ON LABELS

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. True. But if a nurseryman hung rose labels on petunias and dandelions, it would not make them roses.

We like labels. It saves us the trouble of thinking. Many people are called Democrats or Republicans without really knowing what the label means. A person may have the label "success" if he's made a lot of money, even if his personal life is a colossal failure. 

A vague, catch-all label is "Christian." Most people, if asked, "Are you a Christian?" find it easy to answer, "Yes." That's because the label includes: 

A. HEREDITARY CHRISTIANS. *People whose parents were Christians and who think they are also. They may attend church occasionally, or even regularly - especially the church of their parents.) 

B. ETHICAL CHRISTIANS. (People who are good. They live decent lives and want others to do so too. They like the Golden Rule that Jesus taught. They think that doing one's best is all anyone can expect.) 

C. CULTURAL CHRISTIANS. (People who live in a Christian community or nation. They like the music and the ceremonies - especially to get married and buried with.) 

D. SOCIAL CHRISTIANS. (People who like to meet their friends at church, like their children to make proper friends, and like the social activities. Businessmen find it's good for business.)

E. TRUE CHRISTIANS. (People who believe that Jesus Christ is God's Son who died on the cross to save them, because they are sinful and the penalty for sins is death. They believe that Christ died to save them and they trust in Him and acknowledge Him as their Master and Lord.) 

This last group may also have Christian parents, try to lead decent lives, go to church, and enjoy Christian cultural and social activities. But they realize that none of these things makes a person a Christian. A Christian has experienced such a total change that it is called being born again! 

A TRUE CHRISTIAN: 

a. knows that he is a sinner, separated from God. 

b. realizes that he deserves eternal punishment in hell. 

c. recognizes his guilt and repents of his sin. 

d. knows he cannot save himself by good works, but seeks help. 

e. recognizes Jesus Christ as God Himself.

f. learns that God loves him so much that he sent His Son, Jesus, to save him. 

g. accepts the payment that Jesus made for his sin when He died on the cross. 

h. lives a thankful life for this salvation. 

i. believes the Bible as God's Word. 

j. acknowledges Jesus as his Lord and Master. 

k. is possessed by the Holy Spirit. 

l. loves his fellowmen as God loved him. 

m. looks forward to living with God forever. 

If you are such a person, it does not matter what labels others put on you. If you are not such a person, no label will help. Accept in simple faith the wonderful offer to become a true Christian: 

“Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”  Matthew 7:20-21

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”   John 3:16

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 

 2 Corinthians 5:17

Where do you stand? Do you think you are a Christian because of your parents, your good woks, your culture? Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. 

If you do not pass the test, we say with Paul: ...as though God did beseech you by us: we pray yo in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 

Faith Prayer and Tract  League, Grand Rapids, MI 49504-1390

NOTE: My father Carl T Knott Sr., was saved at the age of 62, after being a "baptist" all his life. He wrote out his personal testimony of conversion and mailed it to all his family and friends with one of these tracts inside each letter. I kept it and read his testimony and this tract at his funeral. I thank the Lord for saving my Dad, and pray that He will continue to wake up "good" religious people to their sinfulness and need for the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.