A Test of Faith

love

Scripture Reading: Luke 7:36-50

              If you have ever questioned your conversion, you are not alone. Most Christians have at some point, and to some degree wondered, “Am I genuinely saved?” It is not wrong to do so. The Bible has many examples of false converts. We know from our own experience and church history that there are people who profess but don’t possess saving faith. We don’t want to be one of them.

              Naturally, then, we wonder how to know if what we have is the real thing. There are several reliable signs of conversion. Let me point to one of them this morning: Ask yourself, “Do I love the Lord Jesus?” A love for Christ is a sign of salvation. We see an example of this in the story of the woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears.

              When the Pharisee, in whose home Jesus was a guest, questioned in himself why Jesus would allow this, Jesus answered him. Jesus said the difference between the Pharisee who did nothing to honor Jesus and this woman was that the woman loved Jesus and the Pharisee didn’t. And the reason the woman loved Jesus so much was that Jesus had forgiven her sins which were many. It wasn’t that the Pharisee had no sins to forgive. The Pharisee neither sought forgiveness nor believed it was needed. He was self-righteous. Therefore, he remained in his sins. The woman was acutely aware of her sins and having been forgiven for them moved her deeply.

              Paul concludes the first Corinthian letter by writing, “If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed.” (1 Corinthians 16:22) Hell is the destiny of those who do not love Christ.

              To be clear, we are not saved by love. We are saved by faith. Jesus makes this clarification for us himself in Luke 7:50: He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” She was saved by faith and her saving faith produced the fruit of love.

              So, love for Christ is a fruit of saving faith. It is not the only one, but it is a primary one. If then you are ever wondering, “Am I saved?” One test to take is to also ask yourself, “Do I love the Lord Jesus Christ?”