Let me draw your attention to the real state of affairs in our nation. If our decline in moral standards is not apparent to you, then you are living in the “state of delusion.” It’s the 51st state in our union. And it’s the largest state in our nation, getting more populous with each passing year. When a country and its people reject God, He sends a strong delusion so that they believe what is not true.
The Judeo-Christian moral foundations of our nation and culture have been under assault for many decades. Many of us no longer recognize our nation. It is like we now live in a third-world country run by godless dictators and communists. However, much of this decline can’t be blamed on the politicians. Just as we have Republicans in name only, we have Christians in name only. In both cases, they are fake, and many would call them traitors. They really don’t believe in and support what are the foundational principles of either being a Republican or being a Christian. A RINO is a Republican in name only. A CINO (pronounced KINO) is a Christian in name only. In the Book of Revelation, chapter three, verse one, it is written, “And unto 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.” Emphasis added, KJV. A person may call themselves a Christian, they may have a name that they are alive, but they are dead according to the word.
J. Vernon McGee, a radio pastor a few decades ago, once said, “If you were taken before a judge accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” In a country where it might actually cost you something, declaring yourself a Christian is a grave matter, unlike in the USA, where it costs nothing or close to nothing to declare that you are a Christian. In the United States, in some instances, stating that you are a Christian can actually improve your position. It is often used in business and personal matters as a method of gaining acceptance or an advantage. It often does. However, many who claim to be Christian show no evidence. They lie, cheat, steal, engage in extramarital affairs, and deceive others in both personal and business matters. Many popular Christian teachers and preachers proclaim that you can be a real Christian and show no evidence whatsoever. They expect there to be Christian thieves, Christian drunkards, Christian liars, Christian fornicators, and Christian homosexuals. It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. We have the blind leading the blind, as many believe these lies and their lives reveal it. Jesus said Be very careful that the light in you is not darkness, for if it is, how great is that darkness.
Knowing that I was a Christ follower, I have had not a few people go out of their way to tell me they too were a Christian. Many people use the “God card” as a tool to get ahead. One person was a pro-abortion and pro-gay marriage Christian. He wanted me to know that he was a Christian just like me. While working in San Francisco years ago, I had a young woman, a practicing witch, tell me that she and JC (as she called him) were on speaking terms and friends. Can a practicing witch be a genuine Christian? Many people today would not consider that a problem. The light in them is darkness, and how great is that darkness.
I have very rarely told anyone that I am a Christian. Why? Because it is a word without meaning. I have no idea what it means because its meaning depends entirely on what a person wants it to mean. I love this quote from Francis Bacon because it is so relevant to the human condition. He said, “Men prefer to believe what men prefer to be true.” In other words, people believe things are true because they want them to be true, not because they are true. The witch, I mentioned, was deceived into believing that she was actually talking with Jesus Christ and that He was fine with her witchcraft. She was a good citizen of the 51st state. In this state of delusion, anything can be “true” if you want it to be true.
How does one know if they are a Christian? Who gets to define what a real Christian looks and acts like? Is there an objective standard by which all of our professions of faith in Christ will be judged? The musician and songwriter turned evangelist, Keith Green, once said, “Going to McDonald’s doesn’t make you a hamburger any more than going to Church makes you a Christian.” There is truth in his words. Yet many of us believe that attending church makes a person a Christian.
Not surprisingly, the religious world will answer the question in very different ways. Is a Jehovah’s Witness a Christian? How about a Mormon? What about a Roman Catholic? Name your denomination, and you will find each one describes a Christian and what it takes to be a Christian differently.
How would you answer these questions?
- Does going to a Christian Church on Saturday or Sunday make you a Christian? Many would say it does.
- Does being baptized, as an infant or as an adult, make you a Christian? Many would say it does.
- Does being born into a Christian family make you a Christian? Many would say it does.
- Does praying make you a Christian? Many would say it does.
- Does taking the sacraments make you a Christian? Many would say it does.
- Does giving money to your church or a non-profit make you a Christian? Many would say it does.
- Does leading a pretty good and mostly moral life make you a Christian? Many would say it does.
- Does voting Republican make you a Christian? Many would say it does.
- Does voting Democrat make you a Christian? Many would say it does.
