Bible Journal, For the Soul

Ten Signs of a True Christian


My dad (who is a pastor) made this list in 2008 as a powerpoint presentation for a church. I found it while rummaging through some files/emails and thought, hey this would be great to share on the blog! 

It’s a useful tool to evaluate one’s spiritual standing. It may be useful to pass it along to your friends, new believers in Christ, acquaintances, or even church leadership to use.

Feel free to share it on Pinterest, FB, Instagram, etc. I added a pinnable infographic at the end for your benefit!  Please link back to the blog. Thank you.

Ten Signs of a True Christian

1. Has fellowship with the Father and the Son

truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. (1 John 1:3,5,6)

Questions: How would you describe your fellowship with the Father and the Son? Do you think that God allows you to walk the dark side of life and still claim Christianity?

2. Loves the brethren

He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. (1 John 2:9, 10)

Questions: Do you claim to be a Christian but you don’t attend Church because you cannot stand believers?

3. Does not love the world’s values

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15,16,17

Questions: Are you a materialistic person? Is Las Vegas something you long for? Is the bar your “cool” environment? Are you up-to-date with the latest fads in fashion? Do you entice your flesh with alcohol, drugs, and too much food? Do you curse? Do you intentionally lust with your eyes or watch pornography? Do you live in immorality and claim that fornication is not graver than any other sins? Are you a prideful person, bragging about how good you are in different areas of life?

4. Lives in continual sanctification and practical righteousness

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.
(1 John 2:9, 29)

Questions: Do you quickly confess your sins? Is your righteousness a reality outside the Church walls?

5. Practices charity

But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:17, 18)

Questions: Are you indifferent concerning the poor brother or the poor family in your church? Do you always find new toys or gadgets to buy, and neglect the needy? Is your Christian love just a slogan?

6. Can not be overcome by false prophets/teachers and false doctrines

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (1 John 4: 1-6)

Questions: Do you care about truth and accuracy in your faith? Are you afraid not to offend people’s convictions and therefore you don’t discuss “religion”? Are you an Emerging Church promoter? Do you think that all the religions lead to God? Do you think Christ is like any other founders or prophets of different religions?

7. Loves God

We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. (1 John 4:19-21)

Questions: Do you ever tell God you love Him? After wandering a little bit form the truth do you long for God?

8. Has the right view of Christ as being God in flesh and the Christ/Messiah

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. (John 1:1, 2, 14; 1 John 5:1)

Questions: Do you totally uphold the deity of Christ based on what the Word says? Do you believe that He is the promised Messiah?

9. Is Trinitarian

For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. (1 John 5:7)

Questions: Do you agree with the Bible that the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit are co-equal, co-eternal, and co-substantial?

10. Is diligent in reading the Word, attending Church, taking the Lord’s Supper and Praying

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42)

Questions: Do you read the word daily? Is God talking to you through His Word? Do you take Communion? Are you praying alone and with others?

 
Copyright 2008-2015 Heritage of Grace

2 thoughts on “Ten Signs of a True Christian

  1. Love this 🙂
    I have been reading a book called “Be Real”, by Warren W.Wiersbe. It basically a commentary on First John and contains some similar thoughts.
    Wiersbe has written a book about every single book in the Bible, each one with a title “Be ……. ” such as “Be Mature” on the book of James, and “Be Patient” on the book of Job.
    They are unlike most Bible commentaries in that they are very easy to read, and very practical.
    I would highly recommend them to anyone who is serious about studying their Bible.

    1. Hi Someone,
      The name of the theologian sounds slightly familiar though I don’t think I ever actually read his commentary before. Thank you for sharing it, I will have to look it up. I am very happy to hear you love the post!!

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