Am I truly a Christian?

To answer this question we must look to the Scriptures, and not to the teachings of man.  When we base our Christian experience on the teachings of man, the results will be inevitable.  Listen to this warning from Jesus Christ, the one whom our Heavenly Father sent to save us. 

Matthew 7:15-23 . "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they?   "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit.  "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.  "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  "So then, you will know them by their fruits.  "Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.  "Many will say to Me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'   "And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'

 

Let the test begin!

 

      Question

Yes / No

1    Do you deny yourself at all times?

 

2    Do you always do what the Lord Jesus Christ tells you to do?

 

3    Are you walking with a pure conscience right this minute?

 

4   Are you in bondage to sin? In other words, does any sin have control of you?  Another way of asking this question is this, do you practice any form of sin?

 

5    Do you have enmity, or un-forgiveness against anyone?

 

6    Do you profess to know God, but live your life denying Him?

 

7    Do you strive to be perfect before God in all of your ways?

 

8    If all Christians were currently as fruitful as you are, would the world ever be converted,

 

9    Are you persecuted for your faith?

 

10  Do you pray without ceasing?

 

 

To take this test you must be honest, you may cheat on this test, but you will only be cheating yourself.  Jesus said "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!"  Set truth before your mind now and realize that God's Holy Spirit is watching you. He can, and does know what you are thinking, He can see your heart, as surely as you can see this Web Page you are reading!

To check the Bible for the Biblical answer to these questions read on.

Question 1

   Do you deny yourself at all times?        

The Scriptural answer for a Christian is Yes.

Scripture

Luke 9:23  And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

Comments

Question 1.  <big><big>T</big></big>his doctrine of "denying ourselves and picking up our cross" is the very heart of Christianity, without this being true in the practice of our lives, we are but hypocrites! This very attitude was the central theme in the life of Jesus, and He has instructed us to follow Him in this example.  If we don't practice self-denial, we aren't His disciples. It's useless to try to follow the One who was crucified without taking up our own cross daily.<div align="center">

 

 

Question 2

Do you always do what the Lord Jesus Christ tells you to do? The Scriptural answer for a Christian is Yes.

Scripture

Matthew 6:19-21  "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;  for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Matthew 22:37-39 And He said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' "This is the great and foremost commandment. "The second is like it, `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'

Luke 6:27-30  "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,  bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  "Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. "Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back."

Matthew 19:17 And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."

Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. "For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.

Comment

The Sermon on the Mount was not wishful  thinking on God's part, but His very will.  Listen to Jesus in Luke 6:46-49 "And why do you call Me, `Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?"  Not obeying  the One sent to save is not bright!  And again Jesus said,  "Everyone who comes to Me, and hears My words, and acts upon them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when a flood rose, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. "But the one who has heard, and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house upon the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great."   Listen to what John has to say about obeying the Lord, 1 John 2:4   The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;  Pretty strong, but so very true!

 

 

Question 3

Are you walking with a pure conscience right this minute?

The Scriptural  Answer for a Christian is Yes.

Scripture

Acts 23:1  And Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, "Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day."

Acts 24:16  "In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.

2 Corinthians 1:12  For our proud confidence is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.

1 Timothy 1:5  But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

1 Timothy 1:19  keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.

Comment

All of true religion consists in having a pure conscience both before man and God. Having the "old man" or "old nature" put off.  With what does the "old man" or "old nature" consist?  It is this, and no more; the very spirit of selfishness, the great "me", "mine", "my" and " I ".  It is self-esteem, self-seeking, and living wholly to self, and this is all that possibly can come from "our flesh" or "old nature", in other words, the real you without God!  And mark me well, these things must be "put off", so that the new man (Christ Jesus) can be put on.  The fruit of being born again, is a good, blameless and clear conscience!  God gave us a conscience to warn us if we are straying from Him.

 

Question 4

Are you in bondage to sin? In other words, does any sin have        control of you?  Another way of asking this question is this, do you practice any form of sin?

The Scriptural Answer for a Christian is No.

Scripture

Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin;

Romans 6:12-15 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.  For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.  What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!

1 John 3: 8-10  The one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.  No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

John 8:34-36  Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. "And the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. "If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed."

Comment

This question is very simple, but in light of what is preached in almost every Church, it has become a difficult question to understand. Remember Jesus came to save us from sin, if you are still in bondage to sin , you still need to be saved!   Matthew 1:21  "And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins." When the Bible speaks of Christians and a practice of sin, it is always in the "past-tense"  Watch how often the Bible uses past-tenses when referring to a believer and sin!

