5 Characteristics of Faith

1) Total and Absolute

 Call for an adherence to God

2) Trinitarian

 Our adherence to the Triune God revealed through Jesus Christ 3 persons in 1 God
 God = creator Jesus = redeemer Holy Spirit = sanctifier

3) Loving, Maturing and Missionary

 Without love, we know nothing of God is love

4) Informed and Communitarian

 Accepting His teaching and trusting

 An act taking place within the some community, the Church

5) Inculturated

 Never separated from the typical Filipino faith in human family and friends

A Christian’s relationships

What are the characteristics of a Christian? The name “Christian” was first given to the disciples. (Acts
11:26) So a Christian should also be a disciple

A disciple is another word for a follower of Christ, one who is learning to be like his Master. As a disciple
you follow Jesus Christ, who is the Master and by living like Him you become more like Him. (Matthew
16:24; 1 Peter 2:21-22)... More

. The conditions for being a disciple are clearly written in Luke 14:26-27,33, “If anyone comes to Me and
does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also,
he cannot be My disciple.” Our relationship with our parents, marriage partner, children, possessions
and our future in this world must be according to what Christ teaches us. We must be independent from
them in our spirit, so that our relationship to them doesn’t hinder us from doing what is right and pure
in God’s eyes.
Characteristics of a Christian – a free man

It is a great misunderstanding to think that being a Christian is the same as being a so-called “pardoned
sinner”, implying that he is still bound to continue in sin

Sin is anything that goes against God’s will and His laws. To commit sin is to transgress or disobey these
laws. The lust to sin dwells in human nature. In other words, it is contaminated and motivated by the
sinful tendencies that dwell in all people as a result of the fall into sin and disobedience in the garden of
Eden. This... More

. In the verses below, we get a better understanding of what the will of God is for us, with regard to sin

To commit sin is to consciously do something that you know goes against God’s will. This can be in word,
deed, or even thought. (James 1:14-15)... More

“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin.” 1 John 2:1. “I write to you,
young men, because you have overcome the wicked one.” 1 John 2:13. “Now thanks be to God who
always leads us in triumph in Christ …” 2 Corinthians 2:14.

A Christian has a good conscience; he has put his past life in order; all his actions are in the light. All his
sins are forgiven; he is grounded in God and has built his life on the Rock, which is Christ. He is
immovable.

Characteristics of a Christian – not merely a meeting-goer

Being a Christian does not mean you are a religious “meeting-goer,” someone who goes to Christian
meetings rather than to places of worldly

The term “worldly” is used to describe anything that is purposed towards the world’s
goals/ideals/pursuits as opposed to that which is of the Spirit. (1 John 2:15-17; Titus 2:11-12)... More

entertainment, but otherwise is just like other people. Not at all! A Christian is someone who brings his
life into complete harmony with the Word of God and His will. He is righteous where others are
unrighteous; he is patient where others are impatient, diligent where others are lazy, and exact where
others are inexact. He speaks the truth boldly where others flatter, play the hypocrite, and lie. He is
meek, longsuffering, and quiet where others are hot-tempered and impetuous, etc. (1 Peter 1:15) All
these are traits of a true Christian.
Characteristics of a Christian – unselfish

A trait of a true Christian is that he is completely unselfish. It means that he starts thinking about the
others’ needs, as God works it in his heart: what is good and practical for them and what would benefit
them. Then, then, according to his ability, he helps them to obtain it. Christianity is synonymous with
serving and giving– giving of everything we have, both of spiritual and earthly

Refers to everything of this earth, as opposed to heavenly things. Example: Earthly treasures/heavenly
treasures. The earthly things pass away (are temporal), but the heavenly things are eternal. (Matthew
6:19-21; Colossians 3:2; 1 John 2:17)... More

goods. This is the essence of love. (Romans 15:2,7)

Characteristics of a Christian – free from the spirit of the times

A Christian is somebody that is not being influenced by the spirit of the times

The spirit of the times is the evil spirit found in much of the world’s modern culture/attitudes. It is not
constant, and can vary from era to era and culture to culture. Though not always obviously evil in itself,
the spirit of the times will always be instrumental in leading people away from serving and obeying God.
(1 Corinthians 2:12;... More

. A large number of people in the world are living in sin. They follow their passions and desires

The desires that we experience that go against God’s will. In other words, a desire for anything sinful.
See James 1:14. Also called “sin in the flesh.” Although the expression “youthful lusts” is often thought
of in connection with sinful sexual desires, lusts include anything that go against what is good and right
in God’s eyes. (2 Timothy 2:22.; Galatians... More

and few think it is wrong. There is a spirit behind them, and this spirit is called “the spirit of the times.”
It is particularly difficult to resist this spirit. What is commonly known as “fashion” is representative of
this spirit.

