You prayed a prayer. You accepted Jesus into your heart. But you don’t
feel differently. How do you know if praying that prayer was enough and
you are truly saved?
Below are 10 marks of a Christian to know for sure:
1. A New Outlook on Life
“So
from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we
once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if
anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the
new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5: 16-17)
When I first became a
Christian, I didn’t feel differently, but I remember seeing the world
from a new perspective. Life looked a bit brighter and I had more hope
than ever. When you accept Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells within you.
That’s reason alone to feel hopeful about the future. But suddenly you
live in the knowledge that this life is not all there is. A new life
awaits you in heaven.
2. An Aversion to Sin
“Godly
sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret,
but worldly sorrow brings death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10)
I wasn’t a
horrible person before I knew the Lord, but I certainly did my fair
share of sinning – the biggest of which was lying. Lying had become such
a habit that I didn’t know how to separate truth from fiction. When I
yielded my life to Christ, it was like He had rewired my brain. I knew
the minute I went to tell a lie, I felt a strange sick feeling in the
pit of my stomach. This told me to stop what I was doing and tell the
truth. This is the Holy Spirit doing its job of convicting me to turn my
life away from sin and towards God.
3. An Abundance of Love
“We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
Before
knowing God, it was easy to love people who were like me and dislike
those different from me. However, there remained a hole in my heart that
only God could fill. After accepting Christ, I was able to love others
more abundantly. When I experienced love from the father that filled the
hole in my heart, I was able to spread that love to others, eager for
them to fill the hole in their hearts as well.
4. A Hunger for the Word
“As
the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God…” (Psalm 42:1-2a)
I
hadn’t read the Bible for myself when I was growing up. I was ignorant
about what the Bible said and how to apply it to my life. Once I began
to read it for myself, the more I fell in love with the Word. I studied
it through commentaries and my own research, and I began to apply it
practically. Soon I was being called to teach it to others as well. A
hunger to know what the word of God says is an indication that we yearn
to be close to our Father.
5. An Attachment to the Body of Christ
“And
let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not
neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging
one another.” (Hebrews 10:24-25a)
We were never made to live life
on our own. We need others to help us along on our spiritual journey.
As Christians, we need to become attached to the body of Christ and
spend time getting to know other brothers and sisters in Christ. They
help guide our way when the path seems hard to navigate, encourage us
when we are down, and celebrate with us in our triumphs.
6. A Removal of Shame
“There is therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:8)
When
we are saved, Christ’s death covers over all of our sin and reconciles
us to the Father. No longer do we have to live under the weight of our
sin, afraid we will never be worthy enough to reconcile with God. When
we have sinned, all we need to do is confess our sin to the Lord, and
repent from our ways. Christ’s death allow us to live without
condemnation, free in our knowledge that we are worthy simply because we
are God’s children.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
7. A Discovery of New Gifts
At
conversion, the Holy Spirit gives us special gifts made. These gifts
are outlined in Romans 12: 6-8 and 1 Corinthians 12: 7-11 and include
skills like leadership, organization, and prophecy. We are encouraged to
use these gifts to build up our other brothers and sisters within the
body. These are separate from other gifts and talents we might use in
our daily lives. These gifts help us find our purpose and mission within
the church.
8. A New Sense of Intimacy
“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” (1 John 3:16)
Throughout
life we struggle to achieve intimacy within the relationships in our
lives. These relationships include our families, romantic relationships,
and friendships. Without Christ, we live for ourselves, doing whatever
we can to make sure our needs are met, often at the expense of others’
feelings and needs. But with Christ, we learn to put others first,
sacrificing our needs and striving to put others before ourselves.
9. A New Sense of Fellowship
“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:27)
Throughout
my life, I felt like I didn’t belong. I didn’t share the same interests
as my friends, and I didn’t want to participate in the same topics of
conversations. But when I became a Christian, I immediately felt like I
found people who really liked me for who I was, not what I looked like
or who I knew. Like the missing piece in a jigsaw puzzle, I fit into the
body of Christ. Although the church is comprised of those who may be
misfits in society, we are the perfect fit for each other.
10. A Yearning to Proclaim Christ to Others
One
of the best examples of salvation in Scripture is in the book of John.
The woman at the well was burnt out on life, wrung out by marriages gone
bad and ashamed of whom she was. Yet one encounter with Jesus changed
everything. Once she chose to drink the well of salvation rather than
grasp for earthly water, this once silent woman who wanted to avoid
others during the day is now telling everyone she can about Him.
When
we drink from the well of salvation, His water tastes so satisfying
that we can’t help but tell others about the salvation we have
experienced in Christ.
The Best Decision of Your Life
The
best decision you can make today is to ask Jesus to become Lord of your
life. Simply asking forgiveness for the wrongs you have committed,
repent of those evil ways, and commit to following the Lord
wholeheartedly. God will invite you to a new life filled with
unconditional love, freedom, and peace that you have never experienced
before.
“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe
in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
(Romans 10:9)
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives
do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be
afraid.” (John 14: 27)
[written by Michelle Lazurek]
