How to Recognize a Man of God

An article from LearnReligions.com says, “Pinpointing precisely how many religions there are in the world today is next to impossible, although some estimate the number exceeds 4,000.” What incredible diversity!

But, also, what incredible potential for confusion.

It is safe to say that in these myriad religions there are millions of adherents who believe that their teacher is a true servant of God. Many would profess to be “men of God,” or men of whatever god they worship. So many today are open with their perspective on religion, beliefs, values, and philosophy that the task of finding a true man of God might seem confusing—but it really doesn’t need to be. How can you recognize a true man of God in this day and age?

In the Bible, God’s inspired scripture, a young man named Timothy stayed in the city of Ephesus, in Asia Minor, to help the early Christian church. There, he came face to face with men who wanted to be spiritual leaders in the congregation, and his own teacher, the Apostle Paul, warned Timothy that some of these would-be leaders were not qualified for the roles they desired (1 Timothy 1:3–7). Hebrews 5:4 instructs that men with leadership roles and responsibilities within the Church must be appointed to those roles by God.

Here are three questions you can ask to help you recognize a true man of God.

1. Does he teach what the Bible says?

A true minister of Jesus Christ teaches what the Bible says. He will not teach human philosophies, traditions, or opinions. Titus 2:1 commands God’s servants to “speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine.” The word “sound” means healthy or wholesome and implies that sound doctrine is spiritually nourishing, correct, and beneficial for growth in faith and godliness. A true minister of God will teach what can be found in God’s word.

2. Does he exemplify Christ-like character?

The Gospel of Matthew 7:20 says that “by their fruits you will know them.” That is, we can understand someone by their actions—including how they communicate and present themselves. Although he will not be perfect, a true minister of God will strive to live by what the Bible teaches and to follow Jesus Christ’s example. He will live his life with the goal of exemplifying the fruit of God’s Spirit, as Jesus did. Jesus Christ spent his human life as a servant, a giver, and a helper, and so will a man of God, who will try to mimic Christ himself by showing the fruit of the Holy Spirit in his life (Galatians 5:22–23).

3. Do you see him being obedient to God?

If a “man of God” is not striving to obey all of God’s commandments, that is a big red flag! A true man of God is submissive to God’s will and therefore obedient to the Ten Commandments, though many leaders, teachers, and religious men will only keep some of the Ten Commandments. Some even teach that they have been abolished or “done away”—yet this is not what the Scripture shows. The Apostle John wrote that “by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments” (1 John 2:3–4). In Matthew 19:17, Christ Himself said, “If you want to enter into [eternal] life, keep the commandments,” and Revelation 22:14 confirms, “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.” In recognizing a man of God, you will witness him being obedient to God by endeavoring to keep all of God’s laws, including His Sabbath and Holy Days.

It is important to be able to identify those who are God’s true ministers and those who are not. The Bible teaches plainly that there is an adversarial spirit called Satan, the devil, and that he has confused and deceived the entire world (Revelation 12:9). The world’s confusion can be avoided by considering the points we have mentioned, looking through the biblical lens of what constitutes a man of God. Overcome the devil’s deceptions—consider these straightforward principles the next time you are trying to recognize a man of God.

True men of God will operate within the true Church of God. Do you know where to find it? Take your first steps by requesting free copies of Restoring Original Christianity and Where Is God’s True Church Today?—or by reading them right here at TomorrowsWorld.org.