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Birthmarks are marks on the skin that a baby can develop before birth or soon after. Birthmarks can be flat or raised, have regular or irregular borders, and have different shades of coloring from brown, tan, black, or pale blue, to pink, red, or purple. Most birthmarks are harmless. Have you ever known someone that had a birthmark? I know two people that have a birthmark, my father-in-law, Garland Hendren had a reddish birthmark on his forehead and my mother has a dark birthmark on her hip. Birthmarks are often unique to people and become a part of their identity.
When you were saved, you became a child of God. Heaven became your destination. More than that, God gave you permanent birthmarks to show you are His. What are the “birthmarks of the believer?” What are the traits of the twice-born? Here are 3 birthmarks of a believer. First, a believer submits to the Lordship of Jesus Christ! No one can be saved without first receiving Christ as Lord. You don’t say “I’ll take Jesus as my Savior—forget the Lord part.” If you say He’s your Lord but don’t live by His Word, your life is a sham. In Luke 6:46 Jesus said, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not the things that I say?” If He’s is your Lord, you keep His commandments.
Second a believer wants to live as Jesus lived! If Jesus is your Lord you want to live, honestly. 1 John 1:6 says If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. Live a pure life. If you love pornography, if you continually act upon your lustful thoughts, than your not living a pure life. Live righteously! Righteousness isn’t passive. It isn't, I’ll just sit here and be sure I’m not doing anything wrong. Righteousness is actively doing good, just as Jesus did. Acts 10:38 says God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil. Don't just pray for you neighbor give them a helping hand, take them a meal, mow their yard, listen to them when they need a shoulder to cry on!
Thirdly, a believer shows and shares his love! 1 John 2:9 says; Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Hours before Jesus was crucified, He knelt and washed His disciples’ feet, saying, “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another…” He washed Judas’ feet even though He knew he was going to betray him. Jesus loves each one of us, not because we’re lovely; He just loves us and we should love others as he did!
John 13:35 NIV By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
To summarize, here are the birthmarks of a believer: You submit to His Lordship. You seek His lifestyle. You share His love. If you’re saved, it’s going to be illustrated by a life that is controlled by the Lord Jesus. If your religion hasn’t changed your life, you need to change your religion.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
If you don’t have the birthmarks of a believer, you need to ask yourself, “Have I ever really been saved?” What does it mean to be truly saved? You come to know the Lord by faith. You trust Him as your Lord and Savior by faith. The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” He longs for you to be saved!
