When Looking Like a Christian Isn’t the Same as Belonging to Christ

On my way home, I was listening to a sermon when the preacher made a statement that caught my attention.

It was one of those statements that makes you stop thinking about everything else for a moment.

And as I continued driving, that statement became a question in my mind.

You act like you know God’s Word, but does God know you?

Now, think about that for a moment.

There are people who have spent their entire lives around Christianity.

They grew up attending church. They know the old hymns. They can quote Scripture. They know when to stand, when to sit, when to bow their heads, and when to say amen.

Some have taught Sunday School, served in ministries, or even stood behind pulpits preaching God’s Word.

From the outside, they appear to be faithful Christians.

But there’s a question that ought to make every one of us examine our hearts.

Does knowing about Jesus Christ mean that we actually belong to Him?

Jesus gave us a warning in Matthew 7 that I believe every professing Christian should take seriously.

“Not every one that saith 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 (KJV)

Notice something.

Jesus wasn’t speaking about people who openly denied His existence.

He was speaking about people who called Him Lord.

People who professed to know Him.

And the next verse becomes even more sobering.

“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?”

Matthew 7:22 (KJV)

Think about the things these people claimed to have done.

They spoke in His name.

They claimed to cast out devils in His name.

They pointed to wonderful works performed in His name.

Surely, someone doing all those things must belong to Christ.

Right?

But listen to what Jesus says next.

“And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Matthew 7:23 (KJV)

I never knew you.

Those four words ought to stop us in our tracks.

Not because Jesus was unaware of who these people were.

God knows every person He has created.

But Jesus was declaring that, despite their religious claims and outward works, they did not truly belong to Him.

And that brings me back to the question I heard on my way home.

How many people know the words of Scripture but have never personally trusted the Saviour those Scriptures reveal?

How many have learned how to act like Christians without ever being born again?

How many have become comfortable with the appearance of godliness while neglecting the very One they claim to serve?

Paul warned Timothy about those who have:

“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

2 Timothy 3:5 (KJV)

A form of godliness.

An outward appearance.

Something that looks right to the people around us.

But an appearance cannot save a soul.

And here’s something else that troubles me.

It’s easy to read these passages and immediately begin thinking about somebody else.

That person who attends church but doesn’t seem to live right.

That preacher we disagree with.

That individual who knows every Bible verse but doesn’t appear to demonstrate much love.

But Jesus didn’t give us these warnings so we could appoint ourselves judges over everyone else’s salvation.

He gave us His Word so we would take the truth seriously.

Paul wrote:

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.”

2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV)

Examine yourselves.

Not your neighbor.

Not the person sitting across the aisle at church.

Yourselves.

And that examination must go deeper than asking whether we’ve been good people.

Have I truly placed my faith in Jesus Christ?

Am I trusting in His finished work for my salvation, or am I trusting in the religious things I’ve accomplished?

Do I know Him as my Lord and Saviour, or have I simply learned enough about Christianity to appear as though I do?

Because there is a difference.

I can study the Bible for years and still refuse to surrender my life to Christ.

I can learn the language of Christianity without ever receiving the salvation it proclaims.

I can perform religious works and still be trusting in myself rather than the Saviour.

Jesus told Nicodemus:

“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:3 (KJV)

He didn’t tell Nicodemus to become more religious.

Nicodemus was already a religious man.

Jesus told him he needed to be born again.

And that is something we must never forget.

Salvation isn’t a reward for looking like a Christian. It is God’s gift through faith in Jesus Christ.

Paul explained:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV)

Our works do not purchase salvation.

Our knowledge does not purchase salvation.

Our church attendance does not purchase salvation.

Jesus Christ is the Saviour.

And when we truly belong to Him, our lives should begin reflecting that relationship.

Not because we suddenly become perfect.

Not because we never struggle with sin.

But because salvation is more than an outward religious appearance.

It brings us into a new life in Christ.

Now, I want to be careful about something.

We cannot look into another person’s heart and determine with certainty whether they are saved.

Only God knows the heart.

And I don’t want this thought to cause a sincere believer to spend every waking moment wondering whether every mistake means Christ has rejected them.

Our assurance rests in Jesus Christ and His promises, not in our ability to live without ever stumbling.

But neither should we ignore the warning Jesus gave.

Because there is a terrible difference between struggling to follow the Lord you belong to and never having belonged to Him at all.

As I continued home, that question stayed with me.

You act like you know God’s Word, but does God know you?

And perhaps the better way to ask it is this:

Do I simply know about Jesus Christ, or do I truly belong to Him?

I don’t want my confidence to rest in how many Scriptures I can quote.

I don’t want it to rest in how many lessons I’ve taught, how many prayers I’ve prayed publicly, or how many people think I’m a faithful Christian.

I want my confidence to rest in Jesus Christ.

The One who died for my sins.

The One who rose again.

The One who offers eternal life to those who believe in Him.

And I want the life I live to be evidence of my love for Him, not an attempt to convince the world that I’m something I’m not.

Because one day, the appearance will no longer matter.

The religious reputation will no longer matter.

And the opinions of the people around us will no longer matter.

What will matter is whether we truly belong to Jesus Christ.

So tonight, I want to leave you with the same question that followed me home.

If all the religious things you do were taken away—your church attendance, your Bible knowledge, your ministry work—would your confidence in salvation still rest completely in Jesus Christ?

Or have you been trusting in the appearance of knowing Him?

Until the rain falls again…

Grace and peace,

A Porch Believer