“And the disciples were called Christians…”

Before we look at the marks of the Christ-ian, let us look at how one (1) does not become a Christ-ian:
*Good works.
*A prayer.
*By being a child of a Christ-ian.
*Attending church or by attending church your whole life.
*Thinking highly of Jesus Christ.
*Preaching/Teaching the Bible.
*Reading the Bible “religiously.”
*Caring about Christ-ian things.

None of the above actions can ever save an individual or make one (1) a Christ-ian, NONE, N-O-N-E. Not one (1) of those things, not even if they are all combined!!!

How then does a sinner become a Christ-ian?
*Believing in Christ as Lord and Saviour.
*By Trusting Him.
*By Loving Him.

There is, there are no other ways at all. Not only is this the only way to be a Christ-ian, this is the only way to Heaven period. Islam is a way to Hell, Buddhism is a way to Hell, Hinduism is a way to Hell, Cults are a way to Hell. There be many, many ways to Hell.The first (1st) list at the top are all ways to Hell. All roads lead to Hell, Save Christ Who is the Way to Heaven…the Only Way…Truth and Life. The way that seems right unto man is a way to Hell. The Broadway leads to Hell, Pride leads to Hell. Catholicism, if followed is a way to Hell.

My Reader, there is Only One Way that leads a Way from Hell….there is Only One Way that leads a Way from Sin, sins, self, and (s)atan. There is Absolutely Only One True Way that Leads to Life Eternal and that Way, that Truth is The Lord Jesus Christ. It was Christ Who bore the Sin and sins of all that will believe. It was He Who hanged upon the criminal’s cursed cross. It was He and He Alone that hanged upon YOUR cross.  It was He and He Alone that was buried, taking sin with Him.  It was He and He Alone that rose again, leaving sin behind….your sin, if you will but believe. If you believe not, you shall bear your own sin in Hell for all eternity…what a shame, when He beckons you to believe.

What are the marks of the Christ-ian believer? If you be a Christ-ian these marks will follow you all the days of your life. But first (1st) an analogy:  When I was young, a teenager, I worked in fast food.  After a shift, I would bring home the smell of the restaurant. My hair would be oily, there would be oil in my ears as well.  Sometimes I would bring food home and I would come home, tired. If I decided to play sick and do something else, the above would not be present when I arrived home and my Mom would know.

What is true of the above analogy is true of Christ-ianity, though they be different marks. What marks out a Christ-ian or what marks does a Christ-ian bear?
*Obedience to Christ: a desire to obey or to submit to Christ’s Lordship. Obedience is not forced or grievous. To submit is pleasurable.

*An abiding love for Christ: There is no salvation where there is no abiding and deepening love for Christ, absurd is the thought that one (1) can love not Christ and yet be born again.

*Unceasing prayer or a life of prayer or a prayer life: What breathe is to life, prayer is to the spirit of the Christ-ian. You cannot be a believer if you pray not. The married couple cannot be a happy couple lest they communicate.  How doth the student learn if the student and the teacher do not communicate? How is a dog trained lest the trainer communicates and the dog likewise? The Scripture tells us, life is in the blood.  As that is true, Spiritual like is in the prayer. Prayer is the means of communication between God and His servant. We pray for our needs and our desires, but we also prayer to worship, and to praise and to give thanks. Prayer should be more praise and worship than petition and request. Thinking upon God is prayer. Sometimes prayer can be wordless but this form takes much times to develop.

*Good works: We are created or re-created unto good works. Just as the Christ-ian longs to obey God, he also longs to perform good works in the Name of Christ. The Christ-ian perseveres by good works just as he perseveres by calling upon the Name of the Lord. Faith and good works cannot be separated and more than justification and sanctification or Lord and Saviour or worship and service.
*Trust in His Word and an abiding in His Word. The Christ-ian trusts the Word, Reads the Word, and Studies the Word. The Word sustains the Believer in the Christ-ian life. Prayer and Bible study go together. As they say, the book will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from the Book. Grace and peace is multiplied unto the believer as his knowledge and love for Christ deepens….this is a spiritual law, Reader.
*A love for the brethren: an instantaneous attraction or bonding to newly met believers. “Deep calleth unto deep,”  or Like calls unto like. The Christ-ian loves and is loyal to the brethren. Iron sharpeneth iron. When a Christ-ian learns of another Christ-ian in close quarters, there is a bond, there is a connection, there is a brotherhood born or recognized.
*A longing for, a loving of, and a looking forward to the Return of Christ: Christ’s return is an event all Christ-ians….all Christ-ians who’s faith is healthy awaits Christ. If you are a believer and you hope Christ waits a little while longer, you may be a Christ-ian, but your faith is not healthy, and your priorities are out of order and you are out of order. If you hope Christ tarries, you are in the world and quite possible of the world. To be friends with this world is to be at odds with God and to be on good terms with (s)atan, the god of this world. The healthy believer not only looks for Christ’s return but longs for it and love to think upon it.

*A defending of the Truth. One (1) will defend what one (1) loves and considers to be of great worth.

*Offended when one (1) speaks ill of Christ. This is natural for the Christ-ian. When that Worthy Name is misused, we want to misuse the speaker, but we do not.  Personally, and God has given me boldness in this area, I confront the blasphemer. I am especially direct when they give Him a “middle name” that begins with the letter after E. Do not feel bad if you do not also confront the blasphemer as I said, God has given me a special boldness and I prayed for this boldness for fifteen (15) years before it was granted. It is not safe confronting the wicked. However, if God leads you, who am I to stop you.

The above are marks that follow the Christ-ian.  Has He marked you?  Do you bare the Marks of Christ?  In the coming days, we may bear the physical marks of Christ upon our bodies…what an honour…exciting times.