Hallmarks of a Christian

Today we live in a society, brethren, that things don't appear to be real. You know, people don't forget what real things are. If you maybe ask for some children and say, well, you know, where tomatoes come from, or whatever it is, it's from the supermarket, you know, or from the refrigerator. People don't really know or they've experienced a real garden, or things that maybe 20 or 30 years ago were common. I was kind of surprised that I was with some people in Dallas, and they were telling me that other people were visiting them. And while they were visiting them, those teenagers just didn't want to do anything but just play virtual reality. And they spent their whole time playing games with virtual reality, these goggle-like things, instead of having, you know, playing maybe with a ball, or going out and running around the block, or something like that. It was just... that's all they wanted to do. People are losing touch with reality. Even people thinking today, it kind of... You know, we used to say, well, this is common sense. Well, I think it's not more common sense. I think it's a rare sense, because people have lost reality of what really is certain things. And even the news today. I mean, I used to live in, in particular, in a small country where there was censorship of the news. But the censorship was imposed by the government. You could not hear on the news that this strike had happened, or that had happened, because it was censored by the government. Well, we live in the society today in the same country. It's not censored by the government, but it's censored by the media. The media decides to have their own censorship, and to only tell you what they want to tell you. And you know what, brethren? It's nothing different than another one of Satan's trips, because he's the master deceiver. You know, you read in Revelation 12 verse 9, he deceives the whole world. And how much easier it is to deceive the whole world if people are away from reality? If you don't have a touch of reality, you know, you're going to believe things. In fact, you can tell a lie so many times that after a while, it's thought to be a truth. Truth. That's what Adolf Hitler said. And I mean, I think you can experience that in this age today. But you know what? The same is true with Christianity. You can tell a lie so many times that people will think that Christianity is something which actually is not what it is in God's eyes. So the question is, what is true Christianity? And I appreciate the sermonette. I'm glad that Mr. Steppen, I discussed what to talk about. I joke, we did. It just shows that God is in charge. And as he mentioned, the success of a true Christian was a very good thing. Of a true Christian, what is it? I mean, if you and I do not know what a true Christian is, how do we know what is success?

And so today I want to talk about some hallmarks of a Christian, of a true Christian. Now, obviously, they're not all. You could have many others. But just some important ones. But so what? So what? Why must I listen to this? Well, so you and I are not deceived. You know, it's very easy to look at people and say, oh well, they're such a nice Christian. But they are very nice people. That you and I can define in a loose colloquial language, well, they're such nice Christians. But is that the great goal as a Christian that we need to strive to imitate or copy those people? So what is the right goal for you and I as a Christian? So turn with me to Philippians chapter 3 verse 13 and 14. Philippians chapter 3, guys, Paul saying that he's gone as strive for the right goal. Philippians chapter 3 verse 13 and 14 says, Brethren, I do not count myself to have a pre-ended. I don't count myself to have succeeded as a Christian. But one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching to forward to those things which are ahead. In other words, let us not spend time in saying, well, I should have done this or I should have done that or I should have done the other, which granted sometimes it is good to have what they call a post-mortem, as they call it in business, so you don't do the same mistakes. But the point is that we need to press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. You and I need to press toward the goal. Now, if you and I don't know what a true Christian is, how do we know that we are pressing towards that goal? Because God has got a prize for us. This calling, it's a prize, it is a reward, and this is through Christ Jesus. What is this goal? What is this goal? Obviously, we could say it in many different ways. As we heard, we could say it as being in the kingdom or being in the resurrection, being in front of Christ. Of course, they all correct. I want to focus on a specific angle. That's why I said some of the hallmarks. They're not all, but some of the hallmarks, and only a specific one area. I want you to turn to Acts chapter 10. I'm actually going to read from Acts chapter 11, but Acts chapter 10, it says the scene. The scene is that, as we read there, Peter has a vision, and you know about that vision. That's between chapter 10, verse 9 through 16. He has this vision three times, and the vision is that this, as it says here, this cloth comes down and has all these animals, and a great sheet, and all these unclean animals. And this voice says, get up and eat. And he said, not so, sir, not so, Lord, for I've never eaten anything common or in dream. And then the voice says, what God has claimed, you must not hold common. And this was three times, and so he was puzzled. What is all this about? And then a little later, he meets Cornelius, and then we're reading verse 28 of chapter 10 towards the latter part of verse 28. Then he understood what God was saying, that God was calling both Jews and Gentiles. God was not discriminating. And this was new for the Jewish people. This was something new. This was kind of a whole new paradigm shift, a whole new way. And then, in chapter 11, Peter now goes and tells others about this. And the brethren there accept it.

