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“A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions” – Mathew 7:17-20.

Who is a Christian?

In the past, the answer to this question would have been quite simple and straightforward, but that is no longer the case. The line between what is holy and that which is profane has become blurry. There are now many in the fold who bear the name ‘Christian’ but have nothing in common with Christ. It is becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate between someone who claims to be a Christian and that person who is truly a Christian. The Bible records in Acts 11:26 that it was in the city of Antioch that followers of Christ were first called Christians. They never demanded to be called Christians; they did not embark on any brand awareness campaign to introduce themselves as Christians. The people simply observed their way of life and realized that there was something different about them. As a result, they decided to call them followers of Christ or Christians.

The line between what is holy and that which is profane has become blurry. There are now many in the fold who bear the name ‘Christian’ but have nothing in common with Christ.

Who is a follower of Christ? Before the word Christian was used to describe believers at Antioch, the word Jesus Himself used to describe His followers was the word disciples, and He said His disciples are those who abide in His word, continually obeying His teachings and living in accordance with them (John 8:31). Again, in Luke 6:46, Jesus speaking said “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord’, and do not practice what I tell you? This means that as far as Jesus is concerned, it is those who adhere to His teachings in their daily life and have accepted His lordship and authority over their lives who are qualified to be called His disciples or Christians.

The marks or identifiers of a true Christian

Having established who a Christian is, let us now proceed to look at the marks or identifiers of a true Christian. How can we tell a true Christian from someone who is only a Christian by name? We find help from our main text above which says “A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire.  Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions”. This means that the easiest way to identify a true Christain is by his or her way of life or actions. What we do, tells a lot about who we are. That which proceeds out of your life is a reflection of who you are. A true Christian is someone who bears the fruit of the spirit as listed in Galatians 5:22-23 which includes; Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control. These attributes should naturally flow out of the life of a Christian with the help of the Holy Spirit.

The life of a true Christian is meant to be like a living bible that sinners can read or observe and be persuaded to surrender their lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

In conclusion, it is important to remember that a true Christian is a person who is committed to becoming Christ-like. A true Christian is one who is fully submitted to the Lordship of Christ and sincerely committed to living in obedience to the Word of God. The life of a true Christian is meant to be like a living bible that sinners can read or observe and be persuaded to surrender their lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In fact, God’s intention is for each of us, His children, to be equipped, until we mature and grow into the full stature of Christ. God’s desire is for us to grow in our walk with Him until we truly become like Christ. Ephesians 4:13 puts it this way, “And so we shall all come together to that oneness in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God; we shall become mature people, reaching to the very height of Christ’s full stature”.

Amen.