Pretending or Authentic

We can discern the difference between a pretender and an authentically born again believer.

The pretender still loves their sinful lifestyle, even defending it and resistant to correction about it.

The authentic born-again believer is broken over their sin and wants to be cleansed from it.

1 Corinthians 6:11

"11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

Hebrews 12;5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"

Hebrews 12:8 " 8 If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. "

Those who are not disciplined by God were never born again. These people go through their life of sin as though nothing is wrong, they are not convicted about it nor do they want to change.

The born again believer hates it when they sin, confesses to become cleansed, and moves on to grow in holiness.

1 John 1:9

"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

1 John 3:8-10 "…8 The one who practices sin is of the devil because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.…"

Born again believers do sin from time to time and confess to move on to not repeat those sins, but the heathen do not believe they sin. They love their life and even mock those who might warn them. They will also use manipulation through name-calling and accusation to intimidate rather than confessing their sin to be cleansed by God.