And the interesting thing, then these people at the end of chapter 11, not at the end, but towards the end in verse 26, says, and these people, these disciples, were first called Christians in Antioch. This is the first time that those that were following Christ were called Christians. And it's interesting because it defines them as disciples. This applies to believers, they were Jew, or believers, they were not Jew. The word disciples comes from the Greek, which is a word that says, Christenos, which means Christ follows, people that followed Christ, or those of the household of Christ. And these are people, they were Jews and Gentiles, but they start seeing something beyond what the Jews understood themselves. And it took a bit of time for this, even the Jews, to understand that, that God was calling people and the Gentiles.

And this is something that we really need to focus on. We need to be Christ followers. You know, I mentioned that sometimes we look at people and say, Oh well, this person is such a good Christian. We need to imitate Christ. Christ is our standard, not somebody else. That's what we need to copy. And you know, as we follow Christ, there are good days and bad days. You know, Christ had some very rewarding times in his ministry, but he also had some difficult times. Now look at 1 Peter chapter 4. 1 Peter chapter 4.

We're going to look at verse 16. First Peter 4, verse 16, it says, Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. Do you know, to be a Christian, it involves also a degree of suffering, of pain, of going through pain. And we must not be ashamed, but glorify God in this matter. Glorify God that we are like Christ in this matter, not just in good, but in bad as well. Look at another example in 1 Corinthians chapter 10. 1 Corinthians chapter 10. 1 Corinthians chapter 10. We'll start in verse 31. Therefore, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. So whether you're fasting or not fasting or whatever you do, whatever you're planning to do, do it in a way that is honorable to God. Give no offense, neither to the Jews nor to the Greeks nor to the Church of God.

You know, sometimes things don't go exactly the way we want, or we expect them to be done in a certain way, but maybe our manager treats us in a way that we say, quote-unquote, I'm not in the good books today, you know? Things are not doing so well. But we still have to show humility and respect as we heard in the sermon, and we still have that childlike attitude. And therefore, he says, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved, I'm prepared to suffer for others, for the good of others. And then you continue in the next chapter, because it's a continuation. It says, imitate me just as I also imitate you. Imitate Christ.

That is being a disciple of Christ. That is being a Christian. Imitating Christ is our standard. In fact, just before Christ went to heaven after his resurrection, in Matthew 28 verse 19, the first part of Matthew 28 verse 19. Matthew 28, right at the end of the book of Matthew. Well, in verse 18 he says, all authority has been given to me. You know, as the Father delegated to Christ all authority. Brethren, this is where people really get confused. They really get confused. That's why Christ says, I'm the way, I'm the door. People get confused with this, because the Father delegated everything to Christ. That means whatever the Father does, He delegates the actual execution to Christ.

I mean, it's like, for instance, that if you are an executive in a company, and you delegate everything to this executive manager, and when people come to you, you say, go to him. He's your contact. He's your contact person. And yes, the executive manager comes to the leader of the organization and says, we need this. The leader of the organization says, I've given you all authority. Whatever you want, you have it. And that's what it is. God gives everything to Jesus. But Jesus is the door, is the controlling, is the one that says, yes, you can have or no, you can't.

