What is a Christian?

[Who me]

7 minutes ago, Glory To God said:

I want to meet Christians, you won't find them in these apostate churches. 

 

To know that you must have been a member at an aweful lot of apostate churches. Otherwise you are assuming that lost, confused, badly taught and lead people are not Christian.

They are the very one's Jesus was compassionate for, as he saw they had no Shepard.

Where else could a light shine brightest?

 

[missmuffet]

Question: "What is a Christian?"

Answer: A dictionary definition of a Christian would be something similar to “a person professing belief in Jesus as the Christ or in the religion based on the teachings of Jesus.” While this is a good starting point, like many dictionary definitions, it falls somewhat short of really communicating the biblical truth of what it means to be a Christian. The word “Christian” is used three times in the New Testament (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16). Followers of Jesus Christ were first called “Christians” in Antioch (Acts 11:26) because their behavior, activity, and speech were like Christ. The word “Christian” literally means, “belonging to the party of Christ” or a “follower of Christ.”
Unfortunately over time, the word “Christian” has lost a great deal of its significance and is often used of someone who is religious or has high moral values but who may or may not be a true follower of Jesus Christ. Many people who do not believe and trust in Jesus Christ consider themselves Christians simply because they go to church or they live in a “Christian” nation. But going to church, serving those less fortunate than you, or being a good person does not make you a Christian. Going to church does not make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile. Being a member of a church, attending services regularly, and giving to the work of the church does not make you a Christian.

The Bible teaches that the good works we do cannot make us acceptable to God. Titus 3:5 says, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” So, a Christian is someone who has been born again by God (John 3:3; John 3:7; 1 Peter 1:23) and has put faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8 tells us that it is “…by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

A true Christian is a person who has put faith and trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ, including His death on the cross as payment for sins and His resurrection on the third day. John 1:12 tells us, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” The mark of a true Christian is love for others and obedience to God’s Word (1 John 2:4, 10). A true Christian is indeed a child of God, a part of God’s true family, and one who has been given new life in Jesus Christ.

https://www.gotquestions.org/what-is-a-Christian.html

 

Edited August 5, 2020 by missmuffet

[Glory To God]

1 hour ago, Who me said:

 

To know that you must have been a member at an aweful lot of apostate churches. Otherwise you are assuming that lost, confused, badly taught and lead people are not Christian.

 

 

Hold on a second. 

 

When I say lost, I mean unsaved. Not a babe in Christ or diffenet in opinion to myself, I mean completely in the flesh and not born again. And the reason I say they will be unsaved in those places is because the way the "Church" lives is no different than the world. In fact, these apostate churches are now prioritising for the world/unsaved..... And you want to join them and call them brothers? 

 

Go ahead. 

 

 

[Who me]

21 hours ago, Glory To God said:

 

Hold on a second. 

 

When I say lost, I mean unsaved. Not a babe in Christ or diffenet in opinion to myself, I mean completely in the flesh and not born again. And the reason I say they will be unsaved in those places is because the way the "Church" lives is no different than the world. In fact, these apostate churches are now prioritising for the world/unsaved..... And you want to join them and call them brothers? 

 

Go ahead. 

 

 

I said I have attended such churches hen that has been the only option. 

May I suggest you look at your attitude of discounting as lost those who in some cases are only badly taught or mislead. 

Just what sort of attitude is that, a caring or an uncaring attitude.

If someone from one of these churches came into your church, would they be welcomed or made to feel very much second class because they came from xxxxx church?

[Glory To God]

1 hour ago, Who me said:

I said I have attended such churches hen that has been the only option. 

May I suggest you look at your attitude of discounting as lost those who in some cases are only badly taught or mislead. 

Just what sort of attitude is that, a caring or an uncaring attitude.

If someone from one of these churches came into your church, would they be welcomed or made to feel very much second class because they came from xxxxx church?

 

I know you said you went to such churches and my reply is I think it is wrong to go to a corrupt church. 

 

 

 

 

[TheBlade]

Christian..was first used to make fun of followers of Christ. So my view is someone that is Christ like. That being said be foolish to just judge someone only on their flesh. Christ sees the heart first. And we all know our heart can say one thing and our flesh another The fact that God gives some a life time to repent others He does not.. why? Because HE sees the heart.

Love God?.. love our spouse or family friends? Yet we LOVE GOD/Christ/Holy Spirit whom we've never seen? How can you love someone you don't know? Take the threads here, this is how some(me too) talk to Christ. Yes Christ. Some day He will tell the goats (not us) if you did it to the least of these my brethren you did it to me" You and me are His brethren. So how we treat each other is how we treat Him. yeah.. everyone one of us would talk so much different ..if we truly believed what Christ said.

They will know you are MINE by your love one for another.. aka Christ like.

[johnthebaptist]

On 8/2/2020 at 5:42 AM, Glory To God said:

There are so many definitions and ideas that can be said and I would like to put a very firm criteria in place. 

 

In my opinion,if a person does not love God and does not love gods children,they are not a christian. This is the litmus test and I think all the scripture points to this. Jesus said this in the upper room at the last supper: 

 

John 15:9-12

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.''

 

Some points to be noted are Judas had been dismissed from the room before this point when this statement was made,only Christians were present. Jesus has a special kind of love for those he pulled out of the world and so we should follow his example,as instructed.  

 

If any person does not follow in words and actions these instructions from Christ I personal would not accept any profession to the faith,I would have to conclude the lack of love for God and his people expose the true nature of the individual. This is not a new Commandment,Gods people have always been commanded to love one another,it is old testament

 

Lev 19:17-18

“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord''

 

How many people are claiming to be a Christian and come short on these essential requirements? As the end time begin to close in,the light in you Christian will grow brighter and the darkness will become dimmer. Remember to love your Brothers and sisters and of course the holy God of all things. 

 

Praise the lord. 

 

Some believe you are a Christian simply by calling yourself a Christian, I think. Others believe you have to make a reasonable effort to live your life as Jesus instructed us, to be a Christian. I think I'd go with the latter.

[Leonardo Von]

Quote

What is a Christian?

It is to be follower and imitator of Christ.