Does Our Life Match Our Words

There was a question in my mind some years ago concerning the words "believe" and "confess" in reference to the Bible passages that speak of salvation. I knew in my heart that just because someone says with their mouth that they believe in Jesus Christ, it is not necessarily indicative of their salvation. How could someone live like the devil, feel no sorrow for it and even get angry with those who would chastise them, and still consider themselves saved. The Holy Spirit showed me that there was no salvation in a case like this, but I didn't know how to prove it from the Scriptures. I prayed for guidance and studied and read some more. One day I was listening to a Bible teacher on the radio whom God used to illuminate me further.

1 John 3:24 through 1 John 4:3 says:

3:24. Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us by the Spirit whom He has given us. 4:1 "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

This teacher was versed in the original Greek and Hebrew languages. He pointed out that the word confess in 1 John 3 and 4 was not just speaking what one believes but actually living the lifestyle of Christ likeness. The word confess means "a demonstration of ones life." There is a vast difference between just saying with our mouth that Jesus Christ is God, and actually living as though we know He is.

Matthew 15:8

"These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me; Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."

In the passage in Matthew we see that God does not accept mere words as demonstration for our devotion to Him, but the demonstration is in our lifestyle. If we are saved our life will be a clear demonstration that we love the Lord. It will be His works in us that will count not our own fleshly works.

Something to ponder.

Gwendolyn