THEY ARE AUTHENTIC BORN AGAIN, SPIRIT FILLED, CONTROLLED AND LED
Their Christianity is not by the will of men (John 1: 13), by tradition, or being born into a denomination. Rather it is founded on personal repentance of sin and faith in the blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of their sin and renewal (John 1: 29). The death and the resurrection of Jesus are the only basis of their justification and reconciliation to God i.e.by Christ’s atonement blood; that they are saved by the grace of God and that the free gift of salvation and eternal life of God are to be accepted through repentance of sin and faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Authentic Christians know that the Holy Spirit has applied the work of Christ to their lives and are therefore born again. They are indwelt by the Holy Spirit thereby making them the temple of God. Their lives are marked by transformation as the Holy Spirit bears fruit in them. They express their gratitude in love for Jesus, hatred of sin and desire to live as children of God. Authentic Christians yield their members as channels of righteousness.
THEY ARE ASSURED OF THEIR SALVATION
They are assured and grateful to God for their salvation by grace on the basis of the atonement of Jesus Christ. They live on earth with heaven in mind-that is the epitome of vision driven living and” strategic planning.”
THEY ABIDE IN CHRIST
They daily abide in Christ through reading God’s word, the Bible, meditate on it and renew their faith in the Lord and thereby receive spiritual vitality from the Holy Spirit. Christ abides in them by his Holy Spirit and walking in the light they have unhindered access to God in prayer through Jesus’ name. Controlled and led by the Holy Spirit their desire is to live and serve their generation as children of God. They enjoy fellowship with God through reading and meditation of the Bible, God’s word, daily and praying to their Father in Jesus’ name (John 1: 12; 3: 16; Rom. 8: 10,14; Eph. 5: 15).
THEY OBEY JESUS CHRIST OUT OF LOVE
They are totally obedient to Jesus as Lord out of love. A major characteristic of their lives is love of God with all their heart, soul, body, and mind. That manifests itself in love of neighbours especially those of the household of faith as the love of Christ is shared abroad in their hearts.
THEY ARE CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST
In other words, they are totally committed to Christ having identified with his crucifixion so that the life they live, they live only to the glory of Jesus bearing their own cross and following him as Lord. Their motto is “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain”. They have surrendered their natural “independence” and “individuality” (or right to himself) to Jesus and willing to take a stance for him if that means death. “Natural virtues” are replaced by surrender to God. They follow Jesus having denied themselves (Matt 16:24).
THEY LIVE AS AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST
Their whole life mission is to be witnesses or ambassadors of Christ on earth. They seek the kingdom of God (i.e., God’s rule in their lives and in the world), share the good news of the saving grace of Jesus Christ with fellow sinners and disciple those who believe and live as “Salt” and “Light” of the world.
THEY ARE COMMITTED TO FELLOWSHIP AND MUTUAL UP-BUILDING OF OTHER SAINTS
As members of the body of Christ, they associate with like-minded Christians in worship. They use their gifts to build one another up and strive to serve God in their generation. They start all these from their home founded on marriage as God intended it, maintenance of a Christian home and the “Church in their home” where the Lord stations them.
THEY ORGANISE THEIR LIVES TO ACHIEVE MAXIMUM IMPACT
They lead and manage their lives and time around their “True North” to make the most of their sojourning on earth so as to be highly effective in whatever their “hands” find to do. They organize to focus on Jesus and fulfil “their mission/calling”. They seek to balance their personal, relational and vocational lives by giving appropriate attention to their spiritual, mental, family, vocational, social, intellectual, physical and financial life as well as their management of time.
THEY BUILD THEIR CAPACITY FOR SERVICE
They put maximum effort into building their capacities, developing their talents to the maximum, mindful of the command “to train thyself approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth”. They know that “If the axe is blunt, it requires twice the effort” so they “sharpen their saw” and synergize with others to achieve their “utmost for His highest.”
THEY ARE INWARDLY DETACHED FROM THE WORLD
They live in the world but are “not of the world”. Freed from the love of money, pride, abuse of power and inordinate sensuality, they work to earn as much as they can, give as much as they can but are always totally and inwardly detached from money and all that is in the world. They see themselves as Stewards of God’s grace and good gifts but never act as owners.
THEY ARM THEMSELVES WITH THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD, STAND BATTLE READY, ARE ALERT, RESIST THE DEVIL AND WILLING TO SUFFER FOR CHRIST AND RIGTHEOUSNESS’ SAKE
They put on the whole armour of God, resist the devil in the name and blood of Jesus and by their testimony. With the help of the indwelling spirit, they are victorious over self, the world and the “spiritual hosts of wickedness”. They are more than “conquerors through Christ who strengthens them”. They know that all those who desire righteous life shall be persecuted and gird their minds to suffer for Christ.
GOD THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT HAVE THEIR LIFE FLOWING THROUGH THEM:
Through faith, meditating on God’s word, obedience, prayer, fellowship and yielded to the Holy Spirit they become like spring of living water that refreshes other lives. Wherever they go and are as engineered by God, their lives touch other lives and as “salt and light” they are blessing to other believers and become as authentic witnesses to unbelievers that Jesus indeed is the Saviour. As they pass through the “Valley of Baca they make it a place of spring”. Like Joseph where they are does not matter – be it at the home, on the slave market, as manager of an official’s estate, in maximum security prison or as Prime Minister – “God is with” them and they are impactful serving God in their generation.