Evidences of Salvation

	In this world of so much religious activity, when it comes down to matters of who is or is not saved, it can be rather confusing. God does not want us to be judgmental concerning the salvation of others (Rom. 10:6,7). But there are certain things that are mentioned in Scripture that should be in the life of every child of God. The Word of God teaches that there are three classes of people - Natural, Carnal, and Spiritual (I Cor. 2:14; 3:1). Everyone in the world today is in one of these three classes. The Natural people are the unsaved, but Carnal and Spiritual people are believers. Spiritual believers can be identified immediately. Their light (lifestyle) is shining brightly for the Lord Jesus Christ, and there's not a doubt in anybody's mind whose side they are on. Carnal believers are like babes or newborns in Christ. Sometimes it's hard to tell them from the Natural (unsaved) people even though a carnal believer may have been saved for years. The texts above points out two things, Examining Ourselves and Knowing Them that labor among us. In order to be sure that we have been born again and in order to distinguish the real believers from those that are false, there must be evidence of some kind. God knew that the devil would sow tares among the wheat in an attempt to deceive, and try to destroy the credibility of the church from within (Matt. 13:36-43). Beloved, the devil has his own harvest of look-alikes and seem-alikes that he plants in congregations all over the world. Pulpits, choir stands, and pews are full of them. This is what Jesus meant when He said, *"Not everyone that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven...."* (Matt. 7:21). Paul says the same thing, *"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ"* (2 Cor. 11:13). This same situation caused Paul to break down in tears as he was about to leave the church of Phillipi for the last time. He said, "For many walk of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things" (Phil. 3:18,19). God does not want us to deceive ourselves concerning salvation, or be deceived by others pretending to be saved. We can know by EVIDENCE! Evidence is data on which judgment or conclusion may be based; something that furnishes proof. Here are a few things that should be in the life of a child of God. These are not things that you should have to work up or pump up, but they are automatics that come from the Spirit of God once one is born-again!
	♦ Spiritual Change
	"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW CREATURE (creation): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Cor. 5:17
	Jesus changes lives. When He comes into your life, you're not the same. You should experience a sense of release and rest for your weary, troubled soul (Matt. 11:28-30). The guilty, sinful conscience passes away and into your life comes peace with God (Rom. 5:1). Oh, the joy of salvation! Today I have peace with God. Have you been changed???
	♦ Internal Witness of the Holy Spirit
	"The (Holy) Spirit Himself beareth witness with our (human) spirit, that we are the children of God." Rom. 8:16
	Nobody has to tell me that I'm saved, because that assurance is built within me. My feelings may change, circumstances concerning me may change, but there's one thing that remains constant. I have the internal witness of the Holy Ghost constantly assuring me that I am God's child and that He loves me. On the inside is an assurance that constantly looks upward and cries, "Abba, Father!" Daddy, Papa! Thank you, for saving me!!! It was never like this before I met JESUS. It was never like this until I invited Him into my life. *Do you have this Internal Witness???*
	♦ Love (Agape)
	"By this shall all men know that ye are MY disciples, IF ye have love one to another." John 13:35 "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren." I John 3:14
	Agape love is a daily identifying mark on and within the child of God. One that has Agape love walks in forgiveness, compassion, and mercy. It turns the other cheek. It goes the extra mile. It blesses instead of curses. It does good even when hatred is hurled against it (Matt. 5:43-48). This is the type of love that was exhibited by Jesus on the cross (I Pet. 2:21-23). At salvation, this same love is transferred to all of God's children (Rom. 5:5). Do you have Agape love within you???
