What is the mark of a TRUE Christian?
To answer this question, let us look to the Bible.
First we must understand that:
God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. (1 John 1:5-6)
Furthermore,
We know that we have come to know Him [Jesus Christ] if we obey His commands. The man who says ‘I know Him,’ but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys His word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did. (1 John 1:3-6)
So the first consideration for those who call themselves Christians is not to deceive themselves. If a person calls themselves Christian or a follower of Christ but does not do what Christ commands, that person is a liar.
What does Christ command? To love our brothers and sisters.
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him. (1 John 2:9-11)
Take careful note:
Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. (1 John 3:15)
If anyone says ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 John 4:20-21)
So the first and most important mark of true Christians is that they love each other and all other brothers and sisters as well.
Do you love your brothers and sisters here on earth?
But that is not all.
The Bible tells us specifics about how Christians should live:
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (Colossians 4:2)
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:2-3)
Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. (Ephesians 4:25)
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:29-32)
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. (Ephesians 5:1-7)
Are you completely humble and gentle and patient?
Do you devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful?
Do you speak truthfully to others?
Do you speak perverse things or use bad language?
Do you forgive your brothers and sisters? Are you kind and compassionate to them?
Are you sexually immoral, impure or greedy?
Take note again so that you are not deceived: No immoral, impure or greedy person has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God!
Again, the Bible instructs us:
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Collosians 3:2)
How do we do this? By reading and meditating on the Word of God and by putting it into practice daily!
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. (Colossians 3:5-10)
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3:12-17)
Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! (James 5:9)
The day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make
every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him. (2 Peter 3:10-14)
Brothers and sisters, we must all examine ourselves carefully to see if we are walking as true Christians and must ‘make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him‘.
(2 Peter 3:14)
In addition, if we know Christians who live immoral lives, we must, as an act of love, warn them that they will not enter the kingdom of heaven unless they repent!
Now that you know the truth, let the truth set you free!
Peace be to you.