Define A Christian

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WebersHome

WebersHome

Senior Member
#1
Dec 9, 2014
1,940
32
0
#1
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Should all definitions of a Christian be allowed to stand, or should there be
just one?

Webster's defines a Christian as somebody who professes belief in the
teachings of Jesus Christ.

According to that definition; it isn't necessary to actually believe in Christ's
teachings in order to qualify as a Christian; it's only necessary to say you do.

You don't even have to know what Christ's teachings are; you only have to
say you believe in them.

Nor is it necessary to put Christ's teachings into practice in order to qualify
as a Christian; it's only necessary to say you believe in them.

There's a generous amount of leeway in Webster's definition. For example:
It allows for the Conquistadors to murder, plunder, and enslave Native
Americans back in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries and still be able to
speak of themselves as Christians.

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W

wwjd_kilden

Guest
#2
#2
I've gotten into heated arguments with people who say they are Christians and don't believe Jesus died for our sins,
some don't even believe he existed! ....yet they get SO offended when I tell them that makes them believers in some kind of God, but NOT Christians
 
T

Tintin

Guest
#3
#3
Believing on and trusting in Christ and Him crucified. Repentance is also key. That's a Christian. I'm Christian.
 
Willie-T

Willie-T

Banned
#4
Feb 7, 2015
22,418
413
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#4
I've done more than a little studying on this stuff, and one thing keeps coming back to me at each supposed step of advancement. It is how much I DON'T know. I often wonder (since we all tend to compare our position and performance to others) what people who actually DO understand quite a lot about this feel about those of us who THINK we do.
 
notuptome

notuptome

Senior Member
#5
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
113
#5
It is defined by what it is not. It is not pagan, heathen, satanic, worldly or non-existent. It is real and it is eternal and it is few in number. It is not the majority and it does not make itself greater than its divine Author. It is living and not dead except to sin. It is light and not darkness. It is hope and not despair.

Many profess but few actually possess. Free to all but not all will receive. A Christian is of God and not of this world. It is not something you do but something you are because it has all been done for you.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 
F

FreeNChrist

Guest
#6
#6
One who is indwelt by the Spirit of Christ. (Rom 8:9)
 
Utah

Utah

Banned
#7
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
251
0
#7
I, Utah, hereby proclaim, "Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior."

If that doesn't make me Christian then I don't know what does.
 
P

pwrnJC

Banned
#8
Dec 1, 2014
1,430
27
0
#8
notuptome....awesome! Sadly, the very word "Christian" has become a much hated word in our world today. Even among Christians, the definition varies...and satan loves the confusion and division it brings. Funny, there is NO division in the demonic world. All work for one reason and one master...no climbing on the social ladder needed, no arguing as to which demon's club is better, and no need of revivals, retreats, or crusades to stir up more enthusiasm.
 
4enlightment

4enlightment

Banned
#9
May 15, 2013
4,307
27
0
#9
WebersHome said:
-
Should all definitions of a Christian be allowed to stand, or should there be
just one?

Webster's defines a Christian as somebody who professes belief in the
teachings of Jesus Christ.

According to that definition; it isn't necessary to actually believe in Christ's
teachings in order to qualify as a Christian; it's only necessary to say you do.

You don't even have to know what Christ's teachings are; you only have to
say you believe in them.

Nor is it necessary to put Christ's teachings into practice in order to qualify
as a Christian; it's only necessary to say you believe in them.

There's a generous amount of leeway in Webster's definition. For example:
It allows for the Conquistadors to murder, plunder, and enslave Native
Americans back in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries and still be able to
speak of themselves as Christians.

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Acts 17:29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

Romans 1:23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

1 Corinthians 15:49 And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.

Colossians 1:15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
 
J

Josefnospam

Senior Member
#10
May 29, 2014
324
55
28
#10
Just a short point "the devils also believe, and tremble" ......James 2:19 The devils are certainly NOT saved so saying you believe in him does not save anyone. Christ saves his people and gives them the spirit to believe in him. He gives to his chosen blood bought people the gift of Eternal life and that through faith in him that he is able to do so. So, to define a Christian, someone who believes in Christ and does his bidding. Believe along is not enough. You must be Born again.
 
