What Makes A Person A Chritian?
- Part 1
Someone asked a very good question. "So you call yourself a Christian."
A lot of people consider themselves to be Christians. But clearly, God
declares that not all those who may think they are Christians are, in fact,
Christians. (Matthew 7:21-23) If you believe you are a Christian, and you
believe in a life hereafter, no doubt you consider being a Christian a
very important matter; the most important matter in life. Am I right about
this?
Well, if you consider this the most important matter in life,
it ought to clearly be evident in how you live how you think, remote, act,
eat, drink, sleep, and breathe. Is this also correct? I mean, you either
are a Christian or you are not; you can't be just partly a Christian; you
can't be a Christian part of the time, or just in certain ways; it's all
or nothing. Would you not agree? (And honestly, whether you agree or not,
this is what God's Word tells us) Just what do you think makes a person
a Christian? What gives you reason to believe you are a Christian? Let
us briefly look at how some people might answer these questions.
First of all, the average, unchurched (That is, people who have
for the most part, lived only secular lives: they went to public (or private,
secular) schools; rarely or never attended church or weekly revival meetings,
Bible Conferences, vacation Bible school, summer Christian camp, Bible
College or Christian college; they listen to secular music, and read secular
literature; basically, the only thing about them which has any reflation
to Christianity is that they for some reason call themselves Christian;
even though they do not even know what makes a person a Christian, and
even though there is no physical, tangible proof that they are Christians.
To them, more than anyone else, applies the old saying, If it were a crime
to be a Christian would there be any evidence to convict you? Many Christians
might answer this question, Well, I have always been a Christian.
Unfortunately for such an individual, this is merely a confession
that he is not a Christian; for being a Christian is not something with
which one is born, and it is not something which transforms a person unknowingly
sometime during his formative (That is, very early childhood, in the critical
stages of growth and development) years of development. Christianity is
not like a disease people catch, or some type of spiritual fever that overcomes
a person without their realizing it. It is not just something which happens
to a person sometime early in his life, to cause him to think he is or
has always been a Christian. Can a person really be a Christian without
even knowing he made this choice somewhere along the way? Without even
knowing when or how? Without even knowing what it is that makes him a Christian?
Of course, these are rhetorical questions and the answers are clearly and
emphatically NO! Christianity is not something you passively inherit from
your parents, or some environmental factor which gradually qualifies you
to the state of being a Christian.
So we see that being a Christian is not a passive occurrence which
transpires in a nondescript fashion in some vague period of time. A person
BECOMES a Christian at one distinct, specific time in his life when being
drawn by God's Holy Spirit he has CHOSEN to forsake the world's and his
own ways, to take upon him instead God's ways through coming into a personal,
convenental relationship with Christ Jesus (YeHoShua) (From here on, when
speaking of JESUS CHRIST, we will be speaking precisely, by referring to
Christ YeHoShua. Christ is a title like PRESIDENT, which precedes a name;
therefore, it should always be first. Secondly, Jesus is a weak translation
from the Greek.
The Greek word used in the New Testament is revealed in Strong's
Exhaustive Concordance to be the Greek version of the Hebrew name YeHoShua.
As vowels were not written in Hebrew, but supplied by the reader, we have
capitalized the consonants, leaving the appropriate vowels in lower case:
YeHoShua. God tells us His Name is holy. It ought to be reverenced by distinction
and by proper interpretation) in response to the atoning work Christ performed
on the Cross for His people.
Secondly, no doubt, the AVERAGE CATHOLIC (as well as many of the
average unchurched "christians") would probably say that he considers himself
a Christian because I TRY TO LIVE A GOOD LIFE. However, though superficially
this SOUNDS much more admirable and realistic, sadly, this type of person
is no more a Christian, than the UNCHURCHED CHRISTIAN, because he does
not even know the SIMPLE instruction from Scripture, which tells a person
what it takes to be a Christian.
By way of a simple comparison, what makes a doctor a doctor or
a lawyer a lawyer? Is a doctor a doctor because he TRIES to do good surgery
or because he TRIES to make good diagnoses and implement good therapies?
