How Would God Define A Christian?

I mentioned when I started that I spoke in the West Indies. When I got to the island of Nevis the people were having a memorial service because just one year earlier a ship called the Christina had sank with more than 400 aboard. More than 300 had died. I had the opportunity to speak to one of the 90-some survivors. I asked, "How were you able to escape and yet so many others died?" He said, "Larry, it was simple. We were taking hundreds of containers to the next island on our ship. As soon as that ship overturned all those containers were thrown out into the water. I knew I could not save myself. So I took one of those containers and pulled it under me, rested my weight upon it, and trusted it to save me „Ÿ and it did. My friend did the same thing. He yelled ’Help, I’m drowning!’ So I threw him one of those containers, he pulled it under him, rested his weight on it, trusted it to save him and it did." Then he said something I’ll never forget. He said, "But there were enough containers to save everyone on the ship. But everyone was trying to save themselves instead of trusting the only thing that could save them."

Christ’s point is this: There are those who are trying to save themselves by saying or doing something instead of trusting the only One who can save them. Because the moment you trust Him as your only way to heaven, you enter the relationship with Him in which He knows you and you know Him. And John 1:12 says "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe on His name." Becoming a Christian is not a matter of saying or doing something but trusting someone.

Martin Luther was ordained to the priesthood. He studied Scripture, had a doctorate of theology degree. He lectured on books of the Bible like Psalms, Romans, Galatians, Hebrews, Titus. If someone asked him, "Do you believe in the divinity of Christ?" he would have said, "I sure do." If you would have asked, "Do you believe that Christ died on a cross?" he would have said, "I sure do." If someone would have asked him, "Do you believe Christ is coming again?" he would have said, "I sure do." And yet at that time in his life, by his own admission, he did not know Christ personally because he was trusting things he had done to save him.

When it comes to getting to heaven, it is not the will of God that you go to church. When it comes to getting to heaven is not the will of God that you say your prayers. When it comes to getting to heaven, it is not the will of God that you love your neighbor. When it comes to getting to heaven, it is not the will of God that you keep the Ten Commandments. When it comes to getting to heaven, it is not the will of God that you live a good life. When it comes to getting to heaven, it is not the will of God that you be baptized. When it comes to getting to heaven, it is not the will of God that you take the sacraments.

It is the will of God that you come to God as a sinner, recognize Christ died for you and arose and trust in Him alone as your only way to heaven. If you have missed that, you have missed the whole message. It is not what you have done. It is not what you have said. It is who you put your trust in as your only way to heaven. Becoming a Christian is not a matter of saying or doing something but trusting someone.