The Marks of a Christian
By J.C. Ryle
INTRODUCTION
What does the
Bible say about being “born again?” The Bible is absolutely clear in its
declaration that the “new birth” is not a mere outward altering of life. It is
not a human accomplishment. Jesus says that to be a part of God’s kingdom, we
must be born “of the Spirit” (John 3:5). The new birth is a “renewing which
comes by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). The new birth is a tremendous spiritual
change wrought in the human heart by the Holy Spirit. It cannot be observed
with the human eye. We can only see its results.
The new birth is
a mystery no one can clearly explain; at the same time it is a reality that no
one can explain away! The new birth is something that no one can hide, however.
Evidences of the inner change will be seen in many ways. But there are many who
desire to understand the marks by which a person may know whether he is born
again—whether his heart has been changed by the Holy Spirit.
Now these marks
are laid down plainly for us in Scripture. God has not left us in ignorance of
this point. He foresaw how some would torture themselves with doubts and
questions, and would never believe it was well with their souls. He foresaw how
others would take it for granted they were regenerate. He has therefore
mercifully provided us with a test and gauge of our spiritual condition in the
first Epistle of John. There He has explained what the regenerate man is, and
what the regenerate man does—his ways, his habits, his manner of life, his faith,
his experience.
ARE YOU BORN AGAIN?
This is one of
the most important questions in religion. Jesus Christ says, “Unless one is
born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”—John 3:3. Are you born again? It
is not enough to reply, “I belong to the church; and I suppose I am.” Thousands
of nominal Christians have none of the marks and signs of being born again
which the Scripture has given us. Would you like to know the marks and signs of
being born again? Give me your attention, and I will show them to you out of
the first epistle of John.
1. A CHRISTIAN DOES NOT LOVE SIN
First of all, John says, “Whoever has been born of God
does not sin;” and again, “Whoever is
born of God does not sin.”—I John 3:9; 5:18.
A man born again,
or regenerate, does not commit sin as a habit. He no longer sins with his heart
and will and whole inclination, as an unregenerate man does. There was probably
a time when he did not think whether his actions were sinful or not, and never
felt grieved after doing evil. There was no quarrel between him and sin; they
were friends. Now he hates sin, flees from it, fights against it, counts it his
greatest plague, groans under the burden of its presence, mourns when he falls
under its influence, and longs to be delivered from it altogether. In one word,
sin no longer pleases him, nor is even a matter of indifference; it has become
the abominable thing which he hates. He cannot prevent its dwelling within him.
If he said he had no sin, there would be no truth in him (I John 1:8). But he
can say that he cordially abhors it, and the great desire of his soul is not to
commit sin at all. He cannot prevent bad thoughts arising within him, and
short-comings, omissions, and defects appearing, both in his words and actions.
He knew, as James says, that “We all stumble in many things” (James 3:2). But
he can say truly, and as in the sight of God, that those things are a daily
grief and sorrow to him, and that his whole nature does not consent unto them.
I place this mark before you. What would the Apostle say
about you? Are you born again?
2. A CHRISTIAN BELIEVES IN CHRIST AS HIS ONLY SAVIOR
Secondly, John says, “Whoever believes that Jesus is the
Christ, is born of God”—I John 5:1.
A man born again,
or regenerate, then, believes that Jesus Christ is the only Saviour by whom his
soul can be pardoned; that He is the divine person appointed by God the Father
for this very purpose, and that beside Him there is no Saviour at all. In
himself he sees nothing but unworthiness, but in Christ he sees ground for the
fullest confidence, and trusting in Him he believes that his sins are all
forgiven. He believes that for the sake of Christ’s finished work and death
upon the cross, he is reckoned righteous in God’s sight, and may look forward
to death and judgment without alarm. He may have his fears and doubts. He may
sometimes tell you he feels as if he had no faith at all. But ask him whether
he will rest his hopes of eternal life on his own goodness, his own amendments,
his prayers, his minister, or his church, and see what he will reply. Ask him
whether he will give up Christ, and place his confidence in any other way of
religion. Depend upon it, he would say that though he does feel weak and bad,
he would not give up Christ for all the world. Depend upon it, he would say he
found preciousness in Christ, a suitableness to his own soul in Christ, that he
found nowhere else, and that he must cling to him.
I place this mark before you. What would the Apostle say
about you? Are you born again?
3. A CHRISTIAN PRACTICES GOD’S COMMANDMENTS
Thirdly, John says, “Every one who practices
righteousness is born of Him”—I John 2:29.
The man born
again, or regenerate, then is, a holy man. He endeavors to live according to
God’s will, to do the things that please God, to avoid the things that God
hates. His aim and desire is to love God with heart and soul and mind and
strength, and to love his neighbor as himself. His wish is to be continually
looking to Christ as his example as well as his Saviour, and to show himself
Christ’s friend by doing whatsoever Christ commands. No doubt he is not
perfect. None will tell you that sooner than himself. He groans under the
burden of indwelling corruption cleaving to him. He finds an evil principle
within him constantly warring against grace, and trying to draw him away from
God. But he does not consent to it, though he cannot prevent its presence. In
spite of all shortcomings, the average bent and bias of his way is holy—his
doings are holy, his tastes holy, and his habits holy. In spite of all this
swerving and turning aside, like a ship beating up against a contrary wind, the
general course of his life is in one direction—toward God and for God. And
though he may sometimes fall so low that he questions whether he is a Christian
at all, he will generally be able to say with old John Newton, “I am not what I
ought to be, I am not what I want to be. I am not what I hope to be in another
world, but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am
what I am.”
