A friend of mine once said he believes that every so
often, an angel steps up to the banister of Heaven, leans out, and shouts a
single word or phrase, such as “DISCIPLESHIP,” that echoes across the earth.
Once he has done so, we begin to hear that word or subject repeated over and
over in sermons, in books, in songs, in Sunday School lessons, and in small
group Bible studies and discipleship groups. No matter where you turn, you will
hear that word or phrase. I believe that has happened recently.
I disciple a young man who lives in California. We
obviously cannot meet on a regular basis, but as long as the internet is
active, as long as our phones continue to work, and as long as the mail
continues to run, I can continue to teach him the things that the Holy Spirit
has taught me. I wrote the first letter to him in January 2015. Since he had
only recently become a Christian and was baptized there in California, I felt
the first letter should address the definition of the term Christian in
biblical terms. My plan is to continue to write him with this as the theme for
the next couple of letters.
The same week I wrote that letter, the church we
attended announced a one-time class entitled “Who Is or Isn’t a Christian?”
Then I received an email from a site at which I had previously registered that
encouraged me to read an online article written by John MacArthur entitled “10
Marks of True Conversion.” I tried the link. It did not work. Nevertheless,
being wise in the ways of the net, I searched for the title and found a
similarly titled article by John MacArthur, “Is It Real? 11
Biblical Tests of Genuine Salvation.”
Sounds like the angel has spoken.
(By the
way, If you came here just to view the list of things that John used to
describe a Christian, click
on this link to download a PDF of the list. I pray you enjoy it. God
bless.)
Greetings, Montana in California! (That sounds kinda weird!) JUST KIDDING!
In my last
letter to you, I began to explain the meaning of the term Christian. I have
continued that subject in this letter. I pray that it helps you in your own
spiritual growth.
The word “Christian”
is used in multiple contexts by different sources, almost none of whom would
agree on a definition of the term. For some, the term is very, very important.
It defines their relationship with God and their hope of eternity. For others,
it is simply a religious choice. To the Muslim, it is anyone from the West who
is not a Muslim, and synonymous with the word atheist. Some use the word with
great reverence. Others with great derision and hatred. So just who is a
Christian? Is there a litmus test by which a person can be tested to prove
whether or not they are truly a child of God?
Many – and
I might say most – people who identify themselves as Christians cringe at the
thought of such an idea. The American culture has taught us to believe that we
are independent spirits with the right of self-determination, and therefore,
the right to define terms as we please. For another person to put us to the
test is considered offensive and hypocritical. But if this is so, why does the
Bible go to such lengths to define the person who is truly a child of God?
Here’s a
test. In the next couple of days, stop someone you believe to be a Christian
and ask them if they are. He or she may surprise you with a very definite “Yes,”
but it is unlikely. More often than not, that person will answer you with something
like, “Well, sure, at least, I hope so. I believe in Jesus. I know that Jesus
is real, and I try to do all the right things, and live a good life, and not
hurt other people, etc.”
Some people
might even argue that no one can really know for certain that they are a
Christian apart from a hope that they hold in their hearts. However, the
Apostle John wrote a letter (1 John in the New Testament) in which he said, “I
have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you
may know you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13)
Most
Christians, if asked to give evidence for whether or not they are truly a
Christian, will point back to the time when they prayed a prayer and invited
Jesus to come into their heart. Or, depending on their denomination or branch
of Christianity, they might say something about a moment in their past when
they experienced some event, such as a baptism, or an overwhelming feeling of
emotion, or even that they come from a long line of believers.
But what
does the Bible say about who is and who is not a Christian? My last letter
began to answer that question. I would like to continue along that line of
thought in this letter. The New Testament has much to say about this subject,
but in this letter I will concentrate on the small book in the back of your New
Testament called 1 John, written by the same man (the Apostle John) who wrote the Gospel of John
and The Revelation. He himself was one of the original disciples of Jesus.
Before
embarking on this study, let me say first of all that there is nothing a person
can do to become a Christian.
Salvation is the work of God. It is a supernatural event in a person’s life. We
are not capable of supernatural power within the limitations of the flesh. So
when we set out to define a Christian, please understand that I am not teaching
that these are things that people can do to become a Christian or might do
simply to prove they are Christian. Instead, understand that these are things
that define Christians.
An apple
can be red or green or yellow, has an outside skin we refer to as the peel, an
inner flesh, a core, a stem, and a very distinctive taste. Those are the things
that define the apple. Simply because a fruit has an outer peel that is red, green or
yellow, an outer skin and an inner flesh, a core and a stem does not make it an apple. It must have the distinctive flavor of an apple. We might at first be confused
by the fruit’s appearance, but one taste will reveal the truth.
The same is
true when we look at those elements that define a Christian. These are not
things we must achieve to become a
Christian or a to become a better Christian. These are things that will be true of a
Christian – maybe not from the moment they are saved, but eventually. These are
the things that a saved person is in the process of becoming. They may not all
be true of you yet, so do not get discouraged or overwhelmed. Remember that,
just as salvation is a miraculous work of God, so is sanctification – the
process by which God converts you into a true son of God.
Right about
here, let me encourage you to lay aside this letter. Get out your Bible and turn to 1 John. Read all five chapters. It will not take
very long. Then go back and read it again. This time, use a pen and paper to list all the
things that John says defines a child of God. The list will be long.