Is a lawyer a lawyer because he TRIES to win cases and argue points of
law? No, obviously, doctors and lawyers are doctors and lawyers NOT because
of what they do, but because of what THEY ARE as a result of WHAT THEY
HAVE DONE at some specific point of time in the past: They studied to become
doctors and lawyers; their PRACTICING these professions does not MAKE them
what they are; rather, they practice such BECAUSE they are.
Since this is not a perfect analogy and lest the reader become
confused, let me offer a more precise analogy: If a man who was convicted
of a crime and sentenced to prison was granted a full pardon and released
from prison, what is it that makes him a free man? Does his GOOD BEHAVIOR
after having left prison make him a free man? CERTAINLY NOT! It was his
failure at this which landed him in prison from the start. Does his attempt
at ACTING LIKE a free man, make him a free man? CERTAINLY NOT! People can
PRETNED and ACT LIKE anything they want, but this does not make them those
things. I can bark like a dog and chase a cat, but that does not make me
a dog. So what makes the convict a free man? Obviously, the merciful judge
granting that man a pardon is what makes that man free.
What Makes A Person A Chritian?
- Part 2
Some people may think that it is not JUST the judge's ruling which
makes the man free, but also the man's accepting the judge's gracious offer
and leaving prison is what makes him free. But this is not true. The judge's
ruling is what makes the man free; and the judge's ruling alone. Valid
authority alone has power to make such determinations. If the man chooses
not to leave the prison, that does not cause him to still be a prisoner,
because he chose to stay of his own free will, and thus he is free where
he chooses to remain. The man's leaving does not make him any more free;
he is free regardless of what he does. He is free because of what the judge
did.
How would the typical Catholic or unchurched CHRISTIAN reply if
I were to challenge the answer I AM A CHRISTIAN BECAUSE I TRY TO LIVE A
GOOD LIFE, by asking him the following, direct questions: HOW WELL do you
actually TRY to live a good life? What constitutes YOUR TRYING? BY WHOSE
RULES do you base your behavior and trust it to be acceptable? And acceptable
TO WHOM? WHAT IS IT, which actually makes a person GOOD? What specific
things are GOOD THINGS to do, if a person wanted TO TRY and live a GOOD
LIFE? More precisely: WHAT ARE THE STANDARDS OR REQUIREMENTS FOR GOODNESS,
AND WHO DETERMINES THEM? (God's Word sets forth these standards known as
God's Law; contained in both the Old and New Testaments, none of which
has ever been canceled)
Now, please note: we am NOT asking such pointed and revealing
questions to humiliate, insult, or upset anyone. I am simply asking these
questions, because I, like you, feel this is the most important matter
which could ever command our attention in life; and since it is the matter
of supreme importance, it behooves us that we are actually reaching that
goal which we consider so important. Would it not be an eternal shame,
for us to have been so well intentioned, yet in vain lived in such a fashion
which did not usher us to our desired destination? Would it not be a dreadful
shame for us to have been wrong in thinking we were Christians, when in
reality we were not, because we neglected the simple truth of what God
requires? True justice, though not unsympathetic, cannot bend the rules.
Right is right and wrong is wrong. There is no middle ground. Good intentions
or simple mistakes do not change the nature and demands of reality. A holy
and perfect God cannot go against His Own Nature.
These questions are NOT asked, and this book is NOT written to
insult, denigrate, or shame a person; but to cause a person to actually
see where they are, in terms of where they would like to be, and to reveal
the simple requirements for them to reach this goal free of toil, strife,
fear, confusion, uncertainly, or equivocation. (That is, being mistranslated)
And since it is understood that truly being a Christian is important to
the reader, it is the purpose of this book to point out doctrinal errors
which keep the reader from knowing what God truly requires.
