The Character of a Pure Christian
He loves God with all his Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength
A Christian who is “sanctified wholly” is one in “whom the love of God is shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost which is given unto him” He “loves the Lord his God with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his mind, and with all his strength.” God is the joy of his heart, and the desire of his soul; which is constantly crying out, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.”
He Rejoices Evermore
He is therefore happy in God, yes, always happy, for Christ has put in him “a well of water springing up into everlasting life,” which overflows his soul with peace and joy. “Perfect love” having now “cast out fear,” he “rejoices evermore.” He “rejoices in the Lord always,” even “in God his Saviour;” and he rejoices in the Father, “through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom he has now received the atonement.” “Having” found “redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,” he cannot help but rejoice, whenever he looks back on the horrible pit out of which now he is delivered. He sees all “his transgressions are blotted out.” He cannot help but rejoice, whenever he looks at his present condition; for he is “justified freely,” and “has peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” For “he believes on the Son of God having the witness in himself,” that he is now a child of God by faith. “Because he is a son, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into his heart, crying, Abba, Father.” “The Spirit himself bears witness with his spirit, that he is a child of God.” He rejoices also, whenever he looks to the future, in hope of “the glory that will be revealed in him.” Yes, his joy is full, and all his soul cries out, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten me again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for me!”
He in Everything Gives Thanks
Because he has this hope, he “in every thing gives thanks;” knowing that “this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning him.” From him he cheerfully receives all, saying: “The will of the Lord is good.” Whether “the Lord gives or takes away”, he equally “blesses the name of the Lord,” for he has “learned, in whatsoever state he is, therewith to be content.” He knows “both how to be abased, and how to abound: every where and in all things he is instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” Whether he is in ease or pain, sickness or health, life or death; he gives thanks to God who makes “all things works together for good to them that love God.” Because “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,” so nothing but good can come from his heavenly Father, the “Faithful Creator” into whose hands he has wholly “committed” the keeping of his soul. He is “not anxious about anything,” but “casts all his care upon Him that cares for him.” His “soul rests” on God. “In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving he lets his requests be made known unto God.”
He Prays Without Ceasing
He “prays without ceasing.” God enables him “always to pray, and not to faint.” Not that he is always in the house of prayer; though he neglects no opportunity of being there. Neither is he always on his knees before the Lord his God. Nor is he always crying aloud to God, or calling upon him in words: for often “the Spirit makes intercession for him with groanings which cannot be uttered.” True prayer is lifting up the heart to God. “Glorious ever-present Lord, unto you are my thoughts,” is the constant disposition of his heart. At all times and in all places, his steadfast spirit rises to God. No person or thing hinders or interrupts. In solitude or company, in relaxation, business, or conversation, his heart is ever with the Lord. Whether he lies down or rises up, “God is in all his thoughts.” He continually walks with God, having his “mind stayed on God,” and everywhere “sees Him that is invisible.”
He Loves Everyone As His Own Soul
While he exercises his love to God, by “praying without ceasing, rejoicing evermore, and in everything giving thanks,” this commandment also is written in his heart : That “he who loves God must love his brother also.” Divine love within inspires him to “love his neighbor as himself.” He loves everyone as his own soul, every child of “the Father of the spirits of all mankind.” That a man is not a personal friend, is no obstacle to his love. Neither is it a barrier to his love when he knows someone is the kind he disapproves of, one that repays hatred for his good-will. For he “loves his enemies;” yes, and the enemies of God, “the ungrateful and wicked.” If it is not in his power to “do good to them that hate him,” yet he does not refrain from praying for them, though they continue to reject his love, and still mistreat and “persecute him.”
He is Pure in Heart
He is “pure in heart.” The love of God has purified his heart from all revengeful passions, from envy, malice and hate, from every unkind temper or abusive passion. It has cleansed him from pride and arrogance of spirit, “which only breed quarrels.” He has now “clothed himself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience:” So that he “bears with others and forgives whatever grievances he could have against someone, forgiving as the Lord forgave him.” Positively all possible ground for contention on his part is gone, for no one can take from him what he desires, because he “does not love the world, or anything in the world.” Because “the world has been crucified to him, and he to the world;” he is dead to all that is in the world, both to “the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does.” Now “God’s name and renown is the desire of his heart.”
The one motive of his life is “not to please himself but him who sent him.” He has pure eyes (pure intention) and because “his eyes are good, his whole body is full of light.” Because the loving eye of his soul is continually focused upon God, “his whole body is full of light and no part of it dark; completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines.” God reigns alone. All that is in his soul is holiness to the Lord. There is not a motion in his heart, but is according to his will. “Every thought” that arises points to Him, and is “obedient to Christ.”
He Keeps God's Commandments
“By this fruit you will recognize him.” He loves God and consequently he “obeys God’s commandments;” not merely some, or most of them, but all, from the “least” to the greatest. He is not content to “keep the whole law, and yet stumble in just one point;” but keeps, in all points, “his conscience clear before God and man.” Whatever God has forbidden, he avoids; whatever God has instructed, he does; whether it is little or great, hard or easy, satisfying or stressful to the flesh. He “runs in the path of God’s commands, for he has set his heart free.” It is his glory, his daily joyous prize, “to do the will of God on earth, as it is done in heaven,” and he knows it is the highest privilege of “the angels of God to obey his word and to do his will.”
