Am I a Christian?

I was told that I was a childhood Christian, and I was born into Christianity because I was born into the FALC.

My life did not reflect a life of following Jesus, I had no love for the Lord in my life, and I was living for myself. I was affirmed every Sunday that I could believe my sins forgiven and I was on my way to heaven. As long as I was attending the FALC, going up for communion, and acting like everyone else there (following the unsaid "rules"), I was a Christian. It did not matter where my heart was, what my intentions and motives were, and how I lived my life. As long as I "believed like a child," I was in the faith.

I was lied to. I was not a Christian at all according to the Bible. I was in bondage to my sin, and served sin. I lived selfishly, for my own desires, never seeking to do God's will. I did not have a broken and contrite heart over my sins & repent and trust in Christ alone for my salvation. I was very prideful & self-reliant. I never read the Bible or prayed. I saw no need for God in my every day life. My life was full of fun times, but was empty spiritually. My heart was far from God. I really did not want to hear anything about Jesus, outside of church. I just wanted to do what I wanted to do, and have as much fun as possible. I was trusting in a man-made tradition, the blessing at FALC, and was sure that was enough for me to be saved, because this had been engrained in my mind since day one.

By God's amazing grace, He opened my eyes to my sick, sinful state, and brought me to genuine repentance and grief over my sin. He showed me how holy He is, and how wretched I am, and what a great Savior He is. He is so abundantly merciful and kind. I do not deserve one ounce of grace, yet He gives me grace to cover all of my sin, in Christ. He showed me that He loves me so, very much and I can stop striving for man's approval and seeking for my best life, but to just run to Jesus's open arms, trusting in Him completely as my Lord and Savior. Safe in the arms of Jesus, where I could finally find rest for my soul. He is so glorious and good! God made me a new creation that day, His beloved child, and gave me completely new desires. I found myself craving and loving God's word. I desired to honor God in my words and deeds. I loved Christian music and praising God, and that's all I have listened to since. I just wanted to tell everyone about Jesus, and the great relief, peace, rest, and joy He brought me, and still does bring me! I still need Him today as much as I did the day I was saved. Nothing in this world comes close to knowing Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

The gospel is explained more in detail here: https://amandakoppana.wixsite.com/website/post/the-gospel

My testimony in more detail here: https://amandakoppana.wixsite.com/website/post/my-testimony

Article on the blessing here: https://amandakoppana.wixsite.com/website/post/the-blessing

Article from Lower Lights blog on blessing: https://www.lowerlightburning.com/the-blessing

Many in the FALC are told that they are childhood Christians. Some children may genuinely believe from a young age, but many do not as well. It is very deceiving to tell everyone, just because they go to a certain church, that they are Christians. Your life and your actions show what you really believe. Many confess to be Christians, but their lives do not reflect this.

Titus 1:16 - "They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed."

Please read this with a humble heart before the Lord.

I am not judging, I am just laying out what God's word says about these things. God is the judge, and His word was written for us to know Him & know what it means to follow Him.

It is vitally important to test yourself against the word of God, and not to blindly trust what man says about your eternity.

2 Corinthians 13:5 - "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?"

What God says, goes. We do not get to make up our own version of Christianity, based on traditions, that is not according to God's commands. There is only one way to be saved, by grace through faith in Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6). You must receive Christ and be born again. (John 1:12, John 3:3)

There are no in-between Christians. You are either in Christ or outside of Christ. You are either heading for heaven or hell. There is no in-between. You either live for Jesus, or live for self. You are either born again or dead in sins.

I made these lists for you to read, all from the scriptures. Please do not just read this, but read each of these verses, with the chapter, and book, so you understand the context. This list is not extensive.

