True Christian

Here is my personal definition of a "True Christian":

True Christian  is defined as someone who has become aware of God, God’s Word in the Holy Bible, Jesus Christ, Holy Ghost, God’s Commandments, and God’s Will;  realizes their previous sins against God's Will and Commandments, and God’s just judgement for those sins (ie. death, and maybe God’s wrath and judgement), and the opportunity for everlasting life through Jesus Christ in spite of those past sins; then chooses on a free-will basis to believe with all their heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that He came to Earth to pay for everybody’s sins by His crucifixion, death, and resurrection;  admit they are a sinner;  confess their sins to Jesus Christ;  repent their sins;  ask for the forgiveness of Jesus Christ;  ask Jesus Christ to cleanse their heart, mind, body, and soul so that they are ready to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit into their life;  commit themselves to Jesus Christ, their Saviour, and will joyfully follow God’s will and all His Commandments;  and loves the Lord their God with all their heart and with all their soul and with all their mind and with all their strength;  then did a full immersion baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, thereby leaving behind their dying life of sin, and is resurrected into a new life with Jesus Christ and all the saints in His church, and the filling up of their life and soul with the Holy Spirit.  See John 1:29, 10:9; and Matthew 7:14, and Phil. 1:23.

We have the expression "wolf in sheep's clothing".  One of the safest places for an evil spirit to hide is inside what appears to the world as a pious person.

For example, we have seen or heard about pedophiles who seek out, then hide in positions of trust (eg. priest, youth leader, sports coach, teacher, doctor, etc.), so that the pedophile has ongoing, easy access to many youth, can more easily find and pick their next victim, and use their position of trust to hide their intents and actions for a long time.  The pedophile may claim religious and pious values (including to pretend to be a devout Christian).  However, we will eventually discover the difference between claims and the actions.

Everybody has a public life, a private life, and a secret life.  A public life is the one shown to everybody in the world.  The private life is protected and only shown to close friends, family members, and other persons who are close to us.  The secret life is shown to nobody else, but is sometimes stumbled upon, or partially exposed in spite of the attempts to protect and hide our secret lives.

God can see all parts of our secret lives.  He knows what is deep inside our hearts, minds, and souls.

Some nominal Christians believe that they can lie, cheat, steal, rape, or cause all kinds of other mayhem in the world just as long as they go to church each week for an hour or so.  The only time the world is safe from this monster is for the hour that this imposter is on their knees inside the church each week.  This person is obviously not a "True Christian", but is more akin to a "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing".  Do you personally know people that fit this category?

God knows these imposters.  Jesus Christ said in the Bible at Matthew 7:15-23

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  Not every one 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 in that [Judgement] 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 will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Matthew 25:1-12 offers similar rebuke from Jesus for those who pretend to be Christians (the parable of the wise & foolish virgins).

True Christians will be saved.  Nominal Christians, and wolves in sheep's clothing may fool us mortals for a while, but they will not be able to fool Jesus Christ.  These fake Christians will eventually get their just desserts:  burn and torment in the lake of fire forever and ever.

The choice is yours.  Consider it carefully.


Comment:   I need your feedback.  Am I on the right path?  What's missing?  What's unclear? 
Forward:     Could friends benefit from reading this?  Please send them a link.
Follow:        To get notification as soon as I post again, please consider becoming a Follower.