Counterfeit Christians Are REAL
A counterfeit Christian (sometimes called a false convert) is defined by the Bible as a person who has the outward appearance of being a true believer in Christ, but who is actually not saved. A counterfeit Christian may use the name of Jesus Christ but his or her life clearly does not.
Jesus said in Matthew 7: 21–23, “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.” Simply put: not everyone who calls Jesus “Lord” will be saved. Luke 6: 43–45 also states that a tree is known by its fruit. Genuine faith will always produce good works and obedience to God.
It is not unusual for a counterfeit Christian to worship God with their lips while their heart is far from Him. Jesus in Matthew 15: 8–9 warns of these people and He quotes Isaiah to them: “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Obedience to God should flow from faith and love for Him, rather than external ritual or rote tradition.
Repentance from sin also differs between the counterfeit Christian and the true Christian. Paul says in Acts 26: 20 that he preached for people to “repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.” Genuine repentance results in a changed life while counterfeit repentance is empty and fruitless. Jesus has a sober warning in Luke 13: 3: “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” A fruitless life is like a fruitless tree and there is no evidence of salvation.
The Bible gives us another test for assurance. In 1 John 2: 3–6 it says, “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not keep his commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected. Hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” True Christians are known by their obedience and their love, and by the way they walk as Christ walked.
To sum it up, a counterfeit Christian may be religious, say the right words, and even seem devoted, but their life betrays no real obedience to God, no fruit of repentance, and no change of heart. A true Christian, however, is marked by saving faith in Christ, repentance from sin, obedience to His commands, and a life that reflects His love.
Further Study
Here are some additional Scriptures that expose counterfeit faith and affirm true salvation:
True vs. False Professions
- Matthew 7: 15–20 – “By their fruits ye shall know them.”
- Matthew 13: 24–30 – The parable of the wheat and tares.
- Titus 1: 16 – “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him.”
Empty Religion vs. Heart Obedience
- Isaiah 29: 13 – “This people draw near me with their mouth…but their heart is far from me.”
- James 1: 22 – “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
Repentance and True Conversion
- Matthew 3: 8 – “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.”
- Acts 3: 19 – “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.”
- 2 Corinthians 7: 10 – “Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of.”
Assurance and Obedience
- John 8: 31 – “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.”
- 1 John 3: 9–10 – “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin…In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil.”
- 2 Corinthians 13: 5 – “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith.”
Endurance of the True Believer
- Matthew 24: 13 – “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
- Philippians 1: 6 – “He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
- Hebrews 3: 14 – “We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.”
Final Call
The Bible commands us: “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). Do not settle for an outward profession of Christ while your heart remains unchanged. A counterfeit faith cannot save you. But the good news is this—Jesus Christ has done everything necessary to save you completely. If you repent of your sins and put your trust in Him alone, God will give you new life, forgiveness, and the assurance of eternal salvation.
Make sure your faith is real. Eternity depends on it.
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