Jesse Barrington – Walking through assurance Part 1
Jesse Barrington – Walking through assurance Part 2
The Character of Genuine Saving Faith
I. Evidences That Neither Prove Nor Disprove One’s Faith
- Visible Morality: Matthew 19:16-21; 23:27
- Intellectual Knowledge: Romans 1:21; 2:17
- Religious Involvement: Matthew 25:1-10
- Active Ministry: Matthew 7:21-24
- Conviction of Sin: Acts 24:25
- Assurance: Matthew 23
- Time of Decision: Luke 8:13, 14
II. The Fruit/Proofs of Authentic/True Christianity:
- Love for God: Psalm 42:1ff; 73:25; Luke 10:27; Romans 8:7
- Repentance from Sin: Psalm 32:5; Proverbs 28:13; Romans 7:14ff; 2 Corinthians 7:10; 1 John 1:8-10
- Genuine Humility: Psalm 51:17; Matthew 5:1-12; James 4:6, 9ff.
- Devotion to God’s Glory: Psalm 105:3; 115:1; Isaiah 43:7, 48:10ff.; Jeremiah 9:23, 24; 1 Corinthians 10:31
- Continual Prayer: Luke 18:1; Ephesians 6:18ff.; Philippians 4:6ff.; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; James 5:16-18
- Selfless Love: 1 John 2:9ff, 3:14; 4:7ff.
- Separation from the World: 1 Corinthians 2:12; James 4:4ff.; 1 John 2:15-17, 5:5
- Spiritual Growth: Luke 8:15; John 15:1-6; Ephesians 4:12-16
- Obedient Living: Matthew 7:21; John 15:14ff.; Romans 16:26; 1 Peter 1:2, 22; 1 John 2:3-5
If List I is true of a person and List II is false, there is cause to question the validity of one’s profession of faith. Yet if List II is true, then the top list will be also.
III. The Conduct of the Gospel:
- Proclaim it: Matthew 4:23
- Defend it: Jude 3
- Demonstrate it: Philippians 1:27
- Share it: Philippians 1:5
- Suffer for it: 2 Timothy 1:8
- Don’t hinder it: 1 Corinthians 9:16
- Be not ashamed: Romans 1:16
- Preach it: 1 Corinthians 9:16
- Be empowered: 1 Thessalonians 1:5
- Guard it: Galatians 1:6-8