It is a sad thing to be Christians at a supper, heathens in our shops, and devils in our closets. – Stephen Charnock

It was one of those unforgettable conversations. Though it was over forty years ago, it’s tattooed on the wall of my mind. I happened to interact with the manager of a strip club in Detroit. When I shared with him that I was a Christian, he quickly responded that “we’re all Christians” referring to everyone at his strip club. 

The Bible commands us NOT to judge someone’s spiritual condition, on whether they truly are a Christ-follower. It’s what Jesus was talking about when He said, Judge not, that you be not judged (Matthew 7:1). Only the Lord knows those who are truly born again and are going to heaven. When we get Home, there will be individuals in heaven that will shock us that they are there and others who are not in heaven that we thought for sure would be there. So, I believe that you could manage or work in a strip club and be born again but it violates the Bible and is spiritually abnormal.

God’s Word is clear that if you’ve truly committed your life to Christ, there is life transformation. Jesus warned of those who lack indicators of new life (Matthew 7:16-20). Paul reiterates that when there is salvation, there’s transformation. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

Based on that, the indicators are there that the U.S. is not a Christian nation. Though some 64% of U.S. adults identify as Christian and 42% of adults identify as having had a born-again experience, the lifestyle of larger percentage of Americans doesn’t line up with those claims. 

For example, if we’re truly a Christian nation, then why do we have such a chronic problem with bigotry? Why are we consumed with a love for money, out of control materialism and consumerism? Why is addiction of all kinds an epidemic? Why do 20% confess that they regularly drink more than they should and believe they can’t have a good time apart from alcohol consumption? 10% are addicted to porn and 41% view it at least once a month? 70% of all Americans are angry every day and 31% report they’re “really angry” every day. 75% of Americans admit to lying at least twice a day. If 60% or even just 40% of Americans were truly Christ-followers wouldn’t these behaviors be very different? Wouldn’t there be noticeable societal changes? It’s this simple – if you truly knows Jesus, then you think and act like Jesus.

Today we’re completing our study of John 3:16. It breaks my heart that we might have some in our church who could sit through a series like this and not know Jesus as their Savior. Yet, we know, based on Scripture that’s the case. There are more who profess to know Jesus than those who actually know Him or more importantly, that He knows. That’s because our emphasis is unbiblical. We ask the wrong question: Do you know Jesus? when Scripture asks: Does Jesus know you? (Matthew 7:23). Professing Christians may use “God talk” and have some displays of spirituality, but they’re not Christians because Jesus doesn’t know them. Many professing Christians sit in gospel preaching churches Sunday after Sunday, know about Jesus yet don’t know Him. 

There is a huge difference between actually knowing a person and knowing about them. For example, if I asked, “Do you know my wife?” Some could answer, “Oh yes, her name is Jane.” Others might be able to add a description saying, “She is a someone who is very kind” or “Jane always has a smile.” However, knowing someone’s name or knowing casual observations about him or her doesn’t equate truly knowing that person. Those who have some information about my wife, or some idea of what she’s like, may not actually know her. 

In the same way, it’s possible to know about Jesus, sing about Him, feel good about Him, be in a Bible study, and talk about Him, but tragically not really know Him. Informational Christianity won’t save your soul and will result in a Christ-less eternity. That’s both frightening and heartbreaking! Here are a few indicators that Jesus knows you and have a transformed life. 

Repentance from sin. 

Repentance means turning away from sin and turning towards God. It involves a change in the way we think and feel about sin, as well as a change in our actions and behavior. A true Christian lives out the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). 

Hungering and thirsting for God. 

A Christ-follower is spiritually hungry. To hunger and thirst to read the Bible and learn more about God is an indicator that the Holy Spirit is actively working in the life of a believer. 

Praying regularly. 

When there is new life, there’s a new Father. As a child longs to communicate with his/her parents, a child of God longs to communicate with their Heavenly Father. A failure to pray on a regular, basis and not reading God’s Word (the Bible) shows He’s that He’s not that important. If there’s a relationship, there’s a passion to communicate.

Sharing Jesus with those who don’t know Him. 

Once Jesus has transformed your life, you’re motivated to share all that He has done for you with others. You’re so overwhelmed with His love for you, His forgiveness for all your sin – you have to tell others (2 Corinthians 5:20). It’s like having the cure for something worse than cancer, you have to share it, so others won’t die!

Loving other Christians. 

You can’t claim to be born-again and hate a brother or sister. If you love the Father, you love His family. It doesn’t matter what ethnic, political, chronological or economic group they are in. You love God’s family! 1 John 2:9-11, Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

A drunk named Joe was miraculously converted at a Rescue Mission. Prior to his conversion he had the reputation of being a dirty wino with no hope. After coming to Christ, everything changed. Joe became the most caring person anyone associated with the mission had ever known. He spent all his time hanging out at the mission doing whatever needed to be done. There was never any task too lowly for Joe to take on. Whether it was cleaning up the vomit left by some violently sick alcoholic or scrubbing the toilets, Joe did what was asked with a soft smile and with gratitude for the chance to serve Jesus. 

One evening, when the director of the mission was delivering his regular evangelistic message to the usual crowd of winos, one came down the aisle to the altar and knelt to pray, crying out for God to change him. This repentant drunk kept shouting, “Oh God, make me like Joe! Make me like Joe!” The director of the mission leaned over and said to him, “Son, I think it would be better if you prayed, ‘Make me like Jesus!” The man looked up at the director with a quizzical expression and asked, “Is HE like Joe?” 

Does Jesus know you? If He does, it will show. Others will see Jesus living in and through us. His grace will shine out of our lives!