Do you want to know the qualities of a good Christian?
Or have you have been asking yourself what it means to be a Christian?
New convert or not, every child of God needs to grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus, and this article will help you at least a little.
The characteristics of a good Christian are simple. It is in the verse below:
“If you remain in my Word, you will truly be my disciples” (John 8:31)
And among the many characteristics of a good Christian, this must be the main one:
Now everyone will know that you are my disciples if you have a love for one another. (John 13:35)
These are two fundamental characteristics of Jesus’ disciples, where the whole basis of the Christian life is found: obedience to Christ, love for Him, and our neighbors.
After understanding the two foundations of our Christian life, we will now understand 11 other characteristics that define God’s true children.
Table of Contents
Below are 11 Great Qualities Of A Good Christian.
1) A good Christian obeys the Word of God with Pleasure.
He who has my commandments and keeps them, he is the one who loves me; (John 14: 21a)
The Christian who truly loves God has pleasure and joy in obeying His Word, the Holy Bible.
Sometimes people think that we obey the Word of God because we are forced to do so, because the church compels us, or because the pastor will punish us if we do not follow the Bible.
If that were so, it would be difficult to be a good Christian, wouldn’t it? Following or obeying something I don’t like. Why would I be in the church then?
But in truth, good Christians do not need to be asked to obey the Holy Scriptures because, for the love of the Lord Jesus, they read, study willingly, and joyfully obey.
Your Word is very pure; therefore, your servant loves you. (Psalm 119: 140 BKJ)
2) A good Christian does not hide his Identity!
You are the light of the world; a city situated on a hill which cannot be hidden; (Matthew 5:14)
Jesus said that you could not hide a house built on a mountain in Matthew 5:14
Some people are in the church, but their acquaintances barely know that they are Christians.
But people can see a good Christian naturally! Even though sometimes I don’t say it, but people notice it.
See how one of the Lord’s disciples omitted his identity, but people noticed him:
A little later, those standing there approached and said to Cephas: surely you are also one of them because even your way of speaking gives you away (Matthew 26:73)
But how does this recognition happen?
With the genuineness of living with Christ, learning from him and living like him, doing the things that please God.
Also Related: How to Connect with God: A Simple Guide.
3) A good Christian aims only at the glory of God!
An unusual event happened to Paul and Barnabas in the city of Lystra in Acts 14: 8-20.
Because they had cured a person with paralysis of his illness, the men of that city considered them to be gods.
Also, they wanted to offer sacrifices to the two apostles, but both aroused the understanding of those men to turn to the One and True God (verses 14-17).
Something similar happened with Cephas and John when some thought they mastered the power to perform miracles, but they warned everyone to turn to God (Acts 3: 9-16).
According to the apostles’ examples, a true Christian’s attitude is to know and recognize that all glory is due to God, and all power comes from Him. (Read Proverbs 3: 5-6).
4) A good Christian takes up his cross and follows Christ.
Here is one of the most difficult passages to deal with, as it challenges the human being to renounce himself and follow Christ unconditionally, carrying his cross.
To deny yourself means to do what Jesus did: he renounced his divine power, the power to escape death, and gave himself up to the mission that the Father appointed him. See Philippians 2: 5-8.
In the same way, we need to give our life direction to God and consider that He has control of it. We are no longer the ones who dictate the rules but are ready to live by what God assigns us.
Taking up his cross means identifying with Christ, with his mission, with his sufferings and the persecution and rejection that he suffered because of the gospel.
5) A good Christian must live in holiness.
Contrary to our society’s culture, the saint is not that perfect person (which nobody can be).
Not even the one who had a statue made in his honor after his death, but yes, one who is divorced from the sinful standard of living in this world! (Eph 4:17-24)
The main characteristics of those who are holy are obedience and fidelity to God.
The apostle Paul, for example, called everyone in Christ saints (1 Corinthians 1: 2), even though they were not perfect (1 Corinthians 3: 1-3).
If someone does not wish to live in holiness, he has no right to call himself a Christian!
Without holiness, no one will see God! (Heb 12:14)
We need to change our ways of living. We need to be holy!
6) A good Christian is not satisfied with the customs, errors, and ways of thinking and living in this world.
Romans 12: 2 tells us that we must not conform to the sinful standards of this world.
But many Christians, unnoticed or lacking in knowledge, unfortunately, do not practice it.
And you will not conform to this world but transform yourself by renewing your mind and discerning the good, pleasant, and perfect will of God. (Romans 12: 2 BP)
Many are letting themselves be contaminated by the sinful standards of this world because they are not giving due importance to the study and practice of the Word of God!
Take a moment to think about what patterns in this world you have become accustomed to.