He Serves God with all His Strength
All the commandments of God he accordingly keeps, and that with all his might. His obedience is in proportion to his love, the source from which it flows. Therefore, “loving God with all his heart”, he serves him with “all his strength.” He continually “offers his soul and body a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” Entirely and without reserve he devotes himself, all he has, and all he is, to God’s glory. All the talents he has received, he constantly uses according to his Master’s will; every power and ability of his soul, every “part of his body.” In the past he “offered” them “to sin, as the instruments of wickedness.” Now “as one who has been brought from death to life, he offers the parts of his body to God as instruments of righteousness.”
He Does Everything for the Glory of God
Consequently, “whatever he does, it is all for the glory of God.” In all his various activities, he not only intends this, but actually attains it. His business and recreation, as well as his prayers, all serve this great goal. Whether he “sits at home or walks along the road, whether he lies down or gets up,” he is promoting, in all he speaks or does, his life’s purpose to bring glory to God. Whether he is dressing, working, or “eating and drinking,” it all tends to advance the glory of God. His one invariable rule is this, “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
The customs of the world do not hinder him in any degree from “running with perseverance the race marked out for him.” He knows that vice does not lose its nature when it becomes fashionable. He also remembers, that “each of us will give an account of himself to God.” He cannot, therefore, “follow the crowd in doing wrong.” He cannot “live in luxury every day,” or “gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” He cannot “store up for himself treasures on earth,” any more than he can “scoop fire into his lap”. He cannot “dress,” on any pretense, “with gold or pearls or expensive clothes.” He cannot join in or condone any entertainment that has evil tendencies. He cannot “slander” (speak against) his neighbor, any more than he can lie either for God or man. He cannot utter an unkind word of anyone; for love “keeps watch over the door of his lips.” He cannot speak “careless words;” no “unwholesome talk” ever “comes out of his mouth.” He avoids all that is not “helpful for building others up,” not of “benefit to those who listen.” But “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable,“ this he thinks, speaks, and acts, “making the teaching about God our Savior attractive.”
As He has Opportunity He Does Good unto Everyone
Finally “as he has opportunity he does good unto all people.” He works in every possible way for the good of neighbors, strangers, friends and enemies. He not only cares for their bodies, by “feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting those that are sick or in prison;” but above all labors to do good to their souls, “with the strength God provides.” He attempts to “wake up” those who sleep in death and bring them to the reconciling blood of Christ, so that, “having been justified through faith, they may have peace with God.” Those who have peace with God he labors to “spur on toward love and good works.” He “will very gladly spend for them everything he has and expend himself as well,” even to the point of “being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of their faith,” so that they may “all attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
These are the marks of pure Christianity. These are the principles and practices which are the motivation for The Go Forth Alliance. We seek to promote the “perfect will of God” in our lifes, our families and throughout the world. This is only possible through the moment by moment santifying work of Christ in our lives. If you would like to become a part of a Discipleship Acountability Group to help you advance in Christian character E-mail us at discipleship@GoForthALL.org .
Whoever fits the above description is sanctified wholly, not in name only, but in heart and life. He is inwardly and outwardly conformed to the will of God, as revealed in the God's written word. He thinks, speaks, and lives, according to the pattern laid down in the revelation of Jesus Christ. His soul “is renewed in the image of its Creator,” “to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” “Having the mind of Christ,” he “walks as Jesus did.” Reader “may God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it.”
These are the Distinguishing Marks of a Perfect Christian
By these qualities, by these fruits of “living faith,” scripture distinguishes authentic Christians from the unbelieving world, from all those whose minds or lives are not according to the Gospel of Christ. Although most Christians who are Born Again will find themselves somewhere beneath the standard of holiness as outlined above they still will evidence the above fruit to a degree in their lives. Do you sincerely “press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of you?” “Are you in accord with me, as I am with you?” I ask no farther question. “If so, give me your hand.” For opinions, or terms, let us not destroy the work of God. Do you love and serve God? That is enough. I give you the right hand of fellowship. Now let us “bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.” Together let us “go on unto perfection.” “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion;” then “let us stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the Gospel.” Let us “live a life worthy of the calling we have received. Being completely humble and gentle; being patient, bearing with one another in love. Making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as we were called to one hope when we were called. One Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Adapted by Tom Kiser from “The Character of a Methodist.” The Works of John Wesley, Vol. 8
We shouldn’t say yes to something just because it’s a good thing or even a great thing. When saying no to good things, I always remind myself...I must say no to people concerning the vast majority of good things they invite me to, in order to be available to say yes to God concerning that small number of things He has truly called me to. Sometimes we tend to say yes to too many of the good things, leaving us exhausted and unable to bring our best to those relatively few God-things. -Randy Alcorn
