Marks of a Christian.

#LetsOpenTheBible

A lot of people profess Christianity. They say they’re believers, and they believe in Jesus, but they don’t even know who He really is, neither do they understand the implications in their lives, of what He came to earth to do.

And to be honest, it’s easy to identify publicly with a movement, even though you don’t really get what they’re about.

For example, a lot of people call themselves feminists online because it’s now a popular movement, but they’ve not taken time to understand the cause.

They don’t know the problems that existed, the ills feminism was birthed to address and change. So, even though they identify online as feminists, they have no real-life contributions to the cause, and sometimes they even act and speak in direct contradiction.

This very principle applies in the Christian faith. SO MANY people call themselves Christians, but don’t know what the gospel is, or what it means to be submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, receiving new life.

It’s important to know what being a Christian really is, so that you forge friendships and relationships carefully, and you model your life to actually represent the Jesus you proclaim.

So. What are the marks of a Christian?

1. A Christian believes that Jesus died for their sins, and gave them eternal life as a gift, a gift accessible only through faith.

2. A Christian has a local assembly, a church they’re committed to, and go regularly..

..to be taught the word of God for their spiritual growth and maturity.
Not just someone who listens to a couple of messages, and plays gospel music often.
Someone who values and cherishes the gathering of fellow believers. There’s no Christianity in isolation.

No wonder the epistles were addressed to ‘the church in Ephesus’, ‘the church in Thessalonica’, ‘the church in Corinth’, etc.

The church is the body of Christ, and we are a family. A Christian values the family—the people with whom they’re named after Jesus.

3. A Christian has a pastor.
A Pastor is a shepherd, a teacher, a guide, the one who disciples. EVERY Christian needs a pastor.
Your pastor teaches you the word, teaches you Christian culture, explains the difficult stuff, shows you how to study the Bible...

...prays for you, guides you, and so much more (either by direct contact, or through the materials they release for the consumption of the church).
A Christian is submitted to the teaching ministry of a pastor—their own pastor. Not “I listen to a lot of people”

Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:2, among many other places, Pastors were charged with the responsibility of keeping ‘the flock of Christ’ safe from the wolves (teachers of false doctrine).
Without a pastor, danger and destruction is imminent, because false doctrine is a destroyer.

4. A Christian doesn’t harm the body with their words and conduct.
You won’t find them bad-mouthing their own family. They won’t take every opportunity to wash the church on social media, or throw disrespectful words at pastors who slip up. They know better ways to help the body,

hold people accountable, and help the vulnerable, without pouring dirt on the name of the church—they learnt this in church when their pastor taught on church culture.

5. A Christian honors the word of God above any other thing. The word of God informs their opinions,

way of life, and worldview. Once you show them where it is written, they are willing and ready to drop any preconceived notions and ideas.
They are easy to correct according to the word. They see what Christ has said about them as a mirror.

There are probably more, but they’re most likely by-products of these 5, or at least related to them.

If you read this thread, and find that you are wanting on any count, just fix up and do better. The Holy Spirit is there within you to strengthen you.

Grace and Peace.