The following indicators deceive many into thinking they are Christians. If this is what’s happening with you, then you’ll need to be disabused of your delusion before you can receive the Lord Jesus Christ. This begins with hearing the truth:
If you say you’ve been a Christian all your life, it’s highly likely you’ve never been a Christian.
If you say you were born and raised a Christian, you’ve never been a Christian.
If you wonder how sinners can do the ugly things they do, you’ve never been a Christian.
If you think you’ve never done anything bad, you’ve never been a Christian.
If you’ve never experienced a dramatic change from evil to good in your life, you’ve never been a Christian.
If you think you’re Christian because you’ve been raised in a Christian home, you’ve never been a Christian.
If you think you’re Christian because you believe in God, you’ve never been a Christian.
If you think you are Christian because you are spiritual, you’ve never been a Christian.
If you say you “accepted Christ,” it’s most likely you have never been a Christian.
If you talk about how much you love God, you’ve likely never been a Christian.
If you have had no interest in the Bible, you’ve never been a Christian.
If you live in sin and have always lived that way, you’ve never been a Christian.
If you are strongly associated with a nominal orthodox Christian church, it’s highly likely you’ve never been a Christian.
If you think you’re Christian because you went to church, Bible school, seminary, or monastery, you’ve never been a Christian.
If you think you are a Christian because you go to church, pray, fast, give alms, read the Bible, teach Sunday School, sing in the choir, serve as usher, go on or give to missions, you’ve never been a Christian.
If you are an ordained minister, priest or some form of clergy (no matter how high), it’s highly likely you’ve never been a Christian.
If you think your clerical clothing and paraphernalia indicate you are a Christian, you’ve never been a Christian.
If you think you are a Christian because you follow a particular human leader and adhere to a set of doctrines, you’ve never been a Christian.
If you think right doctrine makes you a Christian, you’ve never been a Christian.
If you think you are Christian because you believe Jesus Christ lived in history, you are not a Christian.
If you think Jesus Christ was a great and godly man, you’ve never been a Christian.
If you think Jesus Christ’s primary thrust was to take up the cause of the poor, you’ve never been a Christian.
If you think you’re Christian because Jesus Christ has atoned for our sins, you’ve never been a Christian.
If you think you’re Christian because you hear a voice or voices frequently, you’ve likely never been a Christian.
If you think you’re a Christian because you live in and agree with democracy and are patriotic to your country, you’ve never been a Christian.
If you are a leftist, you’ve never been a Christian.
If you are against the nation of Israel, or if you are anti-Semitic, you are not a Christian.
If you believe that Muslims worship the same God as Christians, you’ve never been a Christian.
If you disagree with this list, you’ve never been a Christian.
Now consider this, false professors of Christ: If you haven’t been a Christian, you’ve yet to taste freedom from sin and true life as the Lord intends for those for whom He laid down His life. You have much to look forward to when you repent and come through the narrow gate that leads to life. Joy only comes with victory and victory comes only when you die.
“And He said to all, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever will save his life shall lose it, but whoever will lose his life for My sake, he shall save it” (Luke 9:23-24 MKJV).
Victor Hafichuk