₦airaland Forum

How To Know A Genuine Christian.

How can you tell whether you’re a genuine believer or a false professor? One of the best books describing the true nature of conversion is The Christian’s Great Interest by William Guthrie. The great Puritan theologian John Owen highly commended it and wrote, “The author [of The Christian’s Great Interest] I take to have been one of the greatest divines that ever wrote; it is my Vade-mecum [that is, “handbook”], and I carry it and the Sedan New Testament, still about with me. I have written several folios, but there is more divinity in it than in them all.”

Consider what William Guthrie says in chapter 5 of his book about the differences between the true Christian and the hypocrite. Here are some ways in which the hypocrite may be like the Christian.

1. A hypocrite may be influenced by the gospel in every part of himself. He may come to great knowledge of God’s truth (Heb 6:4). His emotions about Christ may be high (Matt 13:20). He may even experience drastic changes in the outward man, like the Pharisee who prayed, “God, I thank You that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, etc.” (Lk 18:11–12).

2. A hypocrite may look to others like he’s a true believer. He might talk of the law and the gospel (Ps 50:16), openly confess his sin to his own shame (1 Sam 26:21), and humble himself in sackcloth (1 Kgs 21:27). He may even carefully consider what duties he needs to perform and seek after them (Is 58:2), persevere even in hard times, give his possessions away to God and the saints, or even give his body away to be burned (1 Cor 13:3).

3. A hypocrite may advance far in God’s ordinary graces. He may come under great convictions of sin, just as Judas did (Matt 27:3–5). He may tremble at the word of God, just as Felix did (Acts 24:25), rejoice in receiving the truth (Matt 13:20), and have many experiences of tasting the good graces of God (Heb 6:4).

4. A hypocrite may have some characteristics very similar to the saving graces of the Holy Spirit. He may have a kind of faith, like Simon Magus who “believed also” (Acts 8:13) but then proved to be a false believer. He may have a kind of legal and outward repentance that looks very much like true repentance (Mal 3:14). He may have a great and powerful fear of God, like Balaam did (Num 22:18). He may experience a kind of hope (Job 8:13). The hypocrite may even have some love, as Herod had of John (Mk 6:26).

5. A hypocrite can even have great and powerful experiences of God. He may have “tasted of the heavenly gift” and become “partakers of the Holy Spirit” and experienced the “powers of the age to come” and yet not be genuinely converted.

So, what are the marks of a true believer? How is genuine conversion to be distinguished from false conversion? Guthrie provides five marks of a true believer that are not possessed by the hypocrite.

1. A true believer’s heart is changed forever. In Jeremiah 32:39 the Lord says, “I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me forever.” Hypocrites never have a changed nature. Hypocrites want Christ for the good that He might do them in the world. But a true believer’s heart loves Christ as the all-satisfying treasure of this life and the next.

2. A true believer’s changed life comes from a heart of love to Christ. Hypocrites can clean up their outward behavior to be seen by men, to ease their troubled consciences, or to keep themselves from the consequences of their sins. But true believers love Christ and keep His commandments for His sake, to serve Him, to know Him, and to bring glory to His name (Ps 119:6).

3. A true believer seeks Christ and His kingdom above all else. This is the one thing necessary: Christ’s friendship and fellowship. But that is never the “one thing” and heart-satisfying choice of the hypocrites. True believers, on the other hand, desire that this “better part would never be taken from them” (Lk 10:42).

4. A true believer submits to the righteousness of God. He abandons all hope in himself and his own righteousness, and rests wholly in the righteousness of Christ for his acceptance before God. A true believer rests in Christ and Him only as his Savior. Hypocrites don’t do this (Rom 10:3). They depend, in some degree, upon their own righteousness.

5. A true believer has the three great essentials of genuine Christianity. First, he is broken in heart and emptied of his own righteousness so as to loath himself (Lk 19:10). Second, he takes up Christ Jesus as the only treasure and jewel that can enrich and satisfy (Matt 13:44). Third, he sincerely closes with Christ’s whole yoke without exception, judging all His “will just and good, holy and spiritual” (Rom 7:12). A hypocrite does none of these things.

This Sermons Are copyrights of Tom Hicks

This Thread Is intended to be for Proverbs and sermons from Great Men Of God All around the World to Raise and heal all the wounded and broken Hearths. In this dispense we are so lucky God Has Given us every opportunity needed to be saved From Wrong Way and to be Healed from Every Sickness.
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[center]Faith—Shed the victim mentality and believe God for a miracle. Speaking God's word over you and your family will unlock the resources of heaven. Read Heb. 11:1-6 and Rom. 10:8,17. Get active in God's Word.

Prayer—Talk to God like you're talking to a friend. The Lord loves to communicate with you. This creates an avenue of intimacy with the Lord. Don't be religious—you don't have to say everything right. Just talk to Him (Matt. 6:9-14).

Worship—When worship becomes a focus in your life, it creates an atmosphere of His presence. Open your mouth and begin to sing. Sing unto the Lord a new song (Ps. 22:3).

Intercession—Taking up the cause of Christ in the earth puts you in a position of partnering with Him. Partner with Him through intercession (1 Tim. 1:1-3).

Pray in Tongues—When you pray in tongues, you edify your spirit and build up your faith. If you don't pray in tongues, ask Jesus to fill you with the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues (Acts 2:1-4; 1 Cor. 14:4; Jude 20).

