Am I Regenerated (Saved)?

Not long ago during a Q & A at a Sunday night Bible study called "The Story of God," someone asked a prolific question, "How do I know that I am saved?" Believing that our nation is largely one of false conversions, my immediate answer was a curt "wait a while." Yon Wibscov proceeded to give a very good answer about believing in the One who was sent and obedience and fruit and loving God and others, etc. But, I have been mulling and praying and reading since then and I thought I would share my thoughts. These are just kind of observations and Scripture rolled into characteristics that are both internal (things that you feel if God has redeemed you) and external (things that others see in you and probably make comment on).

Here we go in no particular order, but maybe some order:
1. Brokenness -- Psalm 38 & 51 -- I understand that I have deeply offended God with my sin. I am an unworthy slave. I have Godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10). On my own, I have no possessions or rights (except what God grants me after restoration, then I am called a child of God, a co-heir with Christ). I am dead, been crucified, and no longer live.

2. Full weight on (in) Christ -- believe and trust -- nor longer rely on myself for righteousness. God grants us the faith to place our entire existence in the Gospel, in the capable hands of the risen Christ. I know I am nothing without Him.

3. Willingness for obedience -- I do not fight God's commands. Desire to learn. Never perfect, but willing. He speaks; I obey. If not,

4. Constant repentance -- "all of life is repentance" (Martin Luther). When we offend, the Gospel leads us to change, to turn around -- to go to war with sin. Jesus said in His first words in public ministry in Mark 1:15, "Repent and believe the Gospel." Covered in #2-4. I know that I just shifted from first to third person. Salvation is intensely personal, but there is always a "we" that functions in community toward these ends as well.

5. Distinct Changes -- Lovers of God, Lovers of people, on mission (Great Commission at forefront of every day). Repentance is a gift from God, so we move from selfish to selfless and it is OBVIOUS. Not because we are trying (however we do also have a role in working out this salvation with fear and trembling), but because it now who we are.

6. Fruit -- Jesus was clear that without bearing fruit, we are useless and to be burned up in the fire. Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5 goes along with #4). There will become a long history of fruit. The changes are not temporary resolutions; they are supernaturally instituted by the Holy Spirit, so they REMAIN. Serving God and serving others becomes a way of life.

7. Deep Satisfaction -- People and circumstances do not change our deep joy and satisfaction. Our joy is in the Gospel -- not people (they don't make very good gods), and not circumstances (they tend to unravel at some point whether we are saved or not). The Holy Spirit is rooted deeply in us, and so "neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39)."

8. Love -- Kim Walker cries out in this video that, "WE ARE NEVER THE SAME AFTER WE ENCOUNTER THE LOVE OF GOD." CLICK HERE

I have a thousand other thoughts and I am sure that you do also, but I wanted to get these out there because I think people wonder about their status. These eight should resonate deeply with the regenerated man or woman. How did you do with the test?