Are You, or Aren't You a Christian?
by Bill Watson
You have probably heard this before, but at the risk of being redundant let me ask: Is there enough evidence to convict you to be a Christian? Could a court of law prosecute you as being a follower of Jesus Christ? Do you live like Christ? Lead like Christ? Do you respond and/or act or react like Jesus Christ would, when confronted with certain circumstances?
These are hard questions to answer if we are going to be brutally honest with our self-analysis. And the reason these are hard questions is because all of us have sinned and still do from time to time. Notice: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8). John continues, "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us" (v. 10). However, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (v. 9).
So, the takeaways are that all of us are sinners, but if we admit our mistakes and concede to "missing the mark," we can be forgiven and find or maintain our favor with God. However, that's the challenge—admitting we have committed something against another or against something that became an obstacle to us. Undoubtedly, we have come across people claiming Christ is their Savior and declaring they are Christians, but their behavior, habits, language, or maturity tells another story. Christ has a label for them; they are considered virtue-signalers, or hypocrites by His standards (Matt. 23: 25-28; Jas. 1:22-25). So, are we doers, or are we just hearers, playing church for our public image?
Clearly, the only way you can accrue evidence in your life and become known as a Christian is to be a doer! You must produce fruit in your life because that is what manifests as the evidence proving you are indeed a Christian (John 15:1-8). Anything less is only fooling yourself! "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17). Paul beseeches us to be aware we are living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto God; therefore don't be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This will prove Christ lives in us (Rom. 12:1-3).
Living a Christian life is not an easy task. There are many hardships and handicaps that one comes upon in our journey to convert. As Christians, we are surrounded by much evil and deception. We are told, "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness" (2 Cor.11:14-15). That's right—and this includes ministers too, who claim they are representing Christ when in fact, they're just looking out for themselves—a hireling, working purely for material rewards and personal security (John 10:12-13).
As we go forward, it is going to become so confusing with "false prophets, that will show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect" (Matt. 24:24). And the result of this will be, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? …cast out demons? …done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity [lawlessness]" (Matt. 7:22-23). If we think we are Christian, consider our life story paints a very serious picture and reveals a specific narrative—so, does it describe you as a Christian? Can you be considered guilty of being a Christian?
Unfortunately, there are good people that think they are Christians when, in fact, the evidence proves otherwise. And this presents a fair question: Can a Christian belong to a church congregation, or organization, be doing all he/she may think is required, but actually be unconverted and not a member of the body of Christ? The shocking answer to that question is yes, absolutely yes!
It is amazing how many people don't catch themselves in the things they do or don't do that prevent them from bringing forth the fruit, the evidence, that would illustrate their Christian values and personality. Many of us are prone to allow ourselves to fall into our old ways because it's in our nature to permit influences to distract us from what we know to be right. But, life has a way of causing us to be knocked off our Christian path due to a variety of issues, like jealousy, envy, ego, pride, vanity, lovers of ourselves, insecurities, despisers of others, lovers of pleasure, high-mindedness, anger, malice, or lawlessness—these are the things we allow into our lives, giving way to toleration, which leads to compromise that leads us to abandonment! It's very subtle, much like leaven working inside the dough, resulting in us becoming "puffed up."
One of the ways to guard against these encroaching subtle influences is to take time to examine ourselves on a regular basis. Otherwise, we run the risk of not keeping ourselves in check, and that can jeopardize our spiritual health, disrupting our lives in a plethora of ways and your relationship with Jesus Christ and our Father.
Paul encourages us to "Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except [unless] you be reprobates [void of judgment]" [2 Cor. 13:5]. Paul is reminding us that Christ lives in us, and what we think, say, and do represents Him in our lives. So, if we don't reflect Christ in us, as far as Paul is concerned, we are reprobate—void of judgment—and fail to size up to the profile of a true Christian.
We have a couple of offers that will help you obtain a deeper understanding of how the possibility exists that all of us have to fall short of our Christian calling. You can read them here: