"Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent.” Acts 13:26

In these few words, Paul refers to three identifying marks of true believers:

Believers are “sons of the family of Abraham.” Paul is crystal clear in Romans 9:6-7, “they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham.” His point is that the biological descendants of Abraham are not all the spiritual children of Abraham. Think how many Jewish people, including kings, were despicable non-believers. Yet all who trust in Jesus are the children of faith of Abraham, the father of the faithful. Those who are of the “seed of Abraham” are are those who are of Christ, not merely the biological descendants of Israel as Paul makes clear in Galatians 3:16.

Believers “fear God.” Believers fear God because He is our Creator. Believers fear God because He is the righteous Judge who will condemn the wicked. And when believers trust in Christ for salvation, we enter a new dimension of the fear of God: loving, reverent obedience to the God who saved us with His own blood.

Believers receive the Word of God. Once born again, believers are given the ability to understand the written and preached Word of God through which we believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the incarnate word of God.

Each of these three marks are gifts of God’s grace. If you have these marks, thank God for giving them to you.