How can we distinguish true believers from false ones?
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True believers are distinguished by their faith in Christ's righteousness and their new life produced by the Holy Spirit.
To differentiate true believers from false ones, we examine the grounds of their faith. According to Matthew 23:27-28, false believers may appear righteous externally but lack the inner transformation that comes from true faith. True believers, on the other hand, rest in Christ's righteousness and exhibit life change that reflects the work of the Holy Spirit within them. The evidence of this new life includes an ongoing struggle against sin, a desire for holiness, and a reliance on Christ for salvation rather than their own works. This internal change, catalyzed by divine grace, is what distinguishes genuine faith from mere outward religiosity.
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