Years ago, I thought John 3:16 was a good verse to determine if someone was a Christian, since “belief in Jesus” is required for salvation, and most people have likely read or at least heard of this verse.
However, in my study of salvation verses, especially the parable of the sower and others that talk about the need to repent and come to Jesus, I learned that there really are two types of belief: one that saves, and one that does not. A general or casual belief in Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit is an example of the latter; a convicted, all-encompassing belief that is similar to faith but also includes repentance, coming to Jesus, etc., is an example of the former.
As such, a person can read and agree with John 3:16, or they can say that they believe in Jesus, but this alone is likely not sufficient to become a Christian or to determine if another person is one. Our definition or understanding of what it means to “believe in Jesus” is simply too narrow or limited to capture all that is required for a person to become saved once one considers all of the other verses in the Bible that talk about salvation.
On the other hand, the story of the Rich Young Ruler found in Matthew, Mark and Luke gets to the heart of what is required for a person to become a Christian, and I believe it can be used as a litmus test to determine if another person is one.
I copied in the table below the story as it is found in three of the four gospels, and bolded the most important verses.
| Matthew 19:16-30 16 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” 20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” 28 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. | Mark 10:17-31 17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good– except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” 28 Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!” 29 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields– and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” | Luke 18:18-30 18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good– except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’” 21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” 28 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” 29 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.” |
Before I tell you how this story can be used as a litmus test, let me summarize what it says about salvation.
- The Rich Young Ruler knew about Jesus, greatly admired him (he ran up and kneeled before him), and believed that Jesus knew how a person could receive eternal life. If the story ended here, I would say that his belief in Jesus is greater than the belief in Jesus that many people have today, yet as we saw from reading the rest of the story, his belief was not sufficient to save him.
- The Rich Young Ruler thought that gaining eternal life was a matter of doing certain good things, or more good things than bad things. Also, he viewed himself as a good person, for he thought that he had obeyed all of God’s commandments. Many people today likely view themselves in the same way, and think that gaining entrance into heaven is also based upon good works. However, in the story we learn that he is not good (no one is except God), and that doing good things is not sufficient for a person to become saved.
- It is very difficult for a rich or wealthy person to become saved, for they are likely to view their wealth as more important than Jesus.
- According to Jesus, to receive eternal life a person must be willing to give up everything – their wealth, their home, their family – and follow or obey him.
So, what is the litmus test we can use from this story to determine if someone is truly a Christian? It is this question:
If Jesus, the Son of God, were to return to this earth today, knock on your door, and ask if YOU would be willing to give up everything that is dear to you – your job, your wealth, your home, your family…even your own life – to follow Him – would you say “Yes” or “No”?
If the person you are speaking to says “No, I would not be willing to do that.”, they would not be a Christian, for something or someone else is more important to them than Jesus. They are like the Rich Young Ruler.
If they say “Yes, I would be willing…” they can have assurance that they are a Christian, for Jesus is more important to them than anything and anyone else.
(See Mark 8:34-38, Matthew 16:24-26 and Luke 9:23-26 for other salvation-related verses that are similar to the story of the Rich Young Ruler).
Salvation Summaries 
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