So many in the Christian world today, including many Seventh-day Adventists, believe that all you have to do is believe in Jesus, belong to a church, pay your tithe to the right place, do a few good deeds and you’ve got your ticket to heaven. But are they right? What is true Christianity?
First, let’s see what it means to be a Christian.
“What is it to be a Christian? It is to be Christlike; it is to do the works of Christ.” Lift Him Up, 341
“A Christian is a Christlike man, a Christlike woman … .” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 935
“To have a Christlike character it is necessary to act in a Christlike way. …
“… it is essential to persevere in right doing.” Mind, Character and Personality, Vol. 2, 552
It is clear then that being a true Christian requires a character like Christ had. We find that the Bible describes this character in Galatians 5:22, 23. If you are Christlike, you will have love for God and your neighbor, you will be joyful, peaceable, patient, kind, humble, constant, and composed. You will do right because it is right.
1 John 2:6 tells us that if we abide in Him, we “ought also to walk as He walked.”
“Christ has come to be our example, and we are to walk as He walked, and work as He worked, with unselfish purpose, ever keeping the Pattern before us. Weighted with the sense of responsibility, we are to represent Christ to the world. This is our work as Christians; for we are to let our light shine forth to the world in good works. Actions will tell, and therefore how important it is to study the life of Christ to see how He glorified the Father, that we may go and do likewise.” The Youth’s Instructor, December 15, 1892
So if a true Christian is a person whose character is like Christ’s character, then what is true Christianity?
“Theology is valueless unless it is saturated with the love of Christ. True Christianity diffuses love through the whole being. It touches every vital part—the brain, the heart, the helping hands, the feet—enabling men to stand firmly where God requires them to stand, lest the lame be turned out of the way. The burning, consuming love of Christ for perishing souls is the life of the whole system of Christianity.” The Signs of the Times, May 10, 1910
Religion and theology are only good when they display the love of Christ. Many people believe in religion, but while they say they believe in Christ, their characters do not represent Him.
“The Lord expects His followers to reveal, in the transformation of their life and character, the power of the gospel, which converts and sanctifies the soul.” The Review and Herald, March 1, 1898
“The Lord of glory clothed His divinity with humanity, and came to our world to endure self-denial and self-sacrifice, in order that the moral image of God might be restored in man. All the heavenly attributes were in His heart in abundance, and flowed out in an irrepressible stream of good works.” Ibid.
The more Christlike we become, the more we will do the deeds of Christ.
“In Christ’s unwearying efforts is our pattern. Pity for those in need and suffering will be awakened in all who will attempt this self-denying, self-sacrificing work that the Majesty of heaven came to our world to perform. Those who receive Christ by faith will represent His compassion, His goodness, and His love in a world that is marred and seared with the curse. The degree to which these graces exist in the life and character, measures the genuine likeness to God. ‘By their fruits,’ said Christ, ‘ye shall know them.’ This is the true test both in grace and in nature. …
“But who are walking even as He walked? Who are working in Christ’s lines? Who among us have the faith which works by love and purifies the soul? Who are coming into such conformity to God as was represented in the grace of Him who is our pattern? Those who yoke up with Christ will have the mind of Christ. They will garrison the mind so that it shall not become enslaved to the control of a power that will stop at nothing in its earnest zeal to win the victory.” Ibid.
How then do we become more Christlike? Is it just sitting in church, listening to the minister tell us what we should know? Is it just believing in Jesus, but sitting back, not inclined to do the work that He did for a dying world?
“Let it never be forgotten that true Christianity comes through the engraving of Bible principles upon the heart and character. This must be an individual work, visibly expressed.” The Kress Collection, 122
“We can, we can, reveal the likeness of our divine Lord. We can know the science of spiritual life. We can glorify God in our bodies and in our spirits, which are His.” In Heavenly Places, 43
“The worker for God needs spiritual life. This life will give vigor to soul and body. Spiritual life yields to its possessor that which all the world is seeking, but which can never be obtained without an entire surrender to God. The contemplation of Him who loved us and gave Himself for us, will make our lives sweet and fragrant, and give us power to perfect a Christian experience.
“Laborer for God, the work given you is to represent Christ. He came to this world to shed upon you His own brightness and peace. Close the windows of your heart against the atmosphere of unbelief, and open them heavenward. It is your privilege to face the light, to talk faith and life. Let your countenance reflect the joy of the Lord. Speak of His goodness, tell of His power. … You may reflect the beauty of the character of your risen Lord … .” The Signs of the Times, May 10, 1910
“True Christianity is a religion of progress. It is ever giving light and blessing, and has in reserve still greater light and blessing to bestow to those who receive its truths. The illuminating influence of the gospel of Christ, and the sanctifying grace of God, can alone transform the carnal mind to be in harmony with spiritual things.” Sketches from the Life of Paul, 124
“Never rest satisfied until you possess a loving and lovable spirit. Your words may strengthen, help, and bless those around you. True Christianity makes the religious life attractive. Come to Christ, and His gentleness and love will break down the harsh, cold selfishness that prevents you from revealing Him to the world. Your hasty temper will be subdued, your pride expelled. Jesus will fill your heart with His gentleness, His patience, His love. Then you can uplift Him before sinners.” The Review and Herald, January 26, 1911
“In the light shining from the cross, true Christianity appears so pure and lovely that external decorations only hide its true worth. It is the beauty of holiness, a meek and quiet spirit, which is of value with God.” The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, 383
What is true Christianity?
“Nothing can elevate man, nothing can make him pure and keep him pure but believing in and practicing the truth. He must eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God. This is the lesson all should learn. They should see that to be sanctified means more than to have a theoretical knowledge of the truth. They must have living faith. They must do more than denounce wrongs in others; they must fight it in themselves. They must be whole-souled Christians possessing the earnestness and living energy derived in Christ.” Educational Messenger, March 19, 1909
“Christ is represented as stooping from His throne, bending earthward to send help to every needy soul who asks for it in faith. He is raising up the fallen, bringing hope to the helpless, and placing their feet in sure paths. He gave Himself to a shameful, agonizing death to save the perishing. O, He is able, He is willing, He is longing to save all who will come to Him! As you look upon our Intercessor, let your own heart be broken. Then, softened and subdued, you can address repentant sinners as one who knows the power of redeeming love. Pray with these souls. Get them to look away from themselves to the Saviour, and the victory is won. They behold for themselves the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. The strong tide of redeeming love pours into the parched, thirsty soul, and the sinner is saved to Christ. As he responds to the drawing of the Saviour, he repents of his sins and confesses them, and pardon is written opposite his name. The Holy Spirit takes of the things of God, and shows them to him. And his heart is filled with a sense of the greatness of God’s love. The grace of Christ expels the selfishness that has hitherto ruled the life. The affections turn to God. The character is transformed. The man is filled with an intense desire to serve Him who has done so much for him.” The Review and Herald, January 26, 1911
“A man lives unto God when he continually recognizes Him as a present Helper. When there is a recognition of the Lord Jesus Christ, there will be a holy fear lest he shall make mistakes. The soul will be drawn out continually in earnest prayer as he realizes his need. As he draws nigh unto God, God will draw nigh unto him; the love of God will be kindled in his heart, and he will be able to speak the words of God. The language of the heart will then be, ‘Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee.’ ” Bible Training School, January 1, 1908
Judy Rebarchek is the managing editor of the LandMarks magazine. She may be contacted by email at judyrebarchek@stepstolife.org