How do you know if you are a true follower of Christ? In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus warns that not everyone who claims to follow Him will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. He says, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.” So, how can you know for sure if you are truly following Jesus?
This warning isn’t meant to cause fear, but to draw us into a deeper understanding: true faith is more than just words. The beautiful truth is, knowing that you are a follower of Jesus isn’t about perfectly performing certain actions or checking off a list; it is about entering a transforming, personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. You can know He is real and you are truly following Him because you can talk to Him and do life with Him every day!
When you step into this relationship, something amazing happens: your life begins to change from the inside out. These changes aren’t the price of admission, but rather the natural, beautiful fruits that grow from a living connection with God–they are the evidence of His Spirit at work in you. For more on this topic, check out the second chapter of the Forge discipleship resource, Multiplying Movements.
3 Signs of a True Follower of Christ
- The Fruit of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, and More
One of the clearest indicators of a true follower of Christ is the presence of the “Fruits of the Spirit” in their life. When we place our faith in Christ for our salvation, He gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit who lives inside us and keeps us connected with Him. In Galatians 5:22-23, the Apostle Paul lists these qualities: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These aren’t just nice attributes to have—they are the natural outcome of the Holy Spirit working to make us more like Jesus.
Are you becoming more loving, patient, and kind? Do you see joy and peace growing in your heart, even in difficult circumstances? As you draw near to God, do you find yourself being filled with His patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness? A genuine follower of Christ will keep growing in these qualities in their daily life over time, as a natural outflow of their relationship with God.
- Imitating Jesus: Living His Example
Another indicator of a true follower of Christ is a growing desire to live as He did. In 1 John 2:6, John writes, “Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.” This means that being a follower of Christ isn’t just about saying the right things or attending church. It’s about a transformed life that increasingly looks like Jesus’ life—loving others selflessly, serving those in need, forgiving those who wrong you, and living in obedience to God’s Word.
Does your relationship with Jesus allow His life to be seen through you in your relationships, your work, and your attitude? Jesus set the ultimate example of humility, self-sacrifice, and love. He lived a life of obedience to His Father and constantly put others’ needs before His own. He wants to help you do the same. True believers don’t just acknowledge Jesus as Savior—they seek to live like Him and allow His life to flow through them every day.
- Responding to God’s Voice: Realizing When We’re Wrong
The third indicator of a true follower of Christ is how they hear and respond to God’s Spirit when they’re wrong. In 2 Corinthians 7:10, Paul writes, “For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin . . .” This means that when we mess up, the Holy Spirit is at work in our hearts, helping us realize our wrongdoing and prompting us to turn to Him for help and forgiveness. If you are truly following Christ and walking in relationship with Him, the Holy Spirit will continue to draw your attention to areas where you need to turn away from sin and return to Him.
If you’ve been lying, cheating, gossiping, or falling into habits that are destructive to your body and soul, do you feel the Holy Spirit’s conviction? If sin doesn’t bother you, or if you continue to live in sin without wanting to be set free, you may not be a true follower of Christ. The Bible makes it clear that true believers will experience godly sorrow over sin and a genuine desire to turn away from it and be forgiven, not out of fear, but because they know the love for God.
Intellectual Belief Isn’t Enough
Simply believing certain facts about Jesus isn’t enough to make you a true follower of Christ. Many people believe that Jesus exists. Just believing that He is real, does not make someone a true follower of Christ.
James 2:19 says, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” True belief isn’t just agreeing with facts; it’s a life-changing, wholehearted trust in Jesus that He is the Son of God, that He died on the cross for your sins, and that He rose again to transform your life.
This is the kind of belief John talks about in John 3:16, when he says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” True belief is a belief that leads to action—a belief that causes you to follow Jesus with your whole life.
How to Know if You’re a True Follower of Christ
So, how can you be sure that you are a true follower of Christ?
It comes down to your relationship with Jesus. Have you truly invited Him to be your Lord and Savior? Do you do life with Him daily, talking to Him and receiving His help? From that foundational connection, the evidence will begin to appear:
- The Fruit of the Spirit: Do you see the qualities of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control growing in your life?
- Imitating Jesus: Are you living a life that mirrors the life of Jesus—letting Him live through you, loving others selflessly, serving the needy, and obeying God’s Word?
- Responding to God’s Voice: Does the Holy Spirit lovingly convict you of your sin, leading you to repent and eagerly turn back to God?
If you see these qualities growing in your life, you can be confident that you’re a true follower of Christ, living in active relationship with Him. If you find that you’re lacking in some areas, remember Jesus is always inviting us to draw closer to Him and to ask for His help in transforming our lives.
Conclusion
Being a true follower of Christ isn’t about checking off religious boxes or performing good deeds to earn God’s favor or His love. It’s about surrendering your life to Jesus, entering a vibrant relationship with Him, and being transformed by the Holy Spirit. If you are wondering whether you are a true follower of Christ, take time to reflect on these three signs of a transformed life. And remember, if you’re not where you want to be, it’s never too late to seek God’s forgiveness and ask Him to work in your life. A true follower of Christ will always be in the process of growing, learning, and becoming more like Jesus every day.
If you’re not sure where you stand, ask God today. Pray: Do I have a personal relationship with you, Jesus? If not, He’s waiting for you to come to Him.
Romans 10:9-11 says, “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, ‘Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame.’”
John 14:6 says, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
When you recognize Jesus as Lord, it will change the rest of your life and eternity. If you want to choose to accept Jesus as your personal Savior, you can use the following prayer as your guide, anywhere, at any time. Don’t delay!
Prayer: Lord, I admit that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe You sent Your one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for me and my sins. I believe You are the only way. I accept You as my Lord and Savior and choose to follow You all the days of my life. I want to be in the first chair! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed that prayer for the first time, congratulations and welcome to God’s family! If you recommitted your life to Christ, welcome back home! And if you prayed that prayer and are living for Jesus already, great job! Keep passionately pursuing and proclaiming Jesus. We at Forge would love to help you activate the impact of your spiritual decision and empower your purpose!
Visit ForgeForward.org/next to connect with us today.
For more discipleship training material like this, click here to access Multiplying Movements — a 12-part Video or Book Study Ideal for Bible Studies or 1-on-1 Mentoring.
