For decades, he’s sported the quintessential Christian man persona. Leading his family in home Bible studies, evangelizing unbelievers, ensuring books by authors like Tozer are constantly on his nightstand and faithful church service have characterized his life.
But just recently, it’s come to light that during all this time he’s participated in gross, hidden and consistent sinful behavior and life-destroying addictions. He now wants nothing to do with Christianity.
During this same period, she taught teen Bible studies at church, constantly listened to Christian music, and encouraged other women to follow Christ. Yet, she also has led a double life hidden from her husband and family and is now living with another man. Amazingly, she told us recently that she thinks she is doing a good thing for the man she is now living with and believes she is positively influencing him in a spiritual way.
These two friends of my family give me much pause and force me to think long and hard about true saving faith. Yes, the Apostle Paul makes no bones about the fact that in this life we will always struggle with sin (Rom. 7:14-25), but yet Scripture also makes it clear that there are those who enter the Christian faith and depart (Matt. 13:1-23) and others who believe they are true believers but are not (Matt. 7:15-23).
The Bible tells all of us to conduct a spiritual exam of ourselves to ensure we’re truly born again. Paul says, "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?" (2 Cor. 13:5). Like Paul, Peter says: “Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you” (2 Pet. 1:10).
How does one “make certain” they are really saved and what kind of “test” is Paul talking about? Put another way, how do you clearly differentiate between a Christian who struggles with sin and someone who is no true Christian at all, especially when the person in question is you? Keep reading
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