What Makes You a Christian?

  BY Argie Simonis

"According as his divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue:" 2Pet. 1:3

It takes awareness, (revelation) to receive all things that pertain to life and godliness, not just intellectual knowledge.

There is much confusion as to who is really a Christian.

- The fact that you are not a Muslim, a Buddhist or a Hindu, definitely does NOT make you a Christian.

- Being a good person and doing good deeds does NOT make you a Christian.

- Going to church and lighting candles definitely does NOT make you a Christian.

Just as going to a garage does NOT make you a car, going to church does NOT make you a Christian.

We put the car in the garage to protect it. The church works in the same way for believers.

- Water baptism does NOT make you a Christian.

Here's what I found in the news:

~ Archbishop Ieronimos on baptism of same-sex couples' children: The Church will wait for them to reach an age before getting baptized. ~

The question of the baptism of the children of same-sex couples was raised indirectly but clearly by Archbishop Ieronymos in the wake of the unanimous "no" of the Holy Synod to the marriage of persons of the same sex.

During his meeting with the Archbishop of America, Mr. Elpidophoros, the head of the Greek church, when asked about this, said: 

"if baptism is done at a young age, it is because the Church had created the feeling that the child grows up in an environment of Christian principles.

Therefore, there was no need for indoctrination, because it was done within the environment. Now that things are changing, we are not against children. We love and care about children more than anyone else. The Church will wait for these children to reach an age and when they grow up and wish to be baptized, they will be baptized." 

Do you know how many millions of just-by-name Christians will end up in hell because they did not have a personal relationship with the Lord?

If this seems offensive to some, I will answer you with the words of the apostle Paul:

"Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" Gal. 4:16

See what else the Scriptures teach us:

"You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble." James 2:19

"But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" James 2:20

If you believe that God is one, you have done no more than the devil has done. And don't forget, the devil is not saved! Jesus said:

"Then shall he say also to them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:" Matt. 25:41

The devil constantly opposes God.

Even if you believe in a "higher" power, in something greater than yourself, you are NOT going to escape the lake of fire. There is only one way to be saved and it is called Jesus Christ the Savior!

It is not enough to simply recognize the existence of God, but to understand that God became man and with His sacrifice on the cross He offered redemption for all humanity!

Some say that deep down we all believe in the same God (Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, New Agers), but this is NOT true. Look what Jesus said:

"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we MUST be saved." Acts 4:12

There are NOT many roads that lead to Jesus. This is a lie.

If there was another way, then God would not have gone through this whole process of becoming a man and suffering a cross, taking upon Himself all the curse and evil that was intended for us.

Those who say that it is enough to be a good person, to love, to help and to have mercy, with these teachings they send people to hell, because they turn them to trust in their self-righteousness based on THEIR works and not to the righteousness that comes from our faith in Christ .

The Scriptures teach us:

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Rom. 3:23

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23

If you have fallen into the trap of comparing yourself to others, remember this:

"For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." 2Cor. 10:12

We must understand that our standard of comparison is NOT other people, but Jesus, who is the glory of God and the perfect representation of Him. So, we will see our sinfulness and that we need a Savior to be saved. The Lord's forgiveness has already been offered to us. So is His mercy, healing, righteousness and everything else we need:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" Εph. 1:3

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2Cor. 5:17

The spirit is what gives life to the body. Thus, when a man dies, his spirit and soul leave his body. This is death.

"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." James 2:26

When we were born, as babies we had a functioning spirit, but it was separated from God; It was dead to God. And this is true of all men who have walked on the face of the earth.

Jesus paid for this separation, for this spiritual death, by taking our place on the cross and separated Himself from the Father:

"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Μatt. 27:46

Jesus' words here are a quotation from David's psalm:

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?" Ps. 22:1

In the next verse David explains why this happened:

"But you are holy, O you that inhabit the praises of Israel." Ps. 22:3

God is holy and Jesus, the One who knew no sin, became sin for us:

"Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed." 1 Pet. 2:24

This was how sin was dealt with once and for all:

"And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world." 1John 2:2

Propitiation means atonement or satisfaction to a person, especially to God. Atonement is an act that includes two parts:

- The appeasement of the offended person's anger

  and

- reconciliation with him.

So sin was completely dealt with by our Lord's sacrifice, but it sets us free ONLY when we put faith in what Jesus did for us:

"For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" Eph. 2:8

"Not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph. 2:9

So grace is God's part, and faith is our part.

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men," Τit. 2:11

But Jesus himself prophesied that NOT all people are saved:

"Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:" Μatt. 7:13"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it." Μatt. 7:14

Do you know why this happens? Because we must put faith in the work of Jesus.

~~ If God's grace alone saved, then everyone would be saved and no one would go to hell. ~~

The reason I insist on this is that there is a lot of confusion about true salvation. Many believe that there are many paths to Heaven and that if they are good enough they will be saved. This is all a lie! 

All of us were sinners and headed for Hell, but Jesus paid our debt of sin because it was humanly impossible for us to do. 

~~ There is NO other way to God except through Jesus. ~~

That is why it is necessary to leave every self-righteousness and religious system that promises salvation and put our faith in Jesus:

"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works?" Μatt. 7:22

"And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity." Μatt. 7:23

Do you see that our salvation does not depend on our goodness but on the work of Jesus?

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What about those who have not heard of Jesus?

First of all there is an intuitive knowledge of God in all men:

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;" Rom. 1:18

"Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has showed it to them." Rom. 1:19

"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:" Rom. 1:20

Simply acknowledging that there is a God, as I already explained at the beginning of the message, it does NOT offer salvation. You MUST place your faith in the Savior who offers salvation to be accepted by God:

"That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Rom. 10:9

Here God promises something that he keeps: "Thou shalt be saved!"

"Why he said, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men." Εph. 4:8

"(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?" Εph. 4:9

~~ Jesus suffered rejection from God, God's wrath, and the torment of hell, but He overcame them, rose from the dead, and now offers salvation to WHOEVER WILL ACCEPT IT. ~~

And how do you accept salvation? Paul explains it in Rom. 10:9 that we read.

When Paul and Silas were imprisoned in Philippi, the jailer asked them:

"And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Acts 16:30

"And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your house." Acts 16:31

Did you notice here that Paul did NOT tell him to confess his sins or ask God to forgive him?

This is basically what some people teach; that you are required to do these things in order to be saved. 

But what happens if you forget to confess a sin? Does the blood of Jesus no longer cover you and you cannot receive forgiveness?

Do you understand the damage that the spirit of religion has done? Of course you need to admit that you are a sinner and that you need salvation, and that salvation is something that you CANNOT receive with your own strength:

"That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Rom. 10:9

"For with the heart man believes to righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made to salvation." Rom. 10:10

So if you do it with a sincere heart, you will be saved:

"And it shall come to pass, that whoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered..." Joel 2:32, Rom. 10:13, Acts 2:21

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----- SUMMARY

~~ A Christian is not the one who trusts in any religion, rituals or his holiness, but the one who puts all his faith in Christ. ~~

I want you to think about this:

Imagine, when on the day of judgment we all stand before the throne of God and the Lord asks:

" What makes you worthy to enter Heaven? "

What would your answer be?

Those who begin to claim that they were good people, went to church, paid their tithes, lived godly lives, helped others and did alms and good deeds will unfortunately be rejected, because no human work is capable of giving us right standing before God.

The answer to this question is:

" Nothing I have done makes me worthy of entering Heaven, except that I HAVE accepted by faith what Jesus did for me. "

All these are great truths that we need to know not only for ourselves, but also to be able to give witness to other people to come to the Lord.

Amen!