Many people like to throw the words "saved", "born-again", and "salvation" around without really understanding what it means or understanding the fruits of a person who has been saved or born-again by God. I hope that the following ten signs, or fruits of salvation, will be a great help and blessing to those who wish to understand.

1. The first sign of true salvation is that you will no longer have a love for sin-filled 'pleasures' like you once did, but instead, you'll have a true disdain for sin. 

This will be evidenced by the fact that you will have rid yourself of all sins that separate you from God as well as all books, magazines, music, games, movies, clothes and anything else that is sinful in nature. True believers cleanse themselves of all sin and all sinful influences out of their deep and sincere love for God and their true fear of God. (1 John 3:7-8, Heb. 10:26+ etc.) 


"Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins (practices sin) is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:7-8)

The Bible teaches that if we stumble in sin after salvation to confess and the Lord will listen and forgive us.  (1 John 1:9)

2. The second sign of true salvation is that you will no longer center your life around 'you' and the things of this world, but will instead center your life around your love and passion for God: 

"Do not love the world or anything in the world, if anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.…" (1 John 2:15)

Before being spiritually born-again, we were basically just worldly and self-minded.  If we did do anything 'good', it was mostly because we wanted to get glory, attention, and praise for being so 'good'.  Mostly we just cared about our own personal goals, ambitions, material gain, hobbies, personal interests etc.  However, after our spiritual re-birth, all of our goals, interests, desires, dreams, ambitions, plans, missions and hopes no longer will center around our little tiny selves, but around MUCH MUCH HIGHER standards which are the desires of GOD! We will now seek eternal desires, instead of mere earthly desires that fade: 

*We won't see our house as a prize possession, but mostly as a shelter.  

*We won't think of money as something that centers solely around our own gratifications but will focus more on using it towards God's gratifications. 

*We won't see our time as being used only for seeking ways to find personal pleasure and entertainment but will want to use our time wisely and for seeking ways to build God's Kingdom. Above all, we will seek to lead others to salvation by sharing God's loving words of truth and exposing lies and darkness. We will strive to do this because nothing is nearly as important as salvation through Jesus Christ. Plus we will want to reach out to those in need. 

*We won't see our possessions as things to spend countless upon countless of hours upon, but more as necessities. 

*Our thoughts, passions, and talents won't focus on 'me, me, me' like they did before we were saved, but will be focused now on 'Him, Him, Him'. (1 John 2:15-17) 

3. The third sign of true salvation is that we will have an intense craving and love for God's word of truth - the Bible. 

We will desire the knowledge and growth of God in the same way that a newborn baby desires milk regularly.  We must grow in God and know His Word which is the mighty ROCK on which we stand! If we build and learn God's Word, and stand FIRM on that 'rock', we won't fall or backslide/go astray but will keep growing in God and moving FORWARD. (Matt. 7:24-27) However, if we build on the sand (man-made doctrines, lies, etc) and not steadfastly seek God's truths, we will fall from God. We will fall back to being lukewarm, fall back to sin, and fall back to false gospels and believing lies about salvation etc. 
What a terrible waste...Build, Build, Build on the Word of GOD!  Read it till the binding breaks and the pages fall out and it looks like it has been through a world war! Plus meditate on it always! 

4. The fourth sign of true salvation is that we will start to have an intense, insatiable love for others! 

We will love others so much and desire above anything that they come to know the truth and come to salvation. We will seek ways to share and witness the TRUE gospel with all! Jesus said: “Preach the gospel to EVERY creature!” (Mark 16:15) 

5. The fifth sign of true salvation is that we will earnestly seek God in prayer. 

We will believe in His life-changing power!  The Bible even tells us to pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17, Eph. 6:18) 

6. The sixth sign of true salvation is that we will be concerned with others needs. 

We will have a heart of compassion to seek ways to not only feed and guide people spiritually but also to seek ways to help them with their physical needs such as food, clothing, acts of kindness etc.  (1 John 3:16-18) 

7. The seventh sign of true salvation is that we will desire to be completely pure, holy, obedient, just, righteous, and true in all of our ways out of our deep love for God. 

“For without holiness, no one shall see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14, Eph.4:17-24) 

8. The eighth sign of true salvation is that we will desire to be a soldier for God. 

We will desire to put on the full armor of God each day, take up our cross each day, shine our Light, and live to bring complete glory and honor to Him. (Eph. 6:10-17) 

9. The ninth sign of true salvation is that we will seek out other Christians who are 'hot' for God (have a true zealous passion for God). 

We will truly love these fellow believers and desire to be with those who have a deep longing to fulfill His missions and His will. We will use our own special God-given gifts and talents to patiently strive to accomplish this and pray that God uses these talents to produce fruit for His Kingdom! (Mt. 25:14-30) 

10. The tenth sign of true salvation is that we will walk according to the Holy Spirit, not according to the flesh! 

This is so intensely important! Paul diligently told the brethren/believers/Christians that true Christians do NOT walk according to the flesh now, but according to the Spirit in Romans chapter 8. This is a huge test to know if we are truly a child of God.  Paul tells us that those who walk according to the flesh set their minds on things of the flesh and that to be carnally minded (worldly minded rather than spiritually minded, and/or sinful minded rather than righteous minded) is death! The carnal mind is enmity with God and cannot please God. 

Later in Galatians 5:19-21 we learn about some of the works of the flesh.  Do not be deceived, there is no such thing as a 'carnal Christian.'  You can't love the world and God both, and you can't love sin and God both, for we will either love one and hate the other. On the other hand, those who walk according to the Spirit set their minds on things of the Spirit, and walk according to the Spirit which is righteousness, life, and peace.  By the Spirit we also MUST put to death the deeds of the flesh (Rom. 8:13) - These are the true children of God. 

Remember the important words of Gal. 6:7-9  “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.  For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.  And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” 

Remember: Salvation is not merely a moment but rather it is a life-long day by day journey, and if we endure to the end in faithfully following Christ, heaven becomes the final aspect of our salvation!  Be a wise person who is faithfully prepared and waiting for when the Lord takes you from this life. Do not be a foolish person who is not prepared for the Lord, but instead living a life of shame. 

God is having great mercy on us right now and is giving us a chance to return to Him and get right with Him if we'll sincerely repent. However, if we choose to be foolish and continue in shameful living God will one day Judge us in fairness and righteousness and say to the foolish ones "depart from Me you workers of iniquity!"  Yet if we are found following Him day by day, He will one day dry our every tear from our eyes and welcome us to our eternal home and give us the Crown of Life! 

Test to make sure that you are a true believer and make your calling and election sure. (2 Peter 1:10)  If you are truly living for Him day by day, you can stand firm and confident to the end! 

Article by F. A. Butler