Are You a Christian?
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What do you think a Christian is? Is it someone who has been baptized or belongs to the church? Is it someone of a good Christian family who has grown up in the church and tries to live a good life? How can we know we are truly Christians and have forgiveness of sins and everlasting life? We can find the evidence of salvation listed in the first epistle of John.
Evidence #1: True Christians obey God. First John 2:3 says, “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.” Jesus said that only those who do the will of God will enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 7:21). No one is perfect, but true Christians try to follow their master up the narrow way (Matthew 7:14). Jesus said that those who don’t take their cross and follow Him are not worthy of Him (Matthew 10:38). Salvation is free, but to get it we need to repent our sins, realize that Jesus died for them on the cross, and receive Him as our Savior (Luke 13:3).
Evidence #2: True Christians love God, not the world. First John 2:15 says, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” This doesn’t mean we can’t have enjoyment in life. It means that we heed the conviction of the Holy Spirit concerning anything in our lives of which God doesn’t approve. Christians aren’t bound by rules; they are led by the Holy Spirit.
Evidence #3: True Christians are anointed by the Holy Spirit and know the truth (1 John 2:20). According to John 2:18-23, the truth is that Jesus is the Christ. Those who deny the Son haven’t the Father. True Christians believe Jesus is who He said He is: I AM (John 8:58). I AM is one of God’s names (Exodus 3:14). The true Christian believes that Jesus Christ is God (1 John 4:15).
Evidence #4: True Christians do not practice sin (1 John 3:9). We all do wrong things, but if we’re true Christians we will repent and turn from our sins. As long as we’re out of God’s will, we will feel miserable.
Evidence #5: True Christians love their fellow Christians, according to First John 3:14-15. They will have hearts of compassion toward them, the desire to help them. And they will love others too.
Evidence #6: True Christians have the witness of the Spirit in their hearts, according to Galatians 4:6.
The Apostle John said by inspiration of God, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).
If you do not have this assurance, look up in the Gospel of John these verses: 1:12; 3:16, 36; 5:24; 7:37-38; 12:25-26; 24-26; 14:6, 23; 16:24. Check out this website: http://powertochange.com/discover/faith/discoverpurpose
One further word: Ephesians 4:22-32 does say that Christians may backslide into old ways. This website can help restore a backslidden Christian: http://powertochange.com/experience/spiritfilledlife/
Questions: If you have failed to display one of these evidences recently, does that mean you’re not a Christian? Or that you have in some way been preventing God from doing his work in and through you?
About the Author: Muriel Larson
