Who are the REAL Christians?
 

Often when a Christian gets into the news, or maybe just an AFF thread ;), for doing something horrible, out come the explanations: this person is not a real Christian.

So let's explore this, shall we? It brings up some obvious questions. What is a real Christian? Do real Christians never do horrible things, ever? Do real Christians never do anything even a little bit naughty? How bad is bad enough to declare the person "not a real Christian"?

Just wondering. ;)

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

Can another person really know who is a real Christian? Wouldn't Jesus be the only one that knows?

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

Good question. But it's OK, seems to me, to take a stab at defining the term. And aren't there characteristics to look for, listed in the Bible?

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

A real Christian should be loving, joyful, peaceful, long-suffering, gentle, good, faithful, meek, and able to hold his/her temper, yes?

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

If the definition of Christians is disciple of Jesus Christ, scripture is very clear.

John 13:35

King James Version (KJV)

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

Also, a real Christian must give up the ability to look upon another in order to lust for them sexually.

Is this even possible?

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

Sure. I can look at people without lust. At least half the people. :lol

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(Yeah, I know you said "give up the ability." But I had to make a funny, anyway. You know me. :lol)

Timmy. Most here are not real Christians.

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Who would dare make that declaration as the truth?

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

John defines who knows and is in Yeshua.

3And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.4 He that saith , I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected : hereby know we that we are in him.6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk , even as he walked . 1 John 2:3-6

When we stop keeping his commands we are no longer in him.

Paul said those who are Christs have crucified the flesh.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Gal. 5:22-24

Me.

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

:highfive

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

O i C

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

Exactly, MTD! You and I are on the same page, I think. We posted the same scripture. I would really like to know Him more, if only my work and the world in general didn't side track me so much and take so much of my attention. Of all those fruits, it is unadulterated joy that I'd like to experience the most. The closest I've come to is enjoying a really good New Orleans jazz album and dancing with full-on happiness to the joyous music spilling forth from my stereo. Both start with the same letter, which I think is no coincidence. Personally, I think the spiritual and cultural heart of America lives in New Orleans. Anyway, back to the topic at hand.

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

One, in particular, thinks there is only one!

Oh, pm me!!!

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

Timmy I have feelings you know. :banghead

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

:dogpat

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

Those have already been defined and Jesus has made these declarations.

They do not dress up like peacocks, nor do they collect big nice cars and properties, nor do they stand and howl in church, nor do they document every single dollar they give, nor do they impede others in their walk by adding their own restrictions and opinions, nor do they engage in commentary or judgement of others, nor do they advertise their "righteousness" and "personal standards" then raise them up as if these things make them better than others.

Below is what you have been taught to do.

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others

So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock

And finally:

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

NOTE: Take care that you do not waste life howling and prophesying and judging others and defining how to "look righteous" only to be turned away for it. Actions and deeds are what matters, not faith no matter what your car-collecting and property-gathering false prophets teach you.

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

Well...WII, that seems to silence some folks.

What you posted is very clear and very biblical...pointed out by someone who walks in islam.

I like the statement about not dressing up like peacocks! That is very descriptive. What do peacocks do when they fan out their feathers? They strut. :toofunny.

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

Thanks, Wii.

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

Apparently, it is knowing Him that matters. Otherwise, you can't enter Heaven. They did good deeds, but didn't know Him, therefore, He cast them away.

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

Hmm, I'm reading something different,
@ "the separation parable."

And I always wondered about the sex part;
hormones seem to play such a big role there?

AND, prolly another thread here, sorry T,
but it seems to me that any current-day
Christian has some gripe, reading about
all the allowed sex and empire-building
that was going on, OT. What's up with that?

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

Lord have mercy.

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Not what Jesus said.

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What did He say?

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

Really? You want me to look it up for you? Sigh. OK, here. The verse before the one cited:

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

And elsewhere (Matthew 25) Jesus says how he will separate the sheep and the goats. It's their works. Those who don't feed the hungry, visit prisoners, etc. will be cast into everlasting fire, for everlasting punishment.

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

How do you interpret Matt 7:22-23?

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

Do you know 100% what this is?

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

(James 2:14-18)

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

A subject change? Yes, this is documented. It's not a puzzle, giving a stranger a drink of water.

Maybe I read you wrong, but I never read about Christ turning anyone away
for good deeds; in fact I read that one is rewarded for even the smallest kindness?
So maybe a restate or something...

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

People who did certain things for God will be rejected (to their surprise) because they didn't do what God wanted them to do. What they did, contrary to their own opinions, was bad (iniquity, in the KJ).

I don't see anything about faith, or grace, or believing. Yes, other passages talk about those things, even in the Gospels. Just not this one, and not the one about sheep and goats.

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

Jesus gave the commandment to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out lepers.

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He told them that even those they performed miracles in His name, He did not know them, and cast them out.

He did not know them. What exactly does He mean by that?

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That's not what it says. It says "I never knew you."

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

Not necessarily. The subject is "Who are the REAL Christians?" My hypothesis is that only Jesus knows who they are.

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

True. It doesn't say they didn't know Him, as you said earlier.

Sorry, you asked about 22-23, and I threw in something from 21. ;)

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

And that is a reasonable hypothesis (in the context of Biblical theology). Nobody who believes the Bible can know if they will make it to heaven. (Byrd, don't even bother! :lol)

Re: Who are the REAL Christians?
 

Ooops, didn't realize I wrote that.