What will be your answer if this question comes to you? If your response is YES, then comes the next question. Why do you think that you are a Christian? If your answer is a NO, then this article will help you to reconsider and examine many aspects of your life in the light of the Holy Bible. So keep reading till the end.
Now for my Christian readers here, have you ever thought why you are being known as a Christian?
- Is it because you have a Christian name in your birth record and certificates since you were born in a nominal Christian family? or
- Is it because you regularly attend church meetings and you worship along with the congregation singing many Christian songs?
- Is it because you are involved in many Christian mission charity organizations? or
- Is it because you admire the wooden cross and have your house decked with bible verses?
In my opinion, all the above-mentioned matters are good if the intention behind it is love towards Jesus, our Lord. But one will not become a biblical Christian due to these reasons. So, before we move on further, it would be sensible to ponder our hearts and figure out the real grounds on which our Christian faith stands. Let us check out what the Bible has to say about this matter.
A COVENANT WITH CHRIST
I would say that Christianity is an eternal covenant made between a person and Christ. For a covenant to exist both parties have to stay faithful and follow the treaty rules. Our God is always a just and faithful God who remains truthful and everlasting. As the name itself suggests, a Christian is under the authority and protection of Christ (Christian = Christ + ian). It can be compared to having a citizenship of a country where we are bound to obey the rules and laws of that country (Indian= India +ian). So, once a person enters into God’s kingdom, he is obliged to follow certain rules ordered by the King who governs it. A self-submission and obedience to the authority of Jesus is required to stay peacefully inside the kingdom with the full protection of the King’s army. Unlike other kingdoms, in God’s kingdom everything starts from the love towards Jesus. Hence all the changes in a person’s life will start to manifest when he comes to realize the real love of Jesus towards him. So, the commitment of life to Jesus comes out of mere love towards Him, and not out of any compulsion. What I meant to say is that no human efforts can actually convert a person to a Christian, except God himself, in His sovereign power. It is a true change which happens deep inside a person’s heart.
The word ‘Christian’ is being used 3 times in the New Testament of Bible to refer the group of people who followed and obeyed the teachings of Jesus. Infact every Christian is actually a follower or disciple of Jesus.
HOW DO WE BECOME A CHRISTIAN?
A person becomes a Christian when he believes in the true gospel of Christ to become a new creation in Christ. This transformation can happen to anyone irrespective of age, gender, religion, caste or nationality. The old self has to be crucified and a God given new heart takes over in his life. His name will be added to the book of life, the heavenly register (Luke 10:20, Phil: 4:3), as a new member of God’s kingdom.
Gospel is a very familiar word to many of the readers because it has been widely used in the Christian sector. This familiarity can be a reason why most of us tend to undervalue its importance with regards to our salvation. Often times, the knowledge which we already have about the gospel can be true also.
True gospel includes,
1) God in his abundant love, sent his only begotten son to this world, who is Jesus (John 3:16)
2) The life and ministry of Jesus,
3) The death, burial and resurrection of Christ for the redemption of our sins and
4) The assurance of an eternal life with our God in heaven.
Now comes the real question. Do you honestly believe in this gospel? Do you believe that the words which our Lord Jesus had spoken while he ministered on this earth is the truth? Do you really believe that the Bible which we carry in our hands is the Spirit breathed powerful word of God? Unless the knowledge which we have received is not being transformed into an actual belief and faith in Jesus, it is not going to help us in any way for our salvation. Only by accepting this gospel message which was once shared to us personally or which we heard in a prayer meeting or which we had read in a gospel tract will be of benefit to us. Now let us examine ourselves whether our faith is built upon this solid foundation, Jesus Christ or is it on some mere traditions or customs that we follow on a routine basis.
BEING BORN AGAIN
Bible says in Romans 3:10 that “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one”. We all are born as sinners and however hard we try, to live a sinless life it is impossible. The realization of one’s own sins and the revelation that God sacrificed his only begotten son Jesus for my salvation ignites a curiosity in a person to seek for that Saviour who can redeem us from the real mess of sins. Ie. Salvation is always personal between a person and God. It is the grace of God and not our own good works that is going to take us to heaven. The word of God says,
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians: 2:8)
When this truth is being revealed to a person, a true repentance follows it which transforms one’s heart leading him to a ‘born again’ experience (Re-birth/Regeneration).
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians: 5:17,
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.”
The born again experience in each Christian’s life is different, but the process remains the same. For some, it can happen overnight and for others it might take a while. Whatever the case be, only the person himself and the God will know about the real change that took place inside his heart. It’s his love and commitment to the living God which reinforces his new life in Christ. This is a personal relationship with Jesus, our Saviour who redeemed our lives from death when nobody else could not. This task of gospel sharing is entrusted to us, but no human or angel can be a mediator in this act of self commitment. Sinners getting repented and accepting Jesus as their Lord and Saviour is a true miracle and it is a joyous event in heaven (Luke: 15:7, 10). Baptism has got its importance and meaning in a born again person only. As per Romans: 6:4, through the act of baptism we are burying our old self in Christ and we come out as a new person to walk in the newness of life. It’s a similitude to the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says in Acts: 2:38 that,
“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. “
Hence baptism is that act of obedience in a born again person’s life because it is the obedience towards the God’s unchangeable word.
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16)
Heavenly inheritance is the promise of God to His children who are in Christ. It means that they are delivered out of the eternal hell and destruction. A common statement made by the world is that ‘if we don’t get a pass to heaven, we can atleast be in the ruling team of hell and enjoy there’. Please do not be deceived by the misconception that Satan is in charge of hell and a sinner can enjoy there being in his team. Jesus himself told in Rev: 1: 18 that “I have the keys of hell and of death”.
GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit (Comforter, counsellor, Spirit of truth) that dwells in a person, guides in all the ways of his life and helps in the bodily resurrection of the person when the Lord Jesus comes on the clouds to gather His saints. (John: 14: 16, 17, 26).
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost whom the father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
It is through the Holy Spirit dwelling in a regenerated person, fruit of the Spirit starts to manifest. Hence it is vital for us to recognize and acknowledge the power and fellowship of Holy Spirit who continually works in us till we reach our final destination, Heaven with our Lord Almighty. We have to pray for a Spirit filled life and be like the 5 wise virgins who were smart enough to bring sufficient oil along with their lamps, because they knew that the dark and difficult times were ahead and their lamps must not be put out.
ARE YOU WILLING?
Finally, I would like to remind you that if God had already given you a chance to hear His unchangeable gospel, it means that He loves you so much and wants you to grab this opportunity and be part of God’s kingdom to enjoy eternal life with Him. Do not consider this salvation cheap just because it is being made freely available to us. Salvation is the free gift of God, but not priceless because the price has been already paid on the cross by our Lord Jesus Christ through the shedding of His precious blood. Only this living sacrifice can redeem our lives from the wages of sin, the death. Now the ultimate question is
‘Are you willing to accept this Jesus as the Lord and Saviour?’
I sincerely wish and pray that everyone reading this message receives Jesus into their lives and be part of his immense love.
May God bless you all. Amen.