Main Title : The Real Christian

By Pastor Michael Magbag

Scripture :

Romans 12:9-21
English Standard Version (ESV)

Marks of the True Christian

⁹ Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ¹⁰ Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹ Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,^[a] serve the Lord. ¹² Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ¹³ Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.^[b] Never be wise in your own sight. ¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ¹⁹ Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it^[c] to the wrath of God, for it is written,

“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ²⁰ To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Are you an Antioch Christian? This term comes from a time in the New Testament when the Jesus-followers were first called “Christians” at the city of Antioch. It literally means “little Christ.” What a compliment!

Here’s a fascinating story. An evangelist in a small community was holding a crusade and asked a farmer in the area is he was a Christian yet. The farmer thought for a moment and then said, “Wait just a few minutes.”

He wrote down a list of names on a tablet and handed it to the lay evangelist. “Here is a list of people who know me best. Please ask them if I am a Christian.”

WOW! What a statement! If we did that, what would the answers be? Are we even brave enough to conduct that particular social experiment???

The perception is often this:  people assume that you are a Christian because you never miss a Sunday at church. They assume you are a Christian if you don’t have certain vices, are a good person, and give to charities.

These qualities may indeed be trademarks of a Christian, but the perception is an outward one. You could have all of these good values, and have a heart that is impure and not in relationship with a living Saviour.  Many people wrongly suppose that a Christian is someone who lives a good and decent life, but they don’t see the heart.

God is the only one who can make me a Christian.

Is there enough evidence of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life to convict you of being a “little Christ”? If people close to you were asked if you are a Christian, what would they say?

Would they say “Yes, because he chooses to love his enemies and forgive them.”

“Yes, because he does not hold anger or bitterness in his heart.”

“Yes, because he praises God even when things look hopeless.”

“Yes, because he lives a clean and holy life and stays away from sin.”

“Yes, because he is patient, kind, and generous."

The real evidence of being a real Christian is a Christ-like life that shows the character of God and bears fruit that is the fruit of the Spirit. If you are truly a Christian, your actions and thoughts will manifest spiritual fruit (John 15:8).