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Tract 33
Audio download at bottom of page
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Don’t Deceive Yourself
Many people understand the truths of Christianity and profess a certain popular faith in Christ. They are seen in regular attendance at Church; they do certain acts of charity; their moral life is irreproachable, people of a kind disposition, very generous to the poor, and with all this they have never seriously asked themselves, “Am I truly a Christian?” They think themselves better than others, confessing God publicly and no one can accuse them of moral wrong. In consequence, their conscience is at rest; they have a very good opinion of themselves and they hope in the thought that nothing more than strict morality is required of them to become good Christians sooner or later. They may even believe they are such now.
No one can live in a more dangerous state than this; and the saddest part is that this man or woman is not in the least alarmed and glides smoothly along until they slip into eternal ruin. They think themselves on the road to heaven, and never realize their error until they fall in to hell.
To live thus, “Almost a Christian,” and to die in this condition is to have your lot among the lost—for before God there are only two classes of people: those who are in Christ and those who are not.
Those who are in Christ are saved; but those who are not are lost.
When God sent His judgments on the earth in the days of Noah, each one was found in one of two places—either he was in the Ark or he was out of it; a man could be very near it, but if he was not IN the Ark, he was lost. Also, when the judgments of God fell upon Egypt, all the inhabitants of the land were in one of two conditions, either under the blood of the lamb, (by which God chose to deliver them) or they were not. If the angel of death saw not the blood on the door posts and lintel, the judgment of death fell upon that house. Now dear friend, apply these examples to yourself. Are you still exposed to judgment? Are you in the ark of salvation, Christ Jesus. Or out of the ark? It is absolutely sure you are in one place or the other. There is no half-way. There are no half-Christians. Sadly one can believe in Christ as the Son of God without giving Him their confidence or their heart. One can hope to be a Christian some time in the distant future, but that time may never come. To become a real Christian you will not be content with hope or an intention — you must have known your danger and have taken refuge in Christ. Are you in Christ? You may ask, dear friend, how can I know? If you ask that question with the true desire of knowing the truth, here is your answer from God’s Word: First: A Christian is one who has peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1.)He has learned what the nature of sin is; he knows that God is infinitely holy, and cannot lightly overlook evil; he knows that nothing unclean may stand before God's presence; he knows that continueing a sinner, he cannot present himself to God as righteous. However, he knows himself guilty and casts himself into the arms of the Savior, “Whose blood cleanseth from all sin.” (1st John 1:7.)
Second: The Christian loves God; he believes that God so loved him that He gave His Son to be the propitiation (mediator) for his sins; so he loves God as his Father, and trusts Him as his Almighty and eternal Friend. (1st John 4:10.)
Third: The Christian loves the Lord Jesus Christ his Savior. When he thinks “Who loved me and gave Himself for me,” (Galatians 2:29) his heart goes out to love Him in return. He tries to please Him in all his ways, in thanksgiving for His wonderful grace and forgiveness.
Fourth: The Christian is a man born of God (John 1:13); he is a new creature (2nd Corinthians 5:17): his soul is the dwelling place of a divine power that makes him hate sin and love holiness. He has new interest and new affections, and as he loves God, his Father, he is drawn toward the children of God because they are His children. (1st John 5:1) His heart goes out to sinners, longing to bring them also to the loving Savior.
Reader, with this test, are you a Christian? May this help you to see your true position before God. May He save you from deceiving yourself any longer about a question of such infinite importance and bring you to Himself.
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