Romans  6:17-18  But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

Here are a few more Bible references to this question about sin being in the "past-tense",  1 Corinthians 6: 9 - 11 Ephesians 2:1- 10   Colossians  1:21-23  Colossians 3:5-11   Titus  3:3-5

 

Question  5

Do you have enmity, or un-forgiveness against anyone?

The Scriptural Answer for a Christian is No.

Scripture

Mark 11:25. "And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your transgressions."

Matthew 6:14-15  "For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."  "But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

Luke 17:4   And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, `I repent,' forgive him."

Comment

If we harbor un-forgiveness in our hearts, we are simply proving that selfishness is still ruling in our lives, and we have not the love of God shed abroad in our hearts. God has emphatically stated that He will not forgive us of our sins if we

refuse to forgive others. Learning this and still refusing to forgive others only proves that we have really not repented at all!

 

Question  6

Do you profess to know God, but live your life denying Him?

The Scriptural Answer for a Christian is No.

Scripture

Titus 1:16  They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient, and worthless for any good deed.

Matthew 15:8  This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Comment

Our lives show what is truly living and reigning on the throne of our hearts, if self is alive we might profess to be Christians, but our actions will constantly contradict us.   We sometimes fool ourselves, but we don't fool those that know us and we certainly won't be able to fool God!

 

Question  7

Do you strive to be perfect before God in all of your ways?

The Scriptural Answer for a Christian is Yes.

Scripture

Luke 13:23-24   And someone said to Him, "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" And He said to them,  "Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able."

Matthew 5:48 "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Comment

Most people give God the crumbs of their lives, but do not truly love God.  Listen to Paul, 1 Corinthians 9:23-27  And I do all things for the sake of the Gospel, that I may become a fellow partaker of it. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.  And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.  Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;  but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.  My friend are you truly "running the race" or just "plodding along?"  Ask God what Paul meant about "being disqualified."

 

Question  8

If all Christians were currently as fruitful as you are, would the world ever be converted?

The Scriptural Answer for a Christian is Yes.

Scripture

John 15:1-6  "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine-dresser. "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit.  "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.  "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.  "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned."

Comment

To the shame of the Church most "Christians" do not know how to lead others in the Christian experience.  If you have never lead anyone to Christ, then a hundred million other people such as you with all of the money that the world possesses at their disposal would be ill equipped to convert the world.  Shame of all shames.  If you have been born again then that fountain of living water should be in you, a well of life for others.  If we abide in Christ we will be fruitful!

 

Question  9

Are you persecuted for your faith?

The Scriptural Answer for a Christian is Yes.

Scripture

"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

John 15:20  "Remember the word that I said to you, `A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also."

2 Timothy 3:12  And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Comment

Persecutions come only when we are following Jesus Christ, and come they will.  The world will always send persecutions to those that defy it and follow Jesus to the cross.

 

Question 10

Do you pray without ceasing?

The Scriptural Answer for a Christian is Yes.

Scripture

Colossians 4:2  Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;

Ephesians 6:18  With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

1 Thessalonians 5:17   Pray without ceasing;

Comment

Praying is a simple test in itself, if we do not "pray without ceasing" it is only because we do not love God as we should, and because we do not operate in faith.  If you really believe God, that He always answers prayer, at every turn of events you would be on your knees before Almighty God, praying in faith.

 

To pass this test you must get all ten questions right, if you fail to answer even one of the questions correctly, you have found a form of selfishness in your life.  God's standard for all Christians can be found in Matthew 5:48  "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."  Jesus said this, not me, it is His standard!

 

How to truly be saved.

I have no heart to go into the process of salvation in the limited space available here in this tract.  The scope of this tract is to test professing Christians, to see if, in fact, they are on the "narrow road" to life. 

 

If you would like to read special tracts that can lead you into a true born again experience click here  Tracts that can convert!

 

We live in a time that I believe was best described when the Angel gave the Church of  Laodicea  it's very solemn warning in Revelations Chapter 3 starting on verse 14.  "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write:  The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: `I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot.  `So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.  `Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,  I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.  `

 

It is time to awake and become laborers in those fields that are white unto harvest.

But first we must repent.  We must be endued with that power from on high.

We must truly abide in Him!

Return to Tracts main menu