Are We What We Claim to Be?

I was struck by this quote I found on "The Crosstalk Blog" posted by Ingrid Schleuter. This blog can be linked off of this page. The quote is by Rett Copple and reads; "The evangelical landscape in America is unlike anywhere else. Here you aren't dealing with a majority of atheists or false religions. What we have to combat the most is a majority of folks who've received enough Christianity to damn them. They've jumped through an evangelical hoop and claim Christ on their Facebook, but are in love with their sin and hate God's law. America, the land of the false conversion."

At a pastors conference I attended last November one of the visiting speakers observed from the pulpit, "Why is it when I look out at my congregation at people who profess to be a Christian I see so few who look like the bible says a Christian should?" Almost in unison every pastor present nodded their head in agreement. The question is a relevant one, and so we should ask ourselves; Are we what we claim to be? Is there real evidence in our lives other than our presence in church that we have experienced the radical change that will occur if we truly are "born again" a "new creation" in Christ?

Jesus warns us of this very condition in Matthew 7:21-23. Our Lord says here, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me you who practice lawlessness!" Yet as we gaze across the landscape of the church of professing Christians today this warning seems to go unheeded. Are we simply willfully ignorant believing God's grace and love will simply cover our continual disobedience? Have we been told we are saved so many times because at some point we prayed a prayer, walked an isle or have been baptized that we have not bothered to discover the truth? Have we been truly converted and changed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?

It pains me to think of these questions, but think of them we must. We must understand merely professing Christ and being a church member will not get us into heaven. We must be honest with ourselves as we examine our faith to know if it is really real, and ask tough questions. Am currently engaged in activities the bible calls sin? Do I place God first in My life? Is my love for Him above all others? Am I unashamed of the gospel? Do I look like what the bible says a Christian will look like?

Friends, we cannot claim Christ in our lives and not experience radical change in our lives. Their is no way God through His Holy Spirit can live inside of us and we not be radically changed. It absolutely breaks my heart that people I know and love who claim Jesus show no real change in their lives. Change: repentance, obedience, faithfulness to Him are the evidence of salvation. We must understand that God's love for us will not save us. God loves everyone, but He will only save those who have true faith in Jesus Christ. Grace alone will not save us, as it must be accompanied by the life changing faith that comes with truly receiving Jesus.

Paul tells us through the Holy Spirit in Romans 6:1-2, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!(KJV God forbid!) How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" A true believer in Jesus Christ will not continue to live as the world does. We will not continue to live in sin. This does not mean we will not sin, but rather, that sin will not be a pattern in our lives. Can we truthfully say to ourselves this type of radical change has occurred in our lives? If not, are we truly saved?

Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:22-24, "that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." Are we more like the old man, or the new man? Do we see righteousness and holiness in our lives? If not, let us ask ourselves, have I honestly received Christ and Lord and Savior? How we answer that question could have eternal consequences.