How can I be sure I am a Christian?

The Important Evidence of Christian Character

Galatians 5:22–24 ~ Philippians 4:8–9 (ESV)


Know the Evidence of Spiritual Lostness

Galatians 5:19–21 “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, [20] idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, [21] envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”


Know the Evidence of Spiritual Life: Christian Character

Galatians 5:22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Test Yourself for Christian Character

  • Lamentations 3:40 “Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD!”

  • Psalm 26:2 “Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind.”

  • Psalm 139:23–24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

  • 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”

  • Galatians 5:24 “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Resist the Character-Killer, Satan

  • Romans 13:12–14 “The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. [13] Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. [14] But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

  • 1 John 5:18–19 “We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”

  • Ephesians 6:11–12 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. [12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

Avoid Christian Character-Killers

  • Ephesians 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:19 “Do not quench the Spirit.”

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:4 “but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.”

Mentally Take in Christian Character

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Practice Christian Character

  • Philippians 4:9 “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:1 “Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.”

  • Galatians 5:26 “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

Suffer Well for More Christian Character

Romans 5:3–5 “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, [4] and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, [5] and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”