Being a true Christian means far more than living in a Christian land. In Rev. 3:1 we read of those who have a claim to life, 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 (Isa. 1:18).
He is redeemed! "Christ hath redeemed us." He has bought us back from our slavery to sin and brought us back to God (Gal. 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 26:18).
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 Cor. 6:16-18).
He is trusting! He confides in Christ, and depends upon Him day by day for needed grace, strength, and wisdom (Heb. 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 (Eph. 1:3-6).
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. 5:17).
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 heaven.
"What must I do to be saved?... Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:30, 31.