The True Christian

"A true Christian is not a mere baptized man or woman.

He is something more.  He is not a person who only goes,

as a matter of form, to a church or chapel on Sundays,

and lives all the rest of the week as if there was no God.

Formality is not Christianity.

Ignorant lip worship is not true religion.

The Scripture speaketh expressly: 'They are not all Israel

which are of Israel' (Romans 9:6).  The practical lesson of those

words is clear and plain.  All are not true Christians

who are members of the visible church of Christ.

The true Christian is one whose religion is in his heart and life.

It is felt by himself in his heart.  It is seen by others in his conduct and life.

He feels his sinfulness, guilt and badness, and repents.

He sees Jesus Christ to be that divine Saviour whom his soul needs,

and commits himself to Him.

He puts off the old man with his corrupt and carnal habits,

and puts on the new man.  He lives a new and holy life,

fighting habitually against the world, the flesh and the devil.

Christ Himself is the corner-stone of his Christianity.

Ask him what he trusts for the forgiveness of his many sins,

and he will tell you, in the death of Christ.

Ask him in what righteousness he hopes to stand innocent at the

judgement day, and he will tell you it is the righteousness of Christ.

Ask him by what pattern he tries to frame his life, and he will tell you

that it is the example of Christ.

But, beside all this, there is one thing in a true Christian which is

eminently peculiar to him.  That thing is love to Christ.

Knowledge, faith, hope, reverence, obedience are all marked features

in a true Christian's character.  But his picture would be very

imperfect if you omitted his 'love' to his divine Master.

He not only knows, trusts and obeys.

He goes further than this -- he loves...

...Great as the danger is of him 'that believeth not',

the danger of him 'that loveth not' is equally great.

Not believing and not loving are both steps to everlasting ruin... 

...A man may lack clear head knowledge, and yet be saved.

He may fail in courage, and be overcome by the fear of man, like Peter.

He may fall tremendously, like David, and yet rise again.

But, if a man does not love Christ, he is not in the way of life.

The curse is yet upon him.  He is on the broad road that leadeth to destruction...

...If a man truly loves Christ, all is right;

if not, all is wrong...

...A true Christian loves Christ for all He has done for him.  

He has suffered in his stead, and died for him on the cross.

He has redeemed him from the guilt, the power and the consequences

of sin by His blood.  He has called him by His Spirit to self-knowledge,

repentance, faith, hope and holiness.

He has forgiven his many sins and blotted them out.

He has freed him from the captivity of the world, the flesh and the devil.

He has taken him from the brink of hell, placed him in the narrow way,

and set his face towards heaven.  He has given him light instead of darkness,

peace of conscience instead of uneasiness, hope instead of uncertainty,

life instead of death.  

Can you wonder that the true Christian loves Christ?

And he loves Him besides, for all that He is still doing.

He feels that He is daily washing away his many shortcomings and infirmities,

and pleading his soul's cause before God.  He is daily supplying all the needs

of his soul, and providing him with an hourly provision of mercy and grace.

He is daily leading him by His Spirit to a city of habitation,

bearing with him when he is weak and ignorant, raising him up 

when he stumbles and falls, protecting him against his many enemies,

preparing an eternal home for him in heaven.

Can you wonder that the true Christian loves Christ?...

...where there is real justifying faith in Christ,

there will always be heart love to Christ.  He that is really forgiven

is the man who will really love (Luke 7:47).

If a man has no love to Christ, you may be sure he has no faith."

**Quoted from "Holiness" by J. C. Ryle pages 234-237

With Love,
Camille

**Images in this post courtesy of Calvin ~ thank you my love. xoxo
(Image #1 ~ Anglesey, Wales; #2 ~ Mojave Desert, CA; #3 ~ Fairmont, BC)