10 Signs Of A True Christian

There are Biblical signs, or behaviors, that provide outward evidence that one is a true Christian. These signs are not contrary to the truth that no one gets to heaven because of their own goodness. Rather, they are evidences that one’s life has been submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

An examination of outward evidence of true salvation runs counter to the popular heresy that the only evidence one needs is his own testimony that he believes Jesus is Lord, and that he has asked for forgiveness.

At Satan’s suggestion, some have even dropped the requirement to ask God for forgiveness. The antichrist thought is, Why ask for forgiveness that has already been given to you?

Immediate Signs and Behaviors of People Who Love the Lord

Below, I’ve listed ten characteristic signs or behaviors of people who genuinely love the Lord Jesus Christ. Certainly, we are all at varying levels of growth in Christ, and we don’t expect a new Christian to know as much as a more seasoned Christian.

But we are not speaking of levels of knowledge, experience, or wisdom. We’re speaking of signs and behavior that give evidence that one has changed masters from Satan to Jesus Christ.

We have similar expectations of a husband with thirty years experience and one with two months experience as a husband. Neither should beat or cheat on his wife. Neither should be cruel or deliberately negligent.

We do not tell the newer husband that hopefully one day he’ll grow so much in love with his wife that he’ll stop treating her this way. We tell him to immediately stop.

True Christians Obey God Now Because They Belong to God Now

Yet, this is what the false grace movement tells us about our relationship with Christ. It has popularized the error that He can be our Savior now and we can make Him our Lord later–if we ever get around to actually obeying Him.

We’re told we can treat loyalty to Christ and obedience to His word as optional, and that we can be a genuine Christian with no outward evidence of salvation. The only evidence being our declaration that we belong to God.

Here are ten representative signs or behaviors that God demands the moment we claim Him as our God.

1. True Christians Walk in the Light

But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:7

2. True Christians Admit Their Sins

If we say that we have no sin [and have not been cleansed by Jesus from our sin], we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1 John 1:8

3. True Christians Keep the Commandments of Jesus Christ

And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.

1 John 2:3

4. True Christians Do Not Hate Anyone

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.

Everyone [including the hypocrite who claims to be a Christian] who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

1 John 3:14-15

5. True Christians Believe Jesus Came to Earth in the Flesh

By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God [use other Biblical criteria, too, to test false prophets];

and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist…

1 John 4:2-3

6. True Christians Continually Purify Themselves

And everyone who has this hope [of the coming of the Lord] fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

1 John 3:3

7. True Christians are Givers

But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him.

1 John 4:17

8. True Christians are Persecuted and Hated by the World

And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

2 Timothy 3:12

9. True Christians are Led by the Holy Spirit

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.

Romans 8:14

10. True Christians are Not Ashamed of Jesus Christ and the Bible

For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Luke 9:26

But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 10:33

Let no one talk you out of the clear teachings of the Bible. God means exactly what the Bible says He means. The primary sign of true salvation is not your testimony. It is your life.

---

I have a similar article you may enjoy: Everyone is Not a Child of God.