What is Being a Christian Really About?

What is being a Christian really about?

So this is the advertisement I saw above this website. I'll admitt, it kind of bothered me. You see,a prayer does not change your life. Not even a "salvation" prayer. And yet so many people either think that or live like that.

I mean, how much do we hear from people or find ourselves saying, "Oh, that person is saved because they prayed and said they were sorry for their sins." Or, "They are saved because they said they prayed and accepted Christ when they were five."and even, "They are saved because their Facebook and Twitter status are sometimes Bible verses."So many people are just "Christians" by name only. It doesn't mean anything. It's just a title. But their lives don't match their profession.

But does that really mean you are saved? Not necessarily. Salvation is not a matter of works we do, nor the promises that we make. Dannah Gresh and Nancy Leigh Demoss put it this way in their bookLies Young Women Believe. “The essence of true salvation isn’t a matter of profession or performance, but transformation.”

So how can we know if we really are saved?

(1.) You will have“fruits” which are the outcomes of true salvation. These things don’t save you,but rather they are results of your salvation. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”(Galatians 5:22-24)

(2.) You will be a new creature. Your old self will be different from your new. There should be a change; a transformation. Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away, behold, all things are become new.”

(3.) You will keep Christ’s commandments. If you are truly saved, you will love Christ. But this love requires actions. First John 2:3-4 tells us, “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

True salvation isn’t about a prayer we pray. It’s a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The results of your salvation is going to be having the fruits of the Spirit and becoming a new person. It hurts for me to hear when people start to idolize or follow examples of people in the world, who say they are Christians. People believe them because they said they were saved, or had a purity ring, or are just generally nice people. But what does that even mean? There are many unbelieverslike that. If our lives aren't matching up to our professions, than are we really saved? True salvation is a genuine relationship with Christ that will change your life. But it’s not anything we can do ourselves. “For by grace are ye saved through faith. Not of yourselves, it is a gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8)

Here are a few questions to check yourself with that Lindsey Wagstaff shared on theLies Young Women Believe website:

*Do you love Him? Not “do you feel that you love Him”—do you actually love Him?

*Do your actions prove the truth of your answer?

*Does your heart cry out to know God?

*Do you hate the sin you once loved because the sin is against God?

*Do you hate it enough to turn from it?

*Are you a new creation? Has the “old passed away and the new come”? (2 Cor 5:17)

* Are you pursuing holiness? Are you pursuing it out of love for Christ, not to impress men?

*Are you consistently exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit? (Gal 5:22-23)

Though we won't be perfect, we cannot assume anyone is saved just because of a prayer they prayed or some good thing they did. True salvation is a personal relationship with Christ.