It's purely, in very simple terms, a matter of absolute trust between those two, absolute trust between the two, the father and the son, and of complete delegation of authority for the son to execute. And that's how people sometimes get confused. But anyway, it continues. He says, all authority has been given to me, not just on earth, in heaven. You and I cannot even begin to comprehend what that means. And then he says, in YHSA's animation, go and make disciples. It doesn't say, go and make ministers. It doesn't say, go and make leaders. Now, obviously, through that, there will be leaders. But the main focus is to make followers of Christ. That's what we're going to do. In other words, we're going to walk like Christ walked. That's our job description. Think of it this way. If you have to, you know, you have a place of employment, and then you've got a job to do, and then at your company, they give you, this is your job description. Well, YHSA is our job description. Imitate Christ. Wow! That's it! Be like Christ. Be a disciple of Christ. First John chapter 2 verse 6 puts it in another way. First John chapter 2 verse 6.

He who says he abides in him. In other words, he who says he's a Christian ought himself also to walk just as he walked. So if you're a Christian, you're supposed to walk, to prove, to behave like Christ did. That's what it is. Walk as Christ walked. Let's read a little bit further on that. In 1 Peter chapter 2. First Peter chapter 2. Just a few pages back. Verse 21. In fact, let's start in verse 18. First Peter chapter 2 verse 18. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear. Again, as we heard in the sermon, that requires submission and humility. A Christ-like attitude, a child-like attitude. But it really continues here. With all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. If your boss is hard, is a hard task master, be submissive with respect. And that's not easy. But this is commendable. If because of conscious towards God, one endures grief, suffering. Suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently. But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable to God. Verse 21. And this is kind of a very powerful statement, kind of a closing statement that kind of hits you between the eyes and says, for to this you were called. You and I were called by God to be in the church.

To suffer wrongfully. Wow. Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that you and I should follow in steps. We have to follow Christ steps. We are to imitate Christ. Wow, that is hard. But that's our job description. For this you were called. Wow, it hits me between the eyes. I think it hits us all between the eyes as well.

Look at 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 9. 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 9.

God is faithful by whom you were called. You and I were called by God the Father into the fellowship of his Son.

In other words, we are to be in his team. To a fellowship with Christ. But Christ had good and bad things happening to him. And so, for us to be in that fellowship, there's going to be good and bad things happening to us.

The fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Look at 4Es as a scripture that we cut off and read, and maybe we don't click it. But Romans 8 verse 17. Romans 8 is a very lovely scripture showing that we've got to be led by God's Holy Spirit. And because we are, we are his children, and we are the children of God, begotten by God the Father. But in verse 17 it says, if children then is, is of God. We are to inherit God. Wow! Yeah, that's what it says. We are to inherit God. To be in that kingdom. That's what it is, that God kingdom. The thing about it, yeah, there's just a different way of putting it. We know a kingdom means a government, and people living in that government. Think of it. There's an animal kingdom. Well, in fact, there's a vegetable kingdom, right? There's an animal kingdom. Then there's a human kingdom. You and I are in the human kingdom. Then there's the angelic kingdom, or domain. Then there's the God kingdom. There's two beings in the God kingdom now, the Father and the Son. You and I are to inherit God, the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God. It's beautiful. But there's a little word called if. Just two letters, if. Quite often we don't read that. Oh, just if. Well, it is a big word. If, indeed, we suffer within. If, indeed, we suffer within. That, then, you may also be glorified with things together as members of that God family.

You see, brethren, we called into that fellowship. We called to walk as Christ walked. We called for this reason to suffer like He suffered, to follow His steps. We called to be His disciples. Isn't that a hallmark of a Christian? To be like He is? Because then, you and I know that we are called to a wedding supper. Right? We're called to the wedding of the bride with the groom. And look at Matthew 22. Matthew 22. It's called a had a little story, starting in verse 1. Then it says, the kingdom of heaven, you know, the kingdom of God is compared to this marriage ceremony. And many people get called, and people don't come, and I've got excuses, and whatever. Then it gets down to a point. You go out in the streets and just call anybody. But then, look in verse 12. So then He said, because there was a man there, looking in verse 11, sorry, and He saw a man there who did not have a wedding garment. Yeah, you go into the streets and call, but you have to be dressed properly. The analogy, obviously, is spiritually dressed properly. And so, verse 12, He said to a friend, how is it that you come here, not dressed properly? Now, the point is, He didn't have an excuse. He had no excuse. In other words, He knew better. He was speechless. And the king said, by name, take him away. For many are called, but few are chosen. What is the moral of the lesson? The moral of the lesson, you are brethren, is that we have to examine ourselves and make sure we dress properly. Mentally, spiritually, our thoughts. Are we examining ourselves? In this context, I'll take you back to Corinthians. Corinthians was a church that was having a number of problems. And so, Paul addresses problem after problem. It's problem after problem on the head. But you get down to chapter 11 of 1 Corinthians. Chapter 11, 1 Corinthians.

