When someone thinks they're Christian (but are actually probably not)

I want to preface this by saying, please don’t skip this. You may look at the title and think, “Ha! I’m not deceived. I’m definitely saved.” But maybe just hear me out. No offence, but you could be deceived.

Let me quickly pray for you and me before we continue: Lord, I thank you for bringing this person to even be reading these words. I pray that you will grant them an open mind, to let you show them the truth. Do not let them deceive themselves, but instead show them. Show them where their faith really lies. I thank you for everything, and I pray that you will use my words to reveal your truth to this person.

If you read that prayer and thought “this writer is so serious”, and you’re about to close this and forget you ever picked it up, please don’t. Please give this a chance. (Although one must always be reverent when speaking to the God of the universe.)

So, what does this “type” of people include?

I think it’s something like it's usually people who grow up in a second-gen (parents are Christian) family, and you believe that “oh, yes, I believe.” I think there’s like two “sub types”, so bear with me.

The first sub type is that you think you’re saved because;

1. your parents are Christian

2. you go to church

3. you do good things

4. you pray every single day

5. you read your Bible every single day

   
   

You have all these quote-unquote “credentials” and so you think these works will save you.

(I’m gonna assume that you believe there is a God and you believe in His word if you’re reading this, and if not please hear me out.) Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) says: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

So I think the most common form of being deceived is you think that your works or your so-called credentials are what saves you and gives you that “pass” into heaven. An example is that you don't become a hamburger just by going to McDonald's. So similarly you cannot just become a Christian when you go to church.

You cannot save yourself. Salvation is not by works, it is only by faith.

Galatians 2:16 (ESV) says: “yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order.” Similarly, Titus 3:5 (ESV) says “he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy.”

Can you do enough good to save yourself? Try saying it outloud. “I can do enough good things to cover my bad deeds and this will save myself before a perfect God.” Think about that.

Does it sound a little absurd? (Maybe a lot?) That’s good.

Because honestly, the idea that we can save ourselves is crazy. No offence though, I used to think so too. (Read my personal testimony to find out more.)

My mom gave me a really good example: You have a glass of water, clean water. And then a bit of dirt drops in it. Are you still going to drink that water? I hope your answer is no. But what if I scoop out the dirt in the water? No way, because the water’s contaminated. I'm not drinking that. What you actually need to do is pour out the water and get new water.

Same thing with salvation.

Whether it’s a lot of dirt or just a little bit, you shouldn’t be drinking it (unless you, for some strange reason, like constipation). We can only “scoop out” our sins, but we can’t fully clean the water on our own. We need Jesus to give us new “water” (which is our hearts) and then only are we clean before a perfect God.

If you believe in the gospel, you are saved. But then the question is, do you even know what the gospel actually is? I believe that it is the good news that Jesus died and rose to save us from our sins and reconcile us with a holy God. We think that we can save ourselves if we do enough “works” but really, Jesus is the only way.

As Jesus himself said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, ESV)

Now, let’s talk about the second sub type.

The type that you think you do a lot of good things because you believe. You know, at least in your head, that salvation is by faith alone.

But actually, if you examine your life, a lot of times you may actually do things out of your own strength and you don't trust God. You don't have faith that he will provide for you and you don't believe that he can deliver you from your problems.

This is also really dangerous, because you may also think like, “oh, that's not me. I have full faith in God, He saved me.”

But when it comes down to it, when you face struggles, do you go to God first to say, “Lord, help me, and guide me,” or do you complain, “why did you do this to me, God?” And when you have good things, do you say, “I did it, I’m great,” or do you go, “thank you Lord for blessing me.”

I think your immediate reaction to problems and good things says a lot about you. And sometimes even if you say that you do think about God first, you may also still need to examine yourself. Or you might not be putting full trust in God.

But that isn't to say that people who don't put their full trust in God are definitely not saved. They could be, but they may be struggling with trusting in God’s will. I mean, that's something that I struggle with to this day, and I think a lot of Christians do struggle with that. But if it is a recurring non-stop pattern and you often don’t feel the need to change… you may not be saved.

I’d recommend reading the short book of 1 John in the Bible. It has 5 chapters, and 10-27 verses in each chapter (total 101 verses). Pretty short, if you read one chapter a day you’ll finish it in less than a week. 1 John generally talks about signs of being a Christian. An example is 1 John 2:3 (ESV) “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.” Ask yourself if you see yourself “keeping his commands.”

But if you’re not feeling like reading the whole book of 1 John, just replace the bolded words below with your name in the following verse (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, ESV).

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

If it’s true, there’s a good chance you’re saved. And even if it doesn’t fit, don’t worry, we’re all works-in-progress and no one is perfect. Definitely talk to a Christian to find out more because I don’t know what your situation is like.

Ask God to show you, and reveal to you where you are spiritually. You have to be really honest with yourself. Only God can save us from our imperfection, and we need Him.

So, regardless of whether you have a not-so-accurate idea of salvation (the 1st type) or the 2nd type where you’re dealing with some doubts, ask God. Ask Him to show you.

Here’s a thought: God Math.

• Jesus + Nothing = Everything | Jesus + Something = Nothing

Ultimately, I'm not trying to argue or debate you into agreeing with me. At the end of the day, I can’t “force” you to believe in Jesus’s saving work on the cross. I just hope this will get you to question yourself. What really saves, faith or works?

Allow me to close in a word of prayer: Lord, thank you for bringing this person to read these words. I pray, if they have read the words of this chapter, that you will reveal your truth to them. I pray that the Spirit will guide them and lead them into a real, life-changing relationship with you. Thank you so much for this opportunity for them to read these words, and I pray you will use this to lead them to you. In your Son’s saving name we pray, Amen.

Christabelle Lim

3 Unity

2025