SEEK 52 – Knowing you are a Christian?
Question: What is a Christian? How do you know you are Christian anyway?
Bible Reading: 1 John 5:1-13
Text: “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well” (1 John 5:1)
Of all the questions in this book this is perhaps the most important one. We have been talking a lot about what Christians do or should do. And we have seen the importance of being a Christian. But what is a Christian, and how would you know that you are one? For those who are reading this I don’t know most of you, I don’t know your needs, or your personal circumstances, beliefs and desires, but I do know this – there is no bigger question for you than what do you think of Jesus? (Matthew 22:42).
We looked at this question in ASK (question 27), but just in case you don’t have that book and because it is so important let me summarise what was said there. The word Christian is used in lots of different ways. It can just be a cultural term. Some people think that it means a ‘good’ person – you know the kind of people who say, ‘that’s not very Christian of you’. Did you know that the early Christians weren’t even called Christians? They were known as disciples of Jesus, or followers of the Way. It wasn’t until Barnabas and Saul had taught great numbers of people in the Syrian city of Antioch that they were first called Christians (Acts 11:26).
A Christian is basically a follower of Jesus Christ. If we go through 1 John 5:1-12 (indeed the whole of 1 John) we are told both what a Christian is and how we can know we are one. It’s a matter of faith, love, obedience and life. This gives us the assurance that we belong to Christ. Let’s deal with this in the form of questions.
Who do you have faith in? Who do you believe in? Everyone has faith. It may be in ourselves and our own judgement. It may be in others – in politicians, family, friends, or religious figures. But the Christian is someone who has faith in Christ. Not just belief about him, but trust in him. We trust his testimony. And so, we believe that he is the Messiah, the Son of God. That he gave himself for our sins. We commit our lives to him. He is our Saviour and our Lord. Belief about is not faith in. So, I ask again: What do you think of Christ? Do you have faith in him?
Who do you love? Being a Christian is not just an intellectual matter. It’s not just signing up to a doctrinal statement. It’s about who we love. What we love we give ourselves to. It’s strange how many people claim to be Christians, yet they show no love to him. By their actions they deny him. If I told you that I loved my wife, but I never spent any time with her, ignored her completely and never spoke about her, don’t you think you would be entitled to question whether I really did love her? A Christian is someone who loves God, who loves his children, and who loves his word.
Who do you obey? Love for God is not just a statement with our mouths, or a feeling within our hearts. It is expressed in obedience to him. John makes it clear; “in fact this is love for God: to keep his commands” (v.3). That is why some of the questions we have looked at in this book and in ASK are so important. We want to know what God says, so that we can obey him. This is not because we think that by obeying him we can save ourselves, but rather because we love him because he has saved us and we want to express our love to him, by obeying him.
Are you alive? Jesus promised that everyone who believed in him would have eternal life. He tells us to come to him that we may have life. God has given us eternal life and this life is in his Son. To have Christ, is to have life. Whoever has the Son of God has life, whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
How can you know? We can look at all these factors. We can examine ourselves to see whether we are in the faith. But most of all we can look to Christ. In my earlier Christian life sometimes, I wasn’t sure if I was a Christian, so I simply prayed: Lord I’m not sure if I am a Christian, but if I am not, please make me one. I believed, and still believe, that he will never turn away anyone who comes to him. (John 6:37). That is what we call blessed assurance. It’s an assurance that comes from the character, beauty and work of Christ – not from ourselves. “Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything” (1 John3:20). Trust Jesus. With everything. If you do, you are a Christian.
Consider: You cannot believe in Jesus unless you know about Jesus. How will you get to know? How can you believe his promises unless you know them?
Further Reading:
Magnificent Obsession – David Robertson (a book I wrote for those who want to find out more about Jesus – if you can’t get or afford a copy – drop me a request at theweeflea@gmail.comand I will see what we can do!)
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ,
there are many things I do not understand, grant me your light;
there are many things I fear, grant me your love;
there are many sins I have committed, grant me your forgiveness;
take my life,all that I am,
all that I have, all that I dream;
and create in me a new life, a new spirit, a renewed mind.
baptize me with your Holy Spirit, create in me a clean heart,
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