Evidence of the New Birth

How do you know if you’re saved? Is your confidence in a prayer you once uttered, your knowledge of Scripture, or your Christian upbringing? These are all fine things, but before we can claim to be a child of God we must first have experienced His saving work in our life. Salvation is more than mental assent to the truth, or an appreciation of Jesus Christ. When God saves us, He regenerates our spirit and we are truly born again. This new birth begins a transformation of our character, will, and affections, so that they increasingly resemble those of our Savior. We will evidence a whole-hearted hatred of sin, treating it as the enemy of our soul, and striving to put off its every expression. We will evidence a whole-hearted longing for the truth, desiring it more than our necessary food, and wanting nothing to do with counterfeits which only tickle the ears or soothe the troubled conscience. And we will evidence a whole-hearted love for Christ, hating any way that is contrary to His. Have you been born again?