What is a living Christian? Does that mean there are dead Christians? How do you know if you are alive or dead?

There is a Christian who has gone to church every Sunday for decades, but when you ask him, “Who is Jesus? What has Jesus done for you?” he only smiles wryly, unable to answer this most simple question. So this “Christian” is a dead Christian!

Another Christian has not gone to church in over 10 years. Is he a living or dead Christian? You may say he is dead, but when we ask him, “Who is Jesus? What has he done? Where is he?” he is able to answer: “Jesus is the true God, he is our Savior, and he lives in my heart.” So he is still a living Christian!

Why is the first example a dead Christian? Because he does not have the life of Christ.

Why is the second example a living Christian? Because he has the life of Christ.

How to be a living Christian? First, we need the life of Christ. The Lord Jesus himself teaches us clearly that our lives must be connected to him. Jesus emphasized at least 3 things that living Christians display:
1. Connect with Jesus (John 15:5a)
2. Bear much fruit (John 15:5b)
3. Read Bible and pray (John 15:7)

1. Connect with Jesus
(John 15:5a)

Jesus said: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you.”

A life connected to Jesus is like the branch connected to the vine. We need to remain in Christ as he remains in us. First, you need to believe in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, to acknowledge that only he has died for your sins and rose on the third day. Then you will be born-again and receive the life in the vine. When you have received Jesus’ life, you will bear much fruit.

2. Bear much fruit
(John 15:5b)

Jesus said: “You will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Brothers and sisters, if you have the life of Christ, you should have a life bearing much fruit. In your life, others will see the fruit of the lips, the fruit of the Spirit, and the fruit of the gospel. Your lips will sing praises to God. You will display the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace from God; patience, kindness, goodness in dealing with others; faithfulness, gentleness, self-control in dealing with matters. And you will often bear the fruit of the gospel, bringing pre-believers to Christ.

Why are you able to bear these fruit? Why are you able to bear the fruit of the lips, the fruit of the Spirit, and the fruit of the Gospel? Because you have done the most basic work, also the foundation of all Christians: Reading the Bible and praying.

3. Read Bible and pray
(John 15:7)

Jesus said: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

You have the life of Christ, therefore you have the Word of God. You are also willing to pray, and have experienced answered prayers. Devotions, after you have become a Christian, are not just a connection with God, but a close and tight connection. Like your relationship with your spouse, you do not just say once, “I love you”, but you need to say daily, often: “I love you”. You would also want to hear them say to you: “I love you”.

So, how do you know if you are a living Christian?

From your rebirth, your fruit, and your devotions, you can tell whether or not you are a living Christian.

A living Christian has the life of Christ.

A living Christian bears much fruit for God.

A living Christian reads Bible and prays daily.

Dear brothers and sisters, are you a living Christian?

By Rev Dr Tie King Tai
SCAC President