How to Know If You Are Born Again
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you-unless, of course, you fail the test? 2 Cor. 13:5 (NIV).
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." Matt. 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 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 Jesus."
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, or it is possible to fail the test. How do we check the evidence? What is the criteria of genuine faith? What erroneous criteria may cause unfortunate doubts? There are three criteria, clear evidences to check to know if you're born again.
Evidence #1: A Genuine Love of Other Christians
Peter and John concur regarding this clear evidence of the person born of God.
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 Pet. 1:22 (NIV)
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)
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 1 John 5:1 (NIV)
Peter uses the word "sincere" which is the Greek word "anupokritos" meaning without hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is the root of the word with a negative prefix. Alexander Lockhart tells of a couple on a long trip. They stopped for gasoline in a full-service station. The attendant washed their car's 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. We are quick to find faults in others.
When someone claims to know Christ, but has no desire to fellowship with other believers, something is wrong. The true believer will be characterized by two types of love. The first is brotherly love (Grk. word philos). This is a love of liking and friendship. Since we are part of God's family, we will have a natural affinity and love for others in the family of God. The second word for love (Grk. word agapao) is a love of prizing, supernatural love that comes from God. Some poet expressed it simply but clearly,
To live above with saints we love,
Oh that will be glory.
To live below with saints we know,
That is another story.
I know believers who I have irritated and disappointed, and by God's grace, they have extended undeserved love to me. Their love has humbled me and brought me to repentance. I see the evidence of their faith because they are wearing the Christian's I.D. Badge according to Jesus, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35 (NIV). Jesus further said, " . . . Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." Luke 6:27-28 (NIV). Do you pray for those who have it in for you and out to destroy you? Do you look for ways to bless them? This is radical love . . . love your enemies!
Evidence #2: A Hunger for God's Word
for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. For, "ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER." And this is the word which was preached to you. 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 1:23-2:3 (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 standing in the way.
Evidence #3: A Desire to Forsake Sin
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 1 Pet. 2:1 (NIV).
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 live in them, they will be utterly miserable. They will feel like they have spiritual hives.
Closing the Door on Doubts
On the other hand, some genuine believers 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 the 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
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
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.
1Alexander Lockhart, The Portable Pep Talk, Zander Press, cited in Bits and Pieces.
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." Matt. 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 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 Jesus."
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, or it is possible to fail the test. How do we check the evidence? What is the criteria of genuine faith? What erroneous criteria may cause unfortunate doubts? There are three criteria, clear evidences to check to know if you're born again.
Evidence #1: A Genuine Love of Other Christians
Peter and John concur regarding this clear evidence of the person born of God.
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 Pet. 1:22 (NIV)
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)
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 1 John 5:1 (NIV)
Peter uses the word "sincere" which is the Greek word "anupokritos" meaning without hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is the root of the word with a negative prefix. Alexander Lockhart tells of a couple on a long trip. They stopped for gasoline in a full-service station. The attendant washed their car's 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. We are quick to find faults in others.
When someone claims to know Christ, but has no desire to fellowship with other believers, something is wrong. The true believer will be characterized by two types of love. The first is brotherly love (Grk. word philos). This is a love of liking and friendship. Since we are part of God's family, we will have a natural affinity and love for others in the family of God. The second word for love (Grk. word agapao) is a love of prizing, supernatural love that comes from God. Some poet expressed it simply but clearly,
To live above with saints we love,
Oh that will be glory.
To live below with saints we know,
That is another story.
I know believers who I have irritated and disappointed, and by God's grace, they have extended undeserved love to me. Their love has humbled me and brought me to repentance. I see the evidence of their faith because they are wearing the Christian's I.D. Badge according to Jesus, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35 (NIV). Jesus further said, " . . . Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." Luke 6:27-28 (NIV). Do you pray for those who have it in for you and out to destroy you? Do you look for ways to bless them? This is radical love . . . love your enemies!
Evidence #2: A Hunger for God's Word
for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. For, "ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER." And this is the word which was preached to you. 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 1:23-2:3 (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 standing in the way.
Evidence #3: A Desire to Forsake Sin
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 1 Pet. 2:1 (NIV).
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 live in them, they will be utterly miserable. They will feel like they have spiritual hives.
Closing the Door on Doubts
On the other hand, some genuine believers 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 the 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
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
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.
1Alexander Lockhart, The Portable Pep Talk, Zander Press, cited in Bits and Pieces.