Saving Faith

Recently, I had someone talk with me about the struggle they are having with their grown children. They told me that their kids were saved, they just were not in a relationship with God right now. They said that their children were making bad choices and going the wrong direction. This mindset concerns me greatly as I believe that many who call themselves Christians and believe they are saved are not. The bible says to test ourselves to see if we are in the faith. (2 Corinthians 13:5) What is the best way to test ourselves? If a person has true faith they can prove it by thier works. Saving faith produces action. If I had a bad day at work yesterday and I wake beleiving it will be a bad day again, it will be difficult for me to get up in the morning. Why? Because I believe I am going to have a bad day. On the other hand, if I am going on vacation to my favorite destination, it will be easy for me to get up in the morning. Why? Because I believe I am going to have a good day. In the same way believing in God (His forgiveness, His character, His trustworthyness, His guidance) produces action. If I beleive Him, I will follow Him. I will learn to do what He says and I will leave behind the things that hinder me. (sin/selfishness) Does this mean I will be perfect? No, but I will practice righteouness and I will not practice unrighteousness. (1 John 2:4-6 and 1 John 3:4-6) For years I believed I was saved. I believed it even though I was practicing all sorts of immorality. If I would have died during that time I would have died not knowing or believing God and I would have been headed straight to hell. During this time I questioned my salvation on and off while others reassured me that I knew God. After all, I said the prayer and confessed Jesus as Lord. The truth was I confessed a Jesus that I thought I knew. I thought I knew about His love, about His grace, about His forgiveness but my actions proved that I did not know my value or His love. Test yourselves. Do you want to take the chance that your wrong? Saving faith produces good works and frees you from the bondage of sin. If the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness. (Matthew 6:23) Do not be decieived, God is not mocked, whatever a man sows, that is what he will reap. (Galations 6:7)