By Evang. Joachim P. Erameh
In today’s Christianity, everyone who goes to Church is said to be a Christian. But the truth is that, not everyone who goes to Church is a Christian. If you do not know, many so- called Christians today are Church- goers.
Christianity is not what you claim to be, but who you are before God. Remember, Jesus says, “Not everyone that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7 : 21).
Who is a Christian? A Christian is not just a Church- goer, but one who believes deeply in his or her heart, that Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour of the world (See John 3: 16). A Christian is a new creature in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5: 17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
To be a Christian, is to be Christ- like in character. When the people of Antioch saw the way the early disciples of Christ were living their lives, that it was not different from the way Christ lived, they called them Christians. The Bible says, they were first called Christian in Antioch (Acts 11: 19- 26).
Christianity today is full of hypocrisy. Believe it or not, there are more sinners in the Church of today than the true believers. The question is: When Jesus Christ shall come to rapture the saints, how many of those people who say they are Christians today would be qualified to go with Him?
Some people are Christians only when they are within the watchful eyes of their pastors and Church members. 2 Timothy 2 : 19 says, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
It is delusional to claim to be a believer and be living in sin. 1 John 3 : 9 says, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”
The truth is that whether you go to Church or not, if you are living in sin, you are not a child of God. 1 John 3: 8 says, “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
Dear reader, are you a Christian or Church- goer? In 1 Peter 4: 17, the Bible warns that judgment will begin at the house of God. If you are living in sin, repent genuinely of all your sins and surrender your life to the Lord Jesus Christ before it is too late.