Four Basic Things

What would you say are the four real basic things that would at the very least  testify that one is a Christian ?

My basic four are as such .

1. One moves from a indifference  or an abstract thought of God to a real sense of His being and presence in the world and ones own life. That God comes alive in the person of Jesus Christ . Jesus is loved as your Lord and Savior . Also with this new found understanding of God , ones admission of ones own sinfulness , hell bound deserving nature apart from the blood of Jesus that cleanses of from our sins , will be acknowledged.

2. A love and hunger to learn about God by reading,studying and cherishing His word , the Bible. What before was some book book , bound in leather sitting on a shelf or in a remote corner , becomes the most precious possession you lay your hands on. You delight in reading the Bible . Spending time in God's word shows that one loves and wants to know God . Anyone who calls themselves a Christian but never opens the Bible , is like a man that says he loves his wife while he lives a million miles away , committing adultery with other women. If you love someone , you want to spend time with them .

3. Gathering together with other Christians in a local Bible believing  Church to worship and becoming a member. It has been said , one doesn't need to go to Church to be a believer , and that is true but at the same time , I would argue , one who doesn't want to gather to worship the Lord with fellow believers , better question the motives of their hearts that keep them away. It is very clear from the New Testament that local Church involvement is critical to the healthy life of any believer. Christ died for His bride , He loves His Church , should we not also love her as well. It has been said  , you cannot have God as your Father , if you don't have the Church as your mother. There is truth in that saying.

4. Ones affections should start to change. In other words , how you act ,behave and conduct yourself in all matters of life will start being conformed to the image of Christ. What one saw as harmless or not sin , will be sinful . In very practical terms , what one watches , listens to and reads will be affected. You will begin to fight your tongue and its ability to lie ,swear and deceive . You will be in war with your old sinful nature and you will know  it. With this new affection for the things of God , one will desire to kill the old man and hunger for righteousness. One will grow , sometimes with many a pitfall but if one is truly born again , because the Holy Spirit lives within you , one will persevere and fight on . Always trusting and looking at Jesus as our only hope in completing the pilgrimage in front of us .

Much more could said of each one I have listed but if one calls themselves a Christian and all of these are lacking , you better check your self in because my friend , you are deluded. Nuff said.