Are You really a Christian?
 

Are a Christian


Act 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

What is a Christian? The word Christian means follower of Christ. But what does it mean to follow Christ? Many today go by the standard of Christian, but are they truly followers of Christ.

We first have the life of Christ as an example, he was a teacher, healer, and a friend. His was a message of Love, turn the other cheek, if some one ask for your shirt give him your coat also, he was a giver. He gave his own life for the sin of all mankind.

Paul taught us that if we are a follower of Christ we shall have the fruit of the spirit. This does not mean we put forth like we have the fruit, it means the fruit is who we are. Just the word fruit is telling, it is produced naturally. That which is natural. There is no way a apple tree cannot produce peaches without outside help this is not the way nature was made. The same way we can condition ourselves to be nice but in the long run our real nature will come forth.

So again I ask are you a Christian? You might say of course I am a Christian, I was saved, I obeyed what ever formula the church I attend ask of me. That makes me a Christian. I obey all the rules said assembly prescribes I need to obey to be saved. This is the attitude of many so called Christians. They follow a book, and a man reads his own understanding of the book. This is like trying to learn how to play a guitar or musical instrument from a book. Sure you can accomplish a simultude of playing the instrument but if you really want to play you want to learn from a pro, someone that has experience.

This is the way allot of Christians are they think they have found the answer by following the bible. But as Christ told the religious leaders of his day. You study the scriptures and think you have found eternal life, but they only speak of me. We over look this passage of scripture and it is important to the life of a true Christian. It is a life line, a true Christian knows the word of God only leads one to relationship with God. From there we have a direct communication with God. And by his spirit we learn the true meaning of his word.

Remember the clothes we wear, the places we go or don't go to, those things are not what the world looks for in a true Christian. As Paul told Timothy and in Peters writting, our Christian reputation should not be in the clothes we wear, but rather in our spirit. Or in other words we should not dress to be called a Christian, but rather our meek, humble spirit should be how they know we are a Christian.

So you say your a Christian how do others view you?

Re: Are You really a Christian?
 

Good Word, brother.

I am a Christian because I trust fully in the shed blood of Jesus Christ for the remission of my sins. I have identified with Christ's death, burial and resurrection in baptism. He gave me His Holy Spirit as a guarantee of my redemption until I see Him face to face.

Absolutely not of works but by His grace alone.
As per fruits, I can see in my own life how things I used to do have naturally stopped. Not because I put effort to stop, but just due to his amazing grace.

Indeed, Jesus is all we need. Amen!!!

Re: Are You really a Christian?
 

TGBTG

Now I like the way you worded that,

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I'm a lover of God with high moral standards. And that is how I would like to be seen.

Re: Are You really a Christian?
 

A Christian is one who, like Christ, lived by a Higher Life than human life, and allows God's Spirit to live through oneself.

Re: Are You really a Christian?
 

The question is does your higher moral standards draw others to you or away from you? Does the sinner see Christ on you or does he just see man made laws lived by you? If I was a homosexual would I feel like I could come to you to find life in Christ or would I feel like I would be judged by you because of the lifestyle I now lived.

Understand I am not calling you out personally, I am using your post to try and bring out a point.

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How true, but sometimes because of the separation many Christians adhere to they think that by this they are allowing God's spirit to live through them, when when push comes to shove their true human nature shows at the times when the sinner needs the love of God the most.

Re: Are You really a Christian?
 

That reminds me how the love of God is the primary thing that is manifested when God manifests through us. 1 John 4 speaks of the spirit of antichrist that denies Jesus came in the flesh. And then John says no man has seen God at any time, but when we love one another God dwells in us, and they thereby SEE GOD. So Jesus is come in OUR FLESH! :thumbsup

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Well I don't try to impose my moral standards on anyone else. I hope people can see God in me. Could you come to me as a homosexual? I suppose so. I will admit that I would struggle with my own self as I have not been very exposed to anyone who is homosexual. I think it would be more a fear of the unknown than any real prejudice on my part though.

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I really want to be a Christian....

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If one has to ask that question of themselves, then the answer is obvious.

Re: Are You really a Christian?
 

ILG

The reason I ask that question was the subject came up on another thread recently, I could not believe the responses from those that were supposed to be Christian.

I found myself in a simular situation years ago before my wife and I had children. I told someone that my children would not marry outside of our race, I was told I was predjedice. (I was, I did not think so but I was) Needles to say we went round and round over the subject. A few years later God spoke to me and said one of my daughters would marry a black man. So by the time it came pass I had changed my opinion, Thank God. He is the best son in law a father could wish for. They have given my wife and I two wonderful grandsons that love God.

The point I am trying to bring out is we were sent to the ministry of reconciliation, but we seem more inclined to alianate the world from God because we seem to want to pick and choose who we want to come to God.

At least that is one point.

Re: Are You really a Christian?
 

Acctualy one needs to ask themself that question every day. We are to judge ourselves not everyone else. "judgment starts at the house of God" does not mean when we get saved then we can start judging every one else it means it starts with us and continues within our own self.

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Sometimes, that is true. We do alienate more than reconcile. No arguments from me on that one.

