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Are There “Distinguishing Marks” For A True Believer?

1st John 3:24, “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” Hebrews 12:14-16, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.”

One of the most dangerous false prophets of our generation is Evangelist Ray Comfort. In this video exposing Ray Comfort's false plan of salvation, there is a brief clip of him errantly teaching that Hebrews 12:14 means if you don't live in holiness, you cannot go to Heaven. Dear reader, that absolutely is NOT what the Bible is saying in Hebrews 12:14. If we interpret verse 14 within the context of the passage, it is made abundantly clear that without holiness many people shall be defiled. That is, they won't get saved because of our poor testimony. Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” This is what the author of Hebrews 12:14 means. We don't know who penned the book of Hebrews, but I humbly think it was the Apostle Paul, because Paul was always heavy in his doctrine (as we see in Hebrews). Regardless, God is the divine Author of the entire Holy Bible (2nd Timothy 3:16-17).

Hebrews 12:1, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” Here in Verse 1 we see that the topic at hand is WITNESSES to the faith. This is a continuation of Hebrews chapter 11, which is often called: “The Hall of Faith.” The writer of Hebrews mentions a handful of faithful patriarchs of the faith in chapter 11 (Abraham, Noah, Rahab, David, et cetera), and then continues in chapter 12 by telling us that we, likewise, are expected by God to live in holiness; otherwise the lost won't see Jesus and won't get saved, and it will be our fault.

My good friend, Curtis Smale, turned 57 on January 13, 2022 and then went to Heaven just a few days later. He suffered a stroke in early January and died a couple weeks later. My friend left a wealth of wisdom on his blog. I have downloaded Curtis' entire blog, using a wonderful free program called: "HTTrack." The program is freeware and simple to use. There are YouTube videos which can show you how to use it if you have any questions. I highly suggest that all my blog readers download your favorite websites to save them on your hardrive.

I have seen website after website disappear suddenly and forever! GONE!!! I was thankful that I downloaded Pastor Wally Beebe's Bus Ministry website before he went to Heaven and it vanished forever. I also archived the complete ministry website of Dr. James Sightler (son of famous preacher Harold Sightler). Here is one of the wonderful articles that I preserved by Dr. Sightler, had I not archived with HTTrack the world would have lost forever!!! When I am dead and gone dear friend, so will my ministry work. That is why I started my blog ministry last year, and by God's grace intend to keep writing like a zealous groundhog on groundhog day!!!

Here is some helpful information from my now in Heaven good friend, Curtis...

Are There “Distinguishing Marks” For A True Believer?

Below, I give the link to a False Gospel teacher’s very Christian-sounding teaching.

You may want to read that first and see if you can detect what is wrong with it. There are a couple of sentences that scream False Gospel.

Here is what I responded to what Senior Pastor Colin Smith wrote:

A saved person is one who believes in Jesus. There are no “distinguishing marks of a Christian.” There are traits that are found in one living by the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, et al.. And there are good works that saved believers are commanded to do.

But there are many unbelievers who do good works and have love, joy, and peace (although not of the same kind and source as a believer in Jesus (which is God)).

According to the Bible, a person knows he is a saved believer by the inner witness of the Holy Spirit–because he believes in Jesus.

Salvation is a FREE GIFT through faith in Jesus.

The reason that the article linked to below is False Gospel teaching is that it makes the doing of good works the bottom line for defining who is and who is not a saved believer in Jesus.

That is salvation by works, unavoidably.

Our works are not our assurance of salvation–faith in Jesus, ONLY, is the source of our assurance of salvation.

All believers in Jesus ~still sin~.

Notice the spiritually deadly teaching written by Colin Smith: “All of us have heard stories about people who have professed Christian faith while quietly indulging their sins of choice. Such a person is not a Christian but a hypocrite. What a person believes is a necessary mark, but it is not sufficient to identify a genuine Christian.”

What this article is saying is that a person cannot believe in Jesus and be saved while he still sins.

This is deadly false doctrine.

When Jesus tells saved believers to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses” in the Lord’s Prayer, are they not true Christians? Obviously they are.

When Paul tells saved believers in Jesus to confess their sins to one other, are these people not true Christians? Yes, they are.

When 1st John says that if we say we have no sin, that the truth is not in us, is he not saying that all saved believers still sin? Of course.

Those who have believed in Jesus are saved eternally.

Jesus said, in John 6:47: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who BELIEVES IN ME ~HAS~ EVERLASTING LIFE.”

Galatians chapter one condemns Senior Pastor Colin Smith to Hell, twice, for preaching a false Gospel of works.

The Beatitudes DO NOT tell us what a saved believer in Jesus looks like, as Smith says in the last part of this article.

The Beatitudes tell us what God’s will is and how we should live, and how far our inner attitudes fall from perfection.

But there are people who do not even believe in Jesus who live by the Beatitudes.

Smith says at the end that salvation is not by works, but then he contradicts himself by saying that it is only by works that we can know if someone is saved.

