In your imagination right now, visualize a rubber duck. What does it look like? Certainly its head is distinct from its body, sitting erect on the front edge of the body. It has an orange beak and two eyes. It likely has a tail-like feather sticking up in the back and even a wing-like protrusion on each side. It is molded to float perfectly on the surface of the water, just like a duck would. When you look at a rubber duck, it is obvious what it resembles. It is not designed to look like a horse or a monkey or a fish. You know immediately that it was fashioned to look like a duck.
But, let me ask you another question. When you see a rubber duck, is it actually a duck? You’re not fooled into believing that it is an actual duck. Just because something resembles something else does not mean that it actually is that other thing. Resemblance does not equal reality.
What does this have do with us? Think for a moment about the fact that looking like a Christian and actually being a Christian are not the same thing. Resemblance does not equal reality. Let’s see if we can think through this a bit.
If I go to church, which is something a Christian would do and may make me resemble a Christian, does that mean that I am actually a Christian? If I treat people kindly, which is something a Christian would do and may make me resemble a Christian, does that mean that I am actually a Christian? If I refrain from using foul language or refrain from engaging in sex outside of marriage or refrain from drinking alcohol, which are things a Christian would do and may make me resemble a Christian, does that mean that I am actually a Christian?
A rubber duck may have an appearance that resembles an actual duck, but that does make it a duck. The same is true for someone who resembles a Christian. First, to be a Christian, one must do what the Bible teaches to become a Christian. Jesus taught that disciples are made by being baptized (Matt. 28:19). A disciple is a Christian (Acts 11:26); therefore, one must obey God’s plan of salvation to become a Christian, which includes faith, repentance, confession and baptism (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Rom. 10:9; Gal. 3:26-27).
Second, to be a Christian, that person must then present his body as “a living sacrifice” to the Lord (Rom. 12:1), and choose to “conform” Himself to Christ and His standard of living, rather than that of the world (Rom. 12:2; 8:29; Gal. 2:20). The outward behavior must not only be in sync with the teaching of Scripture (Col. 3:17), but one’s outward conduct must be a true reflection of a heart that is deeply devoted to Christ (Matt. 22:37; John 14:15; 15:14).
Are you a real Christian, or do you just resemble one?