What does a believer mean to you?

[luigi]

When we say that we believe in a certain person or politician, we are claiming to believe in what that person professes, and, or undertakes. 

If we claim to believe in Jesus Christ and that He is our Lord; we would then be claiming to believe in what the Lord preached and live a life accordingly. We would love our neighbor, as Jesus taught and lived.

If, on the other hand our actions display hating our neighbor, we would then be hypocrites, and be only lying to ourselves as to who our Lord was. 

In the resurrection there will be many who will have professed Jesus, and supposedly have done many wonderful works in His name, only to be told by the Lord, that He never knew them. (Matthew 7:22-23)

For the Lord (the Son of God, who is Love--1 John 4:8 & 16), to tell some that He never knew them, indicates these individuals never knew love, and thus they never loved their neighbor.

This is how the scripture which says that all who profess the Lord Jesus with their mouth, and believe God having raised Him from the dead, are saved (Romans 10:9); is realized having to do with a true professing what one believes in their heart, and not feigned words, as those individuals in Matthew 7:22-23. 

We see another example of someone who truly believes in God/love and they who do not in Luke 10:30-35, where a Samaritan (a heathen who supposedly does not believe in God) shows mercy (loving his neighbor) on the injured man; while the priest and Rabbi (both of whom supposedly believed in God), their actions by not showing compassion to the injured man, shows that they honestly did not believe in love who is God.

 

Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

 

[missmuffet]

The term believer or Christian does not have a lot of importance to me. Anyone can call themselves a believer or a Christian.

A born again believer has faith and trust in Jesus Christ. They have put their old self behind and have put God in the drivers seat of their life. God is in control of their life 100%. They no longer control their own life.

They want to be obedient to God. Their old self has been set aside. They are not the same person they were 10 years ago. 

They do their best to display the fruit of the spirit each and every day. They do not willfully sin.

They have repented of their sin and have turned to Christ for their salvation.

They feel the Holy Spirit working in their life and they feel closer to God each and everyday. 

They do not have a "religion" but have a daily relationship with Christ. 

 

[luigi]

1 hour ago, missmuffet said:

Their old self has been set aside. They are not the same person they were 10 years ago. 

 

 

That's great if you have put your old self aside, and have overcome your old nature.

Nevertheless, to be a true believer in Christ has to represent something different than the basic understanding of believing in Christ as God's Son, otherwise they who believed as much in Matthew 7:22 would have been saved.

The devils also believe as much, and tremble (James 2:19).

[Willa]

18 minutes ago, luigi said:

That's great if you have put your old self aside, and have overcome your old nature.

Nevertheless, to be a true believer in Christ has to represent something different than the basic understanding of believing in Christ as God's Son, otherwise they who believed as much in Matthew 7:22 would have been saved.

The devils also believe as much, and tremble (James 2:19).

The Greek Word is pisteuo.  1. pisteuo (G4100), "to believe," also "to be persuaded of," and hence, "to place confidence in, to trust," signifies, in this sense of the word, reliance upon, not mere credence.

So to believe is to trust in and rely upon the person believed.  It requires action on the part of the believer, as to place their lives on the line for who and what they believe.  

[luigi]

23 minutes ago, Willa said:

The Greek Word is pisteuo.  1. pisteuo (G4100), "to believe," also "to be persuaded of," and hence, "to place confidence in, to trust," signifies, in this sense of the word, reliance upon, not mere credence.

So to believe is to trust in and rely upon the person believed.  It requires action on the part of the believer, as to place their lives on the line for who and what they believe.  

Very good, and I agree with your statement. A little more descriptive, however, is it requires action on the part of the believer, not as a work requirement to be accomplished, but rather, believing in one's heart in mercy, one will then act accordingly.

The Samaritan did not believe he needed to accomplish some work by aiding the injured individual; he in his heart believing in love, naturally took action accordingly.