Are You Really A Christian

Are you really a Christian or are you just saved from hell? Christian means Christ like, a follower of Christ. To be a follower of Christ you would have to be like minded with Christ. To be like minded with Christ, you would need to walk as Christ does and think as He does. In other words, do you live like Christ or are you someone who accepted Christ's death on the cross so that you would not have to go to hell, or did you accept Christ and all He is about? Did you change and do you live like Christ now, or are you the same as you were before you accepted Christ? Let's see what the word says.

2 Cor. 5 v 17....Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new.....

Has your old man passed away, and have you changed from the world's way of thinking and behaving, and are you now thinking and behaving as Christ would?

2 Cor. 5 v 20....Now then we are ambassadors for Christ; as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God....

Are you witnessing for Jesus, or are you hiding behind His death. Are you picking up your own cross to bear witness to others by the way you have changed in your own life, or are you just hiding behind what Jesus did for you, and not helping others to know what He wants to do for them?

2 Cor. 7 v 1.....Therefore, having these promises, beloved; let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God....

Have you cleaned up your language, and your behavior, or are you still acting the same as before? Are you behaving as Christ would, or are you still trying to fit into the world and society?

How do you know if you are a Christian?

1.) Have you repented of your sins and asked Jesus to be your savior?

2.) Did you mean it in your heart, and change your old sinful ways and put on your new man?

3.) Do you get into His word daily, so that you will know what it is to be like-minded with Christ?

4.) Do you spend time in the presence of the LORD everyday, so that His light will shine through you and you might share His word with others and bear fruit?

5.) Do you spend time in prayer to the Father everyday, so that you know what He expects from you each day?

6.) Or did you just answer yes to the first question and go on living life as if nothing has ever changed?

This is tough, but true. To be a Christian you must have answered yes to the first 5 questions. I am not saying that you are not saved, I am saying that you can not call yourself a Christian if you can not answer yes to these questions. Now some of you may say, I don't read my bible everyday, but I listen to Christian teachings, or read other Christian materials that contain the word of God. That is great as long as you do not let these other materials take the place of the word of God. Some may disagree with me on this, but if you look up the word Christian and see what the definition is, then you will have to agree. To be Christ like, you would have to know Christ intimately, to know Him intimately, you would have to get into His word to know His mind, and you would need to spend time with Him. AMEN!

How do you know your spouse or your friends? You spend time with them in conversation with them, in going places with them. You know their likes and their dis-likes. You usually agree with them on important matters. So if you spend all this time getting to know your friends and your spouse, how much more time should you spend getting to know your Savior?

Ask yourself this question. Do you get embarrassed when you are around other Christians who like to talk about the LORD? Or when other Christians like to pray over their food, or when they might want to pray for you about something? Do you feel like shrinking away, because maybe some of your friends are around that don't think the same way as you do about Christ? Are you afraid that they might think you eccentric because you give the LORD praise and give Him glory and thanks for the miracles He has done in your life, whether big or small, but in all things wanting to thank Him for His goodness and His mercy that He has shown you? In other words, do you let Christ only fit in when society will agree (like at church, or only around other Christians) or do you let Him in no matter where you are or what you are doing, or who you are hanging out with? If someone wants to share something about the LORD and what He has done for them, do you rather they wait until certain people leave, because you are afraid they may get offended by this sort of talk, because they are uncomfortable with talking about "RELIGION"? The problem is, it is not "RELIGION" they are wanting to share, it is Christ. Christians, don't back down and shrink away when Christ is brought up in a surrounding of unbelievers. Remember what Christ said, not every one who calls me Lord, will enter into His kingdom. Don't be the one standing and knocking and He has to say, depart from me, I never knew you. Remember to really know someone, you have to spend quality time with that person.

Neta