Once you
have done that, read the book a third time. Then make a list of the
characteristics or habits of those who are not
Christian, even though they may claim to be.
Once your
lists are complete, come back to the letter and compare your lists to the ones
I have included at the end of this letter. Do not worry if you have
omitted things I have included or if you have things on your list that I have omitted. None of
our lists is meant to be perfect. The idea is to understand that the Bible very
clearly defines the term Christian.
I pray that
from this study...
- You will understand that the term Christian is clearly defined in Scripture.
- You may have a better idea of what God intends to happen in the life of a Christian.
When Jesus
called Peter and Andrew to become His disciples, He said to them, “Follow me,
and I will make you fishers of men.” He called them to follow Him so that He
could make something out of them that fulfilled the mission of the kingdom of
God.
That is
what He intends to do to all who claim Him as Lord and Savior.
The Apostle John’s Definition
of a Christian* PDF
- Walks in the light (1 John 1:7)
- Keeps his (Jesus’) commandments (1 John 2:3)
- Keeps his (Jesus’) word (1 John 2:5)
- Walks in the same way that Jesus walked (1 John 2:6)
- Loves other Christians (1 John 2:10)
- Does the will of God (1 John 2:17)
- Continues in fellowship with other Christians (1 John 2:19)
- Has an anointing from the Holy One (God) (1 John 2:20)
- Knows the truth (1 John 2:20)
- Acknowledges the Son (that Jesus is the Christ) (1 John 2:23)
- Remains faithful to things taught from the beginning (1 John 2:24)
- Has the Holy Spirit to teach him what is right (1 John 2:27)
- Filled with courage, not ashamed of Christ (1 John 2:28)
- Will do what is right (1 John 2:29)
- Has an eager expectation of Christ’s return and his transformation (1 John 3:3)
- Keeps himself pure (1 John 3:3)
- Practices righteousness (1 John 3:7)
- Cannot practice habitual sin (1 John 3:9)
- Is hated by the world (1 John 3:13)
- Loves Christian brotherhood (1 John 3:14; 4:21)
- Ought to lay down his life for other Christians (1 John 3:16)
- Loves, not just in word or talk, but in deed and truth (1 John 3:18-19)
- Keeps God’s commandments and does what pleases Him (1 John 3:22-24)
- Assured of salvation by the Holy Spirit (1 John 3:24)
- Confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (1 John 4:2)
- Listens to those who speak the truth of God (1 John 4:6)
- Loves others (1 John 4:7, 11-12)
- God has given his Holy Spirit (1 John 4:13)
- Confesses that Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 4:15; 5:1)
- Abides in love (1 John 4:16)
- Does not fear (1 John 4:18)
- Loves God and obeys his commandments (1 John 5:2)
- Overcomes the world through faith (1 John 5:4-5)
- Believes in the Son of God (1 John 5:10)
- Has the Son (1 John 5:12)
- Does not keep on sinning (1 John 5:18)
- Keeps himself from idols (1 John 5:21)
*Please note that this list is not an exhaustive list.
Others who read this letter of the Apostle John will very likely note other
characteristics of a Christian that are unintentionally omitted from this list.
Many items in the list are paraphrases of each quality based on my own understanding.
Many are repetitive. The significant thing to note is quantity of evidences
John gives for defining a Christian.
The Apostle John’s Definition
of a Non-Christian* PDF
- Walks in darkness while claiming to walk in the light (1 John 1:6)
- Lies and does not practice truth (1 John 1:6)
- Claims to have no sin (1 John 1:8, 10)
- Claims to know Christ but does not keep his commandments (1 John 2:4)
- Hates his Christian brothers (1 John 2:9, 11)
- Blinded by darkness so does not know where he is going (1 John 2:11)
- Loves the world (1 John 2:15)
- Does not remain in Christian fellowship (1 John 2:19)
- Denies that Jesus is the Christ (1 John 2:22-23)
- Does not recognize a Christian (1 John 3:1)
- Habitually practices sin (1 John 3:6-9)
- Does not practice righteousness (1 John 3:10)
- Does not love the brotherhood (1 John 3:10)
- Does not love (1 John 3:14)
- Hates the brotherhood and is equal to a murderer (1 John 3:15)
- Closes his heart against a brother in need (1 John 3:17)
- Does not confess Jesus (1 John 4:3)
- Speak from the viewpoint of the world (1 John 4:5)
- Does not listen to those who speak the truth of God (1 John 4:6)
- Does not love and therefore does not know God (1 John 4:8)
- Lives in fear (1 John 4:18)
- Says he loves God, but hates his brother, and is therefore a liar (1 John 4:20)
- Does not believe God (1 John 5:10)
- Calls God a liar (1 John 5:10)
- Does not believe what God has testified about Christ (1 John 5:10)
*Please note that this list is not an exhaustive list.
Others who read this letter of the Apostle John will very likely note other
characteristics of a false Christian that are unintentionally omitted from this
list. Many items in the list are paraphrases of each quality based on my own understanding.
Many are repetitive. The significant thing to note is quantity of evidences
John gives for identifying those who are not part of the family of God, even
though they may profess to be.
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