What are the marks of genuine saving faith? In light of Jesus’ warning, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven…” (Matthew 7:21), there’s no question more important than this. Fortunately, the Bible provides a clear answer in 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10 where Paul reflects on the faith of the Thessalonian believers when he writes, “your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”
The Thessalonian believers bore the marks of genuine saving faith—the first of which is repentance. To repent is to change direction. The biblical word literally means “to do an about face”. The Thessalonians were previously idolators (as we all are by birth) who worshiped self, sex, worldly success, and false gods of their own making. But when the gospel of Christ was preached to them in power and the Holy Spirit (1 Thess. 1:4-5), they repented. They did an “about face”! They decisively turned to God from idols. Trusting Christ as both Lord and Savior, they willingly abandoned their past commitment to sin and self to serve the Creator of heaven and earth.
Which brings us to the second mark of a genuine faith—a transformed life. Returning to Paul’s description of the Thessalonians’ conversion we read, “you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.” Do you hear it? What happens when God stirs someone’s heart to turn to him from idols? The Bible is clear. Those who have truly repented in the past will be found serving God in the present. Not perfectly. Not without some stumbling. Nonetheless, the pattern that marks every genuine believer’s life will always be Godward. Why? Because the Spirit-empowered decision to turn to God from idols transforms a believer’s nature and desires. Before we move on, we must take note. Paul says a genuine believer serves the one “true God” revealed in Scripture. This means embracing all God is. While it is essential to know that God is love (1 John 4:8). It is also essential to know that the God we turn to from idols is also gloriously just, righteous, and holy. The God of the Bible judges sin and will ultimately condemn unrepentant sinners who reject his offer of salvation in Christ.
Which speaks to the final mark of genuine saving faith. Again, we read, For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”
The third mark of genuine saving faith is a future hope rooted in the promise of Christ’s return. Having risen from the dead and ascended into heaven, Jesus promises to return to both rescue his people from God’s righteous wrath and to condemn those who reject him. In short, a day of final judgment is coming when all will stand before God to give account for their rebellion and sin. However, genuine believers look forward to that Day knowing that Jesus has already absorbed the wrath we are due when he died on the cross as our substitute (Isaih 53:5-6; 2 Corinthians 5:21). In light of this, the day of Christ’s coming will be the Day when “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion” (Philippians 1:6). On that Day God will forever purge our lives—and our world—of sin (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 12-15). Do you long for that Day? Are you diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish” when he comes (2 Peter 3:14)?
The marks of a genuine believer are repentance, a transformed life, and a future hope rooted in Christ’s return. Are they evident in your life?