But, even as I've watched God work in me, I've been able to observe something. There are many people I know in the EXACT boat that I was. They don't show the fruit of God in their life, but manage to hide this fact by blending in with the crowd of true believers they are surrounded by.
Oftentimes, I think that this results in a version of me before I was saved. Someone who unconsciously think they are saved by association, rather than personal salvation through the blood of Christ. As a result, they make every effort to be a part of these groups of people, even if that company consists of true Christians.
This is within the group that they find personal identity, not God.
What does this mean?
This means that unbelievers can be found playing important roles in churches, family gatherings, Christian colleges, children's ministry, etc... I know, because I was one of them.
This is what Matthew 7:15-23 was talking about:
"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.
Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.''
So all of this to ask a simple question (not to the unbeliever who rejects Christ outright, but to any person who professes to be a Child of God):
"Is your own salvation real?"
While I am just beginning to personally study and see how true salvation manifests itself in a believer's life, I do know that the Bible talks about what will be present in a true believer, and that is the recognition and repentance of sin in your life.
Acts 2:37-42 demonstrates this process. People who are truly saved will show the evidence through the rejection and sorrow for sin.
It's not about saying a prayer, going to church, hanging out with a Christian crowd, or doing good things to earn a free pass into heaven. This will never work, as anything good we do is considered worthless to God (Isaiah 64:6 and Romans 3). It's about the heart and whether or not that heart has been transformed by God (Romans 1:16)
In the end, you have to read the Bible for yourself to see if your life shows the evidence that true salvation brings. Paul said it best in 2 Corinthians 13:5-6 when he said:
"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? But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test."
If you are truly a believer, the evidence that Galations 5 talks about will be seen in your life.
But, if you are just putting on a good show on the outside, but hiding the evil inside, you are just like the Hell-Bound religious people that Jesus described in Matthew 23.
So, with all of that being said, I encourage you to examine yourself. Is your salvation real? If you believe so, what evidences in your life that match up with the Bible can you use to support your claim?
It is my hope that each of you will not fail the test.
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