Marks of the Christian Life

What does a Christian look like?

In other words: what qualities are Christians characterized by? What kind of speech does a Christian use? How do Christians treat others? How do Christians handle conflict?

Let's take a look at Colossians 3 for some answers to these questions.

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. {Colossians 3:12-15}

This passage paints a clear and direct picture of the marks of the Christian life.

Let's break this down, shall we?

{ ... holy and beloved ... } This describes our position in Christ as "the elect of God." The remaining qualities in the list are a natural outpouring of this.

{ ... bowels of mercies ... } Those who owe so much to the mercy of the Father are to be merciful to those who need mercy (see Luke 6:36).

{ ... kindness ... } Christians are characterized by a kindness that extends to everyone, not just those who are kind to us.

{ ... humbleness of mind ... } A Christian practices a humble mindset and thought pattern to match a humble demeanor (see Matthew 11:29 and Philippians 2:3).

{ ... meekness ... } Christians patiently bear the anger of others and bridle their own anger towards those who have provoked them.

{ ... longsuffering ... } Continued forbearance and patience towards those who continue to provoke (see I Corinthians 13:4). Since God is longsuffering, Christians are to exercise longsuffering to others in the same fashion.

{ ... forbearing one another ... } We all have something that others need patience to bear with. In the same way, we should patiently bear with others in what is disagreeable to us. In other words, Christians are to be characterized by a mutual patience for the imperfections we all have as sinful, fallen creatures.

{ ... forgiving one another ... even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye ... } Quarrels happen, even among "the elect of God." But it is our duty to forgive each other. A Christian is characterized by a readiness and willingness to forgive, because Christ forgave us.

{ ... put on charity ... } Unconditional love ("charity") is the capstone of the Christian faith, and an overriding principle in a Christian's life.

{ ... let the peace of God rule in your hearts ... } The Christian life is marked by a peaceable disposition, a peaceable spirit that keeps the peace and makes peace. This "peace of God" is working in all of those who are His. We are called to this peace - the privilege of peace with God and the duty of peace with our brothers and sisters as a body in Christ.

{ ... be ye thankful ... } Gratitude towards God and the provisions He has made for us (spiritual, material, etc.) is an important mark of the Christian life because He deserves our gratitude. It also sets the tone for a person's attitude, their disposition toward others and their outlook on life.

Colossians 3:12-15 serves as an excellent checklist for what the Christian life looks like. Each quality is just as important as the other. They all work together to exemplify Christ.

Prayerfully meditate on this checklist and ask the Lord to show you which qualities are lacking in your life. None of us are perfect, so none of us will ever exemplify Christ perfectly. We are not called to be perfect - we are called to strive toward Christ-likeness.

What does a Christian look like?

A Christian looks like Christ.

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Fruits of the Spirit: Love

Now, before you think that I'm about to get all mushy and lovey-dovey on you, let me assure you that is not my intention at all. The goal of this post is to examine the first fruit of the spirit listed in Galatians 5.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. {Galatians 5:22-23}

Many people have tried to define love, both in secular and spiritual terms. One of my favorites:

Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove:

O no! it is an ever-fixed mark 

That looks on tempests and is never shaken; 

                      Sonnet 116, William Shakespeare 

For the purposes of this post, I believe C.S. Lewis defines it better than anyone else.

"Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained."

We can glean from these two quotes that true love is consistent and steady, no matter what may come its way.


What does the Bible have to say about love? Some examples from Scripture:

We are to love God completely.

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. {Deuteronomy 6:5}

 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. {Matthew 22:37}

 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. {Mark 12:30}

 We are to love the foreigner/stranger.

Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. {Deuteronomy 10:19}

 We are to love God's law.

O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. {Psalm 119:97}

Love covers sin.

Love covereth all sins. {Proverbs 10:12b}

Charity shall cover the multitude of sins. {I Peter 4:8b}

We are to love our enemies.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; {Matthew 5:44} 

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, {Luke 6:27} 

 We are to love our neighbor.

Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. {Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31}

 Christ's love for us is a reflection of the love of God the Father.

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. {John 15:9}

Christ's showed His love for us through His sacrifice.

 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. {John 3:16}

 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  {Romans 5:8} 

Another word used in Scripture to describe this concept of love is "charity." I Corinthians 13 is the to-go passage to understand what biblical love ("charity") looks like.

(1) Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 

(2) And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 

(3) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 

(4) Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 

(5) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 

(6) Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 

(7) Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 

(8) Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 

(9) For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 

(10) But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 

(11) When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

(12) For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 

(13) And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 

What can we learn about love ("charity") from I Corinthians 13?

1. Anything done without love is meaningless (vs. 1-3). 

"Without [love], the most glorious gifts are of no account to us, of no esteem in the sight of God. A clear head and a deep understanding, are of no value without a benevolent and charitable heart. There may be an open and lavish hand, where there is not a liberal and charitable heart. Doing good to others will do none to us, if it be not done from love to God, and good-will to men. If we give away all we have, while we withhold the heart from God, it will not profit." {Matthew Henry}

2. Love is long-suffering, kind and humble. It is not envious (v. 4).

3. Love always behaves appropriately. It is not self-seeking, easily provoked, or quick to think ill of others (v. 5).

4. Love delights in truth (v. 6).

5. Love patiently endures everything. It always hopes for and believes the best (v. 7).

6. Love never fails (v.8).

7. Love is the greatest virtue a Christian can possess (v.13).

"How excellent would Christianity appear to the world, if those who profess it were more under this Divine principle, and paid due regard to the command on which its blessed Author laid the chief stress! Let us ask whether this Divine love dwells in our hearts. Has this principle guided us into becoming behaviour to all men? Are we willing to lay aside selfish objects and aims? Here is a call to watchfulness, diligence, and prayer ... Where God is to be seen as he is, and face to face, there charity is in its greatest height; there only will it be perfected."                                                                                  Matthew Henry

Do you have any thoughts you would like to add to this? Are there any verses or principles you know of that describe love or give instruction on how we can exhibit love in our lives? 

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What God Says About "Getting Even"

When someone is hurt - physically, emotionally, or otherwise - the initial (and natural) response is often anger. Hurt can cause fear, sadness, hopelessness, depression, feelings of isolation, and/or a deep loneliness. All of these emotions are fertile ground for anger. We often respond to this anger by wanting to hurt those who hurt us. After all, it's only fair that  they get what they deserve by getting the same treatment...right?  


Let's dive into God's Word and see what He has to say about wanting to get even.


Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious of the wicked; for there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out. {Proverbs 24:17-20}


...it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; {2 Thessalonians 1:6}

Okay, so we know how we're not to respond...but how are we to respond to those who hurt us?

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh the sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. {Matthew 5:44-46} 


Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. {Romans 12:14}


Recompense no man evil for evil. {Romans 12:17a}


Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, said the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good. {Romans 12:19-21}


And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. {Ephesians 4:32}


Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. {Colossians 3:13}


What does God say about us if we choose to stay angry anyway and seek to "get even"?

He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. {I John 9-11}


Anger cannot be hidden or denied. It must be responded to, or it will consume you. God commands you to get rid of it. You must bring it out of the darkness of denial and into the light of admission and repentance.

Signs of an angry spirit:

• A critical or sarcastic attitude
• Holding a grudge or keeping a list of hurts
• Being extremely negative on a regular basis
• An unforgiving disposition

Do any of these describe you? Would others describe you in a similar way?

Quiet your heart and ask the Lord to show you any areas of your life where you are holding on to anger. Are you willing to acknowledge your anger, your desire to "get even," as sin? 

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. {Psalm 139:23-24}

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