An authentic Christian confesses Jesus Christ as Lord (1 John 4:15). Christianity must begin with a verbal acknowledgment of Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life. The Bible says that even the demons believe and tremble (James 2:19). True Christians should be able to say that Jesus Christ is their Lord.
Second, if you are a true Christian, you will be unhappy or miserable when you’re sinning (1 John 3:9). This doesn’t mean you will never sin if you are a Christian (1 John 1:8). But there is a difference between recognizing that we will fail in some way, shape, or form in the future and going on a willful, continual track of sin. If you really are a child of God, you will have a sense of discomfort when you sin, because you know in your heart of hearts that what you are doing is wrong.
Third, an authentic Christian enjoys fellowship with other believers (1 John 5:1). A true Christian will want to be around other Christians. Those who isolate themselves from other believers do so at their own peril, because the Bible tells us that it is important to get together, encourage one another, and correct one another (Hebrews 10:24-25). After all, why should God go to your house if you won’t go to His? A lot of us want all of the fringe benefits of Christianity without applying ourselves.
Fourth, an authentic Christian obeys the commands of Jesus Christ. If you are a true believer, then you will obey the commands of Jesus Christ (1 John 5:3). I will not deny that the Bible is filled with so-called rules, but their purpose is not to make our lives miserable. Rather, they protect us from potential harm. The person who blatantly and continually breaks the commandments of God simply does not know Him.
Finally, An authentic Christian loves and obeys the Word of God (1 John 2:5). You cannot effectively live the Christian life without a love for, and obedience to, God’s Word. All true disciples of Jesus Christ will be students of Scripture and will walk according to its teaching. This is vital to authentic Christian living, because the Bible is indeed the very textbook of life (2 Timothy 3:16). Yet so many believers will not read the Bible. They don’t realize that success or failure in the Christian life depends on how much of the Bible they get into their hearts and minds on a regular basis. We have to do it.
Taken from “Authentic Christianity” (used by permission).
Key Principles To Grasp If You Want To Practice Authentic Christianity
1. Start with an accurate picture of God.
Every single one of us has an image of God in our minds. Stop and consider yours. Whatever your picture, here’s how it impacts your everyday faith and impacts authentic Christianity:
Do you think God is an angry deity, waiting to punish you? You’re likely working hard to tiptoe around Him and appease His anger.
In your mind, is God a cosmic scorekeeper? You probably assume you’ll never measure up, hoping that in the end your good choices will outweigh your bad ones.
Is God an impersonal, invisible force inside everything and possibly every person? And through Him we become one with the universe?
Then you’re probably seeking a formula, technique or a method to develop oneness with the cosmos.
Is God a loving Father to you? One who wants to know you personally so He can
love, direct and guide you, and give you the very best? If so, then you’re probably experiencing peace and contentment in your faith.
Here’s what the Scriptures say:
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!
And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. -1 John 3:1
When your kids make unwise choices, doesn’t it grieve you? In the same way, God’s heart breaks when we, His children, live in ways that aren’t good for us.
God wants good things for every one of His kids.
Read more: 10 Reminders From the Bible to Pray Faithfully and Confidently
2. Authentic Christianity is not built on rules or religion.
Following Jesus is not about following rules and keeping life inside the lines. Of course, as a believer, you’ll likely honor the precepts and live in obedience.
But the question is whether or not you’re motivated by an effort to fend off an angry deity or by love for the Father?
What’s the motivation for your obedience?
When the Pharisees asked Jesus which is the greatest commandment in the Law:
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” -Matthew 22:37-39
Paul was a great rule-keeper before he became a believer. And yet he considered all of his impressive accomplishments as complete garbage compared to knowing Christ and the resurrection!
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that
comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection,
and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:7-11
Paul had zero interest in uncovering the secret methods for following God’s rules or impressing Him.
Instead, he understood what his heart truly yearned for: to know Christ and share in His sufferings.
We’ve taken Christianity and turned it into a moral code that directs us to act politely and calmly. Rather, the Jesus of the New
Testament was a strong, passionate, righteous man who got angry when confronted with evil! He wasn’t motivated by keeping the rules.
Authentic Christianity — true spirituality — is not about a code or regimen or rules, it’s about a relationship with the Father. It’s about loving God and loving people, 24/7, from the heart, with a right motive.
What exactly does this look like? Thankfully, Paul spells it out for us in the book of Romans.
3. To be an authentic Christian, value relationships.
In Romans 12 we are given the relational, grace-based pathway to true spirituality.
After Paul teaches for many chapters on grace, he then describes how to spot an authentic Christian. Interestingly, every point is based on relationships. Our relationship with—
1. God
2. The world
3. Ourselves
4. Other believers
5. Unbelievers
It’s a heart change — reflected in these relationships — that demonstrates a genuine, authentic faith. Often, we’d prefer to do the “work” and follow the rules,
impressing a cosmic scorekeeper. But God’s asking for something harder than following the rules: He’s asking for our hearts.
Practicing genuine, authentic Christianity starts by grasping an accurate picture of God and His love for you as His child, an understanding that it’s not about the rules or religion, and an otherworldly value on relationships.
Don’t let these principles hinder you; it’s not about checking off these boxes. God wants to ignite your faith, and these foundational truths will give you momentum to transform your faith and experience true spirituality
Shalom….
Also read this…..
Living a practical christian life
What you must know about christian faith
God’s ultimate purpose for man