Discerning True Salvation

I just love stumbling across excellent blog posts that explain difficult issues plainly with sound doctrine!!  I read an exceptional one a few weeks back, and it has taken me forever to get around to sharing it.  I wanted to go ahead and post it up though because I think it's a good reference for parents (and non-parents alike).

The original article that I read (by Brian Croft from Practical Shepherding) was about how to discern the conversion of a child.  He based his 5 points on Jonathan Edwards' 5 marks of true conversion (aimed at adults), which the Resurgence republished here.

I enjoyed reading each article, and I feel like they are both helpful in many ways.  First, I think that we should each be seeing these 5 marks in our own lives if we claim to be a Christian.  For me, the mark of hating sin is convicting because I can still clearly identify sin in my own life, and I know that my heart doesn't hate it fully yet.  Oh that Christ would continue breaking me of my fleshly nature.

Then, I also think that if we have a brother or sister in Christ who is not displaying these marks, we should encourage/sharpen him/her and try to strengthen his/her faith (or lead them to true saving faith, depending on their relationship with the Lord).  Lastly, when it comes to adolescents, I think these marks can help identify true conversion and can also guide us as we interact with young people and know what to expect from regenerated youth.  I found Croft's article (and revision of the original marks) to be insightful and to give a good starting ground for us to stand on as Enoch matures and grasps the gospel more and more.

Just to whet your appetite, I'll post Edwards' Five Marks of True Conversion here in short form, but please go and check out both articles.  I think they'll be beneficial to you in one way or another (or maybe multiple ways).  :)

1. You love Jesus
2. You hate sin
3. You love God's Word
4. You love [and are ruled by] the truths of Scripture
5. You love believers

These may seem short and "easy", but I would challenge you to read through each point again and pause to think upon it briefly.  These 5 marks are things that you will not seek to do in and of yourself.  You MUST be born again.  Without the purification that Jesus offers and the help of the Spirit, these marks are impossible to carry out to the true depths that Christ calls us to.  In the redemptive work of Christ alone can we be reconciled to God, deny ourselves (and our sinful nature), and seek to be ruled by God, loving what He loves and hating what He hates.

We have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.      (Colossians 1:9b-10)