Are You a Real Christian

Please do not be offended by this question! Take a few minutes to consider some of the following points and, in honest sincerity, put your Christianity to the test. 

•  Real Christians are those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. They have recognized that they are sinners, have repented of their sins and have asked Jesus to come into their lives as Sovereign Lord. Have you done this?

•  Real Christians are not those who merely know about Jesus Christ. Even heathens know something about Him. It is essential that we know Him in an intimate way. We do this after our conversion, by studying and meditating on His life and His teachings, by spending time in prayer, and by walking in His footsteps. This takes time and a daily commitment. Are those things in your life? 

•  Real Christians are those who have become disciples of Jesus Christ. Jesus said in Mark 8:34 “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. “ What does it mean to deny ourselves? It means to give up our personal rights, desires and ambitions while seeking to do God’s will alone. What does it mean to take up our cross? It means that we are willing to undergo any trial, persecution, and suffering for Christ. What does it mean to follow Jesus? It means being motivated by the desire to our Heavenly Father as it was for Jesus who said, “I delight to do your will, O, my God!” Do you delight in God’s will for you?

•  Real Christians have undergone a change of nature. They have been born again and are now new creatures in Christ Jesus. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). They have received the Holy Spirit, being directed and influenced by God. They have put away their former ways and now walk in newness of life. “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:5-14). Are these some of the things you have done and are continuing to do?

•  Real Christians will spend much time in prayer. Jesus spent many hours praying to His Father in heaven. At times He would pray all night. This was how Jesus learned what God’s will was for Him. Prayer was a source of reassurance and power to Jesus. It refreshed His spirit and encouraged Him daily to face the enemy. Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath. David prayed with honesty and earnestness in Psalm 139:23, 24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Are you spending time with the Lord in prayer?

•  Real Christians will seek opportunities to do good for others. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:9, 10). Jesus had great compassion for the sick and afflicted. He healed many people. “He went about doing good” at every opportunity. Are you doing good when God presents you with the opportunity?