How Can I Be Sure I Am A Real Christian?

[wildstriker]

A few months ago, I read an article about lukewarm Christians and 2 videos about true and false converts by Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron and I can’t help but feel that I might be a lukewarm Christian or a false convert. It’s something that I’ve been constantly worried about. Sometimes it's depressing.

I feel like I’ve done some of the things that a lukewarm Christian or false convert would do, like:

not going to church as often, sinning sexually when tempted to (and repeating again and again), not reading my Bible for a couple of weeks or months because I don’t feel like reading in the evening, not praying before going to bed, thinking about revenge, downloading videos from Youtube and watching movies illegally on websites, etc.

But then I’ve also done some things that a real Christian or true convert would do, like:

feeling guilty or heavy-hearted after sinning sexually and saying sorry to God and asking for His forgiveness, feeling a conviction in my heart to help my mother when noticing my mother doing a physical activity, reading my Bible when I’m sad or upset, getting mad at unfair discrimination against Christians, accepting the Creation worldview and disregard evolution, in my mind calling atheists bigots/idiots/morons, being scared of facing God after I die, etc.

I've never resisted Jesus’ sacrifice and the fact that He is the only way.

How can I know whether or not I’m a true convert? How can I know Jesus knew me? Can Christians be guilty of doing some of the things that lukewarm Christians would do and still be truly saved?

What about predicated sin? Are there such things as different kinds of premeditated sin?

 

[Jordan Kurecki]

 

[Martin Marprelate]

"I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Matt. 9:13).
Wildstricker, have you seen yourself as a lost sinner?
Have you turned away from your sins? Does it distress you when you relapse?
Have you trusted solely in Christ and in His blood shed upon the cross to save you?
Is it your desire to live a righteous life, not in order to be saved, but out of love for the One who saved you?

Well the Lord Jesus Christ says to you, "The one who comes to Me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37).

'"Him that cometh to me".......the man may have been guilty of an atrocious sin, too black for mention; but if he comes to Christ he shall not be cast out. He may have made himself as black as night-- as black as hell, .....I cannot tell what kind of persons may have come into this hall tonight; but if burglars, murderers, and dynamite-men were here, I would still bid them come to Christ, for he will not cast them out. No limit is set to the extent of sin: any "him" in all the world-- any blaspheming devilish "him" that comes to Christ shall be welcomed. I use strong words that I may open the gate of mercy. Any "him" that comes to Christ-- though he come from slum or taproom, betting-ring or gambling-hell, prison or brothel-- Jesus will is no wise cast out'
[C.H. Spurgeon]

'When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upwards I look and see His face
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Saviour died,
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.'

 

[Baptist Believer]

How can I know whether or not I’m a true convert?

Simply start being obedience to Jesus in faith, and ask Jesus for His help to empower you to follow His commands. As you take that journey, you will either become convinced that you are saved, or you will realize - quite explicitly - that you need to enter into the Kingdom.

Either way, obedience to Christ is entry into the Kingdom. It is the essence of the "repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand" message.

 

[Jordan Kurecki]

I have shown this to others and it was helpful to them. Please watch this.

 

[JonShaff]

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Start reading the Gospel of John and ask God to reveal Himself to you. If you're not saved, He will convince you. If you are saved, He will convince you.

 

[wildstriker]

Thank you for the responses.

I was at a Christian youth camp in 2004 when I asked Christ to be my Saviour - and got baptised a couple of months laters. Praying was part of my life but it wasn't until a few years later that I began taking lusting more and more seriously as a sin - and have prayed to God about it.

Besides lust I've become more and more mindful in what I do and try not to do or say things that may not please God. Not long ago, I've stopped watching films illegally on sites and have deleted downloaded youtube videos that I've off of my computer. I also hate lying - and when I do lie I feel a huge amount of guilt conjuring up inside of me.

 

[JonShaff]

Thank you for the responses.

I was at a Christian youth camp in 2004 when I asked Christ to be my Saviour - and got baptised a couple of months laters. Praying was part of my life but it wasn't until a few years later that I began taking lusting more and more seriously as a sin - and have prayed to God about it.

Besides lust I've become more and more mindful in what I do and try not to do or say things that may not please God. Not long ago, I've stopped watching films illegally on sites and have deleted downloaded youtube videos that I've off of my computer. I also hate lying - and when I do lie I feel a huge amount of guilt conjuring up inside of me.

