How to Identify a Good Christian

"We follow him through the straight gate and the narrow way and, as he promised, we find life."  - Homer J. R. Elford

A "hallmark" is a mark or device placed or stamped on an article of trade to indicate origin, purity, or genuineness. It was named after Goldsmiths' Hall in London, where items were graded and stamped. An experienced collector of such articles places a great amount of trust and confidence in hallmarks as a means to identify them.

We can apply the term "hallmark" to Christians, as well. Good Christians must have some relationship to Jesus Christ, and the more Christ-likeness they have, the more of his quality of life they will experience, embrace, and manifest to others.

Just what are the "hallmarks" of a good Christian? First, and foremost, their must be a belief in Jesus Christ. Of the many attempts made to construct specific distinguishing hallmarks which identify a Christian, one is found in the frequently repeated phrase, "A Christian is one who loves, trusts, obeys, and follows Jesus Christ." Let's examine  these traits more closely.

Love was essential in the teachings and total character of Jesus' life and ministry (John 13:34). The love Jesus lived and demands of us is never self-seeking, but always self-giving. It is a caring, compassionate quality of life which finds its life by losing its life. When love such as this motivates and empowers a person, she is thereby bearing one of the distinctive hallmarks of a Christian.

Trust was one of the most distinctive characteristics of Jesus. In fact, it was one of the things that people admired most about him, and which they sought to imitate. Once they saw how absolutely Jesus trusted God to provide all of his needs, and having shared the fruits of such abundant confidence in God's trustworthiness, the disciples and others began to believe everything Jesus told them about God, human relationships, and even the everlasting human soul.

A Christian is obedient to Christ. She who bears the hallmark of obedience has found that if they do not obey our Lord's commands in small things she is without the resources she needs when confronting large issues.

She also follows Christ. It is by following Jesus, doing the best we can to love as he loved, trusting and being trustworthy like him, and obeying the still, small voice of God within us, as he did, that we experience life worthy of living here and allowed to continue throughout eternity.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:1; 2 Peter 3:18; Ephesians 4:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17

Prayer: Dear God, Inspire us, let our light shine out, and open our minds so that we may be made new by your Holy Spirit. amen.

God be with you,

Eriana