And we'll start. And this is where we said, he may take me, just as I am a tight Christ. And then a little bit further, he says, look in verse 18. For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions amongst you. Well, am I surprised about that? In God's church division? Wow! I didn't know that. So Paul says, and in part I believe it. Look at verse 19. For there must be divisions of factions among you. What? It doesn't say, well, they might be, or they could be. This is, there must be.

Wow! That's another revelation, isn't it? There must be divisions amongst you. Why? That those who are approved may be recognized amongst you. As Mr. Armstrong used to say, to test the bride, to get the bride ready. That's what it is. God is looking at the heart. And so, now we're going to stand up, individually, one by one, not underneath somebody else's skirts. But, we have to stand up, to determine that we are approved or not.

And so, a little bit further, in that context, he says, Therefore, verse 27, talking about the Passover, whoever eats the spread and drinks the scap of the Lord in unworthy manner, you know, will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. So, he's talking about eating the Passover in a way which is not worthy. But, the point I want to emphasize here is verse 28. But, let a man examine himself. We have to examine ourselves. Think about that person that came to the wedding that did not have a proper garment. If that person was examining himself, would have realized, I can't come like that. It's like, in the morning, you get up, have a shower, and you look at yourself in front of the mirror. You examine yourself in front of the mirror and kind of tie your hair and shave or whatever you do. You examine yourself. Spiritually speaking, we're going to do the same thing against our mirror, which is God's law and God's principles. That's what we're going to look at it and say, how are we doing to imitate Christ? Look at verse 29. He says, For he who eats and drinks in an unworldly manner, heats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. This is another powerful statement. You see, of course, the Lord's body is Christ's physical body. But there's a duality. Because the Lord's body is the Church of God. The Lord's body is the spiritual organism, which is the Church of God. And if you and I are not treating one another like Christ treats us in a loving kind way, what are you going to happen? Some people are going to get heart attacks, are going to get stressed, are going to get sick, are going to get problems with their stomach or whatever it is. And some will die. I know, I know, a minister in the Church that died because of the problems in the Church. In 2010. In 2010.

That's why he says, for this reason, many are weak and seek among you, and many are dead. Sleep. In other words, he's actually talking about the physical body, but also in duality, about the spiritual body, which is the Church. And if we don't discern one another with loving care, our brothers, if we are causing the vision, and he says, it's going to be the vision, we just ran that to be approved. But be careful, because God is testing our hearts.

So, are we discerning the Lord's body? Are we discerning our brothers and sisters in the Church? Are we affecting our brothers and sisters in the Church in any negative way that is going to make them feel unwell? How do we talk to others when we see there's something wrong? Do we take our bazooka machine gun and blast them down? Or do we talk to them in meekness and humility and love? So that we are not caught with the same problem. For if we would judge ourselves, we will not be judged. If we're examining ourselves, then God does not have to judge us, because we have self-examined. Therefore, we will have the right governments at the wedding, not the wrong governments, because we examined ourselves.

And then to make sure that indeed we are talking about this, we go on to the next chapter, chapter 12. And look in verse 13, for by one Spirit we all baptized into one body. It was into the Church of God. Not into a human organization, but into the family of God. We baptized into that body. Whether it's Jews or Greeks, whether it's slaves or free, we all drink of that one Spirit that puts it into that one body. Look at verse 18. But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He pleased. You see, it's talking about the body of Christ, discerning the body of Christ there, not discerning the Lord's body. In chapter 11 verse 29, it's talking about the Church, because that's how He moves the conversation.

