser. If we either look at ourselves as failures or look at others to judge their “works” are we risking going against God’s will for our lives and theirs at that particular point in time? We may be feeling inadequate or accusing others of “not living up” to a standard when God is really saying something different. He may be saying like Milton “They also serve who only stand and wait”. He may be doing something in our life that isn’t contained in that “standard” that’s been listed. He may be saying “you are learning and growing my child, I have something bigger for you, your time will come”.
Let’s not get ahead of God. I believe He tells us to do all we can at any particular time. To compare that to someone else, what we would like to be, or even some “standard” that has been developed could cause us to fall under the accusing of Satan.
I don’t know the bfrl acronym
While it is true that each Christian has differences, it is also true that the bible is the written standard, and it is true that even the New Testament has instructions.
They are not instructions from me, or from some pastor, or from some committee. They found their way intentionally into the Word of God.
I suggest we'd be better with ourselves if we would adhere to those instructions rather than not adhering to them.
Sorry for the 'attitude' FRiend.I've been following another never-ending thread on the RF and am a bit prickly on the works-salvation issue just now.I do think though that were all believers doing "the work of God" that many of these things would be self evident.
God bless you and thankyou for the spirit of your reply.
Is it possible for me to take my life back after I have turned it over to the Lord of all creation, the King of Kings, the Alpha and Omega?
Who has the power to snatch that life from God’s hand?
Is it possible for you to take a wrong direction even though you are a believer? See below:
Galatians 1: 6I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;7which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.8But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!9As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!10For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of GOd. Set your affections ON THINGS ABOVE, NOT on things on the earth. FOR YE ARE DEAD, AND YOUR LIFE IS HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD." Col. 3:1-3.
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