"He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."
- Luke 9:23
What does it really mean to be a Christian? Does attending a church occasionally, or even once or twice a week, make one a Christian? Does reciting a prayer or repeating the words of a pastor automatically make us a Christian? If we simply believe that Jesus exists and is the Son of God, are we now a Christian? How about if we prophesy, cast out demons, and perform miracles in Jesus’ Name, does that make us a Christian?
Whenever I hear a discussion about what makes one a Christian, a true Christian, that verse above from Luke chapter 9 immediately comes to mind. Also found in Matthew and Mark, let’s take a look at the Amplified Bible's rendering of Jesus definition of a Christian -
"If anyone intends to come after Me, let him deny himself [forget, ignore, disown, and lose sight of himself and his own interests] and take up his cross, and [joining Me as a disciple and siding with My party] follow with Me [continually, cleaving steadfastly to Me]."
- Mark 8:34 (Amplified)
According to the Scripture, a Christian is a disciple (Acts 11:26). Strongs defines - "A disciple is one who follows One’s teaching. A disciple is not only a pupil, but an adherent; hence they are spoken of as imitators of their Teacher." (Greek 3101)
In defining a Christian, Websters Dictionary (original 1828 version) reads - "A real disciple of Christ; one who believes in the Truth of the Christian religion, and studies to follow the example, and obey the precepts, of Christ; a believer in Christ who is characterized by real piety." , with this piety being the "exercise of veneration and reverence (fear) of God, in obedience to His will and devotion to His service."
Follows His teaching... Imitates The Teacher... Obeys His commands... Is devoted to serving Him... These are some of the characteristics that define a Christian, a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus was the perfect Disciple of His Father. He denied Himself, picked up His Cross and followed His Father in everything. Even now the Son is obedient to the Father always, in everything. As a disciple, a Christian, a follower of Christ, we are to be imitating Him, that we may always abide in His love.
"If you obey My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed My Father’s commands and remain in His love." - John 15:10
"My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples."
- John 15:8
To be a Christian is not to be affiliated with Him, but to walk through the trials and and persevere in the tribulations of this life as He did, learning from His example, following His steps. (1 Pet 2:21). Claiming His Name is meaningless if we are not obeying His commands.
"Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked."
- 1 John 2:3-6
The promises often applied to all who have made a profession of Christ, are actually reserved for those who have followed and obeyed Christ Jesus as He obeyed the Father, who have overcome as He overcame -
"To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." - Rev 3:21
"And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations -
‘ He shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’ -
as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star."
- Rev 2:26-28
Dear friends, I cannot get away from these passages of Scriptural Truth lately. I've visited churches all over and too often I hear soothing messages about how Jesus loves us, always will, and how He wants us to be happy and prosperous. I hear that I will always sin, and how if I do righteous deeds I’m only attempting to take away from His perfect work on the Cross. I’ve heard that God only sees us through Jesus so He will only see good no matter what we do. Yet when I read the written Word of God, it tells me I must obey His commandments to remain in His love. It tells me I must forsake all else if I am to gain Christ. Scripture says it is the righteous deeds I do that prove my faith. It tells me I must walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.
"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me." - Matt 10:37-38
Using several parables, Jesus describes the cost of becoming His disciple, a true Christian. That cost is everything.
"Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate (love less than Him) his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple."
- Luke 14:25-27, 33
Do I love my wife more than I love Jesus? Do we love our children, parents or spouse more than Christ? Do my own desires take top priority in my life? Are my earthly possessions of utmost importance to me? Do I balk at the thought of having to bear a cross of my own? If I answer 'yes' to any of these questions, then I am not a true Christian.
Am I still hanging onto activities or behaviors that I would feel uncomfortable doing if Jesus was standing next to me? Do I accept any pastors teaching that tells me that as long as I am on this earth I will continue to sin, because we all fall short of the glory of God? Do I believe that God's commands don't apply to me because I have 'accepted Christ'? If so, then I am not a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.
All throughout Paul’s writings, he stresses that those who continue to allow sin to remain in their lives after they have professed Christ will not be permitted into the Kingdom of God. Those who walk in an unworthy manner, not pleasing to the Lord, will face an angry God in that Day...
"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord."
- Eph 5:6-10
"Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them." - Col 3:5-7
One who is a follower of Jesus is one who no longer walks in known sin. The wrath of God will indeed come upon all who submit themselves to these things.
I originally began writing this when I came across a post in a Christian forum in which someone asked what it meant to be a real Christian. A few people had responded with nice sounding quotes from pastors, or with their own opinions, but I noticed that none referred to the written word of God, the Bible. Brothers & sisters, there is only one Truth. And that is Jesus Himself, the Word of God made flesh. In addition to the many verses we’ve looked at above, our Lord also said...
"He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him."
- John 12:25-26
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them Eternal Life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand."
- John 10:27-28
To those He called, Jesus did not say, ’accept Me’, rather His words were, and still remain - "Follow Me". Over a dozen times in the Gospels, Jesus says "Follow Me." Not once does the phrase "accept Me", or "accept Christ" appear in the Bible. It is His teaching that we need to accept, and then we are to walk in it. Jesus and His Apostles spoke and wrote much about "walking worthy" of our calling, and about "bearing fruit". We’ll take a look at that later...
May the Holy Spirit guide us into all Truth as we study the Word, and seek the Lord. May each of us fulfill what Jesus has called us to. May the Father be pleased with us.
Peace and blessings to you & yours,
Michael
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain...
- John 15:16...
to be continued...
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