- Does being pro-life make you a Christian? Many would say it does.
Does being pro-choice or a supporter of homosexual relationships mean that you can’t be or aren’t a Christian? Many would say that there is nothing incompatible with being a Christian and being pro-choice, pro homosexual, and pro-gay marriage.
What if none of the above makes a person a Christian? What if all these things, like praying, going to church, and reading the Bible, are not necessarily real evidence of being a Christian?
What then is the real evidence that a person is a Christian?
May I suggest to you that real Christians do pray, give time and money to the work of God, attend church, lead an outwardly righteous life, and engage in many other charitable activities, but doing those things does not make a person a Christian. Let me explain. A person can do all these things and not be a true Christian. Unfortunately, these activities are often cited as conclusive evidence of being a Christian, yet all these outwardly righteous actions can be done from a corrupt, impure heart. Take, for example, the Pharisee, who was outwardly a very pious person, but inwardly he was full of dead men’s bones like a whited sepulchre. Outwardly, the Pharisee appeared to be a perfect example of what it meant to be a follower of God. Inwardly, Jesus compared the Pharisee to the whitened sepulchre containing the decaying carcass of a dead man. They had a name that they were alive, but they were dead. The Pharisee talked, acted, and dressed like a God fearing, God loving, and righteous person, but was not, according to Jesus. You can do all these religious things and not be a Christian, not be right with God.
In First Corinthians, we have this word, “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” I Corinthians 13:3 KJV. The apostle says that a person can give away everything they own, all their money and possessions, without having an ounce of love (charity), and it will profit that person nothing. Moreover, the Apostle says that a person can be a martyr by being burned at the stake and have no charity (love). It profits the martyr nothing. To make giving your life and possessions an acceptable sacrifice, to make it count before God, your motive must be pure. The Pharisees gave money, fasted, talked about God, and prayed much more than anyone else, but they did it all to be seen by men, not out of love for God. Their selfish motive corrupted all their outwardly pious acts. CINO’s today are identical to the Pharisee. Their religion is for show more than anything else. What then is a pure motive that makes doing all these religious things pleasing to God? What is the standard? We will now address these questions.
Is there an objective standard for determining who is a Christian?
How does one know if they are a Christian? If churches define what it means differently, how can one be certain if they are a Christian? Is there an objective standard by which we can judge these matters?
- Is your church denomination the standard by which this question is decided? Many would say that it is.
- Is tradition the standard by which this question is decided? Many would say tradition is one critical aspect.
- Is it your church leadership that determines how this question is decided? Many would say that church leadership has the job of determining the answer to the question.
- Is society at large the standard by which this question is decided? Many would say yes, society decides on what it means to be a Christian.
- Is the Bible the one and only standard by which the question must be answered? Many would say that the Bible alone determines what it really means to be a Christian.
Churches, church leadership, tradition, and society often change the standard. A change in the standard renders it subjective, rather than objective. Truth is objective. I use the Bible and only the Bible to answer the question. Many churches claim that the Bible is the only authoritative standard. Yet many of them disagree with each other on what the Bible actually says about what it means to be a genuine Christian. In the wake of all this confusion, we find it difficult to come by truthful answers.
Much to the disappointment of many, the answers must be searched out personally. That does not mean that you have your truth and I have my truth. It means that it is our responsibility to seek God and read His word for ourselves. That requires time and commitment, which many are unwilling to give. I implore you to take this on and not try to delegate it to someone else. Jesus said if the blind follow the blind, both will fall into the pit. This is our responsibility, not your pastor’s, not your priest’s, or teacher’s responsibility. You neglect that duty at the peril of your own soul. Think of all souls who have followed a false prophet and paid for it with their life and their eternal destiny.
You now understand why I rarely, if ever, call myself a Christian. It is a term with no meaning or contradictory meanings. Therefore, it is critically important to accurately define what it means and what it doesn’t mean. What I think is a real, as opposed to a nominal or CINO Christian, is very different from what most believe. I do not think that CINOs are real, saved, justified, born-again, and going-to-heaven Christians, while others do. Who is right and who is wrong?
What did Jesus teach about following Him? In other words, how did Jesus answer the question about what it takes to be a real Christian, a real disciple?
