A MARK OF A TRUE BELIEVER
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
—James 1:22
One of the clearest marks of a true believer is a desire to walk in obedience to God’s Word. James tells us that a true believer not only receives the Word of God with meekness, but he also strives to respond to every situation in life by obedience to God. According to Scripture, our heart governs the way we live, and Scripture also teaches that our heart is revealed by our behavior. Proverbs 4:23, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Proverbs 27:19, “As in water face reflects face, so a man's heart reveals the man.” In other words, the way in which a person thinks, speaks, and lives reveals the condition of their heart. Jesus said, “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:43-45).
Notice in the Luke 6 passage that the good heart and the evil heart are both manifested by a person’s conduct. You see, how a person behaves reveals the nature of his heart. How do we know the friends of Christ? Jesus said in John 15:14, "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” How do we know those who love the Lord Jesus Christ? In John 14:23 Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.” How do we know those who hate Christ? Jesus said in John 14:24, “He who does not love Me does not keep My words.” We read in 2 Timothy 3:8, “Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith.” Jesus said in John 17:17 that God’s Word is truth. And so, those who hate Christ resist the Word of God, which means to stand against it or oppose it. Simply stated, obedience to the Word of God is the most basic requirement of Scripture for those who profess faith in Christ.
Tuesday Encouragement: August 18, 2026
In Christ,
Pastor S. Henry
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"You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace."
~Galatians 5:4
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"But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."
~Galatians 3:11
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