If there is anything any one of us wants to believe about ourselves, it is that we are Christians. We want to believe that we are true children of God who have a relationship with Him and His Spirit in us. We profess Jesus as our Lord and Saviour and the one we serve.
This is commendable because it shows that we indeed acknowledge the existence and majesty of God and have a longing to be one with our Maker.
However, it is not enough to know and believe in the existence of God, and neither is it enough to be a Christian by religion. It is not by calling ourselves Christians that we become Christians.
We are not Christians because we work hard to perfect our moral standards and create that image of perfection, and neither are we Christians because we deny ourselves certain things and lead a particular way of life.
Our pristine church attendance and devotion to religious activities do not determine true Christianity. While these are solid indications, they aren’t the determinants. (Matthew 7:21 (KJV) Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven). We shall see why soon.
What, then, is this true Christianity?
To know this, we must first understand who the man is and what he means to God.
Man was created to reflect God in a different form, to bear His image while wearing the flesh. He is not a human being with a spirit but rather a spirit enclosed in a fleshy body. We were made to carry a portion of God’s spirit to help us reflect on who God is and be connected to Him in our human form. Deep inside every man is a dwelling place for God, the seat of Authority, a sanctuary for our very personal worship of God.
So you see, before the body can even begin to worship and get involved in religious activities, the spirit must have already begun deep worship ( John 4:24 (KJV) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth). The body in worship alone is simply not enough.
True Christianity comes when that connection between our spirit and God is intact. This gives rise to the genuine transformations that go on in the life of a Christian. It flows from deep within you and stands the test of time, unlike the moral lifestyles we try to force into ourselves, which crumble under pressure.
True Christianity is Spirit-controlled, and it gives rise to:
- Love and compassion
- Humility and longsuffering
- Confidence in God and yourself
- Patience and Compassion
- Intense devotion to God and godly activities
- Strong desire for worship and communion with God(His favourite)
- Righteousness and Holiness
- Discernment and godly wisdom
- Quietness of spirit
- Fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law). ETC
All these will not only be visible on the outside but will be known inside of you. This is why there must be a witness deep inside you. ( Romans 8:16 (KJV) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God).
So dear friends, do you have these experiences? Can you call yourself a Christian, indeed?
No?
Do not worry. Knowing where you stand and what you must do is good.
- Revelation 3:20 (KJV) Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with me.
- Jeremiah 29:13 (KJV) And ye shall seek me, and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
- Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) But without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
God is attracted to a hungry heart. The moment He senses you seeking Him out, He wastes no time to find you.
