How do you know if you are a true christian?

Question

I have been a christian family all of my life, i go to church almost every week, and i try to read the bible and pray every now and then, SOMETIMES i commit a sin which i already know that it is against christianity but i still want to do it again and again so i turn away from god.. SOMETIMES, i have so much doubt God, i feel like im an athiest but i try to act like im a christian.. i dont know i guess im just confused

Answer 1

You turn your life back over to God.Make a contious effert no to sin again.Ask HIM for forgiveness for your sin,and mean it.Get in a bible believeing bible teaching church.I once turned away from God because i had all of the questions that you have.Like you i already know what i was doing was wrong,but i kept doing them because i thouhgt it was fun,i didn't think i had to look at my life as it was.I thought i was free to do any and every thing i wanted to do.I was wrong,just as you are wrong.Everything that the word of GOD tells us to do,sociaty tells us it's alright to do.Drinking,drugs,pornography,lying and cheating in any form.there are a host of things i could mention but i think you get the point.If you have not found out already you will see that those thing and some can only lead to a distructive life style.If you want to turn your life over to GOD here's your chance.Get on your knees,humble yourself before the LORD.As HIM for forgiveness for your sins and mean it.Speak your sin to HIM out loud in a private place so that it will be you and HIM.Tell HIM everything you can think of,and especially the things you want no one else to hear.Turn your heart,your mind and your soul over to GOD,you will see a big differents in how you think,how you talk,how youact.You do have to be awear that your so called friend are going to think you are strange,but if you really want ro do this you will accept what in front of you,not your past.

Answer 2

going to church or reading the bible does not make you a true christian,it is good you are searching your self and realising you are sinning over and over again, it is very difficult to acknowledge that you are wrong, the first step is you realise its a sin,and thats a good sign,you are human and can sin but god is a loving and forgiving god,
repeating the same sin it depends on the sin if you are hurting some one else with your sin, then you have to make an honest attempt to stop what ever it is, cause you can be hurting a lot of people, if you cannot control it have a talk with your family priest, or go for councelling,keep praying and the best is to get involved in some charity work that should keep your mind occupied you can do alot for kids that do not have,keep trying your on the path to recovery dont despair, best of luck and may god be with you

Answer 3

Christian family doesn't save you.
Going to church doesn't save you.
Reading your Bible doesn't save you.
Praying doesn't save you.

Romans 10:9,10 says
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

If you've done that, you're saved. The fact that you're reading and praying is evidence of it. What other evidence in your life indicates a change? Is your attitude towards people you don't like different? Do you treat your family different?

Knowing God isn't just something you "feel" all the time. Its certainly part of it, but you simply have to live it.

As for committing sin. Who doesn't do it? Romans 3:23 says "all have sinned." Remember David? He murdered a man so that he could have sex with the man's wife. That's probably a worse sin then you commit, but look what he did in Psalm 51:2.
"Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin."
He asked for forgiveness and was forgiven.

Every Christian has doubts about his/her faith sometimes. I've been a Christian for 20 years and doubts creep in sometimes. If you've done the things mentioned above, you're a Christian. One thing I do when doubts creep in is look back at what God's done in my life. I sometimes write down cool things he does just so that I can go back and read it for that purpose. Another idea... do some research on creation and see how complex our world is and how absurd it is to think we were formed by chance. You'll find it takes more faith to not believe in God after doing that. I'll pray for you today.

Answer 4

I would know I am a true Christian when I live a life where I show all of the compassion and love that Jesus did, stop sinning as much as possible and if I do sin, seek forgiveness (pray to God, go to confession). When I provide as near perfect example of godly behavior to those around me, then I will be a true Christian. Until that time, I will do my best, but I will not actively show my Christianity as I would rather be a non-example than a bad one.

In my opinion, the problem is you know you are sinning, and yet you keep doing it, willingly. That is why you feel so apart and doubtful from God. You have knowingly put this big problem between you (sin) and do nothing to get rid of it. You doubt God because now you feel separated. It is alright to question your beliefs, I do it myself. But I do my best to remove those things that block me from God (sin).

Answer 5

Christianity is a FAITH based religion, not WORKS based. so far being in a christian family and going to church sound like WORKS, similar to islamists praying 3 times a day, every day. dont sit there and place yourself in an enviroment that you think god will change your life in. seek God, go after him. if there was 1000 steps between you and god he would take 999, but you have to do more than sit on the bottom step wating for him. if you seek him in earnest and take the one step towards him, he WILL change your life, for the better. as for the whole tru christian thing, christianity is a journey, not a destination. you learn something new everyday, and your christian walk with god can not reach a point where it can not grow stronger. just chill out, think for a while, and discuss your troubles with your pastor or preist or whatever. if he cant offer any good advice than find a new church. fast.

Answer 6

Well, I John 5:13 states that "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God" If you have accepted Christ as your Saviour then you are a Christian. You cannot lose your salvation, otherwise the life would not be eternal, right? :) Also, in II Timothy 2, we find that Paul states "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful." You may be going through a rough time right now, but know that God loves you and you are still His child. Perhaps there is some self-examining to do in your life?

Answer 7

Being in a church doesn't make you a Christian any more than being in a garage makes you a car.

Most people have doubts sometimes. I've even known atheists to admit that they have doubts.

Do you want to be a "real Christian"?? If you do, talk to God about it. He is able to help you to decide what to do about your doubts and your temptations, if you will let Him.

Do you want to be an atheist? If your answer is yes, it is my guess you already are one. Be honest with yourself, and with others.

Answer 8

First have all have you been baptize and receive the Holy Spirit. I am not saying this to cut you down in anyway. Being a true christian is not an easy task anyone can say they are saved or they are a christian Jesus said many shall say Lord, Lord, and not make it in. One cannot enter into heaven without the Holy Spirit ; God said if you have not His Spirit you are not of His. (Romans 8:9)

Furthermore one can be baptize and still haven't received the Holy Spirit; Acts 19:1-8
And it came to pass that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus and finding certain disciples;

He said unto them, have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him; We have but so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

And he said unto them, Unto what then where ye baptized? And they said unto John's baptism.
Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people they should beleive on Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

When they heard this they were bapitized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Dear one;
If you truly want to be save and be a true christian you must have the Holy Spirit of God; We cannot rely on ourselves to do good for it only lasts for a while and then the flesh rises up again. This is a Spiritual Warfare and only with the help of God and His Spirit working in us can you, I or anyone else win it.

John 3:3> Verily, verily I say unto you except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.
3:5-7
Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Seek God and stay in His Word the closer you get to him the closer He will get to you. Hang in there and be strong Jesus really loves you!

Answer 9

The Holy Bible says that when His spirit bears witness with your spirit that you are saved.

There are no contradictions in the Holy Bible if it is properly understood through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and sincere study.
The devil is trying to destroy mankind in direct opposition to Jesus Christ who died that we through his Crucifixion, burial and Resurrection might be saved.

I would recommend that that you read the King James version of the Bible. It contains the answers to your questions.
God the Father knew you before you we born in eternity past and when you were formed in your mother womb. We are born with a Soul that will live for eternity. We must decide as a free will agent to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior or not.
Our decision determines whether we spend eternity in Heaven or Hell.
I Pray that you make the right decision.
Jesus Christ Loves You.
God Bless you is my prayer.
David

Answer 10

You're fine! Every Christian goes through a valley here and there! The Lord is not going to take your salvation away, he's not that kind of Father! Keep praying and ask the Lord to forgive you of your sins!