As I examined the Scriptures and followed the evidence concerning those who follow “the Way,” I found myself asking a question that eventually became deeply personal.
Who will be with the Lord?
Will it be everyone who professes the name of Jesus? Will it be those who were baptized as infants? Will it be those who faithfully attended church for decades? Will it be those who sincerely believed themselves to be Christians? Or will it be those whom Jesus described as doing the Father’s will?
Those questions naturally lead to others.
- What does it mean to be covenant faithful?
- What does it mean to do the Father’s will?
- What does James mean when he says that “faith without works is dead”?
- How can a believer know that he belongs to Christ?
- How does a follower of Jesus live in a world that constantly divides life into the sacred and the secular, while remaining wholly surrendered to God?
- How can a person know that what he believes has reached his heart and is not merely something he accepts with his mind?
These are not questions about earning salvation. Scripture is clear that salvation is God’s gift through Jesus Christ. Rather, they are questions every believer should be willing to ask as they examine whether the faith they profess is the faith described in Scripture.
Jesus begins answering these questions in the Sermon on the Mount.
- Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
- Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
- Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
- Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
- Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
- Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”(Matthew 5:3–10)
The Beatitudes are not a checklist by which someone earns entrance into heaven. They describe the character of people whose lives have been transformed by the King. They reveal the disposition of hearts that have surrendered to God’s rule.
Later in the same sermon, Jesus offers one of the most sobering warnings found anywhere in Scripture:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” (Matthew 7:21)
That statement deserves careful reflection.
- Do I merely acknowledge Jesus, or do I follow Him?
- Have I surrendered my will to the Father, or do I remain the final authority over my own life?
- Do I hunger for righteousness, or do I simply admire it from a distance?
- When the teachings of Christ confront my desires, which one prevails?
The apostles continue this same pattern of examination.
Paul encourages believers to continue in the faith, firmly established and steadfast (Colossians 1:21–23). The writer of Hebrews repeatedly warns against drifting away and calls believers to endure in faith (Hebrews 3:12–14; 10:23–39). James reminds us that faith without works is dead (James 2:14–26). Jesus Himself teaches that branches must abide in the vine if they are to bear fruit (John 15:1–6).
None of these passages teach salvation by human effort. Instead, they consistently point to the evidence of a life transformed by Christ.
- Faith produces fruit.
- Faith remains.
- Faith abides.
- Faith endures.
Perhaps the most important question is not whether we understand the gospel, but whether the gospel has transformed us.
- Has Christ changed what I love?
- Has He changed how I think?
- Has He changed how I respond when I fail?
- Has He become Lord over every part of my life, or have I divided my life into spiritual moments and personal autonomy?
Yet another question presses even deeper.
How do I know that the works produced by my faith are genuine and not merely religious performance?
Jesus warned that many would stand before Him pointing to impressive religious accomplishments.
“Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?” (Matthew 7:22)
- Their works were impressive.
- Their confidence was genuine.
- Their conclusion about themselves was tragically wrong.
- The issue was never simply what they had done.
- The issue was whether they truly knew Christ and whether He knew them.
- That warning reaches into every generation.
- It is possible to serve for recognition.
- It is possible to teach from pride.
- It is possible to give from obligation.
It is possible to defend sound doctrine while neglecting the One about whom that doctrine speaks. Religious activity, by itself, is not proof of a transformed heart. So how can we know whether our works arise from genuine faith?
Scripture points us back to Christ.
- Do my works flow from abiding in Him, or from confidence in myself?
- When no one notices what I have done, do I continue serving with joy?
- When Scripture exposes an area of my life, do I defend myself, or do I repent?
- Do I desire Christ because of what He gives me, or because He is my Lord?
Perhaps genuine faith is seen less in flawless obedience than in a heart that remains teachable, repentant, and continually drawn back to Christ.
The believer who belongs to Christ does not claim perfection. Rather, he continues returning to the One who is perfect, trusting Him, following Him, and allowing His Word to shape every part of life.
Perhaps that leads to the final question every believer should honestly ask.
If every religious activity were stripped away—my church attendance, my ministry, my Bible knowledge, my reputation, my generosity, even the respect of other believers—would I still desire Christ simply because He is my Lord?
That question cannot be answered by a pastor. It cannot be answered by a denomination. It cannot be answered by a theological statement. It can only be answered honestly before the One who searches the heart.
Perhaps that is why David prayed:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.” (Psalm 139:23–24)
In conclusion: Maybe that is where every investigation should end. Not with confidence in ourselves. Not with confidence in our works. But with confidence in Christ, whose grace saves, whose Spirit transforms, and whose Word continually calls us to examine ourselves, abide in Him, and faithfully follow Him all the way home.