The Evidence of a Truly Converted Soul

As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire” (Luke 3:15-17).

They mistook the Baptist for the Messiah! His austere, humble lifestyle reflected an abandonment of the comforts of the world. His Holy Spirit inspired words reflected the convicting truth of God’s Word. Humility and authority mixed together and came forth in power and the audience was compelled to question within their hearts, “whether he might be the Christ”. Might the Teacher who inspired Luke to record this scene be convicting our hearts today? Might the Spirit want us to consider the question, do people see Jesus in me? John’s answer to the burning question in the hearts of his audience revealed Biblical truth that had transformed his life. He spoke from personal experience about the evidence of a truly converted soul.

A maturing disciple reveals the life of Christ. Born again, growing disciples are increasingly filled with the new life that reflects Christ to others. John’s life was so overflowing with the life of Christ that his audience mistook him for the Messiah. The Baptist’s life was surrendered to Christ completely. Jesus exhorted real disciples to deny themselves and to surrender their lives to His perfect care and leading… “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). This exchange of life begins at the new birth… “He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Corinthians 5:15) and continues daily as John affirmed with the words… “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

A maturing disciple reproduces the character of Christ. John was baptized or immersed in the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb… “He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb” (Luke 1:15). The Spirit teaches that genuine disciples experience the baptism (Greek –baptizō: to make whelmed, immersed, washed) of the Holy Spirit at our spiritual birth… “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Titus 3:5-6). The Spirit also teaches that being filled with the Holy Spirit is a daily experience that should be vigorously pursued by diligent, growing disciples… “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18) and this pursuit of life in the Spirit bears visible fruit that reflects the character of Jesus Christ and is evidence that we belong to Him… “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:22-24).

A maturing disciple reflects the holiness of Christ. The growing presence of Christ and the increasing fullness of the Holy Spirit in a genuine, born again disciple will produce another obvious change, increasing holiness. As we decrease and the presence and power of Christ in us increases, there is increasing victory over sin in our lives… “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:56-57). The victory over temptation and sin begins with the new birth and increases as our faith in Christ grows… “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4). Evidence of the new birth and genuine discipleship is Christ in us increasing our ability to imitate Christ and His holiness who admonished us to… “As he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15-16).

As we grow up into Christ we reveal Him, reproduce His character, and reflect His holiness…

The Evidence of a Truly Converted Soul.