So many people think if they have emotion it means they have had a spiritual experience.
Emotion is not evidence of salvation or spiritual growth. Emotion leaves as quickly as it comes and creates no lasting change.
I have cried at sad movies knowing the story wasn't real, as soon as the movie was over I was back to my old self.
A changed life is evident to everyone who new us before we were changed. If no one notices a difference without us telling them we are different then perhaps there was not a real change.
Change in us does not happen because we say so, it happens through the saving power of the Holy Spirit Who comes to live in those who have been repentant.
I never hear people coming out of "Christian movies" weeping over their sinfulness and asking Christ to make them a new creation. All of them seem joyfully emotional, not broken over their sinfulness.
Just saying!!!! It is best to ignore what people say and observe their life over a long period of time. Anyone can say words, they mean nothing. It is the changed life that is dramatic, not because they changed themselves but because Christ did all the work in them.
Ephesians 2:9-10 "…9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life."
WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP!
Anyone who attempts to change themselves will find it not lasting in their elder years. Evidence that a person's Christianity was a sham is when they walk away in their elder years and seem to have no interest in the Bible or their brothers and sisters in Christ.
James 2:14
14. What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.
24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."
Many people I know clean up their lives after they become a Christian but their arrogance and superior attitudes prove they were never changed by Christ. They joined a club to feel good about themselves, they do all the club things, activities and mantras but their heart remains as black as the day they decided their own fate.
Matthew 23:27-28
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.
28 So you too, outwardly appear righteous to people, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
God said you shall know them by their fruit. Those who are pretenders do not have this fruit. The fruit is the character qualities of Christ. These people do not rage at others because of a disagreement, they do not accuse others to silence them, they do not gossip to harm those who disagree with them. They do not treat others disrespectfully just to be superior.
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."
Matthew 7:15-20 "15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
