Core Value 17: Genuine Christianity

A true Christian is a person whose nature has been transformed by the Holy Spirit from a God-resisting orientation to a God-seeking orientation (1 John 5:18–20).

• Therefore we affirm that all true Christians display certain marks of regeneration, namely: ongoing and continual dependence on Christ alone (1 John 5:10–12); habitual obedience to his commands and habitual rejection of evil (1 John 2:3; 3:7–10); sacrificial love for God and fellow believers (1 John 3:10, 17; 4:7–21); the ability to overcome the ungodly pressures of a society antagonistic to its maker (i.e. the “world”) (1 John 5:4); perseverance in faith and obedience to the end of life (1 John 2:19; Matthew 24:13; Hebrews 3:14).
• We deny that a person who makes a mere outward profession of Christianity without displaying the above marks is a genuine Christian.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. According to the opening statement, what is the essence of a genuine Christian?
2. Why are most of the Scriptures in this Core Value from 1 John (see 1 John 5:13)?
3. How does “ongoing and continual dependence on Christ alone” express itself in times of trials or temptation? In family relationships? At school or work? In your thoughts and speech?
4. How does “habitual obedience to his commands and habitual rejection of evil” express itself in times of trials or temptation? In family relationships? At school or work? In your thoughts and speech?
5. How does “sacrificial love for God and fellow believers” express itself in times of trials or temptation? In family relationships? At school or work? In your thoughts and speech?
6. How does “the ability to overcome the ungodly pressures of a society antagonistic to its Maker (i.e. the ‘world’)” express itself in times of trials or temptation? In family relationships? At school or work? In your thoughts and speech?
7. How does “perseverance in faith and obedience to the end of life” express itself in times of trials or temptation? In family relationships? At school or work? In your thoughts and speech?
8. Why is a “mere outward profession” not enough?
9. Explain how all of the above can be true even though we are saved by faith not by works.

THE CORE VALUES OF SOLA 5

• Core Value 1: God-Centredness
• Core Value 2: Logic and Reason
• Core Value 3: Authority
• Core Value 4: Sanctity of Life
• Core Value 5: Marriage and Sexuality
• Core Value 6: Discipline
• Core Value 7: Gender Roles
• Core Value 8: Vocation
• Core Value 9: Racial Harmony
• Core Value 10: Creation
• Core Value 11: Animals and the Environment
• Core Value 12: Pluralism
• Core Value 13: Freedom of Religion
• Core Value 14: Evangelism
• Core Value 15: Sufficiency of Scripture
• Core Value 16: Expository Preaching
• Core Value 17: Genuine Christianity
• Core Value 18: Personal Devotion to God
• Core Value 19: Good Works and Social Concern
• Core Value 20: Autonomy and Interdependency
• Core Value 21: The Unity of the Church
• Core Value 22: Liberty of Conscience
• Core Value 23: Hyper-Orthodoxy

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