Revelation 3:1b, "...I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." This is true of many people today in churches. They claim the term, but few understand it! Recently, I was talking with a man and I asked him if he was right with God. His answer, "Well, I was baptized..." Is that what it is all about? Baptism, church membership, prayer, Sunday school, etc? Absolutely not!
I. Spiritual Birth Means Salvation. cf. 1 Jn 3:5-10
A. Evidence of Life
1. There are certain signs that are present when a person is alive.
2. Medical personnel use the term "vital signs".
3. When in the hospital they will take these vital-signs periodically and compare them with a standard.
4. These may include:
a. pulse: indication of a heart that is working.
b. blood pressure: indicates how well your heart is working.
c. temperature: indicates if there is any infection that the body may be fighting.
5. Note: When the nurse comes in to check these signs she doesn't ask the patient if they are alright; she personally checks them and compares with the standard.
a. 72 beats per minute
b. 120/80
c. 98.6 F.
B. Evidence of Spiritual Life.
1. This is not determined by what we say.
2. Many people are talking Christ, but how many are actually walking Christ?
3. We are not saved by what we do, but what we do, or don't do, is an indication of whether or not we are saved.
C. Satan is a deceiver.
1. Satan will bring you down an aisle to pray a prayer and get in order to send your soul to hell.
2. He will try to convince you that you don't need to repent!
3. Sign a card, pray a prayer, be baptized, do this or do that; but don't repent.
4. Jesus said, "...Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." cf. Luke 13:3
II. There Are False Professions.
A. Note: Matthew 7:20-23
1. You will know them by their fruits.
2. This is important: Jesus did not say that you would know them by their works!
3. Fruit is what develops from a persons character.
4. These folks had done many wonderful works in the name of Jesus, but they were not born-again!
B. Note: Titus 1:10-16
1. Paul is writing to Titus concerning the local church.
2. He said that are "many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers" Where? in the church!
3. They profess and deny.
a. profess with their mouths that they know God.
b. but in works they deny Him.
III. Evidence of a Genuine Salvation.
A. A Changed Life.
1. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." 2 Co. 5:17
2. "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." Colossians 1:13
3. "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth from all sin." 1 John 1:7
4. When a person gets saved, then their life ought to show it! Are you spiritually alive today? Check your vital-signs against this standard. Don't be deceived into thinking that it isn't important that your life change. Don't be fooled today. You can know that you are saved. God's salvation isn't a think-so, hope-so, maybe-so ... it is a know-so salvation.
Note: 1 John 5:13