The Evidence of being Born Again.....

The Evidence of being Born Again…….

By Lahry Sibley

A common phrase among those churches that refer to themselves as “Pentecostal” is the saying “baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues”. Whether you are Pentecostal or not, if you are active in a church or watch so called “Christian TV”, you have probably heard this term.

The validity of this statement or phrase is scripturally argumentative in and of itself. But that is not why I’m here at the keyboard at this time.

Hebrews 12:14 says this: “14Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord. “

If a person, ourselves or others, say they have been Born Again of water and Spirit, is it unreasonable for us to ask if there is evidence of being born again? Does that evidence follow the guidelines of this and countless other scriptures?

Let’s look at the definition of this word “holiness”, translated holiness 5 times and sanctification 5 times…

1) consecration, purification
2) the effect of consecration
a) sanctification of heart and life

Holiness is a work of the Holy Spirit (evidential work) that opposes lust of the flesh. Let’s look at another scripture….

Romans 6:19 says…” 19I am speaking in familiar human terms because of your natural limitations. For as you yielded your bodily members [and [a]faculties] as servants to impurity and ever increasing lawlessness, so now yield your bodily members [and faculties] once for all as servants to righteousness (right being and doing) [which leads] to sanctification. “

The word for “sanctification” is the same word for Holiness. The evidence of being Born Again of water and Spirit is the yielding of our vessels as servants of right doing and right being. How do we judge whether or not a Born Again person, ourselves or others, are in fact providing evidence of the working of the Holy Spirit within? The Word of God from beginning to end states the necessity of obedience to God.

Romans 6:22 – “ 22But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. (KJV)“

Isn’t “fruit” the evidence of the life of a tree? Serving God instead of sin and the old nature results in fruit, evidence if you will, of the Born Again life we say we are now living. To prove a matter in a court of law, there must be evidence. In the life of a Christian there must cease to be evidence of the old nature, the old life, the sinful nature, and there must be new and ongoing evidence of the life of the new nature in Christ Jesus. Looking at the scripture above, I don’t see how anyone can separate the evidence of holiness from the hope of everlasting life.

Now, we all agree that the “just shall live by faith”. Faith must have an object. The object of Christian faith is the shed blood of Jesus Christ. The evidence of the justified who find their new life in Christ Jesus is the evidence of our taking on a new life of holiness, and turning away from the lusts and life of the flesh which is supposed to be dead in Christ.

So if the Pentecostals can use the term, (right or wrong), “baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues”, cannot all Christians proclaim “Born Again of water and Spirit with the evidence of living a Holy Life”?

Granted there is a holiness that is imputed by Christ. His imputed holiness and righteousness enables us to approach the throne of God will boldness, but not with “baggage”. There is a process of growth with fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Check this out from Galatians 5:22-25
“ 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.“

Who has the evidence of the fruit of the Holy Spirit? Is it not those who have “crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts”? If you have crucified them, there should be no evidence of life in the flesh. Amen? Come on somebody.

It is time for the truth to be proclaimed. The Apostasy is here! Not the falling away from church, but the falling away from the truth. To be Born Again, we must repent! Turn away from the lusts of the flesh! Turn to God and resist the devil and he will flee from you. That’s what James said. So if the devil has fled, why are we still walking in and being partakers of ungodliness? I’ll tell you why. We have not crucified, put to death, the flesh with it’s lusts and affections.

Let me put it this way. If Jesus came to your house and looked around, would He find evidence of His life or yours? Would He find evidence of idols or service to Himself. If He came to your heart and life, would He find evidence of being Born Again of water and Spirit with the evidence of living a Holy Life? If there would be “problems”, perhaps this would be a good time to ask the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and bring to light anything that is evidence not in our favor as being Born Again. After all, eternal life could hang in the balance. Are you Born Again of water and Spirit with the “evidence” of living a holy life? I pray that I am. I pray that you are.

Humbly before Him,

Lahry