The Christian Test

Question: “When is a “Christian” a true Christian? Answer: “When he or she--”

“Wait--hold on just a minute! Who decides what makes one a true follower of Jesus Christ?”

You’re right. It’s not up to me. Only God decides what makes a Christian a true Christian. And his book, the Bible, tells us what that is.

Some believe that to be a Christian all you do is believe in God, go to church and pray. But, as I‘ve pointed out before, Jesus didn’t call anyone to be a Christian. He called us to follow him.

Before the Bible even mentions the word “Christian,” it talks about becoming a “child of God” instead of being a “child of the devil.” So how does one become a “child of God”?

We must receive Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” Sounds simple enough.

In the framework of the New Testament, “receiving” Jesus meant accepting him for who he claimed to be: the divine Son of God who died for the sins of the world so he could save people everywhere from their sin. It didn’t just mean agreeing that he is the Savior.

When you “believe in his name” you trust in Jesus Christ to forgive your sin and make you part of God’s forever family. But you must believe for yourself. No one else can do it for you.

What if you were baptized as a baby? If so your parents made a wonderful commitment to bring you up in the church. But infants can’t “receive him” and “believe in his name.”

Another scripture makes it clearer: “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” It’s obvious that a baby cannot yet “confess” or “believe.”

So what should you do if you were baptized as a baby? Complete your parents’ intentions. Their hope was that you would choose to follow Jesus with your life. So put your trust in him.

The church cannot save you. The Bible says that only personal faith in Christ can save you.

Perhaps you know someone who says they have trusted in Christ but their life or their lips tell an entirely different story. What about that?

We cannot judge what has happened in another’s heart. God will do that. But the Bible does say to “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course you fail the test.”

The Bible adds, “Make your calling and election sure…. For if you do…you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

To pass the Christian Test, first check if you have personally received and trusted in Jesus. Then examine your life. Are you growing in “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”? Those are the result of God’s work in your heart.

Next, do you love to obey God? The Bible says, “Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

If you claim to be a Christian, go to church and hear the Bible taught, but don’t obey God, you are deceiving yourself. Sadly that’s what so many do.

Some say, “But I’m trying!” That’s nice. But as Jedi Master Yoda said to Luke Skywalker in “Star Wars,” “Do or do not. There is no ‘try.’” Simple but profound.

So how can you tell if you are a true Christian? Answer: If you trust in Christ and obey him.

God helps true Christians obey him and gives them joy. I wonder--do you pass the test?

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!