“By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.” 1 John 2:3
During this Resurrection week we have taken a look at six elements of what it means to truly be saved. We have seen that there are some foundational truths that one must understand about what it means to be a Christian. Those foundational truths are that God is the Sovereign Creator, God is Holy, Mankind is Sinful, Sin Demands a Penalty, and Jesus is Lord.
On this Good Friday we look at the last of these truths: The Character of Saving Faith. True faith is always accompanied by repentance from sin. Repentance is agreeing with God that you are sinful, confessing your sins to Him, and making a conscious choice to turn from sin. In Luke 13:3 Jesus said, “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Repentance also means choosing to pursue Christ. John 17:3 says, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Repentance means obedience to Christ. 1 John 2:3 says, “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.”
You see, it’s not enough to just believe certain facts about Christ. Even Satan and His demons believe in the true God, but they do not love Him, and they do not obey Him. True saving faith always responds in obedience. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
On this Good Friday let us be encouraged to “examine” our faith, as Paul says to do in 2 Corinthians 13. Let us examine to see if we truly have the character of saving faith. If you examine yourself and find that you do not have that character of saving faith. Let us encourage you to repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Romans 10:13 says, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”