Who then, is of Christ? [John 5]

After the last few days, and the Pope calling Trump unchristian, what is a Christian? How do we know? How can we have assurance and confidence in our salvation?

Christ gives us comfort here.

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

(John 5:19-24 ESV)

Christ says that if you hear his word and believe in God, you are saved. It is through the completed work of Christ, risen from the dead, that you are saved: there is no other way, and it is not of your doing.

For Christ will call his own to him. There are those who will reject and call this foolish, a naive trust in God. Or consider that one can win sainthood by one’s virtue.

But none are righteous, and the laws that we ourselves hold we break.

Our assurance in salvation is that if we believe in Christ he will preserve us. For he is faithful.

We are weak and inconsistent. He is faithful. Our assurance is that Christ says we have to just hear and believe.