What does it REALLY mean to be identified as a “Christian”?
In this world, people find their identity in a variety of ways. We even live in a time when people identify as a Christian for various reasons. Maybe they are born in a Christian nation. Possibly, they were raised in a Christian home. However, what does it REALLY mean to be identified as a “Christian”?
- Have you ever found yourself reading about a topic and thinking: I must write about this topic?
- What have you been thinking about lately?
- When you look closely at your day-to-day life, what do you see consuming your thoughts & hopes?
- What does a citizen of heaven look like to the world? &
There are so many questions that answer: These are the qualities that show the world what it REALLY means to be identified as a “Christian.”
The psalmist & the apostle Paul & also John the Baptist, the forerunner to Jesus &, just to include two more, the apostles Peter and John—each write to perfectly answer these questions—answers the followers of Jesus, the Christ followers, the ‘Christians’ need today.
“O LORD, who may abide in your tent?
(The Psalms 15: 1 NASB)
Who may dwell on Your holy hill?”
After these questions, David, the one who sought after God with his whole heart provides the readers of God’s Word with a list, summed up with this statement: A person of unquestionable integrity.
The child of God:
- Walks with integrity.
- Works rightly, in God’s righteousness.
- Speaks only truth.
- Slanders not with his tongue.
- Performs no evil within his actions.
- Speaks not evil against his neighbor, friend, or loved one.
- Honors and Fears the LORD.
- Does not change as the world dictates: in his thoughts, in his actions, nor in his convictions.
- Does not make bargains with the devil, taking bribes or compromising his faith.
- Is never shaken in WHOM he has believed & WHOM he still believes in for salvation.
We are told in God’s Word what to think about, where to settle our thoughts, and where to dwell in our minds.
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
(The Letter of Paul to the Philippians 4: 8 NASB)
whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute,
if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”
The dark soul of man obscures understanding: man’s sinfulness, but God gave His Son to bring pure Light, so we might be saved. We are told WHO we are to testify about to the world of people surrounding us.
“There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.
(The Gospel According to John 1: 6-8 NASB)
He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.
He was not the Light, be he came to testify about the Light.”
John was called by God to testify that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. As citizens of heaven, the followers of Jesus have a similar responsibility. We testify to the lost, to those dying, about Christ Jesus. We Christians have one objective: Share Jesus, the promised Messiah & Savior of the world, for we have been born to a living HOPE, one that does not perish, one that never goes away, never rusts nor spoils.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
(The 1st Letter of Peter 1: : 3-5 NASB)
who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
- What have you been thinking about lately?
- When you look closely at your day-to-day life, what do you see consuming your thoughts & hopes?
WE, THE CITIZENS OF HEAVEN, ARE TO BE PEOPLE OF UNQUESTIONABLE INTEGRITY!
WE, THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS, DO NOT ‘hope’ IN THE PROMISES OF THIS WORLD BUT IN CHRIST!
- May we LIVE GOD-HONORING LIVES: in our thoughts, in our actions, in our words, and in the singular posture we take as we walk through this earthly life.
- May we BE SEPARATE from the culture & BE MORE LIKE CHRIST!
- May we not fill our heads with thoughts of this world, but may we FILL THE WORLD WITH JESUS!
WE, THE CHRISTIANS, ARE THE ONES WHO ARE CALLED TO INVITE OTHERS TO ACCEPT JESUS, THROUGH WHOM COMES GOD’S FREE GIFT OF SALVATION!
WE, THE ONES WHO ARE TO ‘LOOK LIKE JESUS’ ARE THE ONES—
This is a description of the citizens of Zion.
“Who may worship in your sanctuary, LORD?
(The Psalms 15: 1
Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?”
New Living Translation)