We often dismiss the question of someone's relationship with Christ by saying, "God only knows." While that's true, and we ought to be careful about judging someone's faith, still there are real birthmarks that we can look for. Consider 1 John 4.13,14. John tells us that there are three realities to a faith relationship: First, the Spirit - The Holy Spirit seals the deal, so to speak, when we confess our sins and embrace Christ. "By this we know...He has given us his spirit..."
A second birthmark is Jesus. "We have seen and testify that God has sent his son to be the savior of the world." When our eyes and hearts are opened to Jesus and our lives testify to His work in our lives, we merit the name, "Christian." A third mark is the love of God the Father. "God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."
The first place to look for these is in ourselves. Being led by the Spirit, living like Jesus and loving unconditionally with the Father's love - these are the birthmarks of faith.
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