Am I really a Christian?
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We live in an age where the label 'Christian' is used in many ways and means different things to different people. To attempt to clarify what they mean by it, some choose alternative labels - 'born again', 'committed Christian' 'Bible believing Christian' etc. Some speak of a Christian as someone from a particular country or ethnic background, to others it relates to whether or not they've been christened or baptised, and yet to others it carries political connotations.
Our intention is not to express a personal opinion as to who is or is not a Christian, but to simply put forward God's definition as clearly stated in His Word - the Bible. We have included a very few of the many biblical references to support this position. We pray that by reading this, you may be able to honestly assess where you stand before the Lord, and having done so we hope that you will want to find out more concerning the true Christian faith.
What identifies someone as a Christian in God's sight?
It is a personal issue. No-one else can make you a Christian, or speak on your behalf. Once someone becomes a Christian it has to be made public, but the actual issue is personal between you and God.
It crosses all nations, languages, racial boundaries, social status, and ages. It has nothing to do with traditions, parents beliefs, or any ceremonies that one has gone through including christenings or baptism.
Christianity is a faith not a religion. Much has happened, and continues to happen in this world under the banner of 'Christianity' that is clearly contrary to the true Christian faith - wars, conquests etc. This happens when Christianity is understood as a religious cause rather than the personal faith that it really is.
No one can be born a Christian. There must be a personal experience in a life when one becomes a Christian. The Bible uses different expressions for this experience: being 'saved', 'born again', 'reconciled to God'. (John 3:3, Acts 2:47, 2 Cor 5:18)
Being a Christian has got nothing to do with how good a life you've lived. The Bible makes it clear that we cannot be saved by our goodness. Indeed Jesus assured the chief priests and elders of His time that the prostitutes and tax collectors were being saved ahead of them (Matt 21:31-32)
To become a Christian, there must be a recognition of personal failure to live before God as He requires. Becoming a Christian is not like joining a club. As well as believing certain truths, there must be a right attitude of mind and heart. The greatest obstacle to becoming a Christian is personal pride - a refusal to accept that I need God's forgiveness for the way that I have lived my life. This is not to say that everyone has lived an equally bad life, but rather, that no-one has lived a good enough life, and that even what we consider to be our good acts have no saving merit in God's sight. (Acts 2:37-38, 1 John 1: 8-9) See also 'Am I a Sinner'.
There must be an acceptance that this failure makes it impossible either to please God, or to reach Heaven by any means other than the way God Himself has made possible. We tend to judge ourselves against the actions of other people and in that way clearly we can find many who act in worse ways than us. God measures our action against His standards, and even the best of us fall infinitely short of His standards. Indeed, He states that our best deeds are as 'polluted garments' in His sight. Further, heaven (His home) is perfect in every way and must forever remain so. (Isa 64:6, Rom 3:10)
It requires an act of repentance before God. No-one but God can forgive sin (the Bible's collective word for all of our shortcomings and wrong doings - both in nature, thought and action). No priest, 'saint', or any other person (dead or alive) can forgive sin other than God Himself. He freely forgives, when we truly repent of our sin (this means both being truly sorry for our wrong doing and being totally committed, by God's grace and in His strength, to turning from it), seeking His forgiveness on no other ground than the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 John 1: 8-9)
It requires a step of faith in God. Jesus Christ (who is Himself truly God), has eternally existed, he came into our world, taking human form, being born of a virgin. He lived a sinless life despite being tempted in every way as we are. He gave His life freely and sacrificially, not because He deserved to die, or because anyone deserved His sacrifice, but despite the fact that no-one deserved it. God the Father promises forgiveness for sins, and a home in heaven for all who come believing in Jesus. Believing in Jesus goes far beyond believing in the facts of His life, death, resurrection, and future return. It means putting all of my hope of forgiveness, and of gaining heaven in His completed work at Calvary and in that alone. (1 Pet 1:3 )
It requires a fundamental change towards God. In coming to God in repentance and faith, He not only forgives, but comes Himself in the person of the Holy Spirit to indwell the believer. In doing this He reckons the true believer as righteous in His sight as in the person of Jesus Christ He has Himself paid the debt for the believer's sin. Having been brought into this new relationship with Him, He requires that we live from then on in light of this change. Not only wanting to live for Him, but in the power of the Spirit living in obedience to His Word (the Bible), in fellowship with Him (through prayer), finding our pleasure in serving Him in the world and in a local church, and seeking to glorify Him in all we do.
It brings an overwhelming sense of joy, peace and assurance. Being a Christian is primarily about being brought into a right relationship with God. As this happens, blessings follow: Discovering that the greatest pleasure is found in enjoying every aspect of a new and right relationship with God; being at peace with God and through that at true peace with oneself. Having the assurance that not only am I now in the right relationship with God, but that whatever the future holds, He will keep me, and that death is no longer something to fear or to avoid thinking about, as it is the time when I'll meet my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and be welcomed by Him into His kingdom, to spend eternity in His presence.
