Whether it’s presidential candidates, people knocking on your door or the sweet old lady down the street most everyone claims to be a Christian at some point or another.
Then Jesus said:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven…..Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’” -Matthew 7 {NASB}
Wow. That’s a pretty scary passages of scripture. In other words Jesus is saying not everyone who thinks they are a Christian really is and on the judgement day they will be found out!
So how can you tell if you are really a Christian? I firmly believe God wants all believers to know and have assurance of their salvation because He gives us many “tests” to prove a true believer in His Word. Let me point out that assurance of salvation and actual salvation are two different things. Once a person is saved they will always be saved even if their emotions tell them otherwise at times, however I believe God wants YOU to be able to KNOW for sure whether or not your are a Christian.
“For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits….. So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit…..So then, you will know them by their fruits.” -Matthew 7 {NASB}
The way to know if you are a true Christian is to look at your fruits. Here are 4 vital fruits every believer will have in their life. Do you have these fruits?
Do you affirm Jesus and His Gospel?
“We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” -1 John 4:14-15 {NASB}
A true believer doesn’t just believe in a man named Jesus they also believe Jesus is who He said He is, the perfect and only Son of God. A true Christian is also going to believe Jesus did what He said He did, died and rose again to be the Savior of the World. You can go here to read what the Bible say about the Gospel. A true Christian believes in Jesus’ way of salvation, rejecting other methods or additions such as works.
Do you have the Holy Spirit living in you?
“By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.” -1 John 4:13 {NASB}
All who belong to Christ have been given His Holy Spirit (the third person of the Trinity) to live in them. The Holy Spirit comforts us, convicts us of sin and prays for us. Is His sanctifying work evident in your life?
Are you marked by love?
“We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.” -1 John 4:19-21 {NASB}
If you don’t love your fellow man, especially other believers, you can’t love God or really be a true believer. We all struggle with anger and hate from time to time but do you recognize that is wrong and let God purge you of that? Is your life marked by a sacrificial love like the one Christ modeled for us at the cross? Do you genuinely love other Christians and want to be with them?
Do you obey His commands?
“Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.” -1 John 3:7-10 {NASB}
We all sin, even after salvation, but a true believer’s life should not be marked by habitual sin instead we should bare the fruits of obedience. Do you obey the commands God? Do you search His Word to know what commands are there so you can obey them? When you sin are you comfortable with that or does the Holy Spirit convict you and spur you on toward obedience?
Not everyone who thinks they are a Christian really is. These are 4 clear fruits that the Bible says every true Christian will have. Take some time with me today to evaluate if these things are in your own life. Maybe you think you’ve seen them in the past but what about now? Are you affirming Jesus and His Gospel now? Is the Holy Spirit living and working in your life now? Do you love now? Are you obeying His commands now?
If so rest in Christ and joy in the assurance that you belong to Him!
If not I’d highly recommend that you think deeply and evaluate your heart. Are you going through a time of rebellion, slipping back into the old ways? Repent and turn from that sin! Or is it something even more serious, you were never in Christ in the first place? If you’re not sure I’d encourage you to read the book of 1 John and ask the Lord to show you the Truth. If you’d like I’d be happy to talk with you and share how you can become a believer. My email address is stayathomedaughter (at) hotmail (dot) com. I’d love to hear from you!
I’m linked up to: 
Thank you for posting such an important message! The church needs to hear this because many are in deception. It seems as though the Holy Spirit is putting this on the hearts of many. It is serious business! We have been lulled into dullness in this country especially because of our culture with its comforts and abundance. Unfortunately this has seeped into the church as well!
You write with such clarity, that it is refreshing. As I read your post, I was keenly aware of how the issue of “love” is where conflict and question comes into play. Even though we say we love others, and seek to demonstrate that love from God in a tangible, how others receive love can be subjective and blinded by wounds. I’ve seen too many situations in which one’s faith is questioned based on the perception of love and obedience to the word. In the end, I am glad that it is the Lord that judges the heart of man and not us.
Ashley,
I’ve not been to your blog before, and I found you on WLWW.
In reading your important post, I decided to ask you to please consider adding it to ‘EOA’ link-up. I would like to feature it next Wednesday
It is written with clarity and I pray already for it to be an encouragement to many, even to challenge someone who is walking both sides of the fence! Many blessings, new friend.
Sure, you may feature the post! Would you mind just sending me a reminder? Thank you!
I think that it’s the condition of our heart that makes us Christians. I love your list but I confess that I am not doing all those things all the time because of my sin nature. I have to constantly start each day with renewed commitment and TRY to live the way God would want me to.
Mary, none of us are perfect. I completely agree with you there. Until heaven none of us will obey or love perfectly however a true believer’s life will be marked by these fruits.
Direction not perfection.