What are the CHARACTERISTICS of True CHRISTIANITY?

Most of the time, the principles of Christianity are not clearly understood. There is always a question of whether we are on the right track or on the side of the enemy.

If we are really concern of our destiny and know our goal and purpose in life, then we should know the basic things that made up the fundamental truth of true Christianity.

Defining Christianity

According to the Webster's dictionary Christianity is the body of Christian believers; Christendom; the religion of Christians; state or fact of being a Christian; a particular Christian religious system.

According to the Wikipedia:

Christianity (from the Greek word Xριστός, Khristos, "Christ", literally "anointed one") is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament.

Understanding Christianity in its simplest way, according to the Christian view as practicing Christians, is a body of Jesus Christ's believers, loving God, and loving one another.

In the above definitions, we can say that the basic substance of the founding truth of Christianity based on our authentic faith in Jesus Christ being the center and focus of our life.

Characteristics of true Christianity

We can evaluate ourselves whether we are really walking in the right direction with Christ as our focus basing on the cited facts in the Holy Bible, as a body of Christ believers, such as the following:

*NEW BIRTH

In the book of John Chapter 3, our Lord Jesus teaches Nicodemus, a Pharisee, "No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." Nicodemus did not understand what the Lord Jesus meant about being born again. I remember the time when I was like Nicodemus asking how a man can be born again when he is old? Well, surely a man cannot enter the second time into his mother's womb to be born again.

However, the Lord Jesus told Nicodemus "I tell you the truth; no one can enter the kingdom of God, unless he is born of water and the Spirit." That is something that really puzzles people who do not understand about the new birth. When a person repents and receives Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, he is cleansed from his sins. The water refers to purification as demonstrated in water baptism. It is the total remission of sins, linked with repentance and admission into the community of faith; a Christian ordinance; hence, a person who believed and received Jesus is being renewed spiritually and physically. He is being reborn. There is a new birth in him, a new creation through the Holy Spirit who works as he pleases in His renewal of the human heart. As we know that we are already dead in our sin, but our repentance would bring us to spiritual cleansing. We are no longer slaves of sin but one who belongs to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

*GROWTH

Spiritual growth and maturity in Christ is one of the hardest things in a Christian life. In the second epistle of Peter, Chapter 3 verse 18, it says, "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." It is very important for us to grow in Jesus, to grow as adult and not stay as baby Christians like what Apostle Paul said.

How can we be mature believers? 1 Cor. 2:6 Paul says, "Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten.

Matured Christians are those believers whose relationship with God is spiritually deep that according to Paul "No one can know a person's thoughts except that person's own spirit and no one can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit. And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us." (1 Cor. 2:11-12)

Matured Christians are those believers who understand and discern the wisdom from God that is given to them using the Spirit's words to explain the spiritual truths. Matured Christians are those who put away childish things, cultivate their understanding, follow the example of Christ, partake of the deeper truths of the Gospel, and overcome temptation.

"But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For 'Who can know the Lord's thought? Who knows enough to teach him?' But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ." (1 Cor. 2:14-16 NLT)

*NEW GARMENT

Our sins used to be our old clothing, our covering but God had given the Christians a new garment of salvation as Isaiah 61:10 says, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with the ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."

True Christianity are those body of believers clothed with righteousness, imitating Christ in their lives, set themselves apart from the things of the world for God, turning away from wickedness and continue to repent and believing the gospel of Jesus Christ for the rest of their lives. The bible teaches us to "cultivate our own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12).

*RADIANT LIFE

Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

Jesus Christ is the light of the world, same as Christians are light of the world.

*CHARACTER BUILDING

Matthew 7:24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock."

If our faith in God is founded in obedience and humility; repenting our sins every day and renewing our heart and mind according to the will of God; as we grow in our relationship with God, He will help us strengthen the foundation of our faith that whatever trials may come-- we will subdue and we will overcome.

Character-building is how the foundation of our faith in actual living as a believer of Jesus Christ. Do we follow or obey God and do what the Word of God says?

*FELLOWSHIP

As sons and daughters of God, we have a special relationship with Jesus. We can fellowship with him as the Scriptures say in Luke 24:32 "And they said to one another: Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"

When a Christian has a good relationship with God, the Holy Spirit in us will always recognize the feeling of knowing each other spiritually. We can always connect and renew our friendship with God no matter what if we open our hearts to the Lord.

*SONSHIP

John 1:12 " But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name."

* EDUCATION

Knowing Christ shall make you know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31-32 "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, If you abide in My Word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

What is the truth that Jesus speaks? About Himself, being the hope of the world, the salvation was promised. The truth that there is just one God who created the universe.