We will examine a few statements, and then you can decide for yourself whether you are or are not a Christian according to Jesus Christ.
Jesus began His earthly ministry by telling everyone, just as John the Baptist had before Him, to repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. See Matthew 4:17. However, many today contradict Jesus and claim that repentance from sin is not a condition or requirement for entering the Kingdom of Heaven.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus told Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader, that one must be born again to enter the kingdom of God. See John 3. Nicodemus had no idea what Jesus was talking about. Many religious leaders today have no idea experientially what it means to be born again or to be a Christian. They are not yet new creations in Christ Jesus; therefore, they can’t help others find new life in Christ. Things have not changed much over the centuries. Jesus was telling Nicodemus that entering the kingdom of God requires a radical transformation in us, akin to being born again. Another scripture says it like this, “Therefore 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. Being born again is becoming a new creation, a new person. Keep that in mind as we proceed.
Jesus said if we love Him, we will keep His commandments. Today, many professing Christians talk about loving God, but at the same time, they do not keep His commandments. They live like the godless and unrighteous. Jesus said that if you really love Him, you will keep His commandments even when you don’t feel like keeping His commandments. Hopefully, it is understood that loving Jesus is a significant and essential part of what it means to be a Christian. Jesus was very demanding, and I love that about God. It will come as no surprise to some of you that false teachers today make it their business to soften or eliminate the demands that Jesus made. It seems they are more interested in filling pews, raising money, and becoming a popular and sought-after speaker than they are in telling the whole truth.
Let us look at another statement of Jesus. Jesus said that many will come to Him on that day (judgment day), saying Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do miracles. And He will say to them Depart from me, for I never knew you, you who commit lawlessness. Apparently, the way one lives their life will determine whether or not they will enter into His kingdom, according to Jesus. Your life reveals what you actually and truly believe, not what you profess to believe. “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. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23. Iniquity is a synonym for sin or lawlessness. Apparently, even in Jesus’ day, there were CINOs. The Pharisees were outwardly very religious and exhibited some observable piety that would fool most of us. But they didn’t fool Jesus. The acid test for Christ was about their heart, the way they lived their life, their purpose or motive. Did their love for Christ yield a righteous and holy life devoid of selfishness?
“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth: they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:28-29. Jesus is telling anyone who cares to listen that being a real Christian means ceasing from evil deeds, because it is hurtful to both God and man. It means we perform good deeds, not for recognition or reward, but because we want to bless others for no other reason than that they are of great value. We are promoting their well-being, which in turn promotes their happiness. That is what real love does.
Jesus also said that if our righteousness doesn’t exceed that of the scribe and Pharisee, we would not enter the kingdom of God at all. That must have seemed like an impossibility for the common man. The average Jew most likely thought that the Pharisee or scribe was the most holy person they knew. How could they possibly be more holy than them? How could Jesus make such a statement? Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart. Jesus saw that their hearts were corrupt and impure, and that is why He constantly rebuked them. And that is why Jesus said that your righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisee, or you will never enter heaven.
Furthermore, Jesus said that if we love mother or father (or anyone else) more than Him, we are not worthy of Him. You heard that correctly. He said that to be a Christian or a follower of His, you must love Him more than anyone else, even your mother, father, spouse, or children. Many people can’t believe Jesus would make such a statement and mean every word of it. If asked what is most important in their lives, these folks will immediately say that their family is most important. And as important as loving your family is, Jesus said there is something that must be even more important than your family, and that is your love for God, which must be supreme. Why? Only when we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength will we truly love our family and others as God intends us to. Our love toward our family will be deficient if we don’t love Him the most. God cares more for your spouse and children than you do. Believe it because it is true.
“For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” Matthew 10:35-39.
A cross is something one dies on. Jesus was teaching us that to follow Him, we must die to ourselves. We must die to our own selfish dreams, wishes, will, plans, and live to His will and for His pleasure. That is a cost that very few are willing to pay. Jesus, instead of soft peddling what it takes to be His follower, like most pastors do today, set the standard extremely high so that the CINOs would not be deceived into believing they were actually part of His family. He loves them enough to tell them the whole truth. Do you love others enough to say to them the entire truth?
