When some got saved, you were told by some pastor that “Now you are saved!” Then they water baptized you, and some received a certificate like that, which is your assurance. Granted, some do experience a true conversion when they say the sinner’s prayer. Then there are some who just grew up in church and take on the presumption you are saved because that is the presumption.
Perhaps some of us should not be afraid to ask God, “Am I really saved?”
We may use words like “Encounter, Conversion, and Transformation” on the altar during preaching, but such words equate to “REBIRTH.”
When we look at the true context of the words “faith” or “to believe,” it is not a thought; our life in Christ is to be experiential. Our faith is to be experiential. To believe is to experience. The Bible says that what we believe should produce action that brings out the full expression of our faith.
James 2:24 TPT “So now it’s clear that a person is seen as righteous in God’s eyes not merely by faith alone, but by his works.”
James 2:26 TPT “For just as a human body without the spirit is a dead corpse, so faith without the expression of good works is dead!”
Now the question then is, “What is good work?” Is it just coming to church? Verse 25 describes Rahab, the prostitute. She risked her life and the lives of her whole family for God’s people. Abraham was willing to kill (sacrifice) his own son. Good works are something that will cost you or come at a high price to follow and surrender to God. It is not just sitting in the pews as a Western Christian, just barely listening with half eyes closed, struggling to stay awake. Or we are more interested in looking at our phones than paying attention. Is this our price and risk just to stay awake when you could be in bed? Is the cost or sacrifice that we are in church rather than watching sports at home? But we may be cheating by watching our phones during service? Perhaps we are more lukewarm ourselves than we realize? But I know in our church, we are wide awake and attentive. 🤓🥸
So, let us revisit the question that may be scary or lead us to true freedom.
God, “Am I reborn? Is my faith genuine?”
In John Chapter 6, many followed Jesus for free food and entertainment, but when HE started saying to drink My Blood and eat My Body, they left Him.
Pastor Steve Kim