This is how all the false teachers operate. They say they believe in salvation by faith alone, without good works; and then they make good works a requirement to know if you are really saved.

The truth is, those who believe in Jesus as Savior are saved eternally. (John 6:47)

It is God’s will that those who are saved eternally should live by His Word and Spirit in love and righteousness.

But even if a believer in Jesus does not live God’s way, and even if a believer in Jesus has his life dominated by sin, this does not erase his salvation, because salvation is by faith in Jesus, not by good works we do, either before or after salvation.

Pastor Smith needs to get saved through faith in Jesus, and to ever have Jesus alone as his foundation for salvation and true Christianity.

See my blog, graceinsightandart.wordpress.com Search: “Lordship Salvation.”

Curtis Smale
Here Is the link to the False Gospel article:
http://unlockingthebible.org/distinguishing-marks-christian/

John 6:47

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We're Saved By God's Righteousness, Not Ours

Before salvation we are known by our sins, but after salvation we are identified with the righteousness of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ took all our sin at the cross and now we have the privilege to have His righteous record placed on our account by childlike faith!

Enjoying The Journey Daily Broadcast

Repentance unto salvation is turning to Jesus, not turning from sins.

Sneaking "Works" Through The Back Door Versus Free Grace Forever (This Will Step On Toes)

Repent of sins is NOT part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Inspiring Preacher Quotes

“The law tells me how crooked I am. Grace comes along and straightens me out.” —Evangelist Billy Sunday (1862-1935)

“I never thought, I'd see a day when Baptist preachers would not preach the true Gospel. Tonight, all across this nation, Baptist preachers have succumbed to the heresy of John MacArthur. I said the heresy of John MacArthur! I said the heresy of John MacArthur! And somebody that's got several thousand people to hear 'em, who can go across this country, has got to alert Baptists that we have false teachers in our midst who are no longer teaching and preaching salvation by grace through faith plus nothing. Folks, we're fighting for our lives tonight!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "A Vote For Preaching"

“The ‘whosoever wills’ are the elect and the ‘whosoever won’ts,’ the non-elect.” —Pastor Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)

“Salvation is one thing and service is another, and never the two goes together. No man is saved because he serves, and no man has to serve because he is saved. Gotta keep them separate. And if you don't do it, the Scriptures will be confusing to you. You'll not rightly divide what God has to say.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, "Why Lordship Salvation Is Wrong"

“It is 'Good News' if no one must have good works before salvation, or after salvation. For salvation to truly be by grace, it must not have any stipulations of any kind at any time. Works before, during or after; works cannot be evidence of my salvation.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, "Does Calvinism Change The Gospel?"

"The LAW and the GOSPEL are two keys—the law is the key that shuteth up all men under condemnation, and the Gospel is the key which opens the door and lets them out. Remember this, if you're depending upon your own good works to get you to Heaven, you're lost! Your salvation had to be purchased with something that was incorruptible, with the precious blood of Jesus Christ!” —Pastor Ralph 'Yankee' Arnold, Bibleline Radio Show, "The Precious Blood Of Christ"

“Works cannot be the evidence of salvation. If works are required as evidence, then they will prove that you are not saved. Your good works cannot prove you're saved; they can only prove that you're not, if you go by works. Why? Because you have to be perfect. So your works can only prove you're not saved. You have to live a perfect life. 'Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.' You have to fulfill everything that is commanded, that you have to do them. You know that good works did not save you!” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, "Once Saved Always Saved: The Final Word"

“If all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, then why would you use those rags to prove that you're saved?” —Pastor Ralph 'Yankee' Arnold, sermon quote: "How Do I Know God Really Loves Me? - Part 2"

“The mistake the church has made, is we have taught people how to quote Scriptures, we haven't taught people how to love people!” —Pastor John K. Jenkins Sr. (a beautiful quote from the sermon titled: "Developing A Process of Evangelism To Reach The Lost With The Gospel"

“May I ask you, reader, 'Are you a soulwinner?' Remember that a soulwinner is a salvager—one who leads a sinner to choose Christ and one who leads a saint to choose the will of God, the work of God and the plan of God.” ―Pastor Jack Hyles, "What Is Salvation?"