Jesus said that if we deny Him before men, He will deny us before God. Jesus had a lot to say about who is really a follower and disciple of His. Yet we have many pastors and teachers who nullify the words of Christ by softening the conditions that Jesus Himself uttered. Oh, how great is the darkness! They have a name that they are alive, but they are dead.
Moreover, Jesus said, “He who will save his life will lose it, but he who loses his life for my sake will find it.” If you go your own selfish way in life, doing what pleases you the most, you are the one “who will save his life and lose it.” But if you walk with God, please Him and go where He leads, you are the one “who loses his life for Christ’s sake, and you will find your life”. The one who created you requires that you love Him with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength because it is the only way for us to be genuinely at peace, fruitful, happy, and content. And it is the only way to have a fulfilled life, pleasing to your Creator and Savior. God doesn’t need your affection or love, but you and I need His, hence the requirement.
Before we get right with God, we are sinners who love ourselves more than we love God or anyone else. Everything we do is to gratify ourselves in one way or another. We are totally selfish. We often break God’s commandments and do things that God hates most of the time. Our sin comes from our selfish hearts and then manifests itself in our sinful behavior and actions.
How does repentance fit in?
You will recall that Jesus began His earthly ministry by telling everyone to repent. Repentance means that we acknowledge our terrible guilt and that we reject everything, every sinful act, that offends God. We seek God’s forgiveness and fellowship above everything else. We understand that Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins and that He saves us not just from the penalty of sin but from the bondage of a sinful life. We understand that God did not come just to save us from hell but from the bondage of ongoing sin. God makes us new creations who live righteous lives. God is what we value, treasure, and seek above everything else. We see in God the moral perfections that make Him supremely worthy of praise, glory, worship, obedience, and trust. We love Him not for the favors He gives us but because He is beautiful in holiness, and He deserves our loyalty and worship. He is the person we trust more than anyone else.
The Bible’s answer to the question
To become a follower of Christ, a Christian in the Biblical sense of the word, is to change your direction, to change what you live for, to change what matters most to you, and what you value/treasure the most. It means loving God more than you love yourself, and setting a new course or purpose for your life. It is to deliberately change, with God’s help, from being a totally self-centered, self-absorbed, sinful, and selfish person to a person who lives to promote the well-being of God and others, not out of fear or from selfish motives. It is such a radical change that it is like being born again. Scripture also says, “If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away and all things have become new.” That is a very radical change – becoming a new person, a new creation. Scripture uses the term regeneration to describe the profound transformation that occurs within us. If you have never experienced this radical change within yourself, there is a good reason to examine yourself to see if you are genuinely in the faith.
For some Christians, regeneration means that God gives them a new nature that lives alongside their old sinful nature. It is a mysterious birth that God does in us when we believe in Jesus Christ. They make it sound like God gives us a new organ, a new faculty of the mind, or something similar. Others like me say it is not a mystical, physical, or mysterious birth at all. God doesn’t need to change the nature that He created us with. He wants to clean it up. Regeneration is a moral rebirth. It is a life-long decision and commitment, like marriage is supposed to be, to live for God and His pleasure. It is to stop living for selfish ends and to start living for benevolent ends. It is to realize that the sun doesn’t rise and fall on us, and what we want. We are not the center of the universe, and all things good don’t revolve around us and gratifying our desires. When you make this decision and commitment to confess and forsake your sins and follow Jesus Christ, you will find God’s mercy. And then you will start living for and obeying your God, your creator, and your savior. You will cease from selfishness and begin to live a life of love toward God and others. That love of God means you obey God and His will as expressed in His commandments. It means you love your neighbor as yourself and refrain from doing anything deliberately to harm your neighbor for selfish reasons. It means that if you do sin, after being born again, you confess your sin and repent of it. You stop it because you love God more than you love your own happiness and your own gratification.
The Word of God declares that “to obey is better than sacrifice.” People engage in various religious practices, including sacrifices, giving, fasting, attending church services or Bible study, praying, and more. They think that will please God and be acceptable to Him, rather than obedience to His will and His laws. He is not impressed. He wants your loving obedience and will not accept your sacrifices without it. He expects, deserves, and demands your loving obedience and trust. Religious duties and exercises are not a substitute for faithful, loving obedience. Most CINOs think it is an acceptable substitute. They have a name that they are alive, but they are dead. We know what state they live in.
