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The title 'Christian' is really not suitable for someone who has accepted Christianity as a religion or even someone who has been born in a Christian family. The first time people were called Christian was in the church in Antioch which came into being when Jewish disciples of Jesus went there, preached the Gospel and non-Jewish people became disciples (Ac.11:25,26). We can roughly translate the word as 'belonging to Christ' or 'follower of Christ'. It is plain that most of those who consider themselves Christians have not consciously chosen to follow Christ.

But a sadder fact is that among those who have chosen to follow Jesus, a large majority is following Him only superficially. This will be the greatest shock that we can have as people, if we have believed that we belong to Christ, to find on the day of judgment that our name is not in the Lamb's book of life (Re.21:27). This is what Jesus referred to as causing 'weeping and gnashing of teeth' (Lk.13:28).

If we consider ourselves as Christians, one way to see if we have truly become Christians is to examine what goes on in our mind. A drastic change occurs there when we become Christians. Before that, some of us were used to sinning as we wished, seeking only not to get caught. Some others were religious Christians, keeping the Law externally, such as not killing or committing adultery, and contenting ourselves with Bible reading, formal prayer and church attendance. But when someone is converted in the right way, repenting from his sins and turning for salvation to the Saviour, God causes him to be born again in his spirit. One main change that takes place is that now the Holy Spirit begins to disturb him even about sinful thoughts, attitudes, desires, etc. Jesus talked about getting angry with someone as being equal to murder and looking at others with sexual desire as equal to adultery. The new Christian begins to be concerned in his heart about the sinful things that are going on inside him even when no one outside seems to aware of them.

The Bible refers to this as changing from being dead in sin to becoming dead to sin (Ep.2:1;Ro.6:11). If this has not taken place in our life, whatever else we may excuse ourselves with, the fact is that we have not become Christians in God's book. Needless to say, no matter what we think or what others think about us, or whatever position or reputation we have in the church, if God does not consider us as Christians, our names are not in the Lamb's book of life and our future is not going to be with Christ in eternity.

This simple truth is really a fundamental one. In order to deal with doubts and to make sure that we get things right with God, the simple way is to humble ourselves before God, acknowledge our sins that have separated us from Him, and ask for salvation on the basis of Jesus paying our penalty on the cross. It is not complicated, but it needs humility and honesty to admit we need Jesus.

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