Outside of Christ you are…

In Adam (1 Corinthians 15:22)

Condemned (John 3:18)

In the domain of darkness (Colossians 1:13)

Sinners (Romans 3:23)

Enemies of God (Romans 5:10)

Separated from God. (Isaiah 59:2, Ephesians 4:18, Ephesians 2:12)

Exchanged the truth of God for a lie & worshiped and served the creature rather the creator. (Romans 1:25)

Depraved mind (Romans 1:28-32)

Servant (or slave) of sin. (Romans 6:16-17)

Practicing sin (1 John 3:4-10)

Children of the devil (1 John 3:4-10, John 8:44)

Dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1)

Sons of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2)

No hope, without God in the world (Ephesians 2:12)

Children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3)

Far off (Ephesians 2:13)

Strangers and aliens to God (Ephesians 2:19)

Wrath of God abides on you (John 3:32)

Unrepentant (Romans 2:5)

Son of disobedience (Ephesians 5:6, Colossians 3:6)

Storing up wrath for the day of judgement (Romans 2:5)

Perishing (2 Corinthians 2:16)

How you live outside of Christ:

Following the course of this world (Ephesians 2:2)

Living in the passions of the flesh, carrying out the desires of the body & mind (Ephesians 2:3)

Living for self (2 Corinthians 5:15)

Practicing sin (1 John 3:8)

Suppressing the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18)

Lover of pleasure instead of lover of God (2 Timothy 3:4)

lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit (2 Timothy 3:4)

Do not honor God or give thanks to Him (Romans 1:21)

Selfishly ambitions, do not obey the truth (Romans 2:8)

No fear of God (Romans 3:18)

Hate hearing God's word (2 Corinthians 2:15-16)

Walking in darkness (1 John 1:6)

In Christ you are…

Born again (John 3:3)

A child of God (John 1:12, 1 John 3:4-10)

Forgiven (Colossians 1:14, Psalm 103:12)

A new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:5)

Alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:5, )

Saved (Ephesians 2:8-9)

His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)

Fellow citizens with the saints, of God’s household. (Ephesians 2:19)

Raised up with Christ, seated with Him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6)

A co-heir with Christ (Romans 8:16-17)

Adopted (Romans 8:15)

Righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Holy and beloved (Colossians 3:12)

Justified (Romans 3:24,26, Romans 5:1)

At peace with God (Romans 5:1)

Reconciled (Romans 5:10-11)

Redeemed (Titus 2:14)

Set free (John 8:36, Romans 8:2, Galatians 5:1)

Set apart (Leviticus 20:26)

A slave of righteousness (Romans 6:16-18)

Dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11)

Perfected for all time (Hebrews 10:14)

Washed white as snow (Isaiah 1:18, Psalm 51:7)

Not condemned. (Romans 8:1)

You have received the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38, Romans 5:5)

Sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13)

You have a new heart. (Ezekiel 36:26)

You are a chose race, royal priesthood, holy nation, a people for God’s own possession (1 Peter 2:9)

Ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20)

How you live in Christ:

You do not practice sin (1 John 3: 4-10)

You live for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:15)

You walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4)

Christ lives in you (Galatians 2:20)

Live by faith in the Son of God (Galatians 2:20)

Christ is your life (Colossians 3:4)

No longer live to please man, but Christ (Galatians 1:10)

By perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life (Romans 2:7)

Read the Bible earnestly, and love God’s word (Matthew 4:4, 1 Peter 2:2, Psalm 119)

Love to praise the Lord (Psalm 103:1, and so many psalms are filled with praises)

Give thanks to God (Hebrews 13:15)

Sharing the gospel, making disciples (Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 5:18)

Proclaim the excellencies of Jesus (1 Peter 2:9)

Seek fellowship with believers (Hebrews 10:25)

Seek to glorify God in all things (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Do good works for the glory of God (Matthew 5:16)

Wives, submit to your husbands (Ephesians 5:22)

Husbands, love your wives, lead her (Ephesians 5:23-25)

Zealous for good deeds (Titus 2:14)

Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:11)

Love God (Romans 8:28)

Put off the old self, put on the new self (Colossians 3:9-10)

Practice humility, put others first (Philippians 2:3)

Follow Jesus (Matthew 16:24, 1 John 2:6)

Keep God's commandments (John 14:15, Luke 6:46, 1 John 2:3)

Fear God (Psalm 103:13)

Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You grieve over your sin & repent of it (Romans 7)

Confess sin to God and other believers (1 John 1:9, James 5:16)

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

You are disciplined by God (Hebrews 12:7-10)

You are sanctified (Romans 6:19, John 17:17)

You grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus (2 Peter 3:18)

Diligently seek God (Hebrews 11:6)

Teach children the word of God (Deuteronomy 6:7)

Bear good fruit (John 15)

Hear the voice of Jesus and follow Him (John 10)

Love to hear the gospel (2 Corinthians 2:15-16)

Walking in the light (1 John 1:7)