Have you been practicing the same sinful things that other people consider common? (Jas 4: 4)
There are sinful customs that are so common that many Christians doubt that the Bible condemns them.
Challenge yourself and begin to desire and seek change. Say this prayer (sincerely before God):
Search me, O God, and know my heart; prove me, and know my thoughts. And see if there is any wicked way in me, and guide me on the eternal way. (Psalm 119: 23-24)
7) A good Christian must be Merciful
I will give a biblical example to describe better believers blinded by mercy and filled with spiritual fanaticism who live discriminating against people.
The example is found in Matthew 9:9-13.
In this passage, Mathew prepares a banquet to receive Jesus in his house and invites his acquaintances to go there as well.
The problem here is that Matthew was a publican and calls other publicans and sinful men to participate in this banquet with Jesus.
Jesus then begins to be accused by the religious leaders who observed him meeting with sinners and eating with them.
The religious believer accuses sinners, but good Christians want to save them!
See what Christ said when he heard the criticisms of those religious.
But Jesus, hearing this, said to them: Those who are healthy do not need a doctor, but those who are sick.
Therefore, go, therefore, and learn what this means: I want mercy, not sacrifice, because I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repent. (Matthew 9:12, 13)
Does a light serve to shine where there is already light? (Read Mt 5: 13-16)
If you are looking for positive Christian attitudes, know that mercy is in the character of the Creator.
The true believer in the world is different. He is merciful and wants to help save sinners by bringing them to God, as Christ himself did (John 5:19, 20).
Also Related: How do You Get Close to God Spiritually.
8) A good Christian always seeks to do what pleases God.
When we always do what pleases God, He does not leave us alone. We will always have the presence of our Creator with us, blessing us. John 8:29
And I assure you with all certainty that there is only one way for you to discover the things that please God.
It is not by much prayer that you will discover this.
It is not going up the mountain with certain brothers searching for revelations and prophecies, but rather, by studying the Word of God and willingness to know Him more.
But just reading for reading is not enough. It is necessary to study it with a commitment to practice it and “bring God” into your heart (John 14:23).
A good Christian loves the Lord and takes pleasure in doing what he pleases, keeping his Word! (Ps 119: 11)
9) A good Christian always seeks Spiritual Growth.
When you said, Seek my face; my heart said to you, Your face, Lord, I will seek. (Psalm 27:8)
The Bible encourages the Christian not only to know God but also to grow in his knowledge continually.
Let us know and continue to know the Lord […] (Hosea 6: 3a)
This means that the Christian must feed his relationship with God daily!
It is no different in the New Testament. The apostle Simon continues to guide Christians to grow more and more spiritually. Check this out in 1 Peter 2: 2 and 2 Peter 3:18.
The Christian who does not continually desire spiritual growth brings several problems for himself and the church!
The apostle Paul, for example, described some brothers as children in Christ (immature), as they still lived in fights and disagreements (1 Corinthians 3: 1-3).
You who are a Christian should like to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ.
10) The true and faithful Christian likes to know the Holy Bible.
I have hidden your word in my heart so that I will not sin against you. (Psalm 119: 11)
A good Christian has a sincere desire to know the Holy Bible to practice his writings to not sin against his God.
Only by knowing more about God through the Scriptures can we know what sin would be against Him and how we can avoid and overcome it.
In addition to knowing the Bible to not sin against God, the true Christian wants to know it better not to make mistakes in its interpretation and teach others wrong.
Answering Jesus, he said: you are wrong in not understanding the scriptures or the power of God. (Mt 22:29b)
11) A good Christian does not follow the example of the wicked!
When you see a drunkard on the street, for example, what do you do? Most people start laughing and teasing, don’t they?
I also did it naturally, but when I converted, I opened my eyes to imagine the scenario behind that situation.
Perhaps there was a family man who, without controlling his addiction, was wasting his money working on the drink and throwing away the peace and communion of his family.
Maybe he is even assaulting his wife and children, bringing chaos to his entire home.
Looking at it this way, do you think it is right to laugh and make fun of someone like that?
What is a source of laughter for many is a source of sadness for others. Should we not sympathize with such a situation as well?
I want to remind you that the Bible says, “Blessed is the man who does not sit in the circle of scoffers!” (Ps 1: 1)
Have you looked like a scorner lately or a good Christian?
In conclusion
Christian means Christ-like that is the imitator of Christ.
So, to be in the position of a good Christian, we must walk as He walks. We must practice what He practices and have feelings as He has.
After accepting the Lord Jesus as Lord and Savior of our life, and in our desire to be more like Christ, we have to start from our position of love for Him
He conquered the devil, death, undid the sin for love of us!
How wonderful that Jesus laid down His life for us so that we can share eternal life and the incredible riches of his glory!
Isn’t it wonderful to be a good Christian?