The Evidence of Salvation

In the United States fully 90% of our population professes to believe in God. According to the bible, if we have faith, a heartfelt belief in God(Jesus Christ), certain things will have happened to us. Scripture says we have passed from death to life. We have been born again, not a natural birth, but a spiritual new birth from heaven. We have become a new creation "in Christ." When these things happen, according to the bible, the Holy Spirit, God Himself, indwells us, comes to live within us. So the question must be asked; if God now lives within us, can we remain the same, or will their be radical change in our lives?

In the gospel of Luke, in chapter 18:18-25 and 19:1-10 we see a portrait of 2 men. Both of these men share a common characteristic, they are rich. The first man we encounter in Luke 18 is called "the rich young ruler." He comes to Jesus believing he is righteous, and asks Jesus how he can inherit eternal life. Jesus asks him; have you committed adultery? Honored your father and mother? Committed murder? Stolen from anyone? The young man responds, "all these things I have kept from my youth."

This young man believes he has met God's standard of living by the law. He believes himself to be a believer in God. But Jesus is going to expose his hypocrisy. Jesus tells him in v. 22, he has just one other thing to do. Jesus tells him to sell all he has and give it to the poor, and once he does this he will have treasure in heaven and can follow Jesus. The biblical record shows that the young man became very sorrowful. He had kept most of the law, but his money was more important to him than following God.

James tells us in his epistle if we break one part of the law, we are as guilty as if we had broken all of it. This young man had broken the first commandment; "You shall have no other God's before Me." Money, possessions, wealth were his god. He could not separate himself from that which ruled his life. Money is a powerful god. Jesus said of the rich, "it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle that for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." This young man professed God, yet worshipped money. He was not changed.

The second rich man we meet in Luke 19, and his name is Zacchaeus. He is filthy rich, a chief tax collector. Tax collectors were despised in Israel. They were Jews who had sold their soul for riches. And they made their money by cheating others. They were outcasts in the Jewish culture who could not even come to the temple for worship. Zacchaeus also worships money, not God.

He also desires to see Jesus. He wants to see Jesus, so when Jesus comes to his hometown of Jericho, he fights the crowd to get a glimpse of Him, but being a small man he cannot overcome the crowd. So Zacchaeus rushes ahead of Jesus and climbs a tree, so he can see over the crowd when Jesus passes.

Much to Zacchaeus's surprise, Jesus sees him in the tree and calls him by name, saying he needs to stay with him tonight. The bible says Zacchaeus comes down the tree and received Jesus "joyfully." The religious Jews condemn Jesus for consorting with such a grievous sinner. While the bible does not state it, the 2 clearly go to Zacchaeus's home, and something amazing happens there.

In Luke 19:8 we see Zacchaeus tell Jesus that he will give half his goods, half his wealth, to the poor. And everyone he cheated of money he will restore what he has taken with interest, according to Mosaic law in Leviticus 6:5-6. Basically, he is giving away everything he has, just as Jesus had instructed the rich young ruler to do. Their has been a radical change in Zacchaeus, why?

Luke 19:9 has Jesus saying, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham." Zacchaeus has been saved. He has been "born again" a "new creation" in Jesus Christ. He is changed and their is no going back. This is the evidence of salvation. Zacchaeus has repented of his sins because he has turned to Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 1:9 tells us of what repentance is. Here Paul recognizes these believers for their repentance, as they have "turned to God from idols." They have turned to God from sin. This is the first act of a saved person. This is the evidence the Holy Spirit indwells them and salvation has occurred. You cannot turn from your sinful nature until you first turn to God. Friends, if we claim to be saved, change will occur. There is no way God can be inside of us and we not be radically changed. In your life, is their this evidence of salvation?