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2 A True Christian's Characteristics Here is a place to ponder, process and consider if you ARE a true Christian. – Below is a listing of the basics and generalizations of the ideals for a True Christian. If you are true Christian, you will recognize yourself in many of these points and in varying degrees. Do not get down on yourself if you do not exemplify all of them. Instead, Focus on the Growth which you have made since you received the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Let your marked growth encourage you to continue growing with and for the Lord God Almighty. Rejoice! Psalm 40:16, Philippians 4:4 As you read the list, consider this: If you have considered yourself a Christian, Is the direction of your life showing a cleaner life with greater intimacy with the living God or is it not? Is your spiritual life stagnant or rebellious against theses things? If the latter question is true, beware. But they mocked God's messengers, despised His Words and scoffed at His prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against His people and there was no remedy. 2 Chronicles 36:16 Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the LORD's wrath did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah. 2 Chronicles 32:26 The only solution is repentance and confession directly to God through His Son, Jesus Christ. (John 14:6, Sinner’s prayer) This is good, and pleases God our Savior, Who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. 1 Timothy 2:3-6
For the true Christian: being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 Growing in Christ If you do not recognize yourself in many of these, if you can Not identify with them, if they seem strange to you, please consider your soul’s content and position. These links may help you to process and understand where you really are in your relationship with God. Try Choosing.
Characteristics of true Christian Characteristics of true Christian – These are Not in any particular order. All references to the male Christian “he” equally equate to the female Christian “she”. We use the male reference only for consistency. A true Christian grows more and more trusting of the living God. He seeks God’s wisdom, counsel, understanding, and help for his daily life. A true Christian goes to the Word of God for what he needs. He lives and moves by the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:25, Friendship with God) A true Christian commits to live his life for God alone, under His viewpoint, commands, love, peace, grace, mercy, justice, hope, out of gratitude for His Son Jesus Christ taking the death and eternal punishment which he deserved. (Ephesians 2:1-10) A true Christian grows bountifully by the power of the Holy Spirit and by the living Word of God. A true Christian is not perfect. (What a surprise! – Ha,ha. Only the Lord Jesus Christ was sinless! 1 John 1:8-10, Hebrews 7:26) A true Christian feels great concern and even pain regarding sin, death, destruction, and about others going to hell. Before a true Christian is saved he or she may not even care about sin or its effects. A true Christian understands he is in the process of maturing spiritually (John 8:31-32, Free Indeed) and aches in different ways than he did before his salvation. 1 John 1:8-10 A true Christian does not have the same kind of loneliness, anxiety, worry, fears, etc. as he did before he was changed by God. Instead, because the Lord Jesus Christ’s indwelling Holy Spirit, he now has “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-25, Holy Spirit Gifts., Holy Spirit Fruit A true Christian has an insatiable hunger for the Word of God and to do what God wants him to do. The true Christian desires to learn and grow in Christ Jesus, and to share with great joy and excitement what God has permanently done inside of him for eternity! A true Christian enjoys the Presence of God and desires more of Him in his daily life. A true Christian spends time praying, or talking with the Lord God Almighty while in the car, walking to work, playing outdoors, working, etc. A true Christian makes a point of including God in every thought and task he does. A true Christian deeply cares about what God thinks and feels. A true Christian searches God’s thoughts in His living Word, the Bible. A true Christian is more sensitive about holiness and wants it more in his life. Hebrews 4:12-13; John 1:1; John 1:14; John 6:63, Psalm 1 A true Christian may be persecuted physically, emotionally, mentally, etc. by everyone who disagrees with what the Bible says. Yet there is a supernatural buoyancy within him that can only come from God his Father. See Holy Spirit in believer. Abiding in Christ , Kind Father , LovingKindness, Father's Letter A true Christian lives what he knows by faith, doing what God says, taking the hard knocks against his “personal war of sin within” for the purpose of glorifying God with his whole being every day. 2 Corinthians 5:7, Hebrews 10:38, Hebrews 11:6, Galatians 3:11, John 16:33, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Hebrews 2:17-18, Hebrews 4:14-16 A true Christian is grateful to the Lord Jesus Christ for the price He paid for his sins on His cross. He is mindful of this daily as a cheerful reminder that God has not forsaken him and that He saved him for His Good purpose. Deuteronomy 31:8; Psalm 9:10; Hebrews 13:5, Romans 8:28; Ephesians 1:3-14; Ephesians 2:1-10 See Atonement A true Christian continues to grow in the Lord Jesus Christ by His eternal and living Word and listening to and adhering to the Holy Spirit. John 3:3-8; John 14:26; John 16:13-15, Hearing the Word A true Christian repents and confesses their sins directly to God daily, or as often as necessary. Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9; Isaiah 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:5. A true Christian is aware of what displeases the Lord God and feels badly when he goes against Him. The Holy Spirit convicts him of sin without condemnation, and he turns to the living God with Godly sorrow which “brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret”, for a cleansed soul and a renewed strength to not repeat the sin, whether it is in thought, attitude, word or deed. 2 Corinthians 7:10; Acts 3:19; Philippians 4:13; Ephesians 3:16-21 A true Christian knows that any work he does on his own strength falls short of God’s standard for His Glory. So instead, a true Christian relies on the power of the Holy Spirit and the wisdom of God's Word to do what is “supernatural” for him to do. A true Christian lives beyond himself, beyond his own bent and his natural ways because he bends his ear and heart to God’s still and gentle whisper, or inner promptings, which are better, truer, and holier than his usual thoughts. Holy Spirit, John 15:1-11, 1 Kings 19:11-13, Philippians 4:13 A true Christian delights in the Lord, praises God for Who He Is, and rejoices in good. A true Christian is pained to see sin and watch its effects of destruction on and within themselves and others. A true Christian talks to God for the benefit of himself and of others. He prays God's Word back to God in order for God to do great and good changes where they are needed. A true Christian is actively disposed to living for God and His Will on this earth. Matthew 6:10
Growing in Christ Jesus is a process called Sanctification. Sanctification is growing into your adult shoes, so to speak. Growing into the destiny God has designed for you since the foundation of the world (Eph 1:3-14). Growing the flesh to be and do what the Holy Spirit has already transformed you within in the supernatural, or heavenly realms. (Eph 1:3-14) Sanctification means that your life is being set apart for serving God paramountly. It is living a life bearing eternal fruit in proportion to how much you have repented, or turned away, from your sin and sin patterns. (John 15:1-11, Fertile Soil) The one who understands how enormously that they have been forgiven by God loves the Lord Jesus Christ more greatly compared to the person who thinks they have had little to be forgiven for by the Holy God. Luke 7:47 , 10 Commandments A true Christian grows to realize more and more every day just how “off the mark” (Romans 3:23) they had been and how their patterns were so estranged from God. While knowing these things, they can acknowledge in their heart that there is “now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1 Now they willfully do what God says to do and to not do because they know God and they know He is right. They trust God personally even if they don’t understand all of His ways. (Proverbs 3:5-7; Isaiah 55:9; Job 11:7; Isaiah 40:28; Psalm 28:7; Psalm 9:10) Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. Pr 3:5-7
Why is there Sanctification?
God saved you from hell and permanent condemnation because He is God, because He
wanted a close relationship with you, and for many more wonderful reasons.
Notice, God did not just forgive your sins, save you and then take you up to
heaven. If so, you would not be reading this right now. No. God forgave
you and changed you into His child for His Good purpose. In living for God, you
receive eternal and extreme significance and watch His Power in your life.
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10 29For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified. 28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8
Grow up with and in the Lord Jesus Christ, day by day, moment by moment. With love and gratitude for the Love God has already lavished upon you and the perfect and numerous gifts He has bestowed upon you! Read these for proof. You've got God's Word on it! NKJV Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2
The most vital and important work God has for you to do is to share, testify and witness to anyone Who God is and what He has done for you, personally. Christ gave us the ministry of Reconciliation. If people do not know God and surrender to God, they remain His enemy and suffer in hell eternally. If we do speak Truth, live Truth, and love Truth, they will know Truth, and it is up to God to re-create them into His image as He has done for all true Christians.
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