Those who became born again never continue a "lifestyle of sin", when they repent, (change their mind), God is the One Who begins a work in them. They do not work on themselves to be better, Christ changes their heart so they no longer want the sin they used to love.
Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Those who flippantly continue in sin after claiming to become a Christian, were never born again, they remain deeply connected to their life of sin because they were never changed into a new creation by Christ. These people made an emotional profession but had no desire for Christ.
The church is full of these pretenders, we know them by their lack of fruit.
Matthew 7:17-20 " 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will know them by their fruits."
When we see someone who remains prideful and self willed all through their life without spiritual growth, we may very well be experiencing someone who was never born again.
One way to know is their resistance to any form of correction or rebuke. A born again believer is ashamed of their sin, wants cleansing and will eventually be so burdened by it, that they will confess to be cleansed.
Those who cannot confess their sin, are walking in pride, lacking the fruit of repentance.
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
The fruit we should see in believers are the character qualities of Christ which produce right actions and attitudes. If these things are absent on a continual basis then we might be looking at an unsaved one who never trusted Christ. When we encounter this, as we are led by the Holy Spirit, we might want to challenge them, to check with God to see if they have ever been born again.
2 Corinthians 13:4-6 "…4 For He was indeed crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. And though we are weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him to serve you. 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you — unless you actually fail the test? 6 And I hope you will realize that we have not failed the test.…"
Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Those who flippantly continue in sin after claiming to become a Christian, were never born again, they remain deeply connected to their life of sin because they were never changed into a new creation by Christ. These people made an emotional profession but had no desire for Christ.
The church is full of these pretenders, we know them by their lack of fruit.
Matthew 7:17-20 " 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will know them by their fruits."
When we see someone who remains prideful and self willed all through their life without spiritual growth, we may very well be experiencing someone who was never born again.
One way to know is their resistance to any form of correction or rebuke. A born again believer is ashamed of their sin, wants cleansing and will eventually be so burdened by it, that they will confess to be cleansed.
Those who cannot confess their sin, are walking in pride, lacking the fruit of repentance.
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
The fruit we should see in believers are the character qualities of Christ which produce right actions and attitudes. If these things are absent on a continual basis then we might be looking at an unsaved one who never trusted Christ. When we encounter this, as we are led by the Holy Spirit, we might want to challenge them, to check with God to see if they have ever been born again.
2 Corinthians 13:4-6 "…4 For He was indeed crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. And though we are weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him to serve you. 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you — unless you actually fail the test? 6 And I hope you will realize that we have not failed the test.…"
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