What makes a Christian unique is not just that he believes in a God who died for him, rose from the dead and overcame sin and the grave. Christians are unique in many ways, yet full of amazing contradictions.

Christians Die to Live

To be a true follower of Christ, a person must be born again by the Spirit of God. Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God, John 3:3. And unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God, John 3:5.

This gets even more amazing for Christians say to live is to die. I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loves me and gave Himself for me, Galatians 2:20.

Jesus said, If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whosever loses his life for My sake, will find it, Matthew 16:24,25. This makes Christians unique.

God of Love

The God the Christians believe in is a God of love who offers eternal life to the believer, John 3:16. Death is simply the gateway for the Christian’s immortal soul to return to God who gave it life. The body returns to dust, but there will come a time when the soul will be reunited with a glorified body, 1 Corinthians 15:51, and Christians will eternally reign with the Lord they worship, 2 Timothy 2:12.

However, the God of love is also a holy God and a God of absolute justice. There will be a future eternal judgement for all who reject the love of God, John 3:18, Ephesians 5:6.

Heavenly Minded

True followers of Christ set their minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, Colossians 3:2. They walk on this earth, but spiritually they are already seated in heavenly places and are not at home here, 2 Corinthians 5:8. Christians are citizens of heaven, Philippians 3:20, seeking the city that is to come, Hebrews 13:14.

Christians are in this world, but not of the world, John 17:16, living contrary to the ways of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, 1 John 2:15. Whoever wishes to be a friend of the world, makes himself an enemy of God, James 4:2.

However, while on earth they have a heavenly commission, given by Jesus Christ. They are to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation, Mark 16:15.

Authority

The followers of Christ are given authority. Jesus said, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Christians are heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, Romans 8:17. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son, John 14:13.

Followers of Christ have been given all authority to act in the name of God, with power to overcome darkness and all things evil, plus the ability to defeat Satan, James 4:7. That authority emanates not from themselves, but from Christ and works inside the believer through the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 3:20. Yet, they are to have the heart of a servant, for they are servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God, 1 Corinthians 4:1.

Humility

The amazing thing about Christianity is the God they worship is the great I Am That I Am, Exodus 3:3, who created the universe. He chose to humble Himself and enter this world as a helpless baby. For 30 plus years Christ lived the same way we live before going to the Cross to die in our place and prove He had victory over death and the grave. Death was no longer a Satanic weapon, Hebrews 2:14,15.

However, Christians are to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt them at the proper time, 1 Peter 5:6. The way down is the way up for the Christian.

Strength

A Christian is unique in that he is strongest when he is weakest. Paul wrote, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties for Christs sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong, 2 Corinthians 10.

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains. From where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth, Psalm 121:1. By the grace of God I am what I am and his grace to me did not prove vain, 1 Corinthians 15:10.

The strength of the follower of Christ comes from the Lord. The Lord is the One who goes ahead of you. He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed, Deuteronomy 31:8.

Highest when Lowest

Often times the follower of Christ is highest when he feels lowest. He is the most sinless when he is most conscious of sin. He is wisest when he knows that there is so much he doesn’t know, for having acquired great amounts of knowledge he realizes how little he actually knows.

Having attained or gained much he knows how little he has obtained for there is much more to gain. Sometimes by doing nothing is the time he goes forward the furthest. In heaviness he manages to rejoice, and in a heart of sorrow he can find peace and joy.

He is told to fear God, for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, Proverbs 9:10. Yet, the believer is not afraid of God, Isaiah 41:10, for He knows God to be the righteous Judge, 2 Timothy 4:8 and a loving Heavenly Father, 1 John 3:1. Only in the New Testament do we find the word Abba Father, as Jesus used it, Mark 14:36.

Presence of God

The true follower of Christ is able to personally experience the presence of God Almighty. This makes the believer feel overwhelmed but not undone, as were so many of the saints of the Bible. For it is in the midst of trials and temptations that the peace of God sustains the true follower of Christ, Isaiah 43:2.

To be in and aware of the presence of the Lord is the aspiration of every true follower of Christ, Psalm 23:6. This is not for just an hour, or a day, but for all eternity.

What Makes a Christian Unique

The Christian is unique for he believes by faith in a supreme Being he has never seen. That faith is the only thing that pleases God, Hebrews 11:6.

Though poor and lowly in his own opinion, the mortal Christian speaks freely with the One who is immortal the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Revelation 17:14. Knowing that he is less than nothing, the true believer is the apple of God’s eye hiding in the shadow of the Lord’s wings, Psalm 17:8. He was bought with a price and his body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 6:19,20.

The first allegiance of the true Christian is to his Heavenly Father, and he eagerly waits the appearance of his Lord. He belongs to a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. He is a people for God’s own possession, 1 Peter 2:9. That is what makes a Christian unique, the greatest treasure on earth.

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Dr. Wendy Stenberg-Tendys is a freelance writer who enjoys researching a topic and sharing words of encouragement from the Word of God.

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