“Redemption is a work of God the Son. Regeneration is the work of God the Holy Spirit. Justification is the work of God the Father as He declares the sinner righteous in the Son. Conversion then becomes the work of the church as we change the use and purpose of a life.” ―Pastor Jack Hyles, "Conversion And Salvation" (chapter 3) from his book: "Salvation Is More Than Being Saved"

“If you do not put a difference between justification wrought by the man Christ without and sanctification wrought by the Spirit of Christ within, you are not able to divide the Word aright; but contrariwise, you corrupt the Word of God, and cast stumbling blocks before the people.” —Evangelist John Bunyan (1628-1688)

“I'm as happy as a June Bug on the 31st of May!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "The Rapture Comes Before Armageddon"

“Many people are finding the broad way, because they listen to the wrong message. There is few that find the truth. And what's the difference between true Christianity, and all the religions of the world? If it's by Christ alone, it's GRACE. If you have anything to do with it, it's WORKS. And God says, 'For by Grace (Christ) are ye saved, and that not of yourselves (that would be works), it is the gift of God (not of works), lest any man should boast. So any person who depends upon themselves, can always lose their salvation. Check it out! Anybody who teaches you can lose it, it's because their salvation depends upon their works. That's them! That's works! If I depend upon Him, that's grace! I'm saved by grace, Christ. You don't earn it! You don't work for it. 'For by grace are ye saved through faith, that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.' Salvation is the gift of God!” —Pastor Ralph "Yankee" Arnold, a quote from the sermon titled: "The Damnable Doctrine Of The Devil"

“The pastors have destroyed the churches, and they've been trained by people that have never built churches, and they have no compassion.” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "Many Pastors Have Destroyed My Vineyard"

“America needs preaching!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "Many Pastors Have Destroyed My Vineyard"

“Let God have your life; He can do more with it than you can.” —Dwight L. Moody

"Salvation is not doing your best, it is having Christ's best put to your account through receiving Him by faith.” —Pastor Max Younce

God will not save anyone who is trying to be saved, He will only save those who are trusting to be saved.

“The darker the night the brighter the stars.” —Pastor Bob Gray Sr.,“She Sojourned Seven Years”

Without Christ you have a hopeless end; with Christ you have an endless hope (Titus 1:2).

The false teaching of "Lordship Salvation" is not the SAME as "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:30-31).

Religion is man trying to reach God through human effort, but Christianity is God trying to reach man by the sacrifice of His only begotten Son on the cross.

“Now you listen to me folks! We're living in a world of compromising Christianity. I call it, 'The yuppie generation building yuppie churches!' Brother, we need the old-time Gospel, the old-time religion, the faith of our fathers, and the standards that America used to have!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, a quote from the sermon, “She Sojourned Seven Years”

“Every word in this Bible is inspired by God almighty!” —Dr. Jack Hyles, a quote from the sermon, “A Friend At Midnight”

“A man doesn't get better to get saved; he gets saved to get better.” —Pastor Curtis Hutson (1934-1995), “Salvation Crystal Clear”

“The greatest enemy you have is a church that doesn't teach the Bible!” —Pastor Max D. Younce, “#1 Salvation THROUGH The Blood”

“Lordship Salvation is the unsupportable and unbiblical belief that the performance of good works, the promise of good works, or the evidence of good works, must accompany faith in Christ to establish or provide evidence that such faith has resulted in eternal life.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, “Jesus Versus John MacArthur”

“If you're not being persecuted, you're not living right!” —Pastor Danny Castle, “How To Behave In Perilous Times”

“You know what you need to do with your life? You need to get on the ball and take as many people out of here to Heaven with you as you can possibly round up. That's what you need to do.” —Pastor Danny Castle, “How To Behave In Perilous Times”

“God had no children too weak, but a great many too strong to make use of.” —Pastor Dwight L. Moody (1836-1899)

“More people will die and burn in Hell, because they're trusting too much!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, a precious quote from the MP3 sermon, “Yea, Yea, And Nay, Nay!”

“Everything that's hard and complicated about salvation is God's side of it!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, a precious quote from the MP3 sermon, “Yea, Yea, And Nay, Nay!”

The true Gospel always points you to CHRIST; a false gospel always points to YOU.

Salvation is not a reward for the righteous, it is a gift for the guilty!

“See, when you trusted Christ, He delivered you from the PENALTY [of sin]. You never have to pay for it again. Now that you are saved, He wants to save you from the very POWER of sin in your life. And then one day, He's going to deliver us from the very PRESENCE of sin.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, “Sanctification Explained”

“We ought to realize our standing with God as sons and daughters. He will not "un-child" His children. God has not only adopted us, but we are His by birth; we have been born into His kingdom. The children of God are not perfect, but we are perfectly His children.” —Pastor Dwight L. Moody

Bible repentance is a change of mind from denying THE TRUTH “to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (2nd Timothy 2:25-26).

“Faith without works is DEAD FAITH; and works without faith is DEAD WORKS.” —Pastor Steven Anderson, “Repentance And Faith”

“Which comes first, repentance or faith? In Scripture we read, 'Repent ye, and believe the gospel.' Yet we find true believers exhorted to 'repent, and do the first works.' So intimately are the two related that you cannot have one without the other. The man who believes God repents; the repentant soul puts his trust in the Lord when the Gospel is revealed to him. Theologians may wrangle over this, but the fact is, no man repents until the Holy Spirit produces repentance in his soul through the truth. No man believes the Gospel and rests in it for his own salvation until he has judged himself as a needy sinner before God. And this is repentance.” (Except Ye Repent, p. 16)

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Are There “Distinguishing Marks” For A True Believer?

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