10 Signs of True vs False Conversion

In this article we are going to looking at a few differences between someone who professes to be a christian and someone who has had a born again experience. Please note that before we begin we must take into consideration that not everyone is at the same level in their christian walk, in other words it's not fair to have the same expectations of a new convert than for someone who has been walking with the lord for 30 years and is a leader in the church. We must also take into consideration issues of  conscience as well. Say perhaps you have a conviction over a specific thing that isn't specifically condemned in scripture but another person doesn't share that conviction, it doesn't mean they are not a christian brother. With that said let's begin.

1. Do They take the Lord's Name in Vain?

No, i'm not talking this time about verbally doing it but rather their conduct contradicts there profession. Aka they have no repentance, they think that they are good people; much like the Pharisee of Luke 18:10-14. To say that your a Christian (Christ-follower) and yet you still love sinning or are apathetic towards sinning means you're lying; aka they profess to know God but in works they deny him, if a man say i know him and keepeth not his commandments, he is a liar (Tit 1:16, 1Joh 2:4). If they won't take rebuke (Pro 13:1) or refuse to evaluate their self as scripture commands (2Cor 13:5), then it just shows that they despise God's word and will end up destroyed (Pro 13:13). This however is not God's will for them (1Pet 3:9, 1 Tim 2:4, Ezek 33:11).

2. Do They Pray/Often?

It cannot be over emphasized how important one's prayer life is to one's walk with God. The bible tells us to pray without ceasing (1Thess 5:17), to cast all our cares on him (1Pet 5:7), to pray one for another (Jam 5:16), and to pray every where (1Tim 2:8). How can a Christian say that they have a relationship with God (which is what being saved means, to be adopted into God's family) and yet they claim to not talk to him?

True christians don't pray in the open in order to make themselves look good in front of men (Mat 6:5), instead we pray sincerely, not just for ourselves but for others also (1 Tim 2:1) and according to God's will (1 Joh 5:14). We should also remember that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much, take Elias for example; it didn't rain for 3 1/2 years because of his prayer (Jam 5:16-18).

3. True Christians Are Led by the Spirit And Seek God's Will

As Christians, we are to be Spirit-led. In Romans 8:1 it tells us that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. We are to be seeking God's will and not our own (Joh 9:31), this is because it is those that do God's will that are Jesus' mother, sister, and brother (Mar 3:35). Those that are led of the Spirit are the sons of God (Rom 8:14). From Gal 5:16-18 we see that the Spirit and the flesh are opposed to one another, therefore we are to crucify the flesh with the affections and lust (Gal 5:24).

4. Do they Have a passion for Scripture?

Another sign that someone might be a false convert is that they don't read their bible, don't understand biblical doctrine or that they spread heresy. For the first point, namely that they don't read their bible; This could be because they simply are not interested in knowing God, this is a strong indication that one is not saved. If they say that they simply don't have time, it just shows that their priorities are messed up. For point #2 they don't understand biblical doctrine; this could be because the are a new babe in Christ or it could be because they are not saved. It is the Holy Spirit that guides believers into all truth (John 16:13, 1 John 2:27), if they don't have the Spirit they won't be able to discern truth (1 Cor 2:14). Finally for point # 3 they may actually read scripture but since they are not the Lord's sheep they will not only not understand it but will twist it to say things that it doesn't mean and lead men astray. Jesus warns us of wolves in sheep's clothing in Mat 7:15, Peter likewise warns of false prophets/teachers in 2 Peter 2. 1 John 4:1 is another good verse about this subject.

I have worked with people who claimed to be christian and yet one will claim they didn't know what fasting was, or another wasn't familiar with the tower of babel, these are just two examples. I'm not saying they weren't saved, it's just that unless someone is a relatively new convert there really is no excuse for not knowing basic things such as these; especially since the bible is so easily accessible in our day and age.  I have heard it said more than once when I asked someone if they are a christian, instead of giving me a straightforward answer they'll say "well, i used to go to church". Although fellowship is important, there is so much more to the christian walk than just that; as seen on this list there is prayer, bible study, holiness, evangelism, etc.

5. Do they Take A Stance on Jesus Being the Only Way?

Some professing Christians may be double-minded and say that although Jesus is their savior they don't believe people of other faiths are on the path to destruction. Whether they realize it or not, this is living a contradiction. Either Christ's blood is necessary for the forgiveness of sins or it isn't.

They may be confused about Matthew 7 when scripture says judge not, we as Christians cannot say for certainty on whether or not a person will end up in hell, however we can judge people's actions and say what they are doing is right or wrong; and warn them accordingly. Those that declare multiple ways to get to heaven clearly deny bible passages such as John 14:6, Act 4:12, and Joh 3:36. 

