How To Know Youre A Christian - 10 Marks Of A True Christian . November 30, 2014 at 7:13pm In a 2012 study it was estimated that 33% of the people in the world are Christians. In a 2012 study 77% of Americans identify themselves as Christian compared to 86% in 1990. Of those surveyed 52% were Protestant, 23% Catholic and 2% Mormon. One survey indicated that only half of those professing to be Christian met the qualifications according to the bible. Many did not believe the fundamental beliefs of the bible. Some say it doesn’t matter what religion as long as someone is spiritual or good God will see it and they will go to heaven. That sounds warm and fuzzy but it isn’t true. In John 10:9 Jesus said -I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved. He added greater emphasis in John 14:6 stating I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. The organizers of a Salt Lake City concert and crusade encouraged follow up after their event. The follow up found that less that 5 percent of those who responded to an altar call during the crusade were living a Christian life one year later. A pastor sent a team to Russia in 1991 and obtained 2,500 decisions for Christ. The next year the team found only thirty had continued in the faith. A number of churches combined for a convention in Forth Worth Texas in 1970 and had 30,000 decisions for Christ. Six months later the follow-up committee could only find thirty continuing in their faith. Certainly the gospel message has to be presented the proper way for the hearer to receive salvation. Not just for the carrot of heaven and to avoid the stick of hell but our intense need for a Savior. Christianity is unlike any other religion in the world. The foremost distinguishing mark of a true Christian is one that has experienced a spiritual birth. Without this spiritual birth the person remains unchanged and will quickly go back to their old life. What is this spiritual birth I am talking about? The bible refers to this occurrence in several different ways. Spiritual Birth Born of God. 1 John 3:9 Born again. John 3:3 Made alive. Ephesians 2:1 Regeneration. Titus 3:5 New Creation. 1 Corinthians 5:17 A true Christian has been born of God, meaning that their spirit has been made alive unto God. Without this spiritual birth in a person they are not true believers as defined by the word of God Along with the spiritual birth a number of other things also happen that changes a person’s heart. Are there people that think they are Christians but yet have not experienced this spiritual birth? Yes! Let’s say that the statistic is true that only one half of professing Christians actually are true believers. It would mean that there are approximately 120 million people in this country that are professing Christianity that have never experienced the spiritual birth. Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!(NKJV) Some people think this verse refers to people who have departed in faith in Christ. But He says I never knew you --- depart from Me. If He never knew them they were never made spiritually alive. Profession of faith certainly does not indicate possession of faith. If many professing Christians are not saved then they are not born again. How is it possible that such a thing could happen to someone? Possible Artificial Indicators Believing in God Believing that Jesus died on the cross Saying a prayer - Reading the bible Being baptized - Taking communion Living a good life - Attending church While all of these things are good things none of them assure someone that have experienced a spiritual birth Someone may see the inherent value of becoming a Christian and choose to adopt the teaching of the bible. A person may have been coerced to say a prayer to become a Christian. Another person may have grown up in church but yet somehow missed receiving Jesus Christ as Savior. Being around church and Christianity doesn’t mean that you experienced the spiritual birth. Someone may have responded to an altar call to receive salvation but the ingredients necessary to receive it weren’t there. The first thing necessary is hearing the gospel message. The fact is that you can’t become a Christian on your own. John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.(NKJV) You should never resist the drawing of the Lord. Receiving Salvation Hearing the gospel message Experience a drawing from God to accept Christ. Recognize your sin and desire to turn away from it. Confess Jesus as Lord. Believe in Jesus and that God raised Him from the dead. Receive Jesus as your Savior. These are suggestions from the word of God. Some may see the inherent value of accepting Jesus Christ to escape hell and gain a heavenly home but not be drawn. Some may seek to receive the gift of eternal life but wish to continue in sin. When the Lord draws and He sees the right heart condition that person is born of God. 2 Corinthians 13:5 says to Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Think about a person who has attended church and has been around the gospel truth yet somehow missed on receiving salvation. It’s not just a few people who have a false hope of heaven; it’s many. To aid people in determining whether they are true believers we can make some definite determinations concerning true Christians. As we go through this list evaluate your own heart to determine whether you are in the faith. The True Christian A true Christian has a relationship with Jesus Christ. John 1:12 says when we received Him we became children of God indicating relationship. Our access to God as children is through Christ. Romans 8:15 says We received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father. A true Christian loves Jesus Christ. Ephesians 3:17 says that Christ dwells in our hearts through faith being rooted and grounded in love. John 15:10 says when we abide in Him we abide in His love. In Matthew 10:37 Jesus said - He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. A true Christian loves other Christians We know that we have passed over out of death into Life by the fact that we love the brethren (our fellow Christians). He who does not love abides (remains, is held and kept continually) in [spiritual] death. 