Forgive—Forgiveness is not an emotion but an act of your will that can change your emotions. If someone has wounded you, begin to say, "I forgive (put in their name) in Jesus' name." Keep doing this every time Satan brings up the offense (John 20-23; Mark 11:25).

Prophesy—Prophesy the word of the Lord over your life. Prophesy His written word but also a word spoken to you. Keep doing this until it comes to pass (Is. 55:10-11).

Walk in Righteousness—Realize that Jesus bore your sin that you might be made righteous through Him. Begin to declare that you are righteous because of Him (2 Cor. 5:21). [/center]

thanks to everyone for the tips .am going to put everyone into practice God bless u all

thanks to everyone for the tips .am going to put everyone into practice God bless u all

gonkin:
You're insane. That means if you dont masturbate, you would have committed a bigger sin. Masturbation helps to suppress your urges. Its allows u gain control but in your case its natural its not good enough . Well your problem has a simple solution
GET BUSY. Find something doing. Before u know it would be weekly, then monthly till u get a girl the u would never masturbate again. Just get out the house

hun na my problem insult me.anyway thanks for the advice

hun thank u all

alexmaye:
you Are Welcome I Can Gve You Some Suggestions As To What To Do At Night

ok sir I will like to know sir

Don4eva:
Talk to your spiritual leader and always try to engage yourself with useful things, you can start learning an instrument or anything that will keep you busy an put your mind away from sex. Pray and read your bible. God will help you. Enjoy

ok thanks will put that to practice

Don4eva:
Talk to your spiritual leader and always try to engage yourself with useful things, you can start learning an instrument or anything that will keep you busy an put your mind away from sex. Pray and read your bible. God will help you. Enjoy

thanks sir a feel relieved and honoured may God honour u too

MrBrownJay1:
yet you think your faith permits to masturbate like a sex mad person?!?!? here is a clue bro: you are already a sinner in the eyes of your faith!
you either have NO sex NO masturbation NOR sexual thoughts or you accept that you are weak and find a way to have sex.... but stop being an hypocrite.

hun thanks bro

Kingsley1000:
On a serious note.go and marry

Nawa o . isay I no won marry na by force?

12spices:
Guy go and buy a sex doll .... shebi na libido be ur problem....u go see libido run

hun nairalanders self

alexmaye:
Op Try To Keep Ya Self Busy Nd Always Keep Ya Mind Positive

Thanks bro God will help u too .
like you said it always happen in d morning and night .I will try my best

flexxyworld:
yes I feel it's better too destroy yourself alone and please make sure you don't bring any innocent woman eventually into your already destroyed life then..

u might see it as an destroyed life and still celebrate it in the future.
it becos I want to renew my life that I shout for help .that I fall into this sin doesn't mean I don't no what am doing in life.
it only my weak point .and I want to put an end to it with all means

flexxyworld:
but your faith permits masturbation?? continue..

no but I can't control my self it better I destroy only my self .to destroying other persons destiny

IamD18:
Try masturbate with red oil and Ghana pepper, you'll never get such unnecessary urge again.

u funny oooo.
I don't say I wont to die . I say I need remedy to my death

blakid:
Go and get married.

am just twenty

I have a girl friend but my faith don't permit sex till wedding night

Please I need the advice of every experts and anybody who knows much about sex issues.
I have been suffering from high sex urge , which compels me to masturbate almost daily and it kill me not just slowly .And it affects seriously my one time strong spiritual life . at the expense of not wanting to rape my sister , I have to masturbate please help me I don't want to die like this.

cc:lalasticlala
Please help me

I was checking through my news feed today on Facebook while I saw this ,it was quite funny to me so decided to share on Nairaland .
imagine what school is turning into how does masquerade line with education it is quite laughable.
transmission ,transmitter I think that what happening
cc:lalasticlala
mynd44
come and see o

hun great ftc

IsaacRock drops his debut single titled adura.
Adura is an urban gospel music from the album "letter to heaven" .it is a powerful prayer and declaration song writing mainly to touch and change life ,as u listen may you be blessed .
Comments and feedback is highly welcomed
link to download and play below the post
cc:lalasticlal
mynd44
https://tubidy.io/video/BRGtZfax8Xg

https://my.notjustok.com/track/331887/isaacrock-adura

https://gospelmenu.com/sound/download.php?audio=isaacrock-adura-official&id=1570904456_670989667_1593270101

IsaacRock drops his debut single titled adura.
Adura is an urban gospel music from the album "letter to heaven" .it is a powerful prayer and declaration song writing mainly to touch and change life ,as u listen may you be blessed .
Comments and feedback is highly welcomed

link to download and play above the post

cc:lalasticlal
mynd44

I do wander when people say no job . I ask myself were are all this graduates going to.
so I decide to take survey on Nairaland
how many nairalander has edu helped?

ok

Follow this link to join my WhatsApp group: https:///JutCXc80D8W4AMdJqfDkx2

The Christian whatapps chat box is created to strengthen believers online.
FUNCTIONS: 1. To help believers online 2. To pray for those who are weak in trouble by sending your prayer point . 3. To help upcoming gospel artist . 4. To ensure unity and make sure believers speak in on voice . 5. To stay together chat and encourage. 6. To strengthen the weak in faith . The Bible Say Iron Sharpen Iron . comment and I will add you