How Can I know for Sure I am a Christian?
A 2014 survey revealed that about 70% of Americans consider themselves Christians.
The real question is not whether people believe they are Christians, but "What Does it Mean to Be a Christian/Christ-follower?"
We have to use the Right Diagnostic Tool
Not Experience
Not Sentiment
Not Feelings
Only Scripture
We Have to use the right Diagnostic Measurements
- Brokenness and Sorrow over Personal Sin
Matthew 5:3–4
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
- A confidence in Christ alone, not my works.
Phil. 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:.
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, …
A Christian possesses total confidence that, apart from Christ’s finished work on the cross, he deserves to spend eternity in hell.
- Real Love for Jesus Christ
1 Corinthians 16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran-atha..
- Evidence of Personal Godliness
Galatians 5:22–23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law
A desire to plug into a New Testament kind of local church
Rom. 12:4-5 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another”
- A Love and Hunger for the Bible
Psalm 119:47–48
47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, Which I have loved.
48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; And I will meditate in thy statutes..
1 Peter 2:1–3
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.).
- A Love for people, especially believers
1 John 3:10
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother
- Obedience to God's Word
1 John 2:3–4
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him..
- Growth in Grace
Luke 8:15 “But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance”