In the context of enumerating the advantages of addressing believers as "saints" without reference to "church," this episode brings home the evidence of professed sainthood: works and growth in Christ. The episode cites the parable of the dragnet (Mt 13:47-50), which claims that many "bad fish" would associate themselves with the visible church, without actually being saints. And Christ said as much in Matthew 7:22-23, where association with Christ without conversion would be commonplace among nominal believers at the judgment. One of the common features that Scripture cites as evidence of saving faith is works. While believers are not saved by works, the natural manifestation of saving faith is subsequent good works. He who abides in Christ naturally bears fruit. (John 15:5) Those who merely associate with Christ in the visible church "practice lawlessness." (Mt 7:23) Peter held that Christians should grow spiritually. Failure to progress minimally indicates "blindness" or "short-sightedness" and MIGHT indicate that one has not received the calling as a saint. Peter admonishes believers "to make certain about his calling and choosing." The Biblical expectation of sainthood is therefore demonstrable fruit and works.
Resurrection Power: the Evidence of Salvation
This episode builds on the previous program, asserting that mere propositional knowledge about Christ is insufficient for salvation. Many of us have encountered "believers" who insist they are saved based on a past recitation of the sinner's prayer, though evidence that they are presently FOLLOWING Christ is absent. This past confession amounts to acknowledgment of the facts of the gospel [propositional knowledge], but devoid of subsequent following of Christ, is an empty confession that doesn't save. The above scenario highlights the necessity of the ONGOING application of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ to anyone who claims to be a Christian. And, it is part of the constitution of every believer, "if anyone would be my disciple, he must deny himself, pick up his cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24) "Following Christ" then is the ONGOING application of our Master's life to our lives. So the application of the resurrection of Christ to everyday life, as it turns out, is foundational to being a Christian.
Born Again through the Resurrection of Christ
This episode begins with the question, "what evidence is there in your life that the resurrection of Christ actually occurred?" The answer is simply the presence of zoe life, characterized by the born again experience. Regeneration ushered in life on a higher plane. Zoe life refers to life in the Spirit where believers are connected to God through the indwelling Holy Spirit. This is the life that Jesus referred to in John 10:10: "I would that you have life, and that more abundantly." Zoe life was made available with the resurrection of Christ: once Jesus is glorified, "rivers of living water" spring up among those who put their faith in Christ. (John 7:38-39) This spiritual life contrasts with mere bios life, the biological life that all humanity partakes of. One proof of the resurrection of Christ is then the presence of zoe life among Christians who themselves have experienced spiritual resurrection. They are born again saints "alive from the dead," who have partaken of the life-giving Spirit of Christ. (Heb. 7:16)