Masterclass: Romans 10

“Examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith; test yourselves.” 2 Corinthians 13:5

There are three types of people under the banner of Christianity: Those who know they are true believers, those who know they are not believers, and those who think they are believers but are not. Since the above text tells us to examine ourselves about our spiritual condition, there must be an exam. But, where is it? 

This test is not an objective test, such as two plus two equals four. It is more subjective but very reliable nonetheless. We have to scour the Scriptures to find the qualifying markers that give us the assurance, or lack thereof, regarding our salvation. Jesus made this startling statement, “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21.

I trust all of us to know that doing the will of God does not get us into the Kingdom, but if we are in the Kingdom, we will do His will. Never perfectly, but on an obedience trajectory.

Before we take this test, it is imperative that we understand the grading system. There is no passing mark regarding the percentage of transformation that takes place when we enter the Kingdom.

Justification declares us to be righteous before God, and sanctification is the process of growing in maturity in our faith. People grow at different rates. It has nothing to do with perfection but everything to do with direction. When we enter the Kingdom of God, we take on a new direction, and there is a different bent toward what we love. Some new believers take off like a rocket, while others move more slowly. Intent, not percent, is the issue. 

I have a friend who recently became a believer by reading the Bible. He has known the Lord for fifteen months and has read the Bible fifteen times. I have known the Lord for fifty-two years and have not achieved what he has, but I have a bent and a desire for the things of God. Desire is the key issue. With that in mind, let’s take the test.

1. When we believe the Gospel, we immediately become citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20) and strangers to the world (Psalm 119:19). The world is seen through a different set of eyes. This a reminder not to bring percentage into the equation but a new worldview that grows over time.
2. We also pass from death unto life (John 5:24). This new transition must be met with signs of life. There must be a spiritual pulse for there to be spiritual life. No pulse, no life (1 John 5:13).

1. We leave the Kingdom of darkness and enter the Kingdom of light (Colossians 1:12). This must be accompanied by a reflection of the light. We are being changed from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). No reflection, no light.

1. Our new life is a life of repentance. We know when we have sinned. Our conscience is illuminated by the power of the Spirit. King David knew this well and expressed it in Psalms 32 and 51. No repentance means no change, and no change means no life.
2. If, as the Scriptures tell us, old things pass away, and all things become new (2 Corinthians 5:17), there must, of necessity, be a new fragrance to our lives (2 Corinthians 2:15).
3. When we enter the Kingdom, the Holy Spirit indwells us. It would be impossible for the Spirit of God to take up residence within us and leave us empty of spiritual desire. “As the deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God” (Psalm 42:1). Don’t worry about the percentage of desire, just examine yourself to see if there is an abiding desire to know Him. No desire, no life.
4. John 3:16 says that when we believe, we inherit eternal life. This leads us to develop an eternal perspective. We begin to see life as a vapor (James 4:14). The world becomes strangely dim, as the hymn writer puts it.
5. When we believe, we become citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20-21) and strangers and pilgrims in the world (Hebrews 11:13). We can’t be strangers in this world without longing for our heavenly home.
6. 2 Peter 2 tells us about Lot, who was Abraham’s nephew. It says his righteous soul was tormented by the wickedness of what he saw in Sodom. To have a righteous soul is to be a believer (Genesis 15:6). At present, the United States is Sodom on steroids. What we read and see on a daily basis should cause our righteous souls to grieve.
7. When the Christian life is perfunctory and not celebratory, we need to take note. Perfunctory means I am just going through the motions, and my heart isn’t into prayer, church, fellowship, or Bible study. In other words, my soul is dead.

Just a clarifying reminder, the above are not qualifiers to enter God’s Kingdom, but the fruit from having entered.

Again and again, I want to stress the fact that these ten signs of believing are not based on a percentage of obedience or belief but on direction. Is our life moving in the direction of these signs? Here is another thing to keep in mind. A believer can fall into sin, as well as be addicted to sin. The sinner repents. The addict knows his or her battle and repents and fights it. But no true believer can practice sin. 1 John 3:9 tells us that a true believer does not practice sin.

I trust this has made the true believer very secure as to who they are in Christ and the professing believer to reassess their condition before a holy God and call on Him with no strings attached to save them and the unbeliever to do the same.

– Mike Minter, Associate Teaching Pastor