A quick reading of church history may give the impression that Christianity has advanced primarily through the heroic efforts of its great leaders. The truth, however, is that while faithful and gifted leaders are vital, the spread of the gospel has mainly taken place through ordinary Christians. Tertullian of Carthage (d. AD 240) devoted himself to preaching and teaching, yet by his admission it was the lives of the Christian people that changed the Roman Empire. He wrote that the Christians were “a body knit together” by their profession of faith, their disciplined lives, and their prayer-filled worship. Above all, he noted how those who met the believers marveled: “See how they love one another.”
Church history shows that ordinary Christians really do change the world, provided that they lead authentic lives of faith and godliness. The word authentic means that something or someone is what he claims to be. An authentic coin is one that is worth the value printed on its surface. And an authentic Christian’s life bears testimony to the truths that he or she proclaims.
Authenticity does not demand perfection. Yet if we expect people to consider our gospel, there must be an authentic correspondence between what we say and how we live. But what is an authentic Christian life? I suggest three categories at a minimum: an authentic Christian life displays the attitude of a forgiven sinner, the aim of following Jesus, and the ambition of leading others into His salvation.
An Authentic Attitude: Forgiven Sinners
Since Christians say that the problem of our world is sin, authentic Christians are willing to admit that they are also sinners. Some believers think that they have to pretend that they no longer sin. But if this is so, they should avoid marriage, children, and friends, since all these will soon disclose that the Christian is, in fact, a sinner. When Paul wrote that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23), he meant believers as well. Solomon knew what he was talking about when he proclaimed, “There is no one who does not sin” (1 Kings 8:46).
Many people have come to saving faith through a sermon or witness that confronts them with the guilt of sin. But most people will be greatly helped if they know a Christian who is honest about his or her own sin. Perhaps a Christian gets into a conflict at work. An authentic Christian will respond not merely by accusing the other person but by saying: “The truth is that I sinned against you. I find that I have a tendency to be proud [or combative, or short-tempered, etc.]. I admit that I was wrong and ask you to forgive me.” It is never good to sin, but it is very good to be authentic about the problem of sin.
When Jesus forgave the woman accused of adultery in John 8:11, His message to her had two parts. The first was the message of forgiveness: “Neither do I condemn you.” Christians, therefore, are people who believe in the forgiveness of sin, starting with our own. Jesus died to pay our debt, so we rejoice that our sins are forgiven. But Jesus’ answer had a second part: “From now on sin no more.” So Christians do not indulge in sin but turn from it. Indwelt by the Holy Spirit, with Christ interceding for us in heaven, we take seriously Paul’s exhortation: “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you” (Col. 3:5). In the place of sin, we seek to put on the gracious qualities of Jesus, who died to redeem us from sin (v. 12).
If Christian lives are authentic reflections of our gospel, we not only must admit our sin and turn from it by God’s power, but we must also be ready and quick to forgive the sins of others. Jesus told a parable about a servant who had been forgiven a great debt but then refused to forgive a much lesser debt that was owed to him. Since this was not an authentic Christian faith, the servant was forced to pay his original debt and was thrown into prison (Matt. 18:21–35). It stands to reason that if we believe that we are forgiven, our gratitude to Christ will move us to be forgiving of others, even as He taught us to pray: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (6:12).
An Authentic Aim: Following Jesus
In addition to the attitude of a forgiven sinner, an authentic Christian reveals the aim of following Jesus as His disciple.
Most Christians have strong views about creation, about marriage, and about sex and other moral issues. But an authentic Christian life is focused on Jesus Himself. People who observe us will note that we believe in Jesus as a living Lord, that we are seeking to know Him better, and that we are trying to live in a way that pleases and serves Him. What a difference there is between a Christian who (of course) believes in Jesus but who is always focused on other topics. Paul expressed the authentic aim: “For me to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21).
As Christians whose aim is following Jesus, we trust and rely on His saving grace. For this reason, a true Christian prays often to the Father in Jesus’ name, knowing that He gives strength to our weakness. We know that we are not able to accomplish anything in our own strength. Yet by the power of the Holy Spirit, we say, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). Followers of Christ are not overthrown when trials come, including persecutions. After all, Jesus told us, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Instead, we seek to be joyful amid trials, realizing that we are privileged to “not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake” (Phil. 1:29).
Those who follow Jesus have taken Him by faith as Lord. This means that an authentic Christian is a biblical Christian. We study Scripture zealously, knowing that it is “the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). We learn its teaching, defend and spread its doctrines, and stand firm against the trends of an ungodly culture. Jesus insisted on biblical zeal as a mark of authenticity, saying, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples” (John 8:31).
An Authentic Ambition: Leading Others to Salvation
An authentic college student cheers for his school to win the sports championship, just as an authentic patriot seeks to advance his nation’s prosperity. A believer in Jesus has entered Christ’s kingdom so that His goals become ours. Jesus has told us that the spread of His gospel and the gathering of souls for salvation is the great ambition for which He died, rose again, and was exalted into heaven. An authentic Christian takes up this same ambition: we want to tell others about Jesus and His gospel, and we prayerfully labor for others to be saved.
According to Jesus, the great purpose of history is the salvation harvest of souls. Jesus therefore commissioned us to ensure “that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations” (Luke 24:47). Witnessing to people we know can be intimidating, but an authentic believer will pray for courage from heaven to tell family and friends about Jesus. Having been loved by God in Christ, we love others enough to tell them the good news of salvation. Likewise, since an authentic church is zealous about missions—its local and worldwide labors to spread the gospel—an authentic Christian will join in this labor, his or her heart leaping to play a role in the glorious work of the Great Commission.
Can You Be Authentic?
Christians do not have to be perfect to make a difference for Jesus, but we do need to be authentic. I mentioned how the lives of the early Christians changed their world—but do we realize that now we are the church on earth, and it is our lives and witness that represent Jesus in the world? Therefore, is it asking too much for us to pursue a life in which the truths that we believe can be authentically observed? Consider your attitude toward the sins of others: does it reflect our redemption in Christ? As for your aim in life, do you live for money, fame, or any of the other false gods of our time? Why not aim to follow Jesus in an authentic way? And consider whether you show Christ’s ambition for the salvation of the lost. If you have not done so already, pray that the Lord would enable you to bear witness to the gospel to one person—and when He has done that, expand your ambition so that many will learn about our Savior through you.
If authenticity is not important to us, it certainly is important to Jesus. In fact, He urges you that there is nothing more important: “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Luke 9:24).
Dr. Richard D. Phillips is senior minister of Second Presbyterian Church in Greenville, S.C. He is author of many books, including The Masculine Mandate and What’s So Great about the Doctrines of Grace? This article was originally published on TableTalk.
