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Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men"
LIGHTHOUSE
BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH
883 AENON CHURCH
ROAD
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
32304
(850) 574-9886
"How to Spot a Christian?"
My article for this issue comes from a message I preached in the beginning of the year entitled "How to Spot a Christian". Acts 11:19-26 talks about the Church at Antioch and if you will read from Acts 11:19 through Acts 12:5 you are given an outline as to the purpose of the Church.
Acts 11:19 - The Church should Preach the Word.
Acts 11:26 - The Church should Teach the Word.
Acts 11:29 - Says that we should give to the Church.
Acts 11:19 - Says that the Church should Pray.
These are the basic things that the Church should do. Toward the end of the chapter we find, in Acts 11:26, that the saints were first called "Christians" in Antioch. Just what does the term "Christian" mean?
"Christian" means "Christ like". If you read Acts 11:26, you will notice that those who were called "Christians" were saved people who had spent a whole year being taught. They learned about the Lord and what He was like ant that taught them how they could be like Him. That tells me that those folks were saved a whole year before they got the name "Christian". We live in a society today that labels anyone that believes in God or goes to Church as a "Christian". Nothing could be further from the truth! There are many, many people who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and been born again who are not "Christians". There are back slidden saints who have been saved 20 years and fall short of being "Christ like". You would do good to find one Christian in a group of 100 saved people.
The question now arises, just how do you spot a Christian? I want to give you six (6) pointers in regards to spotting a Christian.
(1) [1 Peter 2:2] You can spot a Christian by what they feed upon.
1 Peter 2:2 talks about the milk of the Word. This is what a new born desires. A new born saint will crave the milk of the Word. As he grows, he will slowly want solid foods. Hebrews 5:14 mentions the meat of the Word. There is a desire for the Word of God and that desire grows. Our church has a food pantry and had given some food to a couple who said that it wasn't too bad years ago, but now the kids had grown older and they eat a lot more.
A Christian will be the same way. As they mature, they should want more. Growth is determined by how much time a saint spends in the Bible. Christians are easily spotted because they have a great desire to get into and learn the Bible.
(2) [Luke 12:32] You can spot a Christian by who they fear.
Real Christians fear God! Psalms 111:10 says that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 1:7 says that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. The Bible defines "Fear" as being greatly afraid. Some of the of the old time men of God like C.I. Scofield wrote that this fear should be a "Reverential fear". That's not the fear that Noah had in Hebrews 11:7 that caused him to build a boat and save his house. You have been duped by this world into thinking that fear is wrong. True fear is what makes the evil person stay right (Romans 13:3). Instead of fearing God, we fear our neighbor and that brings a "Snare" (Proverbs 29:25). The more a saint fears God, the closer to God they will get. How do you spot a Christian? By who they fear.
(3) [Ephesians 5:11] You can spot a Christian by who they fellowship with.
That's the crowd that they hang around with. A person who is "Christ like" will visit and witness to everyone, but when it comes to fellowship, they are very aware that dogs (2 Peter 2:22 - Lost men) have fleas and if they hang around them, they too will get fleas! The king James Bible is a book of separation. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 is very plain on the subject. Preacher, isn't that legalism? No my friend, it's called separation! God says separate from the lost (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) and those saints who are backslidden (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15). Why? Just like Momma used to say, "If you hang around with trouble, you will end up in trouble yourself". Those that are "Christ like" will steer clear of troublesome relationships.
(4) [Acts 11:26] You can spot a Christian by what they are faithful to.
Acts 11:26 says that for a whole year they assembled themselves with the Church. That is a good testimony of what they did that whole year. That tells me that they were faithful to God's command of Hebrews 10:25. Every time the Church doors swing open, they were going in. Tallahassee is full of saved people who miss Church. They don't go or they do not attend every service. That's called being unfaithful to the things of God. I want my neighbors to be able to set their watches by our leaving for Church. You can sure spot a Christian by what they are faithful to.
(5) [Luke 14:26] You can spot a Christian by what they forsake.
There are things that a Christian should not forsake, like Church and the Word of God. But the Bible also tells us that there are things that we should forsake. Proverbs 28:31 says that we should forsake sin. Do you choose to do right? Look for the people that flee all that is wrong and you will find someone that is "Christ like". 1 Timothy 6:11 says "Flee these things" and if you read verses 4 through 11, you will find a lot of things you should flee, like pride and envy and strife. How do you find a Christian? A person who is "Christ like" will find all that's evil; all that this Book says is wrong and make every attempt to avoid it and forsake it.
(6) [Malachi 3:10] You can spot a Christian by what they finance.
We live in an investment conscience society. We deal with stocks and bonds and 401K's. There are many who have these as their retirement accounts. I'm here to tell you that the best, long term, high yield investment available is when you invest in the Lord's work. Preacher, are you out for people's money? NO! If I was, I would change the "Tithe" from a tenth to at least 50%!! God is the One Who commands a tenth. From there He said He would bless you and give you a great return on your investment. You will spot a Christian, when you sneak a peek at their check book and find the Church name all over it's pages.
How do you spot a Christian? I have just given you six good ways to spot them. If you are saved, you are an Ambassador for Christ. You represent another country called "Heaven". My prayer is that when this unsaved world looks at you, they will have no problem seeing someone who is "Christ like".
Pastor Henry Kish ("Skip")
Article is from the Summer 2002, Volume 1, Issue 2 of "The Gospel Lantern" LBBC newsletter.
MORE ARTICLES TO COME - MAY BE UPDATED QUARTERLY
