What does it mean that Christians are not of this world?

[Neighbor]

10 hours ago, enoob57 said:

Kind of chasing your own tail in this... wolves appearing as sheep = counterfeit Christians ... I don't see where she defined this as real Christians? It appears from the writ she is addressing wolves and luke warm Christian ... perhaps you can explain your indictment 

Sure; First it is not an indictment it is the rejection of one. The wolves mentioned by Paul are not the members of the congregations, but instead the teachers that will come upon them as though they are one of them when they are not. "Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son."

 Second; It does seem harsh  to me when anyone makes judgement about so many of humans called by the Holy Spirit to turn about to Jesus as Lord God and personal savior  "out there" calling them in a blanket indictment "counterfeit Christians".

 I do ask about such individuals that are quick to indict the members of congregations; do you  have any association with any local body of Christ Jesus? Any at all?

I think you and I both know the answer to that question.

[enoob57]

48 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

Sure; First it is not an indictment it is the rejection of one. The wolves mentioned by Paul are not the members of the congregations, but instead the teachers that will come upon them as though they are one of them when they are not. "Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son."

 Second; It does seem harsh  to me when anyone makes judgement about so many of humans called by the Holy Spirit to turn about to Jesus as Lord God and personal savior  "out there" calling them in a blanket indictment "counterfeit Christians".

 I do ask about such individuals that are quick to indict the members of congregations; do you  have any association with any local body of Christ Jesus? Any at all?

I think you and I both know the answer to that question.

Same thing as you stated already...please show me by the post where she is speaking of true believers- a grammatical post specific would be nice... because you did indict her as referring to true Christians and I do not see that in her post?

[Neighbor]

On 9/13/2024 at 9:56 PM, missmuffet said:

Yes, counterfeit Christians. There are a bunch of them out there.

Enoob, I just do not find the above to be the case.  It does seem a tad harsh, to me. There are indeed a lot of individuals with very different conclusions about our Lord Jesus and about how best to  be about what He wills of those that the Holy Spirit has turned about.

In fact I would find my understanding today to be far different than what I may have thought some 46 years ago when the Holy Spirit turned me about to my own repentance of sin against God. Was I counterfeit than, or perhaps now?  I do not think the Holy Spirit turned me about as a counterfeit currency.

I also think I have changed in that my  awareness is substantially different to day then at other times since being turned about.

SO yes I do think it  a bit  of a harsh indictment to call, how was it put, "Yes, counterfeit Christians. There are a bunch of them out there." Bunch 0f them- out there." All combined seem to me  to be terms of separation, and an indictment. 

I do think it best for me  anyway to be  more tolerant in my own assessment of those "out there" and perhaps even endeavor to be  going about out there myself. For if I cloister myself in the church of only me, myself, and I, it is then that I suffer greatest harm, all self induced.  

And so I am sharing,  from my own perspective, that I do not buy into the idea that those out there are counterfeit Christians. Now there are indeed wolves that com ein among the sheep and scatter them as they spread fear- but that is a very different animal.  

If you, or anyone else, reaches a differing conclusion  I guess that is just the way things work out. Personally I think such  blanket assessments it tends to  lead to  missteps and even a closeting one's self away in fear of life "out there".  

[AdHoc]

10 hours ago, enoob57 said:

Same thing as you stated already...please show me by the post where she is speaking of true believers- a grammatical post specific would be nice... because you did indict her as referring to true Christians and I do not see that in her post?

 

2 hours ago, Neighbor said:

Enoob, I just do not find the above to be the case.  It does seem a tad harsh, to me. There are indeed a lot of individuals with very different conclusions about our Lord Jesus and about how best to  be about what He wills of those that the Holy Spirit has turned about.

In fact I would find my understanding today to be far different than what I may have thought some 46 years ago when the Holy Spirit turned me about to my own repentance of sin against God. Was I counterfeit than, or perhaps now?  I do not think the Holy Spirit turned me about as a counterfeit currency.

I also think I have changed in that my  awareness is substantially different to day then at other times since being turned about.

SO yes I do think it  a bit  of a harsh indictment to call, how was it put, "Yes, counterfeit Christians. There are a bunch of them out there." Bunch 0f them- out there." All combined seem to me  to be terms of separation, and an indictment. 

I do think it best for me  anyway to be  more tolerant in my own assessment of those "out there" and perhaps even endeavor to be  going about out there myself. For if I cloister myself in the church of only me, myself, and I, it is then that I suffer greatest harm, all self induced.  

And so I am sharing,  from my own perspective, that I do not buy into the idea that those out there are counterfeit Christians. Now there are indeed wolves that com ein among the sheep and scatter them as they spread fear- but that is a very different animal.  

If you, or anyone else, reaches a differing conclusion  I guess that is just the way things work out. Personally I think such  blanket assessments it tends to  lead to  missteps and even a closeting one's self away in fear of life "out there".  

What is very encouraging with this difference of opinion is that our Lord said that they would look just like the real thing. Don't think of deciding now. Not even the angels are allowed to decide - until the harvest. God's Word is always right.

[enoob57]

11 hours ago, enoob57 said:

Same thing as you stated already...please show me by the post where she is speaking of true believers- a grammatical post specific would be nice... because you did indict her as referring to true Christians and I do not see that in her post?

This is what I asked from you

This is what you gave me 

there are two ways to address written material: one is exegetical, where the grammatical dictates what is said 'the writing itself' if you will ... the second is eisegesis where one reads into the text what is not in the text itself... I have but one question is counterfeit Christian a real Christion... is a counterfeit currency a real currency. So, you gave me nothing but what you read into the text...  

This is how the Lord put it
Matthew 7:13 (KJV)

[13] Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

[14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

[15] Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

[16] Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

[17] Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

[18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

[19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

[20] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

This is what Muffet was speaking of.. are you giving the Lord the same indictment you gave her?

[Neighbor]

Hi Enoob,

We, You and I,  are only going to engage in cross talking, talking over each other. You appear to be more interested in that than is Miss Muffet.  

She and I tend to have quite different thoughts on Christians in general; which I respect, but none the less  they are differences. 

I tend to think God has far less demands of us than we do of each other.

[enoob57]

1 minute ago, Neighbor said:

Hi Enoob,

We, You and I,  are only going to engage in cross talking, talking over each other. You appear to be more interested in that than is Miss Muffet.  

She and I tend to have quite different thoughts on Christians in general; which I respect, but none the less  they are differences. 

I tend to think God has far less demands of us than we do of each other.

You may think whatever you like here... but before Him it will be what He has written down... I suggest you study on what God has said about His Own Word... 

Job 23:12 (KJV)

[12] Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

[Whosoever]

Not of this world means:  We are a NEW CREATION not born of this world, but born by the Word of God, from above.  We are as grafted-in Jews.  We have been made to be on the same footing in the same "branch".   The world does not claim we are from them, so we are rejected, just as the Jews.  What the world does not accept, they attempt to destroy.   We are ambassadors of the kingdom that we are spiritual citizens of, and appointed to express God's righteousness to this entire creation in order that God's decree should be announced, that God desires that no man should perish, but through Jesus, recieve everlasting life.