	♦ Endurance
	"If ye continue in MY Word, then are ye MY disciples indeed." John 8:31b
	Endurance is an identifying mark to the heirs of salvation. Whom God saves, He is able to keep (I Pet. 1:5). If you are really saved right now, there should be nothing that can separate you from the love of God (Rom. 8:35-39). Sure, there are those believers that backside, but rest assured, God deals with them (Heb. 12:6) and He brings them back. However, if a real child of God still insists on being rebellious and hardheaded, God has other ways and means of dealing with them (I Cor. 11:30; I John 5:16). Many years ago, I got sick of the world and the things of the world. There was no satisfaction in my life. When I met Jesus, I found true and lasting satisfaction (Psm. 107:9). Walking with Him and living for Him has not been dull, boring, dry, or monotonous. It's been EXCITING!!! It's been an adventure. At times I can't wait until tomorrow to see what He's going to do next. Everyday with Jesus is sweeter than the day before. I can't quit even if I wanted to. I'm saved to stay saved. Eternal Life means just what it says - it's ETERNAL and that speaks of ENDURANCE!!! Is endurance within you???
	♦ Hatred of Sin
	*"Through Thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way."* Psm. 119:104
	God loves sinners, but He hates sin. It was the sins of this world that caused our precious Savior JESUS to be crucified. At salvation, God puts a hatred and a disgust of sin within each of His children (Rom. 6:1,2). At one time in my life, sin and sinning was no big deal. As long as I was not as bad as the next person, I felt that I was all right. My attitude was - sin today, repent at night, and start all over again the next day. That attitude leads to death (Prov. 14:12). I'm glad that attitude and lifestyle is gone forever. I am now a partaker of the Divine Nature (2 Pet. 2:4). Sin and sinning makes me sick. The least little weight of sin (Heb. 12:1) causes me to cry out for forgiveness, cleansing, and future deliverance. This is the assurance that I really am SAVED. Every since that Friday night when I met Jesus and invited Him into my life, I've found myself hating the things I used to love and loving the things I used to hate! Does sin and sinning makes you sick???
	♦ The Cross
	"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." I Cor. 1:18
	There was a hidden wisdom in what God did through the cross, which the devil and none of the princes of this world knew about. If they had known, they never would have crucified the Lord of Glory (I Cor. 2:8). Therefore, the devil hates the cross, because his fate was sealed when Jesus was crucified on that cross. With many religions, you don't hear much about the cross. Even with many preachers, the cross never crosses their mind or enters into their sermons. Salvation causes the child of God to embrace and magnify the cross. I love the old rugged cross. I love the song that says, "Alas! and did my Savior bleed? And did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head for such a worm as I? Was it for crimes that I have done, He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! grace unknown! And love beyond degree! At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, and the burden of my heart rolled away. It was there by faith, I received my sight, and now I am happy all the day." Do you love the cross???
	♦ Understanding of Spiritual Things
	"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God." I Cor. 2:14
	There are many spiritual truths in God's Word. Yet, there are many professors of religion that can't seem to grasp the simplest of Biblical truths. No matter how clear, simple, and plain you make it, it's just like casting pearls before swine. At one time there were many doctrines (teachings) that were totally outside the realm of my interest or reason. This consisted of the Biblical doctrines of - Grace - Repentance - Regeneration - Adoption - Sanctification - Last Things - Angels - Miracles - Trinity - Death - Hell - the Grave - and the list goes on and on! Salvation caused me to become interested in these things, and also to understand these spiritual things. It's God's will that we become wise unto this great salvation (2 Tim. 3:15). Over and over, the the Word of God admonishes, "Brethren, I would not have you to be ignorant" (Rom. 1:13). On the inside of believers is the Author of the Bible - the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21). It's Him that opens, teaches, and reveals all things unto us (John 14:26). As we grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God reveals more and more about the Lord. Yes, spiritual meat can be eaten (understood), digested (enjoyed), and then communicated to others of like minds. Hearing rightly divided biblical truths and revelations being unfolded causes my heart to go thumpty, thump, thump! Do you have spiritual understanding???
