What Is a True Christian?

From: Echoes of Grace: 1980

From: Echoes of Grace: 1988

• 2 min. read • grade level: 4

Being a true Christian means far more than living in a Christian land. In Revelation 3:1¹And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. (Revelation 3:1) we read of those who have a name to live, but are dead. They are mere pretenders. They are counterfeits. They are not genuine. As a bad coin is a worthless imitation of a real one, so those who are Christian in name only are of no value as Christians. They will be judged and banished from God's holy presence at the judgment seat of Christ.

What, then, is a true Christian?

He is cleansed! "The blood of Jesus Christ... cleanseth us from all sin." Having come as a sinner to the Savior, he is made whiter than snow in God's holy sight (Isaiah 1:18¹⁸Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)).

He is redeemed! "Christ hath redeemed us." He has bought us back from our slavery to sin and brought us to God (Galatians 3:13¹³Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (Galatians 3:13)).

He is enlightened! He was in darkness. He did not know what he was as a sinner. He did not know Christ the Savior. Now he has light and can see clearly (Acts 26:18¹⁸To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (Acts 26:18)).

He is sanctified! He is set apart from all his former associations. He no longer belongs to the world. He belongs to Christ, and is called to walk so as to glorify Him (2 Corinthians 6:17, 18¹⁷Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, ¹⁸And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:17‑18)).

He is trusting! He confides in Christ, and depends upon Him day by day for needed grace, strength, and wisdom (Hebrews 13:6⁶So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. (Hebrews 13:6)).

He is accepted! God has put him in Christ's place before His face, and so God's thoughts of him are measured by God's thoughts of Christ (Ephesians 1:3³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (Ephesians 1:3) to 6).

He is made new! "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." He has been born again—born of God. He now has new desires—different from those he had when unconverted (2 Cor. 5:17¹⁷Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)).

Are you then a true, born again Christian? If not, you are only a pretender. You need to come to Christ for salvation. Then you will have the joy and peace which belong to the true Christian. You will know that when He comes you will be caught up to meet Him in the air, and be forever with Him in His glory.

"What must I do to be saved?...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:30, 31³⁰And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? ³¹And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:30‑31).

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