Expert: Thurman C. Petty, Jr. - 11/5/2010

Question
Hello. I was reading where (new testament) christians were warned that many would come claiming to be christ or representing him. How can I make sure that I am really a christian and not a pretender.

Answer
Dear Michelle,

Thank you for your question about false Christs.

Do you claim that you are Christ and are in the process of trying to convince others that they should follow you? If you’re not, and by your question I don’t think you are, then you are not a pretender to Christ’s throne.

The thing that differentiates between a true Christian and a false Christ is that the true Christian realizes that it is only through Christ that we attain to Salvation. The true Christian has faith that:
1. Jesus was God in human flesh (Phil. 2:5-8);
2. He died on the cross (Matt. 27);
3. He rose from the dead (Luke 23:56-24:43);
4. He ascended up into heaven to sit on the Father’s throne (Luke 24:44-53; Rev. 3:20, 21); and
5. The true Christian trusts in Jesus' promise to come back again to raise the dead and usher all His people into His heavenly kingdom (John 14:1-3).

He/she is not claiming to be Christ; they are not trying to save themselves and others as well; they are people who claim that Christ alone can save them by believing in Him.

Perhaps this will help to answer your question. The best thing to help you understand this in its fullest sense is by reading your Bible. Reading the Bible is so important to the Christian. It would be very difficult to maintain a saving relationship with God without it. And learning about God and His requirements for us would be nearly impossible without some connection with God’s Holy Word.

Actually, if we watch for Him, we’ll find Jesus Christ in almost every passage of the Old and New Testaments. Sometimes He’s known as the Creator (cf. John 1:1-4, 10, 14); sometimes He’s known as “the Angel of the LORD” (Ex. 3:1-14; cf. John 8:56-58); sometimes He’s known as the “servant” (Isa. 52:13-53:12); and sometimes as the Messiah. Often He’s behind the scenes, working through those who live according to His will.

If you have difficulty understanding the Bible, there are many aids available to help you do this, (see list below). But above all, read your Bible for yourself, and pray that God will help you understand it.

Stay close to Jesus.

Thurman C. Petty, Jr.
PettyPress@gmail.com
www.PettyPress.com (20 Books; 42 Bible Study Guides; more)

Sources of Bible study aids and answers for your questions:
Mail order Bible lessons: Amazing Facts Bible Lessons, PO Box 1058, Roseville, CA 95678
Telephone questions answered: 3ABN 1-800-752-3226 (pastoral dept., ext. 1)
On-line: Bibleinfo.com; Itiswritten.com (Bible studies/Discover Bible Guides)
Television networks: HOPE Channel (Direct TV #368); 3ABN (Dish Network #9710)