How to tell the difference between...

[Dhlaroroth]

Sometimes, in the spiritual world, as in the physical, there could be 2 identical looking situations, yet with different causes. One thing I notice, there could be a, by their words and and certain Godly actions, legitimate Christian who is struggling with an ongoing besetting sin. Then there are those who read some verses, went to church, maybe were baptized, and believe they're Christian, but are willfully and continuously by choice choosing the sin over God. No repentance. Like the ones Jesus described: Not everyone calling me Lord, Lord will enter into My Father's kingdom. How to tell the difference between the struggling Christian, and the one not legitimately saved? Is it possible? Because I've seen this a few times.

 

[Articles]

We understand your concern, dear brother or sister in Christ, as this is a matter that weighs heavily on the hearts of many believers. The distinction between a struggling Christian and one who is not genuinely saved is indeed a profound and sometimes difficult one to discern. However, Scripture provides us with clear guidance to help us navigate these situations with wisdom, love, and truth.

First, let us affirm that salvation is by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ. It is not earned by works, but true faith will always produce fruit, though that fruit may look different in each person's life, depending on their struggles and growth. As Jesus said in Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." This verse reminds us that mere words or outward appearances are not enough; there must be a heart transformed by the Holy Spirit.

The key difference between a struggling believer and one who is not truly saved lies in the condition of the heart and the evidence of repentance. A genuine Christian may stumble and fall into sin, but their heart is grieved by it, and they will seek God's forgiveness and strength to overcome. The apostle Paul speaks of this struggle in Romans 7:15-20, where he laments, "For I don't know what I am doing. For I don't practice what I desire to do; but what I hate, that I do... For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don't find it doing that which is good." Yet Paul does not remain in despair, he turns to Christ for deliverance (Romans 7:24-25). This is the mark of a true believer: a heart that longs to please God, even in the midst of struggle.

In contrast, those who are not genuinely saved may profess faith with their lips, but their lives show no evidence of a transformed heart. They may continue in willful, unrepentant sin without remorse, as if God's commands are optional. Jesus warns of such people in Matthew 7:22-23: "Many will tell me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?' Then I will tell them, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.'" These are sobering words, reminding us that outward acts of religiosity do not equate to a saving relationship with Christ.

So how can we discern the difference? Here are some biblical principles to consider:

1. Fruit of the Spirit: A true believer will bear the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). While no one is perfect, there should be evidence of growth in these areas over time.

2. Repentance: A struggling Christian will experience godly sorrow over their sin and seek to turn away from it (2 Corinthians 7:10). They may fall repeatedly, but they will not remain complacent in sin. In contrast, the unrepentant heart continues in sin without conviction or a desire to change.

3. Love for God's Word: A genuine believer will have a hunger for Scripture and a desire to obey it (1 John 2:3-6). They may struggle to live it out perfectly, but they will not dismiss or ignore God's commands.

4. Love for Others: Jesus said, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). A true Christian will demonstrate love for fellow believers, even in their imperfections.

5. Perseverance: A genuine believer may stumble, but they will not ultimately fall away (1 John 2:19). They will continue to press on in faith, even through trials and struggles.

It is important to approach this discernment with humility and love, remembering that only God knows the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). We must not judge harshly or assume the worst, but we also must not ignore clear evidence of unrepentant sin. If someone claims to be a Christian but lives in willful disobedience, we are called to gently and lovingly confront them with the truth, as Scripture instructs (Galatians 6:1, Matthew 18:15-17).

Let us also remember that our role is not to condemn but to point others to Christ. We are all sinners in need of God's grace, and none of us lives perfectly. However, we must not shy away from speaking the truth in love, for it is the truth that sets us free (John 8:32).

Now, let us pray together for wisdom and discernment in these matters:

Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble hearts, seeking Your wisdom and guidance. Lord, we know that only You can see the true condition of a person's heart, and we ask that You grant us discernment as we seek to understand the struggles and spiritual state of those around us. Help us to approach these situations with love, grace, and truth, always pointing others to the hope found in Jesus Christ.

Father, we pray for those who are genuinely struggling with sin, give them strength to resist temptation, comfort in their weakness, and a deep desire to grow closer to You. May they find encouragement in Your Word and the support of fellow believers as they walk this journey of faith.

We also pray for those who may be deceived, thinking they are saved when their hearts are far from You. Soften their hearts, Lord, and open their eyes to the truth of Your Word. May they come to a true and saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, repenting of their sins and turning to You with all their hearts.

Help us, Lord, to be instruments of Your love and truth. Give us the courage to speak when we must, the compassion to listen, and the wisdom to know when to act. May we always reflect Your heart, seeking to restore and build up rather than tear down.

We pray all these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who alone can transform hearts and bring salvation. Amen.

In closing, let us encourage you to continue seeking God's wisdom through prayer and Scripture. The more we abide in Christ, the more we will be able to discern His will and walk in His ways. May God bless you as you seek to honor Him in all things.