The THIRD type of person who would call himself a CHRISTIAN IS
THE MAINSTREAM PROTESTANT (Which is itself also classified into two main
groups: Fundamentalists (Baptists, New Testament, Independent, and Bible
Churches, and a few others) and Evangelicals (Presbyterians, Methodists,
Episcopalians and Anglicans, Lutherans, Wesleyans, Churches of God and
Christ, Pentecostals, and others) There may be some overlapping of these
groups, or a few individuals of those as listed above, who would think
their particular church belongs in the other category, as they may differ
in some respects to the main representation of their denominational label)
DENOMINATIONAL CHURCHGOER. This type of person seems more confident in
his belief of being a Christian. If asked what makes him a Christian, he
might say, BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN; I ASKED JESUS TO COME INTO MY
HEART, OR BECAUSE I ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST AS MY SAVIOR.
Now, for certain, this type of person SEEMS to have a greater
mental grasp on the topic, but this answer is not complete nor fully valid;
and SADLY, THE AVERAGE DENOMINATIONAL CHRISTIAN for the most part, lives
no differently than the unchurched NOMINAL CHRISTIAN or the typical Catholic;
except that he goes to church on a regular or semi-regular basis, and maybe
"talks a better talk."
However, for the most part, the average mainstream Protestant
churchgoing "christian" lives a secular life; keeping Christianity separate
from his daily routine, as if he were only role-playing the part of being
a CHRISTIAN a few times a week when he is in a church service (or when
he must uncomfortably try to step into the role of "being a christian"
in an impromptu fashion, should he inadvertently bump into a real Christian
outside of church).
Sadly, the average "christian," as mentioned, lives a secular
life. God is not a part of any area of his life, unless it is specifically
designated as a "religious area." Consider a house where there are many
different rooms, but God is only allowed to be in one room. The door of
that room is kept tightly shut, and God is forced to stay in that room
alone, until the "homeowner" decides to pay God a short visit ritualistically
at a specific time each week, or in cases of emergency. God is not allowed
into any other rooms of the house: They are "off limits" to Him. However,
the "house that God has built" looks much different, for He is an integral
part of every room. God is not only in each room, but He is an integral
part of each room; and actually, He is the homeowner who is in charge,
being the one who makes the decisions and rules.
Now, no doubt, the average "mainstream denominational Christian,"
(even more than the unchurched "nominal" and Catholic Christians) will
seem confused about this matter. For he, more than those in the other two
groups, seems to understand the matter of "being a Christian" a little
more clearly, and perhaps grasps it a little stronger. How then can it
be that I thus challenge the average mainstream denominational Christian,
that he possibly is not really a Christian, even though he says that "he
has accepted Jesus Christ," "has asked Him into his heart," and "has been
born again?"
What Makes A Person A Christian?
- 3
Before I address this confusion, some very simple groundwork must
be briefly laid; and I am certain most everyone will agree with this presupposition.
I purport that what makes a person a Christian, is what God determines
makes a person a Christian; NOT that which each particular person individually
reasons in his own mind, makes him a Christian. Would anybody disagree
with this? If someone believes in the true God, then God's Word is the
only and final authority. The Bible says God cannot lie or change His mind;
and He cannot change His Nature or go against His Own standards of holiness.
God's Word is final and eternal.
Now, the Bible says that "FAITH comes by...the Word of God." (Romans
10:17) Faith does NOT come by "human reasoning, human emotion, human well-wishing,
human opinions or human endeavors." Faith is a gift from God; God's self-revelation.
Faith is the vehicle of Grace which is a prerequisite essential for salvation.
(Necessary for being a Christian)
Scripture itself tells us that true faith (by which we are to
believe and live) comes SOLELY FROM THE FACTS REVEALED IN GOD'S WORD. In
order for any doctrine of faith to be true or valid, it must be in perfect
accord with the Word of God. Sadly, most people are not in possession of
true or valid faith. Most people base their belief system on their "feelings,
their personal rationalization, their well-wishing, or the beliefs of their
parents, pastor, church denominational convention, or some other form of
ancestor worship or following of ‘the traditions of men.'"