I place this mark also before you. What would the Apostle
say about you? Are you born again?
4. A CHRISTIAN HAS A SPECIAL LOVE FOR OTHER BELIEVERS
Fourthly, John says, “We know that we have passed from
death to life, because we love the brethren”—I John 3:14.
A man born again,
or regenerate, then, has a special love for all true disciples of Christ. Like
his Father in heaven, he loves all men with a great general love, but he has a
special love for those who are of one mind with himself. Like his Lord and
Saviour, he loves the worst of sinners, and could weep over them; but he has a
peculiar love for those who are believers. He is never so much at home as when
he is in their company. He is never so happy as when he is among the saints and
the excellent of the earth. Others may value learning, or cleverness, or
agreeableness, or riches or rank, in the society they choose. The regenerate
man values Grace. Those who have most Grace, and are most like Christ, are
those he most loves. He feels that they are members of the same family with
himself. He feels that they are his fellow-soldiers, warring against the same
enemy. He feels that they are his fellow-travelers, journeying along the same
road. He understands them, and they understand him. He and they may be very
different in many ways—in rank, in station, in wealth. What matter? They are
Jesus Christ’s people. They are his Father’s sons and daughters. Then he cannot
help loving them.
I place this mark also before you. What would the Apostle
say about you? Are you born again?
5. A CHRISTIAN DOES NOT LOVE THE WORLD
Fifthly, John says, “Whatever is born of God overcomes
the world”—I John 5:4.
A man born again,
or regenerate, does not make the world’s opinion his rule of right and wrong.
He does not mind going against the stream of the world’s way, notions and
customs. “What will man say?” is no longer a turning-point with him. He
overcomes the love of the world. He finds no pleasure in things which most
around him call happiness. He cannot enjoy their enjoyments; they weary him.
They appear to him vain, unprofitable, and unworthy of an immortal being. He
overcomes the fear of the world. He is content to do many things which all
around him think unnecessary, to say the least. They blame him; it does not move
him. They ridicule him; he does not give way. He loves the praise of God more
than the praise of men. He fears offending Him more than giving offense to man.
He has counted the cost. It is a small thing with him whether he is blamed or
praised. He is no longer the servant of fashion and custom. To please the world
is quite a secondary consideration with him. His first aim is to please God.
I place this mark also before you. What would the Apostle
say about you? Are you born again?
6. A CHRISTIAN IS GROWING IN CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP
Sixthly, John says, “He who has been born of God keeps
himself”—I John 5:18.
A man born again,
or regenerate, is very careful of his own soul. He endeavors not only to keep
clear of sin, but also to keep clear of everything which may lead to it. He is
careful about the company he keeps. He feels that evil communications corrupt the
heart, and that evil is far more catching than good, just as disease is more
infectious than health. He is careful about the employment of his time: his
chief desire about it is to spend it profitably. He is careful about the
friendships he forms: it is not enough for him that people are kind and amiable
and good-natured; all this is very well, but will they do good to his soul? He
is careful over his own daily habits and behavior; he tries to recollect that
his own heart is deceitful, the world full of wickedness, and the devil always
laboring to do him harm; and, therefore, he would be always on his guard. He
desires to live like a solider in an enemy’s country, to wear his armor
continually, and to be prepared for temptation. He finds by experience that his
soul is ever among enemies, and he studies to be a watchful, humble, and
prayerful man.
I place this mark also before you. What would the Apostle
say about you? Are you born again?
CONCLUSION
Such are the six
great marks of being born again. Let every one who has gone so far with me,
read them over with attention, and lay them to heart.
I know there is a
vast difference in the depth and distinctness of these marks in different
people. In some they are faint, dim, feeble, and hardly to be discerned. In
others they are bold, sharp, clear, plain, and unmistakable, so that any one
may read them. Some of these marks are more visible in some, and others are
more visible in others. It seldom happens that all are equally manifest in one
and the same soul. All this I am quite ready to allow.
But still after
every allowance, here we find boldly painted six marks of being born of God.
Here is an inspired Apostle writing one of the last general epistles to the
Church of Christ, telling us that a man born of God, Does not commit sin,
Believes that Jesus is the Christ, Does righteousness, Loves the brethren,
Overcomes the world, and Keeps himself. I ask the reader to observe all this.
Now what shall we
say to these things? What they can say who hold that regeneration is only an
admission to outward church privileges, I am sure I do not know. For myself I
say boldly, I can only come to one conclusion. That conclusion is, that only
those persons are born again who have these six marks about them; and that all men
and women who have not these marks, are not born again. And I firmly believe
that this is the conclusion to which the Apostle wished us to come.
Reader, have you these marks? Are you born again?
Dr. John C. Ryle (1816-1900) was an influential writer and
preacher in England. He was the author of such books as Practical Religion and
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels. Dr. Ryle’s chief desire in all his writing
was to “exalt the Lord Jesus Christ and to make Him beautiful and glorious in
the eyes of men, and to promote the increase of repentance, faith, and holiness
upon the earth.”
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but
according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and
renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ
our Saviour.”—Titus 3:5-6