And if they were all one member, would they be a body? Where would the body be? If they're all just mouths, like, quite often they say, well, people, I want to preach, I want to then just preach, I want to preach. So we have a body that is only full of mouths. There's no knees, there's no elbows, there's no ears, there's no noses, just mouths. No. There are many members but one body. Look at verse 25. And that there should be no schism. Oh yeah, in the previous chapter, it said there will be division, there must be divisions. But it says here in verse 25, chapter 12, that there should be no division in the body. But that the members should have the same care for one another. Why? Because they discern the Lord's body. If one member suffers, all members suffer within. And if one member is honored, all members rejoice within. Now we're the body of Christ and members individually. So this requires what? We'll move to the next chapter. Love. The next chapter is a chapter of love. This requires out-going concern for one another. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and I have not love, I'm just a sounding brat for the plain and simple. And so it goes on.

Love never ends, as it says. Love never fails. Bears all things, believes all things. It's not saying it's naive, but it's saying accept people at face value. Up to a point, of course, you know, but, you know, it does everything in its part for peace. Helps all things, endures all things.

And then look at also at John. At John 13 verse 34. John 13 verse 34.

A new commandment I give you. That you love one another. Well, isn't that an old commandment? To love one another? But it is new as far as the standard. What is the standard? The standard was love one another as you love yourself. Well, some people love themselves very little. That's why they come into a side. So if that's all that you need to do, that's a very low grade. But it says, love one another as I have left you. So he's raised the bar. So that's why it's a new commandment. Because it's a raised bar to follow Christ, to imitate Christ, to be like him.

And then look at James chapter 3. James chapter 3. We're just talking about wisdom. Starting verse 13. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. The meekness of wisdom is a sentence or a phrase that I encourage you to meditate about. Meekness of wisdom. Think about it. Write it down. Go on. Meditate on it. Think about it. Think about it. Think about it. Meekness of wisdom. There's so much to think about that. The meekness of wisdom.

It's not the meekness in wisdom. It's the meekness of wisdom. So they use a wisdom which does not have meekness. That's what it says. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, there is a wisdom without meekness. Do not boast or lie against the truth, because that sort of wisdom without meekness does not descend from above from God, but it's earthly essential for where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing.

But the wisdom from God, the one that is with meekness, the meekness of wisdom, is first pure. First thing for months is pure. It's peaceable. It's gentle. It's willing to yield full mercy and good fruits. And without partiality.

And without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is shown in peace by those who make peace. By those who make peace. Those who make peace are peacemakers. Those who make peace are peacemakers. Peace makers. Have you ever considered the Beatitudes? Let's look at the Beatitudes very quickly. See Matthew chapter 5. Matthew chapter 5. Matthew chapter 5. I've given a sermon on each one of these Beatitudes. But look at it. Verse 3. Blessed are the poor in spirit.

It was the humble. Those that have humility like a child. For theirs is the kingdom of God, kingdom of heaven. So first, it's kind of... think of it. Have you ever seen one of these games that you put something, put a block, and then you put another block, and then you put another block? You know? And they kind of... they build one on top of another. That's what this is. Think about it. The first bottom block is humility. You take that one out, all the others will fall.

So, it's kind of the basic block. That's it. The basic block. The ground floor. Humility. That's what it says. If you want to flee from Satan, be humble. And he'll flee from you. In other words, if you want Satan to leave you, be humble. Why? Because he sinned. Satan's sin was lack of humility. He wanted to be the boss.

He wanted to be like God. He wanted to be in charge. I want to be in charge. How many troubles have started amongst people? Because people want to be the boss. So, the first beatitude is humility. When I was there in Elda, in Brazil, I told him, you've been approved to be Elda, but I'm not ordaining you. Because I want to watch, and the council asked me to do the same thing, to watch you for a certain period, to see whether this is going to get you ahead.

Because there's one thing that I don't want you to be, is a minister, which is going to be ahead. If there's one thing you want, I want you to remember, it's always be humble. And I'm not ordaining you until I see that. And thank God I saw those fruits, these ordaining, and it's a great help for me there in the northern part of Brazil.