But didn’t the apostles teach that all we must do to be saved is to believe in Jesus?
The apostles said that all that it takes to be saved is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. That is all you need to do: believe. Many passages say this or something similar to it. But what does it mean to believe in or on Jesus Christ? To believe in the Lord Jesus Christ means more than simply acknowledging His existence and His work on the cross for our sake. It means aligning ourselves completely with Him and His will. It includes repentance from sin and faithful obedience to Christ as our LORD and Savior.
However, many pastors and teachers believe that New Testament Christians must be guided by one of the apostles, rather than by Jesus, because they are uncertain whether Jesus, in the four Gospels, was speaking to Old Testament believers or New Covenant believers. They say it is impossible to know if Jesus was talking to us today or only talking to those Jews with whom He lived. Therefore, all the precise but demanding requirements Jesus mentioned are not the concern of a New Covenant Christ follower today. The light in them is darkness. Oh, how great is that darkness?
Yet many evangelical churches say that to become a Christian simply means that you believe in Him for your salvation. In other words, you trust that Jesus Christ paid the penalty for your sin, and you trust Him to take you to heaven. Repentance from sin is not a prerequisite for salvation, according to these individuals. From this false belief, the world has seen the resurgence of the fake or CINO believer. There are many hypocrites in the church today because of this fatal error. Carnal Christianity was birthed from this line of thinking. All of these individuals live in that inglorious 51st state, the state of delusion, the state of strong delusion. The word of God says, “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:11,12. KJV
God sends “strong delusion” on all who reject the truth and all who take pleasure in unrighteousness. We must understand that there are God ordained consequences to resisting the truth. Look at the madness that has enveloped Western civilization, including the USA. God is truth, and when we reject truth, we reject God. God then sends a strong delusion so that men will believe a lie. Look at the sickening and crazy things people think today. They twist everything straight. What God calls good, they say is bad, and what God says is bad, they say is good.
Even if we understand all of this, some of us still are not sure if we are a real Christian. How does one know for sure? How can we have the assurance of salvation?
Jesus said that a good tree can’t bring forth evil fruit and a bad tree can’t bring forth good fruit. We will know a tree by its fruit. Your life will reveal the truth by the kind of fruit you bear. If you continue to make excuses for your sinful living, if you continue to ignore what God requires of you, if you continue to hide from the truth, then know for sure that you are not a real Christian.
We know by consciousness if we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We are aware within ourselves if God is the person we love the most. We are aware that we love God because of who He is, not because of what reward or punishment He may give us. And our actions, behaviors, and motives will reveal the truth to us if we are willing to hear it.
We are instructed to test ourselves to see if we are in the faith. Who are you living for? What do you love and value more than anything else? Do you obey the law of God and His commandments because they are right and good, and not just because if you don’t, you will go to hell? Do you repent of sin if you sin? Do you give in secret, pray in secret, fast in secret? Do you seek God’s approval more than man’s approval?
Some religious folks obey the law of God and the law of man only out of fear of punishment, fear of the loss of reputation, and fear of the loss of friends. They may obey God and serve Him for the rewards He has promised them. Their motive for obedience, in either case, is selfishness masquerading as love. They may lead a rigorous, righteous life, but from an impure motive. And having a name that they are alive will not raise them from the dead and save them from damnation.
Can you imagine the Creator and Owner of the universe, the one true God, expecting anything less than this to belong to His family? Is heaven populated with people who hate a life of righteousness? Is God’s family full of sons and daughters who don’t trust Him and actually work against Him? Is God so desperate for our worship that He will compromise His own standards?
Scripture says that we are not our own; we are bought with a price. By our sin, we forfeited our right to paradise and earned damnation. Damnation or eternal death is the wages of sin. God Himself suffered the penalty we deserved. And in exchange, He offers us life everlasting if we will love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. If you lose your life for His sake, you will find it. But if you find your life, you will lose it. Become a citizen of the Kingdom of heaven and renounce your citizenship in this world. We are going to live forever. It will be in one of two places, heaven or hell. Eternity is a place where there is no time, but there is either bliss or blight.