1 Jn 5:6-8 "This is the one who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by the water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement."

*GOOD WORKS

1 Tim. 6:18 "Let them do good, that they be rich, in good works, ready to give, willing to share."

Hebrew 13:16 "But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."

Titus 2:7 "in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,"

*SACRIFICE

Romans 12:1 "I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."

We present ourselves daily as a living sacrifice with mercy, self-sacrifice doing good for others, especially the needy, consecrating ourselves into the presence of God, and mortifying the flesh. We cannot do the sanctification of our human flesh without repentance and surrendering our human will to God. We should let go of our human control and let the Holy Spirit of God rule over us. We present with holiness and bringing acceptable offering with thanksgiving and praises for they are truly the sacrifices that honor God; our faith and love for Jesus and not just self gratification; the truth that we worship God and believe in God in all aspects in our life; leaving everything for Jesus Christ.

*WALKING IN CHRIST

Col. 2:6 "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus, the Lord, so walk in Him."

True and genuine Christians are those that walk in the paths of righteousness. It is true as the bible said in Matthew 7:13-27 that the gate-way to life is narrow and the road is difficult and only few ever find it. God had given us the free will to choose which road we are going to take. True Christianity has a narrow gate and narrow path.

We may question ourselves, are we walking in Christ? Yes of course we are! We are saved and we always pray, read the bible, and go to church regularly. However, are these things enough for us to be living in the principles of real Christianity? As we walk along the way... into that narrow gate-way (small gate) and narrow road to eternal life, there are thorns and obstacles along the way. The most crucial temptations for us Christians are the things of this world. Nevertheless, we have a big God, if we laid our whole life to Him and let the Master hold us in his hands, nothing can harm us.

1 John 5:18 "We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him."

As followers and believers of Christ, Christians are supposed to walk in the light. Moreover, they will be the light in the world as Jesus is the light in the world. If we want to build our house of faith on the rock, we should examine ourselves whether we live in the Word of God.

The bible never teaches that a person can be a genuine Christian and continues to live in carnality, living in sin and wickedness. For if, any man is in Christ, then, he is a new creature.

In John 8:12 our Lord Jesus Christ said, "Then Jesus spoke again to them, saying, I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

1 John 1:7 "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His son cleanses us from all sin."

*SPIRITUAL WARFARE

1 Tim. 6:12 "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." (NKJV)

Eph. 6:12 "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world's rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (MKJV)

*LIKE A RACE (The race of our faith)

Heb 12:1 "Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."

We look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, obtaining the culmination of all our patience in subduing all the trials and sacrifices as Christians, the end of our faith, which is the salvation of our souls. Salvation is free; it is a grace (unmerited favor) from God through the blood of Jesus Christ. However, it is for us to work on how we maintain and nurture that gift as we race along in our journey with Jesus.

The Holy Bible says in 1 Cor. 9:25 "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." (NIV)

*VICTORY

1 John 5:4 "For everything that has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith."

To overcome the world is to gain victory over its sinful pattern of life, which is another way of describing obedience to God. Such obedience is not impossible for the believer because he has been born again and the Holy Spirit dwells within him and gives him strength.

2 Aspects of Victory:

1. The initial victory of turning in faith from the world to God

2. The continuing day-by-day victory of Christian living

*ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE

John 17:3 "And this is life eternal, that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (NKJV)

Galatians 6:8 "For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life." (NKJV)

1 John 5:20 "We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true. And we are in Him who is true--even in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." (NIV)

1 John 5:11-12 "And this the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the son of God does not have life."(NIV)

Genuine Christianity is clearly a body of believers of Christ Jesus whose life totally surrendered to God, with a new name, who has a Father in heaven who disciplines them, watches over them, and cares for them. Christians who possess the fundamental truths and living in it. Christianity is all about our faith in Jesus Christ, our fellowship, and relationship with Him. This relationship with Jesus will reflect our good standing in heaven. We might know Jesus... but most important of all that our Lord God, Jesus Christ will know us.

Moreover, what is the best way for a person to know us? Of course, we have to build up a relationship and friendship to that person, how much more to our God. We need to walk in the right principles, right attitude, and living in the basic truth as a foundation of our faith so that even if we are nobody here on earth... we will be famous in the eyes of God, our names written in the book of life in heaven. It will be very sad to think... if in the last days... our names erased from the book of life because we did not hold on tightly with our crown of salvation. Peace and blessing!

_References

^{The Thompson Chain Reference Study Bible (New King James Version)}

^{The New International Version Bible}

^{King James Bible}

^{The New Living Translation Bible}