Re: Are You really a Christian?
 

i am not the christian i am another religion but i like christian too
but when christian pray they end by 'Amen" but when i pray i ended by "Armin"

Re: Are You really a Christian?
 

Khristina

God is God what ever name you call him by, but there is a name of God that is greater than any other that is the name of Jesus. The ending of a prayer does not have to end with anything. Although Jesus end his instruction to us with the word Amen which simply means "so be it"

I chalenge you to check out the names of God, Jesus simply means "God saves" if there is any name of God I would want to use over any other it would be the one that was going to bring me the most blessings. This is not just a Christian principle.

Re: Are You really a Christian?
 

Are we Christians? If we are DISCIPLES then we are Christians. They are one and the same thing.

Act 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Ok what then is required BY JESUS to be HIS disciple?

14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Does this surprise you? Perhaps you have been told all that required to be a disciple is that you accept his finished work on the cross. NOT SO FAST!
Isnt Jesus the one who decides who his disciples are?

Does he not say that ABSOLUTE ABANDONMENT to himself is essential to be a Christian? Most have never heard this taught either before or after their conversion.

Now if your understanding of accepting the "finished work of Christ" INCLUDES the absolute acceptance of his Lordship in your life even to the exclusion of all and anything else then yes you may well be a Christian.

Anyone who has not made such a committment to Jesus is not yet his disciple ie.....a Christian.

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i dont know the word has become so watered down over the years, much of christianity has become babel or confusion.

back then it was a label, as they was also called the sect of the nazerene, or followers of the way.

I really dont want to take away from its meaning, but you have to admit that term gets thrown around like a ball. even sinners who think they know Jesus will use that term.

I might rather be labeled a man of God or something, just my 2 cents

and sorry for the negativity

Re: Are You really a Christian?
 

You miss the point in these thoughts, first they did not call themselves Christians. Others did because of the life and actions that (conversation) was like Christ. They there for recongnized they were followers of the teachings of Christ.

Again you miss the meaning of Christ, Absolute abandonment? The word says if one does not provide for his family they are worse than an infadel, does this sound like we are to abandon our family? Jesus meaning is that we are to put him first in our life to the point that we will leave family and friends should they come between our relationship to God. Big difference in my eyes.

But yes we must accept the absolute Lordship of Christ in our life to follow him, else we are not following him. But to follow the traditions of men and or pastors, does not mean we are following Christ.

Re: Are You really a Christian?
 

Negativity accepted, but to say the word has been watered down is not true the word cannot be watered down, what has been done is that teachings and traditions not based on sound understanding of the word have been added to the word. Like it or not we have done just what the pharise had done in Christ day. We try to live by the letter of the law and in doing so have made the meaning of the word of none affect. Missing the true message of Gods word over mans traditions. And I am not just talking about "standards".

The statement the word has been watered down, lets me know someone views and compares others walk with thier own and we are instructed over and over again that we are not to judge one another.

Re: Are You really a Christian?
 

well brother when a sinner says he is a christian yet there is no visible fruit, yea i dont have to judge, im just looking at what kind of tree is producing the fruit. yet they want the same label as some one who is actively walking in a relationship with God. so i think u missed the point on this

Re: Are You really a Christian?
 

What fruit are you looking for?
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Or maybe you see the works of the flesh that you are calling lack of fruit,

Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

First the fruits are not something you will see are they? You have to get to know someone to know if the fruit is in thier lives. So then you must be judging by some outward apperance.

Jesus said we shall be known by our love one to another. Again this is not something one can see on the outside.

No Brother you are missing the point, you don't know if someone has or is walking in relationship with God or not, until you get to know them. And futher just calling oneself a Christian does not make you a Christian either.

Just some thing to think about, In all the ministry of Christ there was not one bit of difference between him and anyone else on the outside. It was not until you got to know him personaly. We must stop trying to hard to be so different from the world by dress, and be different by spirit.

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When we begin to agree with the word of God, we will speak differently, think differently, and love like Jesus Christ loved.......we will stop pointing our fingers at other denominations declaring "Were Right" because we follow certain passages in the word, we will manifest Christ 30-60-100 fold, and it will come with seeking the Kingdom, which by the way, comes without Observation........Heaven is within you....
This is my thoughts, looking a certain way does not make you a christian, and going to church does not qualify you either..........We must conform to the image of Jesus, and that comes through much tribulation.....and a constant repented mind and heart, always willing to seek and agree with the Word.

Re: Are You really a Christian?
 

A Tree and Its Fruit
43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

when a person who confesses themselves as christians. curses like a sailor, and no regards to those around them, or carries themself in a manner not depicting I.e. being a drunk living in adultry, etc etc, yet still call themselves christians.
who produces evil fruit, back biter, slandering or gossiper, You know there fruits


sir God gave us a spirit of discernment, its almost like your trying to defend the black sheep in the fold saying well there not mean wolves.

yes sir i can look at there fruits, i know we are not perfect, but there is a attitude adjustment that happends with everyone, <-- everyone not just someone when they come to Christ.

