Are You a Sheep or a Goat? - What Makes a Christian "Christian"

Published on 04/28/24 by Dr-Shirley-Cheng.

Are you a sheep or a goat? When Jesus Christ returns to Earth to judge and reign over humanity, he'll separate the "sheep" and the "goats," putting the sheep (true Christians) on his right, and the goats (false Christians) on his left.

So what I'm asking is: Are you a Christian? Do you know what actually makes you a Christian? Does going to church every Sunday, wearing a golden cross on your necklace, donating to charities, and praying to God nightly or even three times a day make you a Christian?

Let's see what makes a Christian "Christian." A Christian...

a) Believes in the only true God, Yahweh, of the Bible

The Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, is the primary source that introduces to us the all-knowing and all-powerful only true God, who has made His name known to us as YHWH in Hebrew (Biblical Hebrew has no written vowels), from which scholars produce "Yahweh," and "Jehovah" in English. Since the Bible has been proven historically accurate, scientifically sound, and prophetic, we can trust it as the Word of God, from where an accurate knowledge of God can be obtained. Therefore, if you do not believe in the God described in the Bible, but instead a "god" from a different source, then you might as well believe in Santa Claus or the tooth fairy--simply put, a god of your own imagination.

b) Believes in the Son of Yahweh God, Jesus the Christ ("Anointed One")

If you only accept Yahweh, but not His only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ, then you cannot be a Christian, as the name "Christian" implies a follower of Christ, which means the "Anointed." Even if you believe that Jesus existed and that he was a great prophet but don't believe that he is the only begotten Son of God, then you aren't a Christian, either. A true follower of Christ accepts who he is and all the works he has done for humanity.

c) Actively loves Yahweh and Jesus

So you believe in Yahweh and Jesus? Well, that's no big deal. Even the demons believe in the true God and His Son (James 2:19; Mark 3:11), but does this make them Christians?

The ultimate test whether you are a Christian is if you love God and His Son. Believing in them is the easy part; loving them is the hard part.

Moses exhorted God's people, the Israelites, "Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one: and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might." (Deuteronomy 6:4-5, WEB) Jesus confirmed this as the most important commandment of all (Mark 12:29-30).

What does loving Yahweh God really entail? How should you love Him?

In the Bible, "love" is more of action, rather than emotion. It's not about a warm, fuzzy feeling we have inside. Biblical love is doing God's will, as opposed to Biblical hatred, where you do not do God's will.

But what is doing the will of God?

Doing God's will equates with obeying His moral commandments, such as for us not to steal, not to commit adultery or fornication, not to cheat our government of our taxes due, not to dishonor our parents, and not to tell lies or spread rumors. Doing God's will is NOT performing external religious duties all the while abandoning God's moral Law. So if you go to church weekly and pray to God nightly but fail to obey God's moral standard, Yahweh will ignore your prayers and not heed the gifts or donations you give to the church. Note what Yahweh said to Israel:

"What are the multitude of your sacrifices to me?
I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams,
and the fat of fed animals.
I don't delight in the blood of bulls,
or of lambs,
or of male goats.
When you come to appear before me,
who has required this at your hand, to trample my courts?
Bring no more vain offerings.
Incense is an abomination to me;
new moons, Sabbaths, and convocations:
I can't bear with evil assemblies.
My soul hates your New Moons and your appointed feasts.
They are a burden to me.
I am weary of bearing them.
When you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you.
Yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear.
Your hands are full of blood.
Wash yourselves, make yourself clean.
Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes.
Cease to do evil.
Learn to do well.
Seek justice.
Relieve the oppressed.
Judge the fatherless.
Plead for the widow." (Isaiah 1:11-17)

Israel thought that they had Yahweh's approval when they kept their worship rituals and offered Him many sacrifices and prayers, yet at the same time living a sinful lifestyle. But God was--and is never--mocked. He will not ignore our wicked deeds done outside the church building. It's only when we obey His Law will He look with favor upon our prayers and worship rituals.

When we obey Yahweh to follow His commandments, that means we love Him. When we disobey Him, that means we hate Him. That's how God judges whether we love or hate Him, not by how we feel for Him (2 John 6; Exodus 20:5-6). A Christian can "feel" love for God, but God will not see it as true love if the person fails to do His will. So it's a matter of passive love (a feeling of love) vs. active love. We should have an active love, just as we should have an active faith (trust). It's an active faith (trust) in Christ that saves us (James 2:14-26). A passive faith is the faith of demons, and is therefore fruitless (James 2:19).

Thus, if you do not do Yahweh's will despite believing in Him, it does not make you a Christian. At best, it just makes you a hypocritical one. However, if you actively do His will, then it shows that you love Him, which makes you a genuine Christian. And when you love Him, you will also love His Son, for whoever "loves the Father also loves the child who is born of him." (1 John 5:1)

d) Actively loves fellow human beings

True love for God means that we love what belongs to Him. If you say, "I love God," and hate your brother, you are a liar; for "he who doesn't love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother." (1 John 4:20-21)

So you must love fellow human beings in deeds, not just in words, and this will prove whether your love for Yahweh and Jesus is genuine, for God commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves (Leviticus 19:18), and Jesus confirmed this as the second most important commandment of all (Mark 12:31).

Now, add up your score. Do all four points above apply to you? If so, then you are likely a Christian, though final judgment lies in Yahweh's hands through Jesus Christ, who will return to judge all the sheep and the goats.

On that day, King Jesus will say to the sheep on his right hand, "Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me."

Then the sheep will answer him, saying, "Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?"

The King will reply, "Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." Then he will turn to those on his left hand and say, "Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you didn't give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and you didn't take me in; naked, and you didn't clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn't visit me."

The goats will ask, "Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn't help you?"

The King will answer, "Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you didn't do it to one of the least of these, you didn't do it to me." These goats will receive eternal punishment, while the righteous sheep eternal life. (Matthew 25:31-46)

If Jesus returns today, will you be identified as a sheep or a goat?