"Discerning Hypocrites and Apostates"

CASE 5: "The achievements of hypocrites and those who abandon their faith terrify me and shake me to the core when I'm about to determine, based on the signs of grace that I seem to find in myself, whether I'm in a state of grace."

Answer: These things should indeed prompt us to examine ourselves seriously and impartially, but they shouldn't keep us in a constant state of uncertainty about our spiritual condition. You see the external aspects of hypocrites: their actions, their abilities, their tears, and so on, but you don't see their inner selves, the direction of their hearts. You base a judgment of charity on what you observe of them, which is appropriate since you cannot know the hidden motivations behind their actions. However, you're seeking, and should aim for, certainty about your own spiritual state, which requires examining the aspects of your faith that only you can discern. A hypocrite's outward display of faith may appear greater than that of a sincere believer, but what impresses others may not be as valuable in the eyes of God. I'd prefer to experience one of the groans mentioned by the apostle in Romans 8:26 than to shed Esau's tears, possess Balaam's prophetic abilities, or have the joy of a shallow believer. "The fire that shall test everyone's work" will determine its quality, not its size (1 Corinthians 3:13). Although you can see the size of another person's faith, and it might be larger than your own, God doesn't judge faith by its size. So why should you be concerned about it? You can't be certain of the quality of someone else's faith without divine revelation, but you can be sure of the quality of your own faith without it. Otherwise, the apostle wouldn't have encouraged believers to "give diligence to make their calling and election sure" (2 Peter 1:10). Therefore, the achievements of hypocrites and apostates shouldn't trouble you during your sincere inquiry into your own spiritual state. I'll tell you two things that distinguish even the humblest saints from the most sophisticated hypocrites: 1) Self-denial, which involves renouncing self-confidence and reliance on one's own works, accepting and trusting God's plan of salvation through Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:3; 11:6; Philippians 3:3); and 2) Genuine hatred for all sin, being willing to abandon every sinful desire without exception and to follow every command that the Lord reveals (Psalm 119:6). Test yourself by these criteria.

- Thomas Boston