Dave Chanski

A true Christian is someone who obeys God. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21; see verses 17-27). The apostle John wrote, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:3-4). It is so certain and undeniable that every Christian obeys Jesus Christ that the Bible does not simply say that obedience is a “pretty good indicator” of whether someone is a Christian or not. It says that obedience is a mark by which we can know whether someone is a true believer (Matthew 7:20; 1 John 2:3).

Notice that the Bible never says that we are saved by our obedience. It teaches the opposite: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). To suggest that our works form any part of the ground of our justification and salvation is to flatly contradict the teaching of the whole Bible. It is to duplicate the religion of the Pharisees, to grossly dishonor Christ’s work, and to say that mere men do indeed have grounds for boasting before God! (Romans 4:2-4; Titus 3:4-7). No, we must jealously guard the Bible truth of salvation by the grace of God alone.

But every bit as dangerous as the doctrine of salvation by works is any doctrine that teaches that people who do not live a life of obedience are saved. That too is damnable and damning doctrine. Sadly, it is taught all too commonly by Christian teachers who are ignorant of the Bible’s teaching, or who teach only part of the truth for fear they will be called “legalists”, or who fear offending “carnal Christians” who do not want to have their consciences pricked by the demands of the gospel. But it is not taught in the Bible. Be sure to use the “whole counsel of God” to answer the important question, “Are you a Christian?”

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