	♦ Mindful of Spiritual Things
	"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit." Rom. 8:5
	There are many in the religious world that are mindful of only fleshly, worldly, and temporal things. They live and prepare for this life as though they are never going to leave it. They are not mindful of the fact that Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people and only prepared people are going to go there (John 3:3). Salvation produces a mindset that is concerned about the things of the Lord. Paul said, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth (Col. 3:1,2). This does not mean that we are to neglect proper earthly duties, but it means that Christ and the up-building of His kingdom should be first and foremost on our minds. HUMMMM, how can I be more like Him?? How can I win more souls?? How can I bring more glory to His Name??? How can I further His kingdom?? At salvation this hunger and thirst came into my life and it has never left me!! *Is you main focus on spiritual things???*
	♦ Spiritual Chastisement
	"For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth ever son whom He receiveth." Heb. 12:6
	It makes me wonder when I see religious folk that can live any kind of way and never get a spiritual spanking. The Book of Proverbs is filled with verses on how to correct our children when they step out of line. God will never tell us to do something that He doesn't do Himself. Every child of God is subject to spiritual chastisement. "But if ye be without chastisement, whereof ALL are partakers, then are ye bastards (illegitimate children), and not sons (children of God)." Someone has well said, "God doesn't spank the devil's children!" I'm not perfect, even though I'm striving for perfection. Therefore, there are times when sins of omission and commission creep into my life. I can tell when I'm being chastened, because the Spirit brings things to my mind as to why certain things are happening. I don't get mad at God, but I love Him the more. This chastisement proves to me that I am His child. He corrects me because He loves me. He corrects me so that I might be a vessel of honor, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work (2 Tim. 2:21). What a great evidence of salvation!! *Do you get these spiritual spankings???*
	♦ Spiritual Gift
	"But all these worketh that one and selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will." I Cor. 12:11
	Every child of God has a spiritual Gift. By the Holy Spirit, you may be given more than one. It's all according to His will. You may not be able to sing like an angel, preach like Paul, or play the harp like David; but, if you're saved, there is something that you can do for the Lord. God has no undercover, secret agents. All believers are called to WITNESS for Him in some way! I never dreamed that God could take a shy person like Bro. Freeman and stand me before people to preach the Gospel. No way!!! No way!!! Guess what? It happened! I don't know how He did it, but He did it! Guess what? I'm glad about it!!! To God be the glory. Because, it's through His spiritual gifts and abilities that I am able to labor in His vineyard. (I Cor. 3:9). What's your spiritual gift. Are you using it for Him???
	♦ Joy
	"These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." John 15:11
	Happiness is something that can be produced by what takes place around us, and comes as a result of good things happening to us. The Joy that comes at salvation is much, much greater than that. Jesus promised us JOY that the world can't give us and the world can't take away (John 16:22). The Joy of the Lord is awesome in the life of the believer. It causes the child of God to sing God's praise and glorify Him even when raging storms are attacking our lives. I've seen and heard of saints going through personal tragedy's, afflictions, hardships, great trials, and yet have praised God every step of the way. Even though these things were not joyous, something within them caused them to "count it all joy" (James 1:2). When Job lost everything, the devil was looking for him to curse God and die. But, no way!! Joy took control. He went down on his knees and worshipped. Peter calls this, "rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory" (I Pet. 1:8). When Paul was about to die, he wrote the church of Philippi and told them to "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice" (Phil. 4:4). Paul was facing death and yet encouraging others to rejoice. What a powerful assurance of hope concerning the life to come. The greater cause to rejoice is knowing that your name has been written in the Lamb's Book of Life (Luke 10:20). Do you have this kind of joy, or does your joy depend on the circumstances around you??
	There are many more evidences of salvation. These are just a few that should settle the question once and for all as to whose side you are on. If these evidences are not in your life, don't leave this page until you have settled the issue with the Lord. JESUS loves YOU!!! He proved that love on Calvary's Cross.
	If you're UNSAVED, God's Word tells you how to be Saved: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Rom. 10:9,10). Pray with me: "Dear Lord Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God, who died on the cross for my sins. I believe that God raised You from the dead, and right now You are seated at His right hand. Forgive me for the wrong that I've done. Come into my life and save me. Fill me with Thy Holy Spirit. Help me to live for Thee from this day forward. By faith, and on the authority of Your Word, I believe with my heart that I am saved. I shall confess my salvation with my mouth from this day forward. Thank You Lord for saving me!" Amen
	If you've prayed that prayer and have received Jesus Christ as your Savior, I would love to rejoice with you and send you some helpful FREE literature to help you in your walk with the Lord. You may Email me or contact me from the information below. God bless you!!!

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