Are You really a Christian?

Godsdrummer · #1 10-29-2010, 06:57 PM

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?

TGBTG · #2 10-29-2010, 09:51 PM

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!!!

Godsdrummer · #3 10-30-2010, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TGBTG

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!!!

TGBTG

Now I like the way you worded that,

ILG · #4 10-30-2010, 08:42 AM

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

mfblume · #5 10-30-2010, 10:09 AM

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

Godsdrummer · #6 10-30-2010, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILG

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

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.

Godsdrummer · #7 10-30-2010, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfblume

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

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.

mfblume · #8 10-30-2010, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Godsdrummer

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.

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!

ILG · #9 10-31-2010, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Godsdrummer

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.

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.

Sister Alvear · #10 10-31-2010, 12:54 PM

I really want to be a Christian....