What does it mean to truly be saved?
Is it sounding holy and trying to live a good life?
Is it going to church every Sunday and hanging out with other godly people? Thinking, “Well I’m a good person and I’ve received Jesus. I said the prayer. Surely I’m saved.”
“I may do a few things here and there, but I’m not hurting anybody or breaking any laws.”
And when you stand before Jesus on that day, you expect him to accept you into Heaven because of the good life you lived. He’ll agree that you said all the right things, attended church when it was convenient, and lived your life better than those around you.
In your eyes, and to the best of your understanding…you’re a true Christian.
But is there a deeper reality to this Christian life?
I want you to picture with me, the day you stand before Jesus. Try to picture Him in all His glory. On the day that determines your forever home, and your eternal loss or reward, you’ll finally come face to face with the Savior.
What will He say to you??
Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ -Matthew 7:21-23
Second Timothy mentions these people having a “form of godliness but denying its power.” Because when you are truly born again,
You’ll stand as someone who has been washed clean from the old sin nature.
A brand new creation.
But if you’re standing with only a form of godliness, then there’s no way you can enter in because you have not been born again. You’re still under the curse of the old sin nature.
When you’re saved, your Spirit comes to life, and Jesus places the Holy Spirit inside you who leads you and guides you.
There’s an exchange that takes place.
Your temporary life, for His eternal life. -David Diga Hernandez
And because you have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of you, you’ll no longer desire to keep living a sinful life.
When you become a true Christian, you’ll feel clean, brand new, and even lighter.
There’s a difference. You’re not playing the part, saying the right words and acting a certain way.
You truly are saved.
Christianity is not a club.
It’s not a religion. The world calls it this because the world doesn’t know. It can’t know without the Holy Spirit.
Being a true Christian means that you have heard the gospel message and believed. And that belief looks like something:
It will show in the way you live.
And you will shine with His light.
The more you spend time with Jesus, resting in Him and not abandoning Him through the storms of life, then the more you begin to look like Him, sound like Him, act like Him, love Him and desire to be with Him.
Without Jesus, we’re lost in a sea of confusion and sin, calling good evil and evil good.
We lead ourselves further into the darkness thinking we’re heading towards the light, only to discover one day that all our hard work was pointless, meaningless, and for nothing.
Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil people and imposters will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived. -2 Tim 3:12
If you say you believe, but your life looks no different than an unbeliever, then you have deceived yourself. And you will be most shocked on that day to hear Jesus reject you and cast you into outer darkness with the unbelievers.
I can’t think of a greater tragedy.
The bottom line is that not all who profess to have faith in Christ possess faith in Christ. -compellingtruth.org
I don’t want you to fear, beloved of God. I want you to see the difference, and invite you to give your life to Jesus if this message hits home.
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. -Romans 10:9-10
4 Characteristics of a True Christian
1. The Holy Spirit lives in them.
They don’t continue to sin because even the little things become glaring offenses.
People around them may say: “You’re being restrictive! Or you need to chill out.” But in reality, they have the love of God on the inside that compels them to let go of all the sin that remains; Bad habits and weak flesh.
“We’re only human…” is no longer good enough.
2. They believe Jesus was raised from the dead and that they will too.
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.’ -John 11:25
3. Their lives reflect what they believe.
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
The righteous acts they produce are not forced, or self righteous, but are a result of the change that has happened on the inside.
4. They understand that the grace of God allows them to live a life free from sin, and is not a license to keep sinning.
They know that the Holy Spirit gives them power to live free from sin. Isn’t that amazing? Sin is not in control anymore. And if they try to go back to it, it’s not the same, it’s disgusting, and they can’t get comfortable, because the Holy Spirit convicts them with His beautiful love.
Unlike what some people think, being a Christian isn’t about following a series of regulations. Some think that once you become a Christian, you have to adhere to religious rules to continue being one. -christian.net
Becoming a Christian starts when we begin to trust in Christ alone. Trusting God means that we stop trusting ourselves. It implies an honest confession that we are unable to save ourselves from the wrath of God based on our works. There is nothing we can do, even good deeds to convince God to accept us. -christian.net
How to give your life to Christ and become a true Christian.