Do you treasure your relationship with King Jesus? Do you desire to Honor Him and bring praise to His name? Flee from your sin and flee to The Lord Jesus!

2 Timothy 2:19, 22 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

 

[JonShaff]

Seeking sin and pursuing it with the feeling you are powerless against it means a person is still enslaved to their sin. You are not living the resurrected life.

 

[JonShaff]

Guilt is natural, if you don't have a seared conscience, you should experience guilt when you sin. That doesn't mean you're saved though.

 

[wildstriker]

Do you treasure your relationship with King Jesus? Do you desire to Honor Him and bring praise to His name? Flee from your sin and flee to The Lord Jesus!

2 Timothy 2:19, 22 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Yes I do. I've stopped doing the things I've mentioned because they're sins and dishonours God. I still struggle with lust.

When it comes to praising God, it's something I know I should be doing more often. My mind's more focused on job seeking right now.

And when it comes to seeking sin and pursuing it, no I don't seek and pursue lust. If I lust it's usually because I fail to resist temptations.

To Jordan, yes I will watch the entire video.

 

[JonShaff]

Yes I do. I've stopped doing the things I've mentioned because they're sins and dishonours God. I still struggle with lust.

When it comes to praising God, it's something I know I should be doing more often. My mind's more focused on job seeking right now.

And when it comes to seeking sin and pursuing it, no I don't seek and pursue lust. If I lust it's usually because I fail to resist temptations.

To Jordan, yes I will watch the entire video.

"seek and pursue lust" isn't really a Biblical thought. Lust simply means "desire"--the word itself is not negative or positive. You lust after women, and you pursue to commit fornication.

 

[ChrisTheSaved]

This is the clearest video on salvation I have ever seen.

 

[wildstriker]

"seek and pursue lust" isn't really a Biblical thought. Lust simply means "desire"--the word itself is not negative or positive. You lust after women, and you pursue to commit fornication.

Are you saying "You lust after women, and you pursue to commit fornication" equals unsaved?

 

[JonShaff]

Are you saying "You lust after women, and you pursue to commit fornication" equals unsaved?

I have no idea if you are saved or not. That is between you and the Lord. But the Scripture says...

1 Cor. 6

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators (Sexually Immoral), nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.

15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.”17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

 

[JonShaff]

Rev. 21:8

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.

 

[thatbrian]

A few months ago, I read an article about lukewarm Christians and 2 videos about true and false converts by Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron and I can’t help but feel that I might be a lukewarm Christian or a false convert. It’s something that I’ve been constantly worried about. Sometimes it's depressing.

I feel like I’ve done some of the things that a lukewarm Christian or false convert would do, like:

not going to church as often, sinning sexually when tempted to (and repeating again and again), not reading my Bible for a couple of weeks or months because I don’t feel like reading in the evening, not praying before going to bed, thinking about revenge, downloading videos from Youtube and watching movies illegally on websites, etc.

But then I’ve also done some things that a real Christian or true convert would do, like:

feeling guilty or heavy-hearted after sinning sexually and saying sorry to God and asking for His forgiveness, feeling a conviction in my heart to help my mother when noticing my mother doing a physical activity, reading my Bible when I’m sad or upset, getting mad at unfair discrimination against Christians, accepting the Creation worldview and disregard evolution, in my mind calling atheists bigots/idiots/morons, being scared of facing God after I die, etc.

I've never resisted Jesus’ sacrifice and the fact that He is the only way.

How can I know whether or not I’m a true convert? How can I know Jesus knew me? Can Christians be guilty of doing some of the things that lukewarm Christians would do and still be truly saved?

What about predicated sin? Are there such things as different kinds of premeditated sin?

If you are trying to find security in your actions, or lack of them, you are essentially saying that you cations save you. You are in a works-righteousness framework.

The basis for your salvation is not found in yourself. It is external, and it does not waiver because He does not waiver.

Assurance comes from understanding His work in salving you, not in your performance, and the irony is (this is huge) is that when you rightfully place your assurance on Christ and His gospel, your performance improves. When you no longer live "under the law, but under grace", you are then able to walk in fulfillment of the law.