What are the credentials of an authentic Christian?

Psalm 119:165 (NASB)

Those who love Your law have great peace, And nothing causes them to stumble. 

Pastor Woody Church, Founder of Rod and Staff Ministries in Greenwood, IN, impressed me one Sunday with his answer to the following question, “What are the credentials of an authentic Christian?”  His answer?  He quoted Psalm 119:165. 

One powerful definition of a Christian is someone who loves the law of God.  It does not say, “love God”, but “love Your law”.  Jesus clarified this in John 14:23 (and closely related 14:21).  If you love God, you will keep (obey) His word.  It is not enough to say “I love the Lord”.  What really matters is whether or not you back up your words of love with acts of love.  When Jesus asked Peter three times in John 21 if Peter loved Him and Peter said “yes”, what was Jesus’ response each time?  OK, Peter, if you say that you love Me, then tend My lambs.  Jesus required action to prove love for Him.

Those who obey the laws of God have great peace and nothing causes them to stumble.  These are the two credentials of an authentic Christian, an authentic believer and follower of Christ.  Think about these two great truths.  If you have great peace in your life, is there anything else that you need, that you lack, that can be better than this?  I believe that being content and being at peace with your life are the most treasured, wonderful, and blessed feelings to experience in all of life.  Yet, how many of you are content and at peace with your life?  If you are not in perfect peace (Isa 26:3) this is a sure sign that there is some disobedience going on your life.  This is a matter of prayer (Phil 4:6-7) and thorough examination of what’s going on in your life and the possible need to yield to Christ a matter that up to now you have not. 

The other great blessing of being an authentic Christian is the truth that nothing will cause you to stumble.  This word, stumble, reminded me of Romans 14:21 where Paul wrote that you are to do nothing that might cause a brother in Christ to stumble.  To stumble biblically is to be induced to sin. By loving the law of God, loving in the sense of practicing God’s ways, you will never stumble according to this verse.  Now, there’s no such thing as a perfect Christian in and of himself, but in Christ, you are perfect (Matt 5:48) because you are forgiven and your heart is always right with God.

Do you have great peace in your life?  Are you free from stumbling?  If so, you are so blessed and others see your credentials.  However, if you honestly cannot say yes to these questions, you still have great hope.  You can resolve right now to pray and ask the Lord through His Spirit to save you and to help you love His law.  It’s always a matter of faith and initiative to do what your conscience nudges you to do.  Resolve today and forevermore to live your life as an authentic Christian.