Evidence of a Believer

There are many different types of worship and interpretation of the scriptures. However, there is one underlying evidence of a true conversion.

The mind of Christ begins to transform the mind of the believer. The Bible tells us that the natural mind is enmity against God. No matter how sincerely one worships, one in the natural state does not please God.

Romans 8: 7 and 8 read, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

In Luke 8:27, we read, “And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.”

The natural mind has a depraved nature and will go toward sinful activities. In this parable, Jesus commands the unclean spirits to come out of the man.

Then we read in verse 35, “Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind; and they were afraid.”

His mind had been changed. With our natural minds, we try to solve contemporary problems of addictions. We have mental, physical and spiritual addictions that seem to have a recurring effect on our behavior. We change policies and look to government interventions for solutions. But human behavior continues to show the fruits of a depraved mind.

In Luke 11:24-26, Jesus said, “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”

The evil, unclean spirits tamper with the natural status of man. If he is not messing with the physical, he is messing with the spiritual. If he is not messing with the two, he is in the mental state. We try to clean one area only to find another unclean area.

Jesus tells Nicodemus,” Ye must be born again, ” in John 3:7. You must not believe with just cognitive belief, but you must believe with your whole being.

Matthew 22:37, Jesus said unto them, ” Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

When one believes with his whole being and accepts Jesus as Savior, a process called imputation occurs. The righteousness of Our Lord is transferred upon the believer, and the unrighteousness of the one believing is placed upon the Lord as the sacrifice for the sins of the believer.

2 Corinthians 5: 21 tells us, ” For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

The mind of Christ is imputed to the believer, and now he is in his right mind.

1 Corinthians 2:16 states, “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that He might instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

With this new and right mind, the believer begins to understand the thoughts of God, and a process called sanctification takes place. In time, the attributes of God begin to be revealed unto the mind of the believer. The behavior now changes in the life of the believer. Although there may be a slight difference in worship and doctrine, this is one element of brotherhood that is the common thread.