Evidence of a True Believer-Part 3

The past few months we have been looking at the characteristics of a true believer in Christ. The evidence in one’s life that demonstrates them to have been born again by God’s Holy Spirit and having been made into a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). The difference that a saving encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ makes in one’s life. What actions and affections show one to be a true possessor of Christ and not a mere professor of Him. The deeds that demonstrate a living faith.

We have turned to the book of 1 John to examine some of this evidence as he provides concrete examples of what the heart of a genuine Christian should resemble. So far in our study we have seen that a true believer desires to be obedient to Jesus’ commands, has a genuine love for other believers, denies the world, and remains in Christ. Such should be noticed, in some capacity, in the life of one who has repented of their sins and trusted in Christ alone for their salvation.

The apostle gives even more evidence than these in his letter. He also states that a true believer in Christ will practice righteousness. He says, “If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him” (1 John 2:29). In the original Greek that this verse was written in, it says “everyone also who practices righteousness HAS BEEN BORN OF HIM.” In other words, the one who practices righteousness reveals that they have already been born of God. The practice of righteousness serves as an indication that they have been saved. It is a necessary fruit of their faith.

The word for “practice” basically means “do.” The one who has been born again in turn “does” righteousness. And this is in the present tense, conveying a continuous action. Righteousness should be a habit we see in the believer’s life. Now, does this mean that a true Christian will never sin? Of course not! John would be contradicting himself if that was what he intended to say here because earlier he acknowledged that no believer can deny their sin and points to Christ’s work on the cross as the only hope he has when he does sin (1 John 1:8-2:2). What he is saying here is that a Christian will be striving and growing in righteousness. Like Paul, he recognizes that he has not “already become perfect” or “laid hold” of this goal but continues to press forward to achieve it (Philippians 3:12-14). When he fails, which he will, it grieves him and, with the grace that God gives, he picks himself up to practice righteousness again. The Christian continues to grow in this area as they mature though sometimes it may seem as if they are taking three steps forward and two steps back.

The very reason why a righteous life must characterize a Christian is because it characterizes God Himself. Notice that John states that the reason why we can “know” that “everyone also who practices righteousness has been born of [God]” is because we “know that He is righteous.” Sons resemble their fathers in various ways. Not only in their appearance but also in their actions. They will often pick up the habits of their dads. Likewise, there should be an expectation that the one who has been adopted as a child of God through their faith in His Son will resemble the One they can rightfully call Father. They will practice righteousness just as He Himself is righteous.

This serves as a distinguishing mark of a Christian. Later in the letter John even says, “By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:10). The one who does not continually practice righteousness but maintains an ongoing practice of unrepentant sin in their life we are told does not belong to God. Instead, he or she would be classified as a child of the devil, the one who “has sinned from the beginning” (1 John 3:7-8). There is a reason why Paul can confidently state that those who remain characterized by certain sins have no place in the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Because if one has been “washed,” “sanctified,” and “justified,” they would leave such sins behind and strive to practice righteousness instead (v. 11).

Do you see such characteristics in your life? A desire to be obedient to Jesus’ commands. A genuine love for other believers. A denial of the world and its philosophy. Continuing in the faith and remaining in Christ. Practicing righteousness. According to John, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they should be there if you have been born again and are a Christian. While these will not be perfect in any believer’s life, they should be present in every believer’s life. Are they in yours?

Love in Christ,
Pastor Lee