What is a "Christian"???

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

To be safe everyone should ask me first.

I never read that you believed this ... however it's a favorite sport of my UC friends ... its called verbal gymanastics

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

I never read that you believed this ... however it's a favorite sport of my UC friends ... its called verbal gymanastics

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Malvaro

What is the definition of being a "Christian"???

• Is it defined as just acting "like Christ"??? (as the early church was originally called)
• Is it defined as obedience to Christ's Word??? (particularily in the context of New Birth message/Christian living)
• Is it both or neither???

~ If "acting like Christ" is the only criteria for being a "Christian" then there are many good "Christian" people who will still be lost for not obeying the New Birth message and/or living according to the Word....

~ If obeying "Christ and His Word" is the criteria for being a "Christian" then there are many people that should not be labeled with the "Christian" title due to their lack of obedience to God's Word.

It can't be both ways.... either a) there are many "Christians" who will die lost or b) there will be many good "moral" people who aren't truly Christians....

Could JF, or anyone else for that matter, be called a "Christian" if it was known that he did not obey the Acts 2.38 message and/or live according to the principles of Christian living as laid out in the scriptures???

Maybe today's culture casual usage of the term "Christian" is one of the many sources of confusion in the religious world....

just food for thought....

Putting the difference aside in doctrine, I would not say he was not a Christian or a good christian, but I would not say he was a great or solid Christian leader.

[Malvaro]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Putting the difference aside in doctrine, I would not say he was not a Christian or a good christian, but I would not say he was a great or solid Christian leader.

I'm not disputing that he was a "good" if not "great" moral man.... I'm sure that he's done many good things through the years and that many people look up to him.... this thread is only discussing the Biblical application of the term "Christian".... nothing more, nothing less....

how can a person set aside "differences in doctrine" when discussing the determination of a Christian, unless everyone is already considered a Christian? How can one obey the Word if they do not have at least a most basic understanding of Biblical doctrine?

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Malvaro

I'm not disputing that he was a "good" if not "great" moral man.... I'm sure that he's done many good things through the years and that many people look up to him.... this thread is only discussing the Biblical application of the term "Christian".... nothing more, nothing less....

how can a person set aside "differences in doctrine" when discussing the determination of a Christian, unless everyone is already considered a Christian? How can one obey the Word if they do not have at least a most basic understanding of Biblical doctrine?

Just to clarify... I also believe there were many great Christians among the reformers and revivalists. Sometimes not because of their understanding, but in spite of it. Many have demonstrated they love the Lord Jesus supremely.

What is a "Christian"???~ God perfect grace and agape (Jesus), within us, reflection on the outward~ You know my people by their love (Jesus)


John 13:34

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

John 13:35

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

John 15:12

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

John 15:17

These things I command you, that ye love one another.

Romans 12:10

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another

Romans 13:8

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Galatians 5:13

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.


Ephesians 4:2

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;


1 Thessalonians 3:12

And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:


1 Thessalonians 4:9
But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.


Hebrews 10:24

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

1 Peter 1:22

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:


1 Peter 3:8

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:


1 John 3:11

For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.


1 John 3:23

And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.


1 John 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.

1 John 4:11

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.


1 John 4:12

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.


2 John 1:5

And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

[Malvaro]

Originally Posted by CupCake

What is a "Christian"???~ God perfect grace and agape (Jesus), within us, reflection on the outward~ You know my people by their love (Jesus)

excellent post regarding the "Christian living" aspect.... care to dive into the Gospel salvation aspect???

Originally Posted by Malvaro

excellent post regarding the "Christian living" aspect.... care to dive into the Gospel salvation aspect???

If one has His love they'll have the Gospel as well~

[Old Paths]

Acts 11:26

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.
KJV


Need to find out WHO the disciples were and then you will Know what a BIBLE Christian is.

[Malvaro]

Originally Posted by CupCake

If one has His love they'll have the Gospel as well~

Really,that's it??? That sounds easy enough to me....

There are lot's of people show show "God's love" -- does showing God's love automatically ensure that one has correctly obeyed the scriptures???