According To Scripture What Is A Christian?

[TheBlade]

Never cared for the word "Christian". That word alone to me means Christ like. Yet I am just a follower, disciple  of Jesus Christ.

[Retrobyter]

13 hours ago, TheBlade said:

Never cared for the word "Christian". That word alone to me means Christ like. Yet I am just a follower, disciple  of Jesus Christ.

Shalom, TheBlade.

I'm with you. The problem is that the word "Christian" has been so bandied about that now, it's practically meaningless. A true Christian is one who has been born again, one who has been born of the SPIRIT. I believe that John got to the heart of the matter when he wrote,

1 John 5:1 (KJV)

1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat (God) loveth him also that is begotten of him (Yeeshuwa`, "Jesus," the Messiah, the "Christ").

One becomes a part of God's family, which also means that one has become a part of the Messiah's Israel, even His own family, the children of Yhudah ("Judah"), the "Jews." Contrary to human families, though, God doesn't forsake His own children.

[Your closest friendnt]

3 hours ago, Retrobyter said:

Shalom, TheBlade.

I'm with you. The problem is that the word "Christian" has been so bandied about that now, it's practically meaningless. A true Christian is one who has been born again, one who has been born of the SPIRIT. I believe that John got to the heart of the matter when he wrote,

1 John 5:1 (KJV)

1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat (God) loveth him also that is begotten of him (Yeeshuwa`, "Jesus," the Messiah, the "Christ").

This a jewel of scripture. In it we can see that God is the Father of Jesus Christ. It comunicates that Jesus is begotten from the Heavenly Father. There scriptures that say that Jesus is the only one begotten from the Father and other scriptures that Jesus called him while speaking to the Jews as his Heavenly Father. They were saying that Abraham was their Father and this was correct for Issac and for Jacob and all the twelve Patriarhs and all their children's children those before the Law and continued for those in the Law, Abraham was their Father because at the time of their death they were still gathered to Abraham as the other Israelites before the Law was given. The same Inheritance after death for those Israelites before the Law was given to Moses with those who lived after the Law, who lived and died under the reign of the Law. Till the time of Jesus Christ to whom God gave the Heaven as his Inheritance and not only for him but to all those who believed in him. The same Heavenly Inheritance for all who believe Jesus is the Christ of God no matter when they lived and when they died. Those who died before the Cross they had to believe in Jesus as they were when Jesus found them and he preached the Gospel to them.

Abraham and every one with him were waiting for him, and all of them were included in Jesus Christ so Jesus Christ can be the Lord of all. 

3 hours ago, Retrobyter said:

One becomes a part of God's family, which also means that one has become a part of the Messiah's Israel, even His own family, the children of Yhudah ("Judah"), the "Jews." Contrary to human families, though, God doesn't forsake His own children.

The children of the Heavenly Father is everyone who believes in Jesus Christ the Son of God...technically God has only Jesus only one Son and with him has all the children of Jesus Christ because his children are one with him, are not seoerated from him and he is one with the Heavenly Father, he is not separated from him and we the children of Jesus Christ, the Grand children of the Heavenly Father are because of Jesus Christ one with the Heavenly Father we are like Jesus not separated from the Heavenly Father. 

[farouk]

20 hours ago, TheBlade said:

Never cared for the word "Christian". That word alone to me means Christ like. Yet I am just a follower, disciple  of Jesus Christ.

@TheBlade Although Acts 11.26 says: "And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch"; I know the term is used very widely and vaguely sometimes.

[Vine Abider]

On 9/27/2023 at 2:32 PM, TheBlade said:

Never cared for the word "Christian". That word alone to me means Christ like. Yet I am just a follower, disciple  of Jesus Christ.

Being humble is fine, but don't sell yourself too short bro - after all . . . you have Christ in you! 

[Guest AFlameOfFire]

48 minutes ago, Vine Abider said:

Being humble is fine, but don't sell yourself too short bro - after all . . . you have Christ in you! 

And self examination seems to be encouraged here, as Paul says,

2 Cr 13:15 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

 

[Vine Abider]

7 minutes ago, AFlameOfFire said:

And self examination seems to be encouraged here, as Paul says,

2 Cr 13:15 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

 

And that's a great verse to witness to JWs!

[Guest AFlameOfFire]

2 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

And that's a great verse to witness to JWs!

I can give you a much longer list for who that verse is meant for

(which is for everyone "but me" haha)

[Marathoner]

We don't define ourselves according to the court of popular opinion, my friends. We are shaped, refined, and defined by the Master Craftsman. There is no other like Him.

A long time ago when I came to Jesus Christ, I fostered a very poor impression of Christians. Eh? Oh yes, I did indeed. Little wonder seeing as how I was raised to despise and fear Christians. Irony of ironies, everything was so insufferably ironic during those days. Consider the irony of the Lord, how He purposed to redeem one so insufferable as I proved to be time and again. Yes, He called a young man who believed that such a thing was impossible --- no one hears from God! --- and who expected the worst at every turn. Hope? What was that? I didn't know.

The first time I encountered my favorite chapter of Proverbs, I was floored:

I am certainly more stupid than any man,
And I do not have the understanding of a man;
Nor have I learned wisdom,
Nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.
Who has ascended into heaven and descended?
Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has wrapped the waters in His garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name or His Son’s name?
Surely you know!
(Proverbs 30:2-4 NASB)

That was me, the most stupid of all men who didn't possess the understanding of a man, who didn't even know the Lord who called him forth! Ah, but the Lord whom I didn't know promised to teach me the way I ought to go. I would not be left to stumble around in the darkness alone. 

I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will advise you with My eye upon you.
Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you.
The sorrows of the wicked are many,
But the one who trusts in the LORD, goodness will surround him.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.
(Psalm 32:8-11 NASB) 

Hope? Goodness? Hope and goodness even during the darkest of times, for He was with me even when I was left for dead. I eventually came to learn that I was indeed a Christian myself: one who follows Jesus Christ, and one who is His disciple. The Lord instructs us and teaches us in the way which we should go, advising us with His Spirit upon us all. There's no shame in being a Christian. We are not defined by anything nor anyone apart from the Lord of glory Himself. Treat others in the manner we wish to be treated ourselves, yes? Yes!