Paul K. Christianson
There is a great deal of confusion as to what makes a person a Christian. We know “free-will,” so exercised does not make a person a Christian.
When Adam fell in the Garden of Eden, he did not cease to be a man when he sinned – he did, however, cease to be good. With the fall man passed finally from a state of innocence to a state of corruption, and he is not free to break through the boundaries of his fallen state. The Scriptures testify to this: “All our righteous deeds are as filthy rags” Isaiah 64:6. “There is none righteous, no, not one” Romans 3:10.
Salvation is not then man exercising his will in cooperation with God’s grace. Salvation is solely the initiative of the Lord. John 6:44 asserts “No man can come to me, except the Father which has sent me draw him.” Martin Luther in his excellent volume “The Bondage of the Will” writes,
“Here, indeed, Christ declares, not only that the works and efforts of free-will are unavailing, but that even the very word of the Gospel is heard in vain unless the Father himself speaks within, and teaches, and draws. The ungodly does not even come when he hears the word, unless the Father draws him … “(see John 6 and 10; Romans 8 and 9; and Ephesians 1 and 2).
So we have seen how Almighty God makes a Christian by the power of his sovereign grace, breaking the bonds of original and actual sin. But what is a Christian? Some believe they are Christian because they were born in a “Christian country” or because they attend church services or have been baptized, or because they believe a set of propositions and do certain things that they feel are Christian. But none of these things makes a person a Christian. The real question we must ask is: What does the Bible say a Christian is? Knowing the correct answer to that question, dear reader, may determine where you spend your eternity. Proverbs 30:12 is a warning to church-goers- “There are those who are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their filthiness.” If this essay so far upsets you, then I’m pleased, because the Holy Spirit may be calling you to do some reflecting on your life and beliefs.
False believers want Christ, but not without exception. They want the grace of God, but not the government of God-like the prodigal son who wanted his father’s goods but not his father’s government. They desire the benefits of the cross without bowing to the implications of the crown. They want heaven, but not by the narrow way that leads there. They desire the free gift of eternal life, but will not receive it with empty hands. Yes, dear reader, they want Christ and their other lovers (idols) also. Is this you?
The true Christian is one whose life is joined to Jesus Christ by faith and has been transformed by him. His or her sins have been forgiven because of Christ, and a true Christian has a new nature and a new heart different from that of the mere worldling or unsaved pew-sitter. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 6:15). Does this describe you? If not, you dare call yourself a Christian? But the good news is this: the Lord Jesus Christ can make you one. Amen.
Paul K. Christianson is pastor of Grace Reformed Church in Clarkston, Washington.