Most people will think that Christians are outdated, fun-hating individuals who are even slightly bigoted. They have strange, unrealistic and harmful beliefs about all sorts of things and even read and listen to a book that’s thousands of years old!
And, since they go on about a God who loves everyone but then you see the news where there are ex. Vicars, Priests, Pastors etc. getting imprisoned for horrific abuses, they’re the perfect example of what a hypocrite is!
Perhaps there is some truth in some of these things. But the Bible has a test for what Christians are meant to be like. And if they follow what the Bible says then that, surely, should be the first place we go to see if they really are what they say they are.
So, what should Christians really be like?
The Bible says this in 1 John 3 verses 10-11.
This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.
For this is the message you heard from the beginning: we should love one another.
The thing that proves if someone is a Christian is if they do what is right and if they love other Christians.
... there are clear and obvious efforts to do the right thing, even when it hurts or would be easier not to.
This is not saying Christians always do what is right - that’s clear from other parts of the Bible. They make mistakes and can still be mean and horrible in all sorts of ways but there are clear and obvious efforts to do the right thing, even when it hurts or would be easier not to.
Also, Christian’s love their fellow Christians. This, more than anything else, is the evidence to look for in a Christian. Real, true Christians will be able to see past differences in opinions between themselves (even big and significant differences) and really care about and love one another anyway.
Why are they like this?
Jesus died for them! A Christian’s entire world has been changed by this and they want to show that to others.
The reason they can do this is because of what the Bible says again in 1 John 3 verse 16.
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
Christians have the most incredible thing in common - that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to earth and paid the price for their sin and wrongdoing; he died on a cross outside Jerusalem roughly 2,000 years ago.
Jesus died for them! A Christian’s entire world has been changed by this and they want to show that to others.
In fact, what Jesus’ death accomplished for them is such an incredible thing that they’ll tell people who aren’t Christians about it too because his offer of forgiveness and new life is open to anyone who trusts in him for themselves.
What makes a Christian is pretty simple
1 John 3 verse 23 says,
And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
So, what makes a Christian is pretty simple. It’s someone who believes/trusts/has faith in Jesus and his death and resurrection for themselves. And, once they know that, they love other Christians because they are now their brothers and sisters that share the most wonderful and personal thing in the world.
I hope this is your experience of Christians. However, I reckon that for many it isn’t. If that’s the case, could I ask you to do something slightly crazy?
We’re not super Christians or any better than any others but we try to live out in practice what it says here in 1 John 3 and try to show something of God’s love for others.
Come along to Grace Church Wakefield. We’re not super Christians or any better than any others but we try to live out in practice what it says here in 1 John 3 and try to show something of God’s love for others.
We meet at 10.30am every Sunday morning at Jubilee Hall on Townley Road on Lupset Estate. What have you got to lose?
Σχόλια