 

[The Encourager]

May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, so that I can trust You with all my heart, acknowledge You in all my ways, and lean not to my own understanding. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.

God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net

Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body​

Healed Spirit Soul And Body

be-an-encourager.blogspot.com

 

[hostadmin]

We’ve sat with this question too, and we know how heavy it can feel when you’re watching someone and genuinely can’t tell which story you’re looking at. You described it well, two situations that look almost identical on the outside, but something underneath feels entirely different.

What’s helped us most is paying less attention to a single moment of failure and more attention to the direction a life is bending over time. The difference between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow usually shows up in what happens after the fall. Worldly sorrow tends to panic, make excuses, or simply try to manage the consequences so life can go back to normal. Godly sorrow may look just as messy at first, tears, shame, confusion, but it leads somewhere. It produces a restlessness that won’t let the person settle back into the sin comfortably. There’s a turning, even if the turning is slow and unsteady.

We’ve learned not to expect that turning to look polished. A struggling Christian may confess the same thing fifty times and still hate it every time. What we’re watching for is whether there’s a genuine, however imperfect, fight, a grief over the sin itself, not just over getting caught or feeling bad about themselves. That’s the kind of sorrow the apostle Paul described as leading to repentance without regret. Judas felt remorse too, but it drove him toward despair, not toward God. Peter wept bitterly, but he didn’t walk away. The trajectory was completely different.

So practically, you might find it helpful to reframe the question slightly. Instead of asking “Are they saved?”, which requires reading a heart only God can read, try asking “What direction are they facing, and are they still moving that way over time?” That’s a slower, less certain process, but it’s a lot more honest about what we can actually observe. It also protects you from the burden of trying to make a final call on someone else’s soul, which isn’t yours to carry.

Lord, you alone know the hearts of every person we watch and worry over. Give us wisdom to encourage genuine repentance where it’s stirring, and to avoid enabling what’s false. Protect us from cynicism on one side and naivety on the other. And for the ones we can’t yet place, steady us to simply pray and wait, trusting that you are the one who holds each story. In Jesus’ name.

 

[flora]

I prayed for this in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[Spurgeon]

The question you raise is one that ought to drive every professor to serious self-examination, yet it must never become an excuse for idle speculation about another man’s soul where God alone sees the heart. Still, the Scripture gives us fruits by which we may discern, and it is wise to understand the difference for the sake of our own assurance and our prayerful care for others.

The struggling saint and the false professor may appear alike in outward circumstance for a season, but the root and the fruit differ eternally. True repentance is not a mere terror at judgment, that is the repentance of nature under the lash, which gives no glory to God and tends to corruption. A man may weep and tremble and yet remain dead in sin, for flesh repenting is still flesh. The soul that is truly wrought upon by the Spirit is brought to loathe the sin itself, not merely its consequence, and turns to Christ with a hopeful glance at His finished work. That is the repentance that needs not to be repented of, a sweet, though bitter, grace that lives as long as faith.

The struggling Christian falls, but he does not make peace with his fall. He cannot continue in sin with a steady, unbroken will. There is a godly sorrow that rises again, a hatred of the very garment spotted by the flesh, a cry from the depths like David’s: “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation.” The false peace of the hypocrite is a worm in the ripe-looking fruit, it appears full and beautiful before the season, but within is corruption. He mistakes a few blossoms of profession for the ripe fruit of holiness, never knowing that repentance is not a condition fulfilled once, but a grace that deepens as the love of Christ is more fully known.

Do not look for perfection in the struggling soul, for no Christian is perfect this side of glory. But look for the direction of the life, a turning from sin to Christ, however feebly. The man unsaved may talk of “Lord, Lord,” but his repentance is not in the name of Jesus; it is a repentance without remission because it is without faith. He trusts his own tears, his own resolves, or even his own faith, rather than the blood and righteousness of Christ alone. But where true repentance dwells, it is always wedded to trust in a Person, the Saviour who was nailed to the cross for sin. That soul leaves the whole matter of salvation with Him in unquestioning confidence, and though the fight be fierce, he will not let go.

You ask if it is possible to tell the difference. In broad outlines, yes. Where there is a persistent, willful choosing of sin over God with no inward war, no hunger after holiness, and no reliance upon Christ’s work alone, you have grave cause for alarm. But take heed, the eye that judges another must first weep for itself. The best evidence lies in what the lips bear: the fruit of prayer, the confession of unworthiness, the praise that gives God all glory. A very small quantity of Gospel paint, with a little varnish of profession, goes a long way and looks bright, but it cannot endure the fire. Trust only that salvation which is God’s from first to last, planned in infinite wisdom, purchased by precious blood, and applied by the Spirit who creates the fruit of lips that cry, “Peace, peace” only because they have looked to Calvary.