Distinguishing characteristics of a true Christian

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What are the distinguishing characteristics of a true Christian? Let us list them.

1] His relationship with God is a personal one.

Perhaps the best example of this type of personal relationship with God is the relationship of David with God which can be seen in about any of his psalms in the Book of Psalms. Consider the following:

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Psalm 25:1-16.

Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.
O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
Show me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.
Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.
The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.
Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.

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In this relationship, God is not some aloof, distant, far-away being. God is near. God is a friend. God is someone you can and do talk to. This is a relationship that a godless, wicked person cannot have. The godless man is estranged from God. To have a close, good relationship with God you must take him seriously, be serious about obeying him, serious about leading the good and virtuous life that he requires.

2] God is the center of his life. God is the most important thing in his life. Living an upright, good life in obedience to God is the most important thing in his life. He is committed to God and his way.

Note the seriousness and earnestness of David in his relationship with God as exemplified by about any of his psalms.

3] He is a seeker of truth, God’s truth, God’s way, God’s law, God’s teachings. He loves God’s word, the Bible, and spends a lot of time reading it. He takes God’s word seriously and tries to follow it, implement it in his life.

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Psa 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Psa 119:1-16 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. {2} Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. {3} They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. {4} Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. {5} O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! {6} Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. {7} I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. {8} I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly. {9} Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. {10} With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. {11} Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. {12} Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. {13} With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. {14} I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. {15} I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. {16} I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

Psa 119:33-35 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. {34} Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. {35} Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

Psa 119:97-104 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. {98} Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. {99} I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. {100} I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. {101} I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. {102} I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. {103} How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! {104} Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

Psa 119:105-106 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. {106} I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.

Psa 119:113-119 I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love. {114} Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. {115} Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God. {116} Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. {117} Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually. {118} Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood. {119} Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.

Psa 119:127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. {130} The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. {133} Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. {144} The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live. {162} I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. {163} I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love. {165} Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. {169} Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.

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4] The Christian believes that Jesus was God and that the teachings of Jesus represent God’s way, God’s truth. He takes them seriously and tries to implement them in his life.

The teaching of Jesus was in agreement with Old Testament teaching. Much of what Jesus taught can be found in the books of Psalms and Proverbs in the Old Testament. Jesus taught the importance of following the Ten Commandments.

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John 1:1-14.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

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5] True Christianity is morally pure, chaste.

Morality and chastity are core elements of Christianity. Christianity and moral impurity simply do not mix. God is a holy God who simply will not accept moral impurity. The western world has become highly immoral, depraved and impure. In this, it has departed far from true Christianity.

Nov 2015