The Mark of a Believer

How can you know that you are saved? How can you know that someone else is saved? Casually we say that anyone who knows Jesus is saved. James said that isn't enough, because even the demons know Jesus. So, what's the mark of a believer?

I've been re-studying baptism. After studying every related Scripture passage, and several books and articles I have a fresh outlook and understanding of some of the "side issues" that I hadn't worked through before. One key question that I wanted to answer in my studies was "How old is old enough?" It hit me last night that I've been asking the wrong question. Certainly, I will make sure that I have an answer to that one for those who ask it, but it isn't the real question. We should be asking, "How do you know that you have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ?" a follow-up question to that would be, "What is the mark of a believer?"

As I begin to wrestle that through, I am immediately taken to Jesus' interaction with the "Rich Young Ruler." This young man had done everything required, yet it wasn't enough. He hadn't given up what he prized most to follow Jesus. I think of what James wrote, that "Faith without works is dead." My mind races to Paul's writing about the fruits of the Spirit, and his admonition in Roman's 12:1 to present ourselves as a "living sacrifice." It's becoming clear. The mark of a believer is the Holy Spirit working through their surrendered and sacrificed life.

I understand the theology, and have studied it many times, but it is really quite simple in many ways. A person who has a saving relationship with Jesus Christ will have the evidennce of the Holy Spirit working in their life. The Bible is clear in many places that when we repent of our sinsw, and choose to be a Christ-Follower, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit who comes to dwell within us. Our lives are changed! How can they not be? When we go from living without the Holy Spirit, to living with Him, who can there not be change? If there isn't, I would question the person's decision for Christ. Look at the Scriptural examples! We can't be the same if we have encountered Jesus.

I'm not saying that we become perfect (look at the example of the apostles), what I am saying is that there is a transformation that occurs when the Holy Spirit enters our lives. We can do, and say, the right things, but if the Holy Spirit isn't working in our lives, then we haven't sold everything we have to follow Christ! That's the mark of a believer. How has the Holy Sprit worked in your life?

To answer the other question, "How old is old enough?" it is when there is evidence in a person's life that they have the Holy Spirit living within them. What that looks like is different for every person, but I know that there is a difference, a heart change. It isn't about knowledge and understanding, it is giving yourself as a living sacrifice to God. When you have done that, you will know that you have been saved!

I know that all of this is loaded with issues for theological debate, and I welcome that debate, as long as it is thoughtfully founded on the Bible.

What if...

In Greg's message this week kicking off the "PureSex" series, he talked about some of the things that would be eliminated in the world if everyone did sex God's way. It was a great message and you can check it out at www.palmvalley.org

It got me thinking a step further. If everyone kept just two of the commandments (not even the God focused ones), how many of the worlds problems would be eliminated.

First, don't covet. This command focuses on selfishness. If people (me included) stopped wanting what they didn't have, and stopped wanting what doesn't belong to them, think of what would be eliminated.

Second, honor your parents. What this means is to make your parents' name great. It means to make it honored and valued in the community. This isn't just an obedience issue. This is about integrity. How many more of the worlds problems would be eliminated if we all did this?

You don't even have to believe in God to fulfill these two commands on most levels. Of course it makes a huge difference if you do, and of course all the worlds problems would be eliminated if we all kept just one command. That is to love the Lord God with all of our heart, mind, sould, and strength.

But, think about it, from a worldly perspective, if we all stopped being selfish and brought honor and value to our parents' name what a difference there would be!

Ministry to New Believers - Laying the Foundation - Part 1

Monday's it is! I will plan on posting thoughts, ideas, concepts, things I'm learning, things we've tried that work (or didn't work) regarding ministry to new believers on Mondays. Realizing that as readership to this blog grows, pastors and new believers alike will read it's contents, so I will write with both in mind.

For today I want to begin to lay the foundation for developing a ministry that focuses on new believers.

1. New Believers matter! Jesus could have said to "Go and make converts", but He didn't. He said to "Go and make disciples" (See Matthew 28:18-20). Paul wrote in Colossians 1:28 that we are to "present every man complete in Christ." Peter wrote that we are to grow in our faith (See 2 Peter 1:3-11). There a numerous other passages that show us that as individuals we need to grow in our relationship to Christ, and many others that show the church that it is to lead people toward maturity in their faith. To this end, our vision at Palm Valley Church is "Leading people to become fully devoted followers of Christ." this basically summarizes the passages that I have listed.

2. If new believers matter to God, they should matter to us. It's not about programs! If you're looking for a cure all program that will take new believers from conversion to maturity, you're looking for the wrong thing. There are to many variables. We should want to help new belivers grow. We should want to connect with them personally. We should want to connect them with others who can come along side them to encourage them in their faith. We should want to teach them how to feed themselves spiritually. To put it simply, it's about the heart. All of the "one another" passages include new believers. We should love them, letting the love of Christ flow from us in a way that compells us to come along side them, especially in their first steps in their faith.

Of course there are programs, but they flow out of vision. In conjunction with the vision of PVC, our vision for our Fresh Start Team (ministry to new believers) is "Coaching New Believers toward Spiritual Growth." Our team can't do everything. We can;however, be there to guide, support, encourage, and pray for new believers as they begin their faith journey. Notice that there isn't a guarantee in this statement. That's because while we take ownership of a part of the process, the new believer has a part in the process as well, and must desire to grow. You can have the most perfect program, but if you don't connect, and if they don't engage, then you have nothing!

If you care for new believers, then check it out next Monday when I blog on Laying the Foundation - Part 2.

Thanks for reading!