HOW DOES ONE KNOW?

          How does  one know if he or she is truly a Christian?  First of all, we must ask what do the Scriptures teach?  The text of Romans 6:3-4 is quite clear in affirming that those who have been baptized into Christ arise to walk in newness of life.  Baptism is not a man-made work, but is God's plan for clothing us with Christ (Gal.3:26-27).  Therefore one can know if he or she is a Christian by asking, Have I been baptized into Christ Jesus?.

          But there's more to be a Christian that just being baptized.  Here are four other Bibilical “tests”.  Can you see a PROOF FROM CHANGE?  Are you growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2Pet.3:18)?  Jesus told His disciples that they would be able to detect true followers from false - - you will know them by their fruits (Mt.7:16).  Is the fruit of The Spirit blossoming forth in your life:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control (Gal.5:22-23)?  Are Christian virtues present and ever-increasing in your life (2Pet.1:5-8)?  There is second measuring rod:  THE SMELL TEST.  Do you have the aroma of Christ (2Cor.2:15)?  Sin is odious to God.  Isaiah writes, All of us have become like one who is unclean, all of our (self)-righteous deeds are a filthy garment (Isa.64:6).  If we wear the name of Christ but continue to deliberately sin, the truth may be that “we stink!”.  Is there a Christ-like fragrance about us that others can't miss?  A third test is what we might refer to as THE DOPPELGANGER CRITERION:  do we look like Jesus?   The apostle John states that the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked (1Jn.2:6 - - cf. 1Pet.2:23).  Finally, there is THE TEST OF LOVE:  by this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (Jn.13:35).  Peter echoes these words of Jesus when he offers this all-important exhortation:  above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins (1Pet.4:8).  Our love for one another is the capstone of genuine discipleship. 

          One might be baptized into Christ and even have a baptismal certificate to prove it, but such means little if we fail these other vital tests.  We must be a changed person; we must possess the fragrance of Christ; we must look and walk like Jesus; and we must love like Jesus (Eph.5:1-2).

                                    Terry Siverd / Cortland Church of Christ