Im not talking about standards or the way they dress, or how long there hair is, or if there wearing jewlery. Im talking about the intentions of there heart.

and if the tree is producing bad fruit, then its not good. and if you cant see that you need to ask God for a discerning spirit.

Man i preach at a rescue mission, they have no standards, so please dont give me this external lecture. A person comes up to me cuts a dirty Joke, bad tree, some one cursing on there cell phone, bad tree.

some one who doesnt care about God, bad tree. you dont have to know anyone in depth to figure this out. use your discerning Spirit

Re: Are You really a Christian?
 

Thank you that is all I wanted you to come out and say and in these things I agree.
On the flip side I have known many many profesing Christians that spoke in tongeus, wore their holiness standards like a banner, on the outside they looked holy, at least in their minds.
But when you got to know some of them over time you found they were the worst gossip, they would lie, (stretch the truth) and could become short and judgmental if a person did not see things they way they did.

This should not be so.

Re: Are You really a Christian?
 

Mat 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
Mat 12:26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
Mat 12:27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.

Has Satan found the way to divide the house and kingdom of God? In the early begining of this country communities were happy to have just a church that they could come worship God together regardless of thier diffrences, today we have divided the kingdom of God by our differences.

God poured out his spirit in the early days of the 1900's not to separate but to unite his kingdom with power, man has taken what God has given to drive a wedge between others of faith intead of bringing together the body with power, we have made the out pouring of the gift of God into a salvational issue, there with dividing the kingdom, accomplising his purpose in silencing the moral majority. We are no longer the salt that salts the earth, or the light.

We preach our rules and regulations as the phraise of Christ day and forget that Jesus said "we will be known by our love one for another" Paul and Peter tried to preach that we should let our holines be that good man of the heart. We have twisted those words to mean the opposite of what was said. And preach we are to let the world know us by our clothes, not by our humble spirit. Jesus taught "turn the other check", we preach you do me wrong, I won't get even I will get one up.

And we wonder why we can't reach the world with our message.

Re: Are You really a Christian?
 

Bump...

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So ironic you post this! My inlaws and I were just talking about this very subject last weekend. I love the way you presented it. It has me re-analyzing some things, and should do the same for everyone elst too.

Re: Are You really a Christian?
 

Never stop re-analyzing I was raise in a holines church, I thought the spirit of God moved when we were running the aisles and rolling on the floor etc. When I was pastoring I had a sister leave because she had started to study certain standards and found the what we said scripture said was not true. I started a journey I questioned everything for myself. I wanted to beleive the things I was taught for myself. For me the deeper I got into the word with prayer and fasting the more I found things were not the way we preached. My relationship with God got deeper.

Today I have four adult children that all are serving God, I have 5 grandchildren that to see them in church services praising God is a true blessing. I regrete not one day I began to walk in grace and not works.

Re: Are You really a Christian?
 

My husband and I have left a major oneness denomination just over a year ago with our three children. I was talking to someone last week about how there seems to be a point where the teenagers in the "old" church either become really "religious" (and fit the OP image to a "T") or rebel and start going out nightclubbing and roll their eyes at stuff that goes on in church. I really found it difficult to deal with the fact that any time I didn't fit the "standard" in the previous church culture there was a distinct feeling of being disapproved of by most of those around me. I am so glad that my kids are in an environment where they can be themselves and figure out what God requires of them without having people breathing down their necks and judging them. I want my children to serve God from a pure heart, with the understanding that we can't earn His love, nor do we need to. And that we don't need to earn anyone else's "love" or approval either.

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Two things I have come to realize over the last 10 years, many trinity churches do have the spirit of God and teach truth. That onesess churches don't have all they say they have, "the whole truth".

Over the last ten years my wife and I attended AOG church for 2 years, and visited several independent non denominational churches we found more of the spirit of God in these churches than the UPCI churches we were afiliated with before. I was raised Apostolic UPCI.

Keep on loving God and studing his word and you will be alright

Re: Are You really a Christian?
 

Thanks for the advice :)
I'm thankful for the time I spent in the oneness churches (only about 7 years), the intensity of the good and the pain of the bad as well. Now we are all processing everything in a safe place, and I wouldn't trade those years for anything. I believe that the difficult things I went through in church have helped me to mature in my faith and draw nearer to God. The more time I spend in God's word, the more at peace I am with this stage of our journey.

Re: Are You really a Christian?
 

A true Christian is one who is trying to follow Christ, to keep the commandments of God, and who loves God, His people, and the Word. A true Christian is one who has died to all but Christ, hates sin, and desires only to bring glory to God. A true Christian wants his/her life to reflect Christ.

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That is good, Untraditional, ever stop and look at the way you have just represented Christ? One who is trying to follow... and trying to keep the commandments of God.

You make it sound like it is a struggle to serve God. If one has to fight to serve God and love him if the only way to curb those human traits and and hungers is to battle with them, then we have lost the true concept of serving God.

We must serve God for LOVE, We love him because he first loved us. To quote Yoda on Star Wars there is not try there is only do. We must stop preaching a message of hell and damnation and preach that God loved us first.
Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1Jn 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.