When a baby is born into this world there is abundant evidence they are alive. They breathe, cry, wriggle, eat and all the things associated with human physical life. As time passes they grow and perceive more and more of their being and respond accordingly. Even so, when a person becomes a child of God, their new spiritual life is manifest in ways that may be identified as unique to a child of God. Here are some of these evidences…
- What happens at the moment of true belief?
- When a person, from their heart, cries out to God for mercy and forgiveness of sins, a miracle takes place! That person is spiritually “born again” (John 3:3-7). They become a child of God (I John 3:1). They are adopted by Almighty God (Romans 8:15-16). They become a new creation (II Corinthians 5:17) and are immediately added to the church with all other believers (Acts 2:47; I Corinthians 12:13). The Holy Spirit of God indwells them (Romans 5:5; 8:9) while He spiritually applies the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse away their sins (Colossians 1:14, I Corinthians 6:11). The righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to them (II Corinthians 5:21; Romans 4th chapter). Their life is hid in Christ in God (Colossians 3:3) and they are assured to be one day in glory with their Saviour (Colossians 3:4; John 5:24)!
These wonderful aspects of being a child of God may be difficult to comprehend immediately, even as a physical baby does not understand the wonders of its new physical birth.
1) Evidence of hearing God’s word
He that is of God heareth God’s words… (John 8:47)
We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us… (I John 4:6)
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (John 10:27)
A story is told of a young lady who began reading a novel. After a chapter or two she decided the book was rather boring so placed it on a shelf and in a short time forgot about it. Sometime later, she began an acquaintance with a young man. As their relationship developed and deepened, she learned he was an author. One of the names of his books sounded familiar. During an evening at home she searched her bookshelf and discovered the book she had discarded some months before had been written by her new friend. She immediately sat down and now read the entire book, unable to stop until she had finished it.
What made the difference in this young lady’s attitude towards the same book? Obviously, she was now fascinated by the book because she had an affection for the author. There is a parallel between this story and the experience of a child of God.
To some, the Bible may be fables, to others, it is dull or confusing, and yet to others, it may be a little, if ever, read holy book. But, to the one who personally knows the Author, it is fascinating! It speaks to them, describes them, rebukes them, delights them, convicts them, and assures them. Within its pages, they find solace for troubles, guidance for problems and hope for the future. This is one of the evidences that a person is indeed a child of God.
To one, who really has received the Lord Jesus Christ as His personal Saviour, the scriptures are a letter from the Father to his child. Just as an obedient child grows in his appreciation for his physical father’s words of instruction, warning, and comfort, so a child of God thus grows in his appreciation and understanding of God, his Father’s words. The more he reads and applies the wisdom of God’s word to his life, the more precious it becomes, for indeed it is true and it works.
2) Evidence of love for God’s children
But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. (I Thessalonians 4:9)
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. (I John 3:14)
As the above verses clearly state, there is an automatic love for others who are children of God. In some cases where there may even have been serious animosity between two people, when both are saved, there is a marvelous bond of mutual love. It is a miracle performed in the hearts of His children by Almighty God.
There is an immediate bond and heartfelt tie when two children of God become acquainted, even though they may have been complete strangers and from totally different walks of life. Such experience is once of the evidences of the new spiritual birth of a child of God.
3) A new outlook or perspective on life
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (II Corinthians 5:17)
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)
When a person becomes a child of God, his horizon is changed. He now has an eternal destiny. Life therefore takes on new meaning. He is no longer bound by the cares of this life. It is not that the Christian no longer experiences pain, fears and heartaches, but rather that now he knows it is only for a short time. He now knows he has One who cares for him, and that One is Almighty and able to rescue him according to His will. The Christian now lives for his eternal hope rather than just obtaining all he can here.
4) Evidence of peace
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)
The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all) (Acts 10:36)
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)
This promise of God is just as available today as it was when the Lord Jesus Christ made it some 2,000 years ago. The true child of God can vouch for it. There is an inner peace and calm of the soul that is the property of every babe in Christ. He now has peace with God! Later, as trials of life come to the Christian, he learns that the peace of God is available to him in the face of sometimes otherwise unbearable circumstances. Just as the presence of a worthy human father calms the fears of his trusting child, so does the presence of the Christian’s heavenly Father as he prays and asks for God’s, guidance and interceding according to His will.
5) Evidence of the leading of God
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14)
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1 John 3:3)
Ever since the fall of our great, great, great grandparents in the garden of Eden, God has instilled a conscience to give guidance to every person. To be sure, men have often seared their consciences so they do not hear this still small voice. A child of God, on the other hand, finds that in addition to his conscience he now has the Spirit of God, Himself, indwelling and directing him. It is as though his conscience has been sharpened. Things that were nominally wrong to him in the past, now become repugnant. He now has a heightened desire to want to please God, not because he has to, but because he wants to.
6) Evidence of good works
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:26)
The child of God finds that he now desires to do good for all people. Whereas before he may have grudgingly done things for others or did so to get self recognition, now he does so in pure love for the other person. Again, these things are not done because he has to, but because now he really wants to. It is the love of God shed abroad in his heart!
7) Evidence of the chastening of God
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? (Hebrews 12:6-8)
Although no child likes to be chastened, it is an evidence of both love and parenthood. As much as the child next door may aggravate us with his disobedience, we do not chasten him. He is not our child. The same holds true with children of God.
Although God has created laws for which there are penalties when broken in the physical and moral realm, He is not at this time chastening the disobedient, unsaved world. He does, however, discipline His children. The severity and form of discipline is Almighty God’s prerogative.
In some cases He may simply remove His peace from our hearts causing uneasiness and an awareness of lack of fellowship and communion with Him. In other cases it may be as severe as death (I John 5:6; I Corinthians 5).
As a child of God, His discipline as a loving Father is an evidence of our belonging to Him.
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. (Hebrews 12:8)
Put yourself to the test
God has given these evidences so that any person may know assuredly whether or not they are one of His children and, thus, have had their sins forgiven and are destined for an eternity with Him. Read each of the verses cited carefully to see if they are true in your life.
For deeper study:
I just red your article What is evidence of salvation You are complitly wrong When God saves man he gives two proofs of it..Christians claim they are saved by faith but they do not have these two proofs to shaw to demonstrate that they claim is correct So obey Gods word Dan ch 12 search scriptures and multiply increase knowledge …