Fake Christians!
Fake Christians!
Are there really fake Christians?
I don’t know about you, but I know I have used that term quite a few times in my day. I see somebody perpetuating like they godly and their lifestyle is hellish.
So, let’s look at this a little deeper. What is your definition of what a Christian is or is supposed to be? Do you have a certain conjecture of what it is to being a Christian? I’m sure many of you do. And I’m sure, like myself, you have called someone a “fake Christian” before. Somebody may have even called you a fake Christian. Why would someone call you a fake Christian, unless you were caught doing something that was considered sinful. And isn't it amazing that those who are not Christians are the first to call someone a fake Christian? They must know something.
A true Christian is one that has, by faith, received Jesus Christ into their heart, and fully trust in Him as their only Lord and Savior from their sin (John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”; Acts 16:31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household”; Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast”). To find out more pick up a copy of Pathway to Christ.
A true Christian not only trust in Jesus as being their only Lord and Savior, they also believe in the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of Christ, whom resides in the heart of a Christian (Ephesians 3:17 “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love”; 1 Corinthians 6:19 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own”; Romans 8:11 “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you”).
In Romans 8:9 Paul wrote, Now, “if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ”, so that means that person is not a Christian. So then, you are a Christian or you are not a Christian; a person is either with God or against they are God (Matthew 12:30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters”). Thus, the term “fake Christian” is a misnomer, an incorrect uses of this term. But we all certainly know what is meant when it is uttered by someone trying to get their point across.
When someone yells out, “You a fake Christian” is likely due to that person's behavior, which makes that term legitimate in the mind of the one hollering it out. There are many that claim or profess to be Christians but their behavior debunks their claim or profession. It’s not always what is said that reflects the realness of a person but what they do.
There are many reasons why so many believe they are true Christians when in fact they are not, and the reasons vary. Look at all the false teachings there are and how prevalent it is these days.
Many churches are rejecting the teachings of sound doctrine, and the end result is their congregants do not know the real truth of God’s Word. And when the truth is not in them, then how can they walk upright in the Spirit or Christ? I’ll answer that for you. They can’t!
Let’s be perfectly clear here, just because you go up to the altar and recite a prayer that does not turn you into a Christian. Those religious traditions of being baptized as an infant does not secure one a reserved spot in heaven. Nor does countless acts of good works alone put you in good favor with God. And let me add this one in, your church attendance isn’t a guaranteed dose of salvation. Even the devil goes to church, and will sit right next to you. You might be that church devil!
What’s my point? My point is that many of those that are professing to be Christians are not Christians at all. The sad part about this is they remain complacent in their thinking, convinced that they are good, their soul is just fine, and on their way to heaven, And they will live this way their entire life, believing that they are Christians, only to be devastated to hear on that day when Jesus will say: “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:23).
The Bible is clear in its teachings that when someone is saved his life will most definitely change. Some instantly and others over time. There is a newness that happens within and works it’s way outward. Paul’s call him a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here”).
A true Christian, one that has been born again, will strive to bring glory and honor to God by living a life that is pleasing to Him (1 Peter 1:15-16 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy”; see also 1 Peter 4:1-4).
In the life of a believer true saving faith will indeed produce works or “fruit” (James 2:17; 26 “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead”, 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead”). Through careful self examination, there has to be works of love in one’s life.
The apostle Paul instructed the church in Corinth to: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5). A profession of faith that does not result in a changed life and good works is a false profession. That indeed is not a Christian.
Christians are not perfect. In fact, Christians do sin, the apostle John said in 1 John 1:8 that we deceive ourselves if we think otherwise. You do know that we are not perfect right? Even though the lifestyle of a true Christian is supposed to reflect the presence of Christ in their hearts, they do error. And you better believe that when we do error, there is a multitude of do rights just waiting to say, “I told you so! You a fake Christian!”
That’s why Paul admonished the Thessalonian Church in 1 Thessalonians 5:22 to “abstain from the appearance of evil”, and in 1 Thessalonians 4:12 to live in such a way as to “win the respect of outsiders.”
Now what true Christians will not do is engage in repeated or habitual sin (1 John 3:6). The person who engages in habitual and deliberate sin is simply proving that he does not know Christ.
As a true Christian you can exhibit true Christian nature the more you mature in your faith. This comes by way of your love for God, repentance from sin, separation from the world, spiritual growth, and obedient living. Paul told those in Rome, the genuine child of God has been set free from sin and has become a slave to God, and the result is eternal life (Romans 6:22).
Are you that fake Christian? Have you been faking your walk with Christ? Are you feeling like you haven’t been the true Christian you ought to be? Would you like to be that true Christian? To know about hoe you can become a Christian and be that true Christian pick up a copy of Pathway to Christ.
Comments
Post a Comment