What is the truest hallmark of a Christian?

There are many essential and commendable virtues of being a Christian. The one that stands out above all is: Love.

"Listen" by Jan Jee, SUN division, City Harvest Church

In his writing, the apostle Paul asserted, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that:-

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:1-3; NKJV)

When a Pharisee tested Jesus on which is the great commandment in the law, "Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40;NKJV)

In the night of the Last Supper after Jesus had washed His disciples' feet and Judas had gone out to betray Him, Jesus gave the disciples a new commandment about loving one another. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35; NKJV).

The apostle John, who described himself by revelation as one of the disciples whom Jesus loved (John 13:23b), had this to say concerning love:-

"If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also." (1 John 4:20-21; NKJV) 

In John 14, Jesus continued His discourse on love:

“If you love Me, keep My commandments." (John 14:15; NKJV)

"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” (John 14:21; NKJV)

When we love God and His Words, we host His Presence in us and the Triune God manifest Himself to us. 

"Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me." (John 14:22-23; NKJV)

Yes, while we want to do the good works which God prepared beforehand (Ephesians 2:10) for us to do, let us not forget to allow Him to complete the good work of making us a person who keeps His Words to love God and one another.

May the LORD grant us fresh eyes and enlarge our hearts to love one another as an integral part of loving Him and His words. 

Let us listen and follow the voice of Jesus, our Good Shepherd, to love Him just as He has first loved us. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." (John 10:27; NKJV)