Hello guys, it has been long since I wrote something here but I thank God I had the chance to attend today’s bible study and find the amazing Christian Lwanda preaching. After the powerful praise and worship session, Lwanda took the stage.
He stated that he was going to outline six questions that determine whether we are real Christians.
1. Do you confess Jesus Christ as Lord?
He started by quoting 1 John 4:15 that says:
If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.
He further quoted Romans 10:9 that states:
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
He told us to note the part, ‘raised him from the dead’. He states that resurrection is the core of our faith and adds that Christianity is not private. He said that there is a personal relationship with Christ but nothing like private Christianity. He affirms this with what the scriptures say, ‘You are the light of the world’ ‘You are the salt of the earth’ ‘You are a city on a hill’ etc. He said that Christianity is a public confession.
2. Do you obey the commands of Christ?
He quotes John 14:15 that says
If you love me, keep my commands.
He said that God’s love language is obedience. We cannot claim we love Jesus and we have no faith to back it up. God’s commands are not burdensome. God’s commands are simply God’s promises said with force. Do not steal, the command translates to – I will provide for you, the promise. Do not lie – The truth will set you free. Do not covet – I have something better in store for you. Do not kill – Vengeance is mine. Observe the Sabbath and keep it Holy – I will give you rest. His commands are life-giving not life taking.
ALSO READ: Ernest Wamboye - The Struggle is Real
3. Are you miserable or unhappy when you are sinning?
1 John 3:9
No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.
There is a difference between committing a sin and continuing in sin. There is a difference between falling in sin and making a lifestyle or a practice of sin. If you are okay with sin, question yourself. There is a difference between a ladybird and the dung beetle. They are both beetles but only one of those beetles loves the poop. One of the ways the male dung beetle impresses the females is, ‘Look at how big my poop is.’ You will never see a ladybird on poop. They love green places prefer flowers and hate being on the ground. They love being elevated.
If you are perfectly fine in the poop of our sin and darkness we need question yourself.
4. Do you keep yourself safe from the devil?
1 John 5:18
We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.
There is a difference in keeping yourself saved vs keeping yourself safe. Our responsibility is to keep ourselves safe. God’s is to keep ourselves saved. God said I will never leave you or forsake you.
1 John 5:19
We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
It is your responsibility not to fall in love with the world that is under the influence of the devil.
ALSO READ: #MyKkrewBsStory: Keziah Muthoni
5. Do you love other Christians?
1 John 3:16-17
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
Lwanda gave a story of how they were able to rescue a young man who was trying to commit suicide. The young man had swallowed some pills and he called them just in time. They took him to the hospital and called his parents. His mother asked them, “Tell me anything I can do for you for saving my son.” Lwanda said that he was overwhelmed that the mother was able to give anything for the ones who cared for his son. He asked, “What do you think your father feels like when you care for another Christian?”
6. Do you truly know and love God?
1 john 3:24.
The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
When you are born again you know that God loves you. When you love God, it is not about duty, delight in him.