It is sadly true that not all who profess to be Christians are actual Christians. The Bible tells us that only those born again of the Spirit of God are indeed Christians or followers of Jesus. "For no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit" (John 3:5). This means that all who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and have received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit are true followers of Jesus.
Unfortunately, many profess to be Christians who are not born-again. They may have been born into a Christian family or have attended church regularly but have never committed their lives to Jesus. For this reason, it is critical to be aware of why some people who profess to be Christians may walk away from God.
In some cases, people may profess to be Christian because of the social or cultural expectation to do so. This can be especially true for those raised in a religious family who have never taken the time to evaluate their life with Jesus and make an informed decision about it. For these people, committing to God can be intimidating because of the change expected, thus making them feel stuck in a faith they do not believe in.
For others, they may walk away from God because they did not grow to love Him (Matthew 13:1-9). These individuals may have heard of the Bible or gone to a Christian service, but have never taken the time to read the Bible and learn about God and His love for the sinner. Because of this, they may never have truly accepted the reality of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Some people may walk away from God because of intellectual doubts about Him or His Word, possibly due to the individual's exposure to religious or secular theories that challenge traditional Christian beliefs. As a result, the individual may begin to doubt the Bible's reliability and accuracy and God's existence.
Finally, some may depart from the faith because other Christians or churches have let them down; sometimes, a bad experience at church or a hurtful comment or action made by a Christian. Because of this, they may begin to believe that Christianity is not what it claims to be and question the reality of God.
There are many reasons why some people who profess to be Christian may walk away from God. As mentioned, feeling stuck in a faith they do not honestly believe in, never truly getting to know Him, they feel betrayed by God, have intellectual doubts, and being let down by other Christians. But, we have to remember that the only true Christians are those born-again.
When an individual experiences spiritual rebirth through Christ, they undergo a profound transformation and leave behind their former self that was once consumed by sin (2 Corinthians 5:17). Symbolically buried with Christ, they arise anew, fully alive in the grace of Christ. This renewed person is filled with an insatiable desire to learn more about God and yearns to be in the presence of the Creator, seeking a deeper relationship with God.
"Truly, I tell you with certainty, unless a person is born from above he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus asked him, "How can a person be born when he is old? He can't go back into his mother's womb a second time and be born, can he?" Jesus answered, "Truly, I tell you with certainty, unless a person is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Don't be astonished that I told you, 'All of you must be born from above.'
John 3:3-7
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