Intellectual belief may have many Religious actions accompanying it, but no real fruit of the spirit. Actual belief always produces some fruit, right up front. Your life will change, which is an ongoing process, but there will be noticeable changes from the start.
There is an almost immediate change in personality, you will find some things that held great interest for you do not anymore. And such things as reading, and studying the Bible, witnessing in some form (personal, tracts) will become predominate. Your attitude toward Sin will change, in fact you will become more aware of some things in your life, you never paid any attention too. This is the Spirit telling you, you need to clean up your act.
I used to get really angry with people when I had to wait in a long line, and someone committed a real blunder; like holding up the line while someone had to go retrieve their credit card from the car. That was the first real change I noticed, I really had extreme patience with the fat lady - suddenly!.
There are probably a lot more things others could add, but the most salient point is; there will be changes in your life.
So the only way to tell is via works? What if witnessing is non existance (ie, in my life - because I have no assurance, and I struggle with sin and cannot get victory from lack of assurance).
It seems the solution most people give me is to work.
No works just for the sake of works, provide no proof of, or salvation. The Scripture tells us we are created new creatures, to walk in good works. Thus the changed life naturally produces good works, as an apple tree naturally produces apples.
Not everyone will have the same experiences, and not everyone will have the same amount of change from the start. I used to Flyfish and bike ride a lot, I mean a lot!. The first thing I did was hang up my fly rod, and park my bike for about a year, and lived with my nose in the Bible.
Well I used to fill the grocery store, and all the boxes of beer with tracks. Pretty soon the store put in a Christian paperback book rack, musta got to someone??.
I have never been a big person for personal witnessing, but I will do it in a Bible study, "sneaky"
. One of my favorites for that, is the first chapter of big John. So those are some of the changes that I noticed in my life, and the nose in the Bible part has never slacked off. I haven't accosted the beer boxes in the grocery for quite some time now though ---- let me see where did I put those tracks.
What do you mean you will do it in a Bible study?
If you will look at page 3 on my web-site, the message there is adapted from John's Gospel. It's just as simple to include this in a Bible study, as it is to post it on the internet.
My son and I try to organize, and hold Bible studies as often as we can. This is probably the best of the best places to witness, and the people coming don't even know they are going to get caught.
(12-25-2009 09:56 PM)Luke Wrote: [ -> ]What do you mean you will do it in a Bible study?
I can't speak for Samuel, but I've led plenty of Bible studies, both in informal settings and in SS classes, where I'd slip in an evangelistic message someplace. Unless you're in a very small group, it's best to assume that someone, maybe just one person, might be unsaved, and make an effort to explain the Gospel briefly for his or her sake. It's always a mistake to assume that everyone in a group is saved. I think that's what Samuel might be talking about, although some folks witness by conducting one-on-one Bible studies with unbelievers. I've found very few unbelievers who wanted to do that, but perhaps my personality doesn't attract them.
A great failing of many Baptist preachers (in fact, Baptist preachers are notorious for this) is making every message an evangelistic message, and preaching the gospel every week to people who need to grow. But that's old news!
I don't buy it, Luke, when you say that witnessing is non-existent in your life. There's more to witnessing than handing out tracts or street preaching. Running this site is a witness. Your teaching is a huge witness: or do you assume that all those kids, with all their questions, are already saved?
There are plenty of ways in which you not only witness, but offer actual edification to believers - - - like those of us on this board. But, since you've brought this up in this thread, I'll answer: your great weakness is wondering about whether
you've done the right thing, or are doing the right thing - - - instead of what
Jesus did, and is ready to do.
It's all about Him. Your only job, like John the Baptist's, is to decrease, so that He can increase.
But you already know that! It's just easier said than done!
Quote:I think that's what Samuel might be talking about, although some folks witness by conducting one-on-one Bible studies with unbelievers.
I have never tried that! studying the Bible one-on-one, with someone who is not saved. I think that would probably be a most uncomfortable condition for someone, I know it would have been for me. When you have a pretty good sized group, people don't feel as intimidated, and are more likely to listen to what you are saying.
At least that's my reasoning, I could be wrong though, it wouldn't be the first time.