2. Now we are going to turn the previous question around. What would the absence of these traits reveal about the professing Christian?

Example from nature—a logic lesson: A --> B (if A is true, then B is necessarily true)
(another way to say it: B has to be true for A to be true)

If it is raining outside, we can safely say it is cloudy. “ --> ” means “implies”

raining -----> cloudy

Is this necessarily true?

cloudy -----> raining

Can we know anything here? (“!” means “not”)

! cloudy -----> ?

Yes, there was a point to this. Now go back and substitute “has works” for “cloudy” and “new birth” for “rainy.”


Does this help reveal the nature of the verses that speak of believers bearing fruit, being judged in accordance with their fruits, etc?

ESV Romans 2:28-29 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

1. At the end of the chapter Paul revealed the mark of a true “Jew” was inward rather than outward. A warning to the Jews not to depend on their status of descendants of Abraham and recipients of God’s Law. Do Christians have similar outward signs that we should be careful not to depend upon? Are any of these proofs of your salvation?

o Baptism?
o “Prayed the [sinner’s] prayer”?
o Church attendance?
o Participation in various ministries?
o Giving/service to the poor?
o Proclaiming/sharing the gospel?
o Teaching Sunday School or preaching?

ESV Matthew 7:22-23 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not ______ in your name, and __________ in your name, and do _________ in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'