“By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matt. 7:20), is a test so obvious that it needs no proving. If a young man or woman professes to be converted, it will certainly be evidenced by a change of life. It is true that salvation is by grace alone, through faith, “not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:9). It is equally true that believers “are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). These works do not procure salvation in the smallest degree, but are the evidence that we are saved. They are the product, not of the old nature, not of the flesh, but of the new nature, the new man “created in Christ Jesus.” The very grace of God that has brought us salvation teaches us “that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world” (Titus 2:12).
It is clear then that if we are really converted to God, there will be a change of life; and if there is not, we may well ask, if we are not deceiving ourselves by a false profession. How does the changed life manifest itself?
There will be a love for the Scriptures. The Book that brings us good news and salvation must indeed be dear to every young Christian. It is the book that God puts into our hands, inspired by Him, “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction, in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). It is the only source of light and teaching, outside the Book of Creation, that anyone has. Creation will overwhelm us with its august testimony to its Creator’s eternal power and Godhead. The heavens are the work of God’s fingers. But whilst God’s fingers are seen in Creation, His heart is manifested in redemption, and spiritual light and blessing must come to us alone through the Scriptures. Our knowledge of God; of Christ; of redemption; of the believer’s blessings in the gospel; of new creation; of the church, the body of Christ; of the assembly; of our relation to this world; of the Lord’s coming; of our eternal future—all comes to us through the Scriptures. No real Christian but has a love for the Scriptures.
The Scriptures known and practised make strong Christians. “I have written to you, young men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abides in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one” (1 John 2:14). Just as a young man is the emblem of maturity and strength, so Christians, who have grown to maturity in the Christian life, are here addressed. And what was the secret of their strength, and their ability to overcome the wicked one? Surely, the Word of God. For this two things were necessary, (1) knowledge of the Scriptures, and (2) putting its teaching into practice. It does not say that the Word of God abode in their memories, it abode in them, that is, its power was felt in their lives.
Now it is plain that we cannot have the practice of the Bible without its knowledge. So we press on the young converts, study the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation. Study it diligently, seek grace to practice its precepts. Do not study it as mere literature—it is the most wonderful book in the world from that standpoint—but feed upon it, assimilate it into your very spiritual being.
There will be love for prayer. This is the way of approach to God’s presence in connection with our needs; needs as to our spiritual well-being, needs as to service for the Lord, needs as to temporal matters as well as spiritual. All God’s eminent servants have been men of prayer. Our blessed Exemplar, the Lord Jesus Christ, spent whole nights in prayer. One instance will suffice, “And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12). “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17), is the injunction of Scripture. It is good to pass through all the hours of the day in a spirit of prayer. Our verse does not mean that we must pray all day and night long. That were an impossibility. But it means we have to pray and go on praying. It has not to be by fits and starts.
We are to pray “for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Tim. 2:1-2). The Apostle Paul writes, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Eph. 6:18). The young Christian, who prays, is one that is sure to be blessed and be a blessing. What scope there is for prayer!
There will be love for your fellow-Christians. “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren” (1 John 3:14). As unconverted we disliked Christian people. But when the new nature began to operate, it showed itself in love arising in our hearts, and going out to the Lord’s people just because they are His. If we are warm towards the Lord, we shall be warm to His people; if we are cold towards the Lord, we shall be cold towards His people. There is nothing cliquish or clannish or partial in this love. It is the one happy thing in this cold world.
There will be love for the meetings. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Heb. 10:25). “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). Scriptures such as these are clear and explicit.
The importance of the Lord’s people getting to the meetings cannot be over-rated. God in His wisdom has put His people into assemblies. All true believers on the face of the earth constitute the assembly, the one body of Christ. But, separated by distance, they perforce gather together locally and form assemblies.
May we press upon young Christians the importance of the meetings for their own sakes, for their own welfare, as well as for the help of the meetings.
Young Christians are apt to leave the prayer meetings and Bible readings to the older Christians and to consider that it does not matter much if they are present or not. It matters a great deal, and we urge all young Christians to get into the habit of attending all the assembly meetings they possibly can. Forsake the meetings, and backsliding is sure to follow.
Much more could be said on these lines. We have simply indicated four ways in which the new life will manifest itself. May God add His blessing, and give enlargement of heart to every young convert.