1 John 3:14 (AMP) Jesus reduced the Ten Commandments to two, loving the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and your neighbor as yourself ---- the true Christian will begin to manifest love. Why? According to Galations 5:6 faith is activated, energized, expressed and works through love. Manifesting love is the proof of faith! A True Christian abides In Jesus Christ In John 15:6 Jesus said If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered Abide means to remain, dwell, continue, endure never departing. A true Christian knows Jesus Christ. In John 10:14 Jesus said I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. The word known is the Greek word Ginosko . It is the same Greek word used in Philippians 3:10 where Paul says that I might know Him. We progressively become more intimately acquainted with Him A true Christian has faith in Jesus Christ evidenced by fruit. The production of spiritual fruit is impossible in an unregenerate person because there is no connection to Jesus Christ the True Vine. Because there is no faith in Christ and no spiritual birth there is no change in the person’s life. 1 John 2:3 says - Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. A true Christian will hear His voice and follow Him In John 10:27 Jesus said My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. In John 16:13 Jesus said when the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth. A true Christian will desire to please God and keep His commandments. In Romans 7: Paul writes I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. -- with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Hebrews 8:10 says He puts His law in our minds and write it upon our hearts. This is only possible as a result of the spiritual birth.. He gives us a regard for His law and commandments that is impossible to have without His influence. It you don’t have this there is a strong implication that you are not a true believer. 1 John 2:15 says - Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Philippians 2:13 says it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. A True Christian Will Be convicted Of Their Sin John 16:8 says When the Holy Spirit comes He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. Being a Christian does not mean that you will be perfect but you will experience conviction of sin. If you profess Christianity and you never experience conviction it’s something you should be extremely concerned about. The true Christian Will Know That They Are Saved! Romans 8:16 says The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. 1 John 5:10 says - He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself - God confirms it to you. If you are a true Christian there is nothing I could say to talk you out of it. To not be sure you would go to heaven if you died today may be an indicator that you are not a true believer. If your life hasn’t changed and if Jesus Christ isn’t first above every person and thing you should consider the implications of what that means. It will eventually be to late to use this information and really experience salvation? What if a person was around the truth and had heard the truth and had served in a local church for a lifetime but had still never experienced the spiritual birth? Could a person be so embarrassed to admit that they had missed it that they would continue to neglect it? Would the pride of that person be so great that they would loose out and risk eternity? Our responsibility is to keep our faith connection to the True Vine Jesus Christ and receive the daily influence of His essence. Matthew 25 talks about 10 virgins --five who were wise and five who were foolish They all went out to meet the bridegroom but the foolish took no oil with them. Matthew 25:5-6 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!(NKJV) The foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the wise said no buy for yourselves. The oil here is a type of the Holy Spirit who dwells in every true Christian. Matthew 25:10-12 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us! But he answered and said, Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.(NKJV) The door was shut! The door won’t open at that point to those who do not know Him. Let’s recap these ten things about a true Christian The True Christian A true Christian has a relationship with Jesus Christ. A true Christian loves Jesus Christ. A true Christian will love others. A True Christian abides In Jesus Christ A true Christian knows Jesus Christ. A true Christian has faith in Jesus Christ evidenced by fruit. A true Christian will hear His voice and follow Him A true Christian will desire to please God and keep His commandments. A true Christian Will Be Convicted Of Their Sin The True Christian Will Know That They Are Saved. If you know that you know that you are saved that’s wonderful. If you can’t positively identify with everything on this list you are either not really a Christian or you are starting to depart from faith in Jesus Christ. When Jesus returns He will be looking for faith in Him. You can accept or reaffirm your faith in Jesus Christ by saying this prayer. Make sure to believe it in your heart! Jesus, I believe you died on the cross for my sins. I believe that you were buried and rose from the dead. I confess my sins and turn away from them. I receive you as my Savior. Come and be Lord of my life. From this day forward I want to live for you. Change me into Your likeness. Thank You for the gift of eternal life and thank You for saving me. Amen
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 03:37:36 +0000
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