6. Are Their Thoughts Christ Centered?

When someone is born again, they have a passion for the LORD. The first and greatest command in scripture is to Love God with all one's heart, soul, and mind (Mat 22:47). If  you spend a lot of time around someone and all they talk about is sports, TV shows, Sex, etc this is a strong indication that they haven't had a real encounter with the risen Lord of glory. Colossians 3:2 tells us to set our minds on things above,  not on things of this earth. Scripture elsewhere tells us to live for him that died for us and rose again (2 Cor 5:15). Christians are to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor 10:5)

7. Do They Have A Heart for Evangelism? 

The bible instructs us to go out into the world and preach the gospel (Mark 16:15) and that we should not hate our neighbors by refusing to rebuke them (Lev 19:17). True Christians desire to see their loved ones, and even strangers become saved. There is a saying that I've heard it goes something like this "If your not concerned about people getting saved, chances are your not saved yourself". As believers, since we want to see others come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ we go out to the streets and preach, or fund evangelistic ministries, or share our beliefs with our family, friends, and co-workers.

8. Do They Possess Love for the Brethren or Are They Selfish? 

1 John 4 has quite a bit to say about how essential it is for Christian's to love their brother. Indeed, loving others is a true token of a genuine convert. Gal 5 tells us that it is a fruit of the Spirit. The command to love is also mentioned in 2 John and in (Mat 5:44,  Mar 12:31, and Luk 10:27) just to name a few places. False converts may take on the name of Christ but are selfish; they put themselves first and don't care about the needs of others. If they do read the bible they will tend to ignore the passages about taking up your cross (Mark 8:34, Luk 9:23), and esteeming others better than yourself (Phili 2:3-4).

9. Are They Growing in Holiness? 

The bible tells us that if any man is in Christ he is a new creature, that old things are passed away (2 Cor 5:17), Scripture also tells us to not be conformed to the world but to renew our mind (Rom 12:2), and to Love not the things that are in the world (1 Joh 2:15). As Christians grow in their walk with the Lord they should look more and more like Jesus, they will be seeking to please their heavenly Father and desiring the things that are eternal, not temporal (2 Cor 4:18).

Holiness is very important for without it, no man shall see the Lord (Heb 12:14). How does one become holy, well to answer that question let's look at a few definitions to find out. For brievitys' sake I'm just going to post the first 5 definitions of the word Sanctify from the webster's 1828 dictionary.

1. In a general sense, to cleanse, purify or make holy.

2. To separate, set apart or appoint to a holy, sacred or religious use.

God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it. Genesis 2:3.

So under the Jewish dispensation, to sanctify the altar, the temple, the priests, etc.

3. To purify; to prepare for divine service, and for partaking of holy things. Exodus 19:10.

4. To separate, ordain and appoint to the work of redemption and the government of the church. John 10:36.

5. To cleanse from corruption; to purify from sin; to make holy by detaching the affections from the world and its defilements, and exalting them to a supreme love to God.

So according to definition 5 one is made holy by detaching from the affections of the world and it's defilement's. So how is this done? let's take a look at a few bible passages on sanctification. First and foremost I want to just state that sanctification is a work of God (Exo 31:13, Lev 20:8, 1Th 5:23, 2 Thes 2:13, Heb 13:12, 1Pet 1:2). This doesn't however mean that man doesn't have a role to play in his sanctification (Lev 11:44, 20:7, Jos 7:13), this is why reading the bible is so important; for scripture declares that we are sanctified through God's word (Joh 17:17, Eph 5:26). One way that we play a role in our sanctification is that we avoid fornication as stated in 1 Thes 4:3-4. The natural man will not do this though unless God grants him repentance 2Tim 2:25. 

Here are a few other passages on the subject for your reference:

Sanctified by faith in Christ - Acts 26:18
Sanctified by the Holy Ghost - Acts 15:16
a vessel unto honour 2Tim 2:21
See also: Heb 10:10 & :29

10. Are They People-Pleasers?

There is a bible passage where Paul informs us that, If he sought to please men he would not be the servant of Christ (Gal 1:10). The bible tells us that, To be a Friend of the world is to be the enemy of God (James 4:4). The Chief Rulers loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. This is why even though they believed on Jesus, they would not confess him (Joh 12:43). People pleasers are a perfect example of the Pharisees of  Mat 23, who appeared righteous unto men but were full of dead men bones. Jesus makes it plain that those that deny him before men will he deny before his Father which is in heaven (Mat 10:33).

Although yes we are called to love people, live peaceably with all men (Rom 12:18), and be the light of the world (Mat 5:14); this doesn't mean that we tell people only what they want to hear (2 Tim 4:3), but we tell them the truth, even if the truth is offensive to some people.  It is written in Proverbs 27:6 " Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful."

In Conclusion although these signs are not a fool-proof way of determining whether or not someone is saved, as even Christians sometime do err, They do however give us some determining guidelines so that we are able to assess the people around us.