Note this clearly: Such is NOT faith; it is SUPERSTITION. Again,
this is not faith; it is superstition. Those who base their belief-system
on such phenomena are no different than primitive Indians who "worship"
rocks and trees and wind and rain according to their fears, lusts, and
ignorance; theirs and their ancestors. In TRUE FAITH (IF one has actually
had a confrontation with the truth) one will not believe in something just
because it feels good; or because that is the way his church believes;
or because that is the way his family believes; or because that is the
way he has always believed; or because it seems fair or nice to believe
that way, no; if one has genuinely had an encounter with the truth, he
will believe in something solely because it is right; because it is t rue;
because God's Word says so; regardless of the opposition or the cost. To
believe otherwise is not genuine faith or commitment; it is merely the
luxury of complacement convenience: a self-serving, hedonistic, (The worship
of pleasure), humanistic, (man-centered; the worship of man directly or
indirectly {by projecting worship onto some other object, while man himself
is on the throne of the soul as the determiner of worship protocol; a false
piety professing to worship another, while ultimately worshiping self through
choosing the dictates of worship via pseudo-altruism}), socialistic, and
utterly pagan religion of superstition and the basest of human urges.
So what does God say about the matter? What makes a person a Christian?
Well, the Protestant denominational churchgoer will quickly parrot the
verse,, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
(Acts 2:21) While this may be true "at face value," it must be understood
in context. This "whosoever" is NOT A UNIVERSAL, ALL-INCLUSIVE, EVERY-LAST-ONE,
ALL-THE-TIME WHATSOEVER.
Now, no doubt, there will be some who will be very upset by this
statement; and the reason they will be upset is because they are allowing
their emotions to control them, rather than allowing the Holy Spirit of
God to guide their thinking according to the Divine Will of God to guide
their thinking according to the Divine Will of God as set forth in the
Holy Scriptures: the Word of Truth.
Before we go any further, such a person must pause here, ask himself
the following question and honestly answer it to himself: "If this is what
God's Word really says, am I willing to lay aside my own personal feelings,
opinions, prejudices, preconceived ideas and erroneous conclusions regardless
of who taught them to me; (regardless of how long I have held them) submitting
myself to the Sovereignty of God, and accept the clear Truth of God's Word?"
Please Pause and pray...
First of all, this is what the Bible has to say in regard to this
and every other question: "Let God be true, and every man a liar." (Romans
3:4) This is NOT an exhortation (for man to lie), but a statement of reality.
Of course, in this verse the phrase, "Let God be true," means "God will
always remain true," or "God will always be found to have always been true."
It obviously is not a matter of our exercising control over God and thus
"permitting" Him to be true. The "let" is a personification of Nature,
as God Himself, bearing testimony to this perfection of faithfulness to
God's own nature.
Thus, it is the Record of History and Eternity that is bearing
this witness that: "God has always remained true, though every many has
been untrue." Thus, whom shall we believe in this matter? Shall we believe
god's Very Own Testimony in Scripture? Or will we stoop so low as to accept
man's word over God's? And thus exercise dishonesty in that very choice.
Okay, so let us return to the question of the "whosoever" in Acts
2:21 not being universal. The most powerful testimony comes from the lips
of our Savior Himself. Christ YeHoShua declared, "Not all who saith unto
Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who doeth
the Will of My Father which is in Heaven." (Matthew 7:21) How much more
clear can it get?
What Makes A Person A Christian?
- 4 (Last One)
Further, for an even more shocking denunciation, continue reading
the passage: Christ then relates that on that Day (that day when some people
find out they are not allowed into the Kingdom) many will in shock declare,
but "Lord, Lord have we not...in Thy Name done many wonderful works?" (Matthew
7:22)
However, Christ will profess unto them, "I never knew you: depart
from me, ye that work iniquity." Further, in another passage Christ says
"Why do you keep calling me Lord, Lord and do not the things I have told
you?" (Luke 6:46) Again, the remainder of this passage relates the sad
tale of those who thought they were Christians, but found out they were
not. We need to also remember the fact that: NO MAN CAN COME TO CHRIST,
EXCEPT THE FATHER'S (Spirit] DRAW HIM. (John 6:44) God's spirit DOES NOT
DRAW EVERYONE. This matter is clear in Scripture. (Matthew 13:24-30; 15:24;
John 8:47; 10:26; Romans 9:11-23) Regardless of blind, well-wishing people
or evil people who say otherwise (regardless of their reasons).
