The Character of Genuine Saving Faith

2 Corinthians 13:5 

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?

I.	EVIDENCES THAT NEITHER PROVE NOR DISPROVE ONE’S FAITH
	A.	Visible Morality:	Mt 19:16–21; 23:27.
	B.	Intellectual Knowledge:	Ro 1:21; 2:17ff.
	C.	Religious Involvement:	Mt 25:1–10
	D.	Active Ministry:	Mt 7:21–24
	E.	Conviction of Sin:	Ac 24:25
	F.	Assurance:	Mt 23:1-39
	G.	Time of Decision:	Lk 8:13, 14
II.	THE FRUIT/PROOFS OF AUTHENTIC/TRUE CHRISTIANITY:
	A.	Love for God:	Ps 42:1ff; 73:25; Lk 10:27; Ro 8:7
	B.	Repentance from Sin:	Ps 32:5; Pr 28:13; Ro 7:14ff; 2Co 7:10; 1 John 1:8–10
	C.	Genuine Humility:	Ps 51:17; Mt 5:1–12; James 4:6, 9ff.
	D.	Devotion to God’s Glory:	Ps 105:3; 115:1; Is 43:7, 48:10ff.; Jer 9:23, 24; 1Co 10:31.
	E.	Continual Prayer:	Lk 18:1; Eph 6:18ff.; Php 4:6ff.; 1Ti 2:1–4; James 5:16–18
	F.	Selfless Love:	1 John 2:9ff, 3:14; 4:7ff.
	G.	Separation from the World:	1Co 2:12; James 4:4ff.; 1 John 2:15–17, 5:5
	H.	Spiritual Growth:	Lk 8:15; Jn 15:1–6; Eph 4:12–16
	I.	Obedient Living:	Mt 7:21; Jn 15:14ff.; Ro 16:26; 1Pe 1:2, 22; 1 John 2:3–5
If List I is true of a person and List II is false, there is cause to question the validity of one’s profession of faith. Yet if List II is true, then the top list will be also.
III.	THE CONDUCT OF THE GOSPEL:
	A.	Proclaim it:	Mt 4:23
	B.	Defend it:	Jude 3
	C.	Demonstrate it:	Php 1:27
	D.	Share it:	Php 1:5
	E.	Suffer for it:	2Ti 1:8
	F.	Don’t hinder it:	1Co 9:16
	G.	Be not ashamed:	Ro 1:16
	H.	Preach it:	1Co 9:16
	I.	Be empowered:	1Th 1:5
	J.	Guard it:	Gal 1:6–8

 

 

MacArthur, J. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible : New American Standard Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.