Genuinely Saved People

Isaiah 48:1-2 KJV

Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness.

For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts is his name.

God's Word gives us the many qualifications that the Jews cited as the credentials of their faith:

• They are called by the name God gave them
• They come from the "waters" or heritage of Judah
• They make the oaths in the name of the Lord
• They speak of God in conversation
• They identify with the city of Jerusalem
• They even claim to depend upon God

But then God makes this one observation which disqualifies all of their qualifications; none of this is either in truth or in righteousness.

We have much the same in the world of Christianity today where people make bold and emphatic statements of faith:

• They claim their spiritual history, maybe reminding us of a "decision" made for Christ as a child
• They speak of their years of church membership
• They point out that they are part of Christian America
• They perhaps have taught a Sunday school class
• They will certainly tell you about their baptism
• They will unwaveringly call themselves Christian
• They will not hesitate to say they believe in God

But none of this has been life transforming to them. They will very likely be as corrupt as the heathen. Their so called faith will have nothing to do with their choices in the business place. The God they make mention of is not permitted to influence them outside of the world of their spirituality. Their claims to faith are neither in truth or in righteousness.

A faith that is not founded upon the sure truth of God's Word and that does not result in life transformation has not resulted in righteousness with God. Two things are true of genuinely saved people:

• They are new creatures
• They have been made the righteousness of God in Christ

If their faith is not founded in the truth of God's Word it will be obvious by life with no transformation. That in turn gives away that they have not the righteousness of God in Christ.