WebersHome

WebersHome

Senior Member
#11
Dec 9, 2014
1,940
32
0
#11
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Some people say it's necessary to undergo the birth about which Christ
spoke at John 3:3-8 in order to qualify as a Christian.

If perchance what they say is true; then the Watch Tower Society's
missionaries are advertising a kingdom that many of themselves will not be
allowed to enter. Here's why.

At John 3:3-12, Christ and a Jewish rabbi named Nicodemus discussed what
Christ labeled "earthly things".

The primary earthly thing discussed was the kingdom of God.

The other earthly thing discussed was the spirit-birth requirement to enter
it.

In other words: the kingdom of God on earth, and the spirit-birth
requirement to enter it, are joined at the hip.

A very large percentage of the Watch Tower Society's missionaries (a.k.a.
the earthly class) are not spirit-born now, nor do they ever expect to be--
not in this life, nor in the next --yet they hope to enter the kingdom of God
on earth. However, seeing as how the spirit-birth requirement to enter it is
a must rather than an option; they will not succeed.

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Utah

Utah

Banned
#12
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
251
0
#12
Josefnospam said:
Just a short point "the devils also believe, and tremble" ......James 2:19 The devils are certainly NOT saved so saying you believe in him does not save anyone. Christ saves his people and gives them the spirit to believe in him. He gives to his chosen blood bought people the gift of Eternal life and that through faith in him that he is able to do so. So, to define a Christian, someone who believes in Christ and does his bidding. Believe along is not enough. You must be Born again.
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John 3:16 disputes this.
 
P

PeacefulWarrior

Guest
#13
#13
[h=1]“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”― Mahatma Gandhi[/h]
 
K

Kaycie

Guest
#14
#14
A Christian is someone who becomes part of Christ. Christ is the head of His body- the church, to be part of His church is to be part of His body. His blood is in us. How do we get into Christ? We are baptized into His death in order to join Him in resurrection. (Romans 6). We come in contact with His blood at baptism, and stay in contact with His blood by partaking of the Lords Supper in the assembly of the saints upon the first day of the week. We feed on His word and transforms our minds, attitudes, and behavior into His likeness. We take up our cross and follow Him. A Christian is not someone that knows of Christ, or believes in Christ. A Christian is someone who becomes part of Christ.

Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, you have no life in you." John 6:53
 
K

Kaycie

Guest
#15
#15
Utah said:
John 3:16 disputes this.
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Actually no it does not. "SHOULD not perish" that means if you believe, you should get saved so that you do not perish. Besides, you need to take all scripture into consideration. One verse alone does not tell you everything you must do. What about repentance, confession, baptism, I tell you truthfully that if you go on faith (belief) alone you will not be saved. Because faith without deeds is dead, and a dead faith will cause you to perish.
 
ForthAngel

ForthAngel

Senior Member
#16
Aug 31, 2012
2,171
91
48
#16
Utah said:
John 3:16 disputes this.
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I think John 3:16 is only part of the bigger picture. Simple belief without faithful commitment isn't enough. A true conversion will lead to faithful obedience to Christ and the denying of oneself. I think a ton of people may believe that Jesus was here and did all the bible says, but they don't follow him or have any real faith or trust in him. In fact, many can believe in him but hate him. A true belief when looking at the entirety of scripture is a deep rooted faith leading to full submission to Christ as King.

There is a lukewarmness that disqualifies someone as a true believer as well. I think we can draw a parallel from the parable of the sower. The rocky soil is those who believe but have no real commitment or faith. These people are never saved in the first place or they would persist in the faith til the end. We know that those who go out from us were never one of us. They may believe but are not committed to that belief and easily fall away.

