What are some of the signs of genuine saving faith?

Their true conversion is just what is described here in these verses. He declares, "They show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivered us from the wrath to come." What a summary you have of the work of God. How much is summed up in those few words for us. There is true repentance shown in turning to God. The order there, you have often noticed, is most suggestive, most powerful. You tell a sinner to give up his sins, to turn from this and that sin, and he hesitates, he has not the power to do it. You present to him God and the claims of His grace, and if the word takes hold on him and he turns to the living God, he will turn away from sin. There is just that difference; it is not turning from sin to God but to God from sin. There is power in that.

Returning now to our chapter, we find, in verse 15, the Apostle, who for a while had been hidden from view by the magnitude of his subject, coming forth again into the happy prominence which belongs to him, as an active helper of his brethren's joy. To comfort and encourage them, he tells them the effect upon his own spirit of their obedience to the truth. His own faith and love are strengthened by the good report of theirs. He had heard of their "faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints." We may remark here how inseparably these things are joined together in the mind of the Spirit. For faith is but an empty name unless it fructifies in love. Love is of God; and is, therefore, the natural effect of that faith which finds, through Christ, its rest in God. Love in the Spirit, then, must ever wax or wane with faith. Joy in the Lord is its true fountain of supply. The abundance of that joy makes poor saints rich in love (2 Cor. 8:2). It is thus that the genuine energy of the Spirit in the heart may be distinguished from that operose [industrious] activity, which often yields so barren a return, because the zeal which stimulates it is not moved by the constraining love of Christ. But if faith really works, it works by love. This is a standing principle, which nothing can weaken or displace. It is, moreover, one of seasonable remembrance in the present day of much spiritual affliction. The lowest imaginable condition of the Church here below can never frustrate the working of a faith which is kept pure and fresh by the habitual maintenance of Divine communion. Nor can any multiplication of sectarian dissensions, nor any sad experience of the judicial hand of God in winnowing His people, deprive the heart that still abides in Jesus of the holy and joyful privilege of praying for all saints. Faith sees them all in Him, who is their common Life; and loves them with a fervency in exact proportion to its own enjoyment of His love.

We keep His commandments; but there is one commandment which stands out in a very special way, and which divides into two heads — faith and love. We are to believe on the Name of Jesus Christ, God's Son, and then love one another as He commanded His disciples; notably in John 13:34-35, for instance. We recognize here the two things that are so often mentioned together in the epistles. Paul had not been to Colosse, but he gave thanks to God on their behalf having "heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints" (Colossians 1:4). These two familiar things are proof of true conversion, evidence of a genuine work of God.

Then he gives thanks "to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you." He had heard of their faith in Christ Jesus; of the love which they had towards all the saints and then mentions the hope which is laid up for them in heaven. Faith, love and hope are the blessed marks of all true believers, produced in them by the Spirit of God. Their faith in Christ Jesus was manifested in love for all the saints. "This is His commandment, that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment" (1 John 3:23). "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren" (1 John 3:14).

(1 Thess. 1:1-3). The apostle associates with himself those who had laboured with him. In his salutation he views these believers relative to God the Father, and to Jesus Christ as Lord, rather than as members of the body of which Christ is the Head. He encourages them by assuring them that he constantly gives thanks to God for them and remembers them in his prayers. Moreover, he recognises the fruit of the Spirit in them. In calling attention to these happy Christian qualities, the apostle is not flattering them, but gladly recognising in them the evidence of a real work of God. He notes their work, labour, and endurance, but not as marks of true conversion. Men of the world are often famed for great philanthropic works, immense toil, and much perseverance in carrying out their works. In the case of the Thessalonians the apostle can link with these works other qualities which are essentially Christian — "work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope", the three great elements of Christian life that bring the soul into relation with divine Persons, thus giving the marks of a truly converted soul. As evidence of reality, the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews refers to these three qualities. He had been speaking solemnly of those who made a profession of Christianity but afterwards apostatised. But of these Christians he can say, "Beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation" — "labour of love", "the full assurance of hope", and "faith and patience" (Hebrews 6:9-12).

The Apostle associates with himself those who had laboured with him. In his salutation he views these believers relative to God the Father, and to Jesus Christ as Lord, rather than as members of the Body of which Christ is the Head. He encourages them by assuring them that he constantly gives thanks to God for them, and remembers them in his prayers. Moreover he recognises the fruits of the Spirit in them. In calling attention to these happy christian qualities, the Apostle is not flattering them, but gladly recognising in them the evidence of a real work of God. He notes their work, labour, and endurance; but not as marks of true conversion. Men of the world are often famed for great philanthropic works, immense toil, and much perseverance in carrying out their works. In the case of the Thessalonians the Apostle can link with these other qualities essentially christian: viz., "work of faith, labour of love, and patience of hope": the three great elements of christian life that bring the soul into relation with Divine Persons, thus giving the marks of a truly converted soul. As evidence of reality, the writer of the Hebrews Epistle, refers to these three qualities. He had been speaking solemnly of those who made a profession of Christianity, but afterwards apostatised. But, of these Christians he can say, "Beloved we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation," viz "labour of love"; "the full assurance of hope" and "faith and patience" (Heb. 6:9-12).

“By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matt. 7:20), is a test so obvious that it needs no proving. If a young man or woman professes to be converted, it will certainly be evidenced by a change of life. It is true that salvation is by grace alone, through faith, “not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:9). It is equally true that believers “are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). These works do not procure salvation in the smallest degree, but are the evidence that we are saved. They are the product, not of the old nature, not of the flesh, but of the new nature, the new man “created in Christ Jesus.” The very grace of God that has brought us salvation teaches us “that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world” (Titus 2:12).

Here is a rich man who, when requested, will draw out his cheque-book and sign away large sums for charitable services. There is a poor woman who is astonishingly kind and helpful to her equally humble neighbours. What do their works show? Their faith in Christ? Not with any certainty. True it may be that their kindly spirit is the result of their having been converted, but on the other hand it may only spring from a desire for notoriety or for the approbation of their fellows. But suppose they both begin to display great interest in the Word of God, together with a hearty obedience to its directions, and a real affection for all the people of God. Now we can safely draw the deduction that they really do believe in Christ, for that is the only root from which springs such fruit as this.

There are then certain things which act as a kind of hallmark upon our Christianity. The hallmark upon a silver article does not make it silver, but it gives us an official guarantee that it is silver. It assures us of its genuineness. What then are these things which assure us of the genuineness of Christians — things which so definitely accompany salvation that if they be present we know that salvation also is present? This question is answered in verse 10. And the answer is — they are many little acts which reveal genuine love for the saints.

But in all three cases, let us carefully mark that, however fair the appearance, there was, at the best, no "fruit." It was, in all, "faith," which "having not work," was dead, being alone. It wrought nothing really for God in the souls of those that had it. It brought about no judgment of sin, no brokenness of heart, no turning to God: where these are, there is fruit and real faith, and eternal life. Such shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of His hand in whom they have believed.