So how can we tell if we are truly Christians? Well, the key is
clearly found in both of the verses we just saw, revealed by Christ's own
lips: "...those who do the Will of My Father which is in Heaven...do...the
things I say."
We are told that "we will know we are Christians by our love,
in keeping God's Commandments." (1 John 5:2-3; 2 John 1:6) Unfortunately,
most people misinterpret this verse, because they do not know what love
is. Christ defined love for us as "obedience" when He admonished us, "IF
YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS." (John 14:15) Christ also told us that
He knows who His sheep are: THEY WHO HEAR HIS VOICE AND OBEY HIM. (John
10:27)
1 Corinthians 13 describes true love for us, and it is clear that
in order to qualify as love, a lot is required; and unless one is totally
without the Spirit of Truth, there can be no denial that these enumerated
requirements of love point to total submission and obedience to the Father,
through both His Revealed Word, and His guiding Spirit of Truth. Scripture
is clear, that in order to truly be recognized as Christians, we must be
in obedience to God's Commandments. (1 John 2:5; 3:18) Jesus said if we
are truly in Him, we will bring forth fruit (obedience) (John 15) unto
which we were called. (Ephesians 2:10)
Scripture tells us that God is love, (1 John 4:8, 16) and God's
love is revealed through His self-sacrificing, (1 John 4:9-12) in which
He set the example for us. We know that Christ YeHoSHua died for us because
He loves us; and Scripture reveals that this live was obedience. (Philippine
2:5-8); And again, in His obedience, He set the example for us) Part of
God's Nature is His constancy; His never-changing faithfulness (or obedience)
to His Own Nature, maintaining His Own Standards of Holiness, Perfection,
Righteousness, and Order. We, the true sons of Adam were created in God's
Image. We are His light-bearers in this world; reflectors of His Image.
Thus, if we are truly of God, we will mirror this faithfulness (obedience)
to Divine Constancy, by keeping His Law (His Standards).
We are also told that perfect love (obedience) casts out fear.
(1 John 4:18) Obviously, one who is in perfect obedience has nothing to
fear, while those who are in disobedience have great and just cause to
fear. (Romans 8:1; Hebrews 10:26-31)
Finally, under direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Solomon,
the wisest man who ever lived uttered the most profound, yet concise answer
to this question: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear
God and keep His Commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes
12:13)
It should be noted that the latter (keeping God's Commandments)
is the fruitful evidence of the reality of the former (fearing God). One
who does not keep God's Commandments cannot possibly fear God; for he does
not even understand the basic elements of God's Holiness or Justice. It
needs to be noted that the concept of "fearing God" is not the typical
fear we understand in the world today; such as fearing evil people. In
"fearing" God, we are to be sober in understanding that although God loves
us (for God is Love), God is also Holy and Just, if we sin, He must punish
us. Those who have come under Covenant through the atoning blood of Christ,
need not fear punishment (eternal judgment), for Christ bore this for us;
however, we still need to fear God's chastening when we sin: for if we
do not receive God's correction when we sin, it is proof we are not His
children. (Hebrew 12:6-8)
"Bless YaHWeH, O my soul: and all that is within me bless His
Holy NAME...Who forgiveth all thine iniquities...He made known His ways
unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel. YaHWeH is merciful and
gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy...He hath not dealt with
us after our sins; nor rewarded according to our iniquities. For as the
Heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward THEM THAT
FEAR HIM. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our
transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so Yahweh
pitieth THEM THAT FEAR HIM... But the mercy of YaHWeH is from everlasting
to everlasting upon them that fear him, and His righteousness upon children's
children; TO SUCH AS KEEP HIS COVENANT AND TO THOSE THAT REMEMBER HIS COMMANDMENTS
TO DO THEM." (Psalm 103:1,3,7-8,10-13,17,18)
Clearly, "fearing God" is NOT possible apart from KEEPING HIS
COVENANT, AND HIS COMMANDMENTS which He made with our fathers.
