Can you tell if someone is TRULY a Christian?

It will be interesting when you get into heaven thinking one of your close friends is a christian and he is NOT there. You can't tell who is saved because ONLY God can do that. “O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You do scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways” (Psalm 139:1-3). God knows all our habits, plans, aims, desires, attitudes, ambitions, etc. are known to Him. “You understand my thoughts from afar” (v.2b). “He knows the secrets of the heart” (Ps. 44:21b). Jesus said, “God knows your hearts” (Lk. 16:15). The LORD said to Samuel, “God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (I. Sam. 16:7). Again to King Solomon God said, “The LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever” (1 Chron. 28:9). “He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom. 8:27). We can "observe" their fruits and see how they behave. Many have accepted Christ by watching Christians more than talking. In 1 Corinthians 13:5 says "Love does not act unbecomingly"; which means a Christian should demonstrate godly love and have real credibility. Your credibility is evangelism.

Marriage Made in Heaven

Best example of understand Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is through marriage. God, Husband and Wife are all in one in spirit. Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Spiritual intimacy in marriage is about partnering with God. In a Christian marriage relationship, God is at the top and my wife and I are at opposite ends on the bottom. As the two of us grow spiritually, we will move upwards together toward God. Engaging in a personal relationship with God is the first and most important step in initiating spiritual intimacy.

Discern False Teachings

God will judge those who explain false doctrines. James 3:1 "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." Jesus said in Matthew 7:22-23"Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Watch out for "wanna be" preachers. There are spiritual leaders and followers who are depending on doctrines rather than God to guide them in their Christian living practices without obvious agendas such as certain movements. We are living in the times of confusion and it is sometimes hard to distinguish the false from the true. The main problem is false teachings being taught within the Christian community. This is an area in which people are highly vulnerable to self-deception, where likenesses and differences are so difficult to distinguish in the "Christian" world. People often do not escape deceptions around the world unless they REALLY know the Word. This is a TWO-WAY street between the Church leaders and the members. Accountibility goes BOTH WAYS. It is ALL of our responsibilities as Christians to discern and we don't want to be gullible. We either be gullible or discerner. We are to be watching for RED FLAGS. How do I look for red flags? My position is to look at the whole ministry rather than having a tunnel vision of a teacher. The over-all package. I will notice that if they "don't practice with they teach", its a flag. If I see alot of red flags, I am spiritually uncomfortable to even listen to them. 1 John 4:1 (NIV) [ Test the Spirits ] Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world