Christian is known by the distinguishing marks set out by Jesus. But these marks are the evidence of new life in Christ, not its cause. The message of Jesus is not, “If you humble yourself and mourn over your sins and submit yourself meekly to God and get an appetite for righteousness, God will smile on you and you will get into heaven.” That would be salvation by works and that is not the teaching of the Bible. The smile of God’s favor is yours when, through the bond of faith, Christ becomes yours