10 Hallmarks of a Christian
April 16, 2008
1) Admit that You Are a Sinner
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:8
2) Live the Life of Obedience to God’s Commands
And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him: he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked.
1 John 2:3-6
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither knoweth him.
1 John 3:6
3) Do Not Harbor Hatred Against Anyone
He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother, is in the darkness even until now.
1 John 2:9
But he that hateth his brother is in the darkness, and walketh in the darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.
1 John 2:11
4) Does Not Love the World or the Things of This World
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 2:15
5) Proclaims Jesus as the Son of God
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God.
1 John 4:15
6) Hope and Longing for the Return of Jesus
Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is. And every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
1 John 3:2
7) Desires to Serve With Other Christians
We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death.
1 John 3:14
But whoso hath the world’s goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him.
1 John 3:17
8) Loves Being With Other Believers
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
1 John 5:1
9) Rejects False Teaching
Who is the liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, even he that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that confesseth the Son hath the Father also.
1 John 2:22-23
10) Perseveres in Faith and Remains in Truth
As for you, let that abide in you which ye heard from the beginning. If that which ye heard from the beginning abide in you, ye also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father.