It is a common question from earnest and sincere people: how can I know I am a Christian? There are all sorts of answers we might give, some probably more helpful than others. But it would make most sense to look at the scriptures and see some of the signs it would highlight. So, to that end, here are three biblical signs that you are a genuine Christian.

Love for Jesus

The bible tells us categorically, ‘There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.’ (Rom 3:10-11). 1 John 4:19 tells us that ‘we love because he first loved us’. There are lots of other verses we could look at but these two should suffice to make the point.

By nature, none of have any love for the biblical Jesus and none of us are seeking after righteousnes or the God of the bible. But when we have real affection for the biblical Jesus, it is a sign that he has aready set his love upon us. Ephesians 2 captures both sides of this: no love for Jesus before we are believers but God us alive, sets his love upon us and we, in turn, then love him. If we have any affection for the biblical Jesus, it is a good sign we are real believers.

Love for God’s people

1 John 4:20 tells us starkly: ‘If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and yet hates his brother or sister, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother or sister whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.’ By contrast, Jesus insists ‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another’ (John 13:35). Again, we could look elsewhere but the point here should be clear.

One of the key signs that we are a believer is that we love God’s people. It is the sign Jesus highlights to mark us out as his people. John is adamant that if we don’t love other believers, we are not really Christians. And he doesn’t just say it once, he mentions it several times in his first letter alone. If you have real and meaningful affection for God’s people, it is a sign that you are a genuine believer.

Love for Jesus’ instructions

In John 14:15 Jesus says, ‘if you love me, you will keep my commandments’. James famously asks, ‘What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works?’ (James 2:14). He goes on, ‘For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead’ (2:26).

Those who really love Jesus will want to keep his commandments. Indeed, they will – at least in some measure – keep his commands because they will be empowered to do so by the Holy Spirit. Per point 1 above, unbelievers have no real desire to keep Jesus’ commands. Similarly, James tells us that true faith works itself out in practice. True faith, if it really does believe in Jesus, will trust Jesus’ word and so do Jesus’ word because their faith is living and active.

Genuine believers want to obey Jesus. It doesn’t mean they will be perfect. It doesn’t mean they always obey him all the time. But if you have any desire to keep Jesus’ commands, and you seek to ever do what he says he wants, that is a good sign you are a genuine believer.