We also know that all that are given to Jesus by the Father will come to him and he is faithful to keep them til the end. There are those who try and get in another way but they are not of his fold. A true belief is a deep rooted faith that leads to repentance and submission to God. These people seek his will and seek to glorify him above all else. If they stray from the path, he will always correct them and put them back on track. Some may believe but be insincere. They are illegitimate and not children. They are tares and goats.

Then there are those who believe but have created a false image of Christ. They are idolaters making a god that caters to their own desires. They may truly believe in a Jesus and be committed to him, but if it is not the Jesus revealed in scripture, they are not children of God, but idolaters seeking their own way. Their belief in a fabricated Jesus won't save them.
 
Born_Again

Born_Again

Senior Member
#17
Nov 15, 2014
1,583
128
63
#17
ForthAngel said:
I think John 3:16 is only part of the bigger picture. Simple belief without faithful commitment isn't enough. A true conversion will lead to faithful obedience to Christ and the denying of oneself. I think a ton of people may believe that Jesus was here and did all the bible says, but they don't follow him or have any real faith or trust in him. In fact, many can believe in him but hate him. A true belief when looking at the entirety of scripture is a deep rooted faith leading to full submission to Christ as King.

There is a lukewarmness that disqualifies someone as a true believer as well. I think we can draw a parallel from the parable of the sower. The rocky soil is those who believe but have no real commitment or faith. These people are never saved in the first place or they would persist in the faith til the end. We know that those who go out from us were never one of us. They may believe but are not committed to that belief and easily fall away.

We also know that all that are given to Jesus by the Father will come to him and he is faithful to keep them til the end. There are those who try and get in another way but they are not of his fold. A true belief is a deep rooted faith that leads to repentance and submission to God. These people seek his will and seek to glorify him above all else. If they stray from the path, he will always correct them and put them back on track. Some may believe but be insincere. They are illegitimate and not children. They are tares and goats.

Then there are those who believe but have created a false image of Christ. They are idolaters making a god that caters to their own desires. They may truly believe in a Jesus and be committed to him, but if it is not the Jesus revealed in scripture, they are not children of God, but idolaters seeking their own way. Their belief in a fabricated Jesus won't save them.
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Nice :D Well put, Forth. God Bless you, brother.
 
Utah

Utah

Banned
#18
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
251
0
#18
Kaycie said:
Actually no it does not. "SHOULD not perish" that means if you believe, you should get saved so that you do not perish. Besides, you need to take all scripture into consideration. One verse alone does not tell you everything you must do. What about repentance, confession, baptism, I tell you truthfully that if you go on faith (belief) alone you will not be saved. Because faith without deeds is dead, and a dead faith will cause you to perish.
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There you go again preaching works salvation, and its nothing more than heretical garbage that spits in God's face. SHOULD be saved means SHALL be saved.

Answer this one simple question: What is it about Christ's atoning death and Resurrection that's not good enough for your salvation? His death and Resurrection are good enough for my salvation, but if they're not good enough for yours, well, that's your problem.

Its all at the Cross and Empty Tomb. Once again, Christ's simple message made complicated by someone who lacks faith in the fullness of God's love and Christ's Triumphant Victory.
 
Utah

Utah

Banned
#19
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
251
0
#19
ForthAngel said:
I think John 3:16 is only part of the bigger picture. Simple belief without faithful commitment isn't enough. A true conversion will lead to faithful obedience to Christ and the denying of oneself. I think a ton of people may believe that Jesus was here and did all the bible says, but they don't follow him or have any real faith or trust in him. In fact, many can believe in him but hate him. A true belief when looking at the entirety of scripture is a deep rooted faith leading to full submission to Christ as King.
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You contradict yourself here.

Whoever BELIEVES in Him means whoever has FAITH in Him. That's what it means to believe.
 
B

BeyondET

Guest
#20
#20
Someone who Is from the Christian island in the middle of a ocean can't remember what ocean somewhere over there
I think lol..
 
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