An ungodly person can be likened to a lifeless marionette. Whenever one power or another pulls the
strings, he has to jump and dance, whether he wants to or not. A Christian has Christ as his sole Lord and
ruler. Then he does not obey other powers; he does not obey the fashions or the spirit of the times,
even if everyone else does.

Characteristics of a Christian – being righteous

Being a Christian means that that person is righteous in all his affairs. Therefore if he has stolen anything
or committed some other act of unrighteousness, he will make restitution as soon as he becomes a
Christian. If he is in debt, he will make every effort to pay it back. There is no way around it. In this
respect it does not help to appeal to the atonement. If he does not practice righteousness, he is not a
Christian at all, and he will not enter the kingdom of God. “Everyone who practices righteousness is born
of Him.” 1 John 2:29.

A Christian, because of his progressive victory over his own lust and desires, starts to enjoy perfect rest
in his heart and mind. His life, being purified by the help of his Saviour, becomes more and more
irreproachable and blameless. No one can any longer point the finger at manifest sin such as outbursts
of anger, irritation or any unrighteousness.

As the Christian appreciates the power of the Holy Spirit in his life more and more, he naturally becomes
stronger and stronger by the same Spirit. The Christian can endure trials

Tribulations or trials refer to any event or situation that comes your way that tempts you to sin; that
gives opportunity for sinful thoughts and temptations to rise up in you. The tribulation or trial arises
when your mind to serve God struggles against your lusts to sin. It also often refers to difficult situations
that test your ability to... More

, discomfort, good report and evil report. This he does as he is confident that he serves a faithful Master.
What was impossible for him in the past, he is now able to overcome. This is especially noticed by those
that are themselves in need of overcoming.

Characteristics of a Christian – A constant development

However, we cannot expect to have perfect victory right away, which is why we read, “If anyone sins, we
have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our
sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” 1 John 2:1-2.

Nevertheless, it is of the utmost importance that a Christian is not content with suffering

The Bible often mentions suffering. Though this can refer to outward, physical suffering, in the New
Covenant it mostly applies to the suffering that occurs when you deny your own sinful lusts and desires
and put them to death. It is an inner suffering that occurs because your lusts are not being satisfied,
rather than a physical, outward one –... More

defeat, and so becomes slack and indifferent. He must not lose courage and give up in his fight
Almost all talk of battles and wars when concerning a Christian life refers to the inner battle that arises
when a sinful thought tempts you. God’s Spirit and the flesh are at odds. When you have decided to only
do God’s will and are being led by the Spirit, a conflict between the flesh and the Spirit arises: there is...
More

against sin, because it takes time to become and to be an overcomer. He must continue to live in hope
and faith, pressing on until he breaks through to a victorious life. This is all done by the assistance of and
obedience to the Holy Spirit of God. It is especially blessed to be in a fellowship

Fellowship means communion with other Christians who are living the same life that you are. It includes
mutual edification and a unity in purpose and spirit that goes far deeper than friendship or human
relationships. (1 John 1:7) We also experience fellowship with Christ when we overcome sin in the time
of temptation just as He did when He was... More

of Christians that has the same desire and will to overcome. Such people are led by their great
Shepherd – Jesus Christ – as they are following Him in His steps.

A Christian’s reward

Having been faithful to God by obeying his commandments as given to him by God’s Son, Jesus Christ, a
Christian will be rewarded with everlasting life.

John 3:36. “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall
not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

John 4:14. “But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I
shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting eternal life.”

Revelation 20:12-15. “I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened.
And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their
works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and
Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according
to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone
not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire”
You may be interested in reading more on our topic pages, “Being a Christian” or “What is a Christian?”

Or download this free e-book:

https://activechristianity.org/media/e-book/what-it-means-to-be-a-christian

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.