How do we know that believers are different from unbelievers?

The fundamental difference between believers and unbelievers lies in the transformative work of God in a believer's life. As described in 2 Corinthians 5:17, 'If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.' This new identity is not something we achieve ourselves; it is a result of being made fit by God's grace through faith. Unbelievers remain in their natural state of sin and are unable to comprehend spiritual truths. However, believers, having received the Holy Spirit, are equipped to walk in God's truth and to discern spiritual realities, which radically alters their understanding and preferences.