And his wife is helping you. They're great help. I don't know what I'll do without them. But you need that ground floor humility, childlike attitude. Then, on top of that, you've got to mourn. Now, when I first read this many years ago, I thought, well, does it mean that I'm going to have a little black stripe on my arm in the morning, you know, whatever? You know, when I look at myself, and I see doing things wrong, and I repent, I'm born that I've heard God and that I've heard Christ.

Mourning is repenting, is changing. And so, if I'm humble, next thing I'm going to mourn, I'm going to repent, I'm going to change to be comforted. And then, I need to be teachable. I need to be gentle and teachable, like a tame animal. You know, like a tame animal that you, you, you, you train, malleable? We are the clay in the potter's hand, which must be malleable, must be teachable, must be meek, must be gentle, not hard, but gentle and malleable.

And that's the next burden. And then, when we are malleable, we are going to desire to be malleable according to God's righteousness. We realize we don't have it, and we're going to seek it, we're going to hunger and thirst for it. And it's not my self-righteousness, because then I already have it. I'm self-righteous, I already got it. No, I don't have it. That's why I need to hunger and thirst, because I don't have it. We don't have it. We've got hunger and thirst for it. And then, we realize we need mercy.

We need a lot of mercy. And so, we're going to be merciful for others, because if you're merciful, then mercy will be given to you. And then, we realize it's going to be from the heart.

There's going to be a clean heart, genuine, sincere. And then, we're going to be peacemakers. It doesn't say, love peace. It's a big difference between loving peace and making peace. Or you can be a peace lover and just appease everybody, but a peacemaker. Sometimes, he knows that what he's going to do is not going to please everybody. But that's the way of peace. And that's where we came from in James 3 that said, this is the meekness of wisdom, and as you have this, that you make peace.

You see how they tie together? Because it's this pillar or construct of beatitudes starting from humility, starting from that childlike attitude, building it up that you are being a peacemaker. But you know what? That's what Christ is going to do and he's going to bring. Come to earth. He's going to make peace on earth. And you and I are going to work with him and the ream to achieve the same thing as peacemakers.

That's what we're called and chosen for. So you and I are not just called to my own self-preservation. We are to be part of a body, to be part of a team, to be part of the body of Christ, not causing division, being united, being compassionate, caring for one another, be able to suffer, prepare to suffer for one another, but being peacemakers. In other words, we need to be growing in this process, which is a huge process of overcoming. But then we read in Revelation 2.26.

And he who overcomes and keeps my works. You see, Christ's works, like what Christ does, we're imitating him. We're doing his works until the end. Until the end. Brethren, I have seen people, unfortunately, that have been so loyal for so many years, and then just got tired, just got tired, and gave up. And maybe it was just that last stretch in the matter of fact. But you and I have to remain faithful till the end, overcoming till the end. That's why it says, called, chosen, and faithful till the end. So it says, and he that keeps my works until the end, to him I'll give power over the nations. To him he will rule in the kingdom of God. Because brethren, that is our destiny, to be in the kingdom of God, to rule with Christ, to be Christ's followers, to be in a team like him. And it is important that you and I understand we grasp the reality of our calling. Not of a virtual reality, fake, whatever. No, the reality that we've got to change completely. That we've got to be caring for one another. We've got to be careful how we say things to our brothers and sisters. To be childlike in reality. To have a relationship with God and with Christ, which is real. But it says that we seek God's face. Brethren, our job is also not just for ourselves, but to help others. We are helping one another. How beautiful it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. And when we have after services, we have fellowship, and we get together and we eat, and we've got thanks together for what we eat, and we're so grateful for what God has given to us as a nation, to us as people, our great calling we have. This is why we're born. To be like Christ. This is just some examples of some of the characteristics of the hallmarks of being a Christian. To be like him. But you know what? Christ says, I'll never leave you or forsake you. What better guarantee do you need or do you want? Christ says, I will never leave you or forsake you, leave you or reject you. Never! The point is, it's up to us. The bolt in our court. We need to be overcome, to be like him, till the end. May God give you the strength and the wisdom to please remain faithful till the end.