By:
Edited By Heymen Wreford
THIS is a question of the greatest importance, and one that demands a most careful answer. If to be a Christian is to be the possessor of the infinite blessings that the Bible sets forth as the portion of the true Christian, and not to be a Christian is not only to miss these blessings but to suffer the wrath of God forever, then how deeply important to have a correct answer to the question! And yet is it not a question about which many form their “opinion” with little or no regard for the teaching of the word of God?
The answer that would be given to the question by the majority of people would probably be that a Christian is one who belongs to the church, and seeks to live up to its requirements. One who professes the Christian religion and lives a moral, upright life before his fellows is reckoned by most to be a good Christian, whatever his belief; and any who would call in question the Christianity of such a one is counted a narrow bigot. The question as to whether he believes the Bible to be the infallible word of God, whether he believes in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, whether he believes in the ruin of man by the fall, or in the need of vicarious atonement to deliver man from his state of ruin and condemnation—all these are by many considered minor points about which “good people” may differ and yet alike be good, true Christians. The life is considered everything—the faith as nothing.
It is true that an empty profession of faith is counted as of no value in the word of God (James 2), but it is just as true that the only life that is counted as anything before God is the life that results from faith in the Son of God as the Saviour of sinners. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)). “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life” (1 John 5:1212He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (1 John 5:12)). Wherever we turn in the word, it is faith in the Son of God that gives life. Not that faith in itself has such value, but faith receives Him who is everything to the believer. So in John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12) we read: “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believed on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
In answer to the question of Nicodemus, “How can these things be?” that is, “How can a man be born again?”— our Lord replies: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:1414And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: (John 3:14)). Because of sin, man is alienated from God, his mind enmity to God (Col. 1:2121And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled (Colossians 1:21); Rom. 5:1010For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:10)). And this is true of the moral and religious, among whom none have ever surpassed Saul of Tarsus, as well as of the immoral. Before there can be any life for God, the enmity must be broken down―man must be born again, must have a new life. Now the word of God declares that the gospel “is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.” And those who are saved are spoken of as “being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which liveth and abideth forever.”
Not reformation, but a new birth, as well as “the renewing of the Holy Ghost,” is what man needs. It is this that makes one a Christian. It is true this divine operation will be manifested in a new life outwardly. But there must be the new birth and faith in Christ’s work before there can be the Christian life. “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” “Ye must be born again.”
A Christian is one who has been “born again” and who rests on the Saviour’s death and resurrection as the only ground of justification before God. Then not only eternal life, but peace, is yours through our Lord Jesus Christ, “who was delivered up for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification” (Rom. 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)). Have you, my reader, this peace? J. T. D.