The Validity of a Christian?
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Just as every good tree brings forth good fruit, so does a bad tree bring forth evil. Many understand our actions are works or fruit, but did you know the words we speak are also like fruit?
Proverbs 18:20 “A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.”
Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Isaiah 57:19 “I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him.”
Hebrews 13:15 “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
Jesus said in Matthew 12:36 “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” Jesus also said in Matthew 12:34 “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
And again in Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”
Jesus said in Matthew 15:11[SUP] “[/SUP]Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.”
Jesus went on to say in Matthew 15:17-20 “Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?[SUP]18 [/SUP]But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.[SUP]19 [/SUP]For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:[SUP]20 [/SUP]These are the things which defile a man: …..”
The words a man speaks defiling the man is also confirmed in James 3:6 “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”
We are told in 1 Peter 3:10 :For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:” And again in James we are told James 1:26 “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.”
And again in James 3:10-18 “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.[SUP]11 [/SUP]Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
[SUP]12 [/SUP]Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.[SUP]13 [/SUP]Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
[SUP]14 [/SUP]But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
[SUP]15 [/SUP]This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.[SUP]16 [/SUP]For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.[SUP]17 [/SUP]But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.[SUP]18 [/SUP]And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”
We can get a bit of insight into a persons heart by the words they speak, just as the Lords sheep will hear His words (voice) but another's words (voice) they will not hear, nor follow.
Peace and God bless
Proverbs 18:20 “A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.”
Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Isaiah 57:19 “I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him.”
Hebrews 13:15 “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
Jesus said in Matthew 12:36 “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” Jesus also said in Matthew 12:34 “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
And again in Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”
Jesus said in Matthew 15:11[SUP] “[/SUP]Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.”
Jesus went on to say in Matthew 15:17-20 “Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?[SUP]18 [/SUP]But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.[SUP]19 [/SUP]For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:[SUP]20 [/SUP]These are the things which defile a man: …..”
The words a man speaks defiling the man is also confirmed in James 3:6 “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”
We are told in 1 Peter 3:10 :For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:” And again in James we are told James 1:26 “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.”
And again in James 3:10-18 “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.[SUP]11 [/SUP]Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
[SUP]12 [/SUP]Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.[SUP]13 [/SUP]Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
[SUP]14 [/SUP]But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
[SUP]15 [/SUP]This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.[SUP]16 [/SUP]For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.[SUP]17 [/SUP]But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.[SUP]18 [/SUP]And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”
We can get a bit of insight into a persons heart by the words they speak, just as the Lords sheep will hear His words (voice) but another's words (voice) they will not hear, nor follow.
Peace and God bless
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L
What do you consider good fruit? I say fake Christians aren't going out spreading the Gospel. Fake Christians don't live Christ daily. They are Sunday believers and that is it. Fake Christians hide in the shadows, they hate, they manipulate, they curse the Lord. Fake Christians are easy to spot in the Church.
The sad truth is, people interpret it any way they like to mean "things that make them feel icky". To some, a church that moves to be compassionate to gays or muslims are led by false prophets. To some, to teach infant baptism or "saved at birth" is the sign of a false prophet.
There are guidelines, specifically, "do not deny Christ" as "do not hold any other as Christ", and "do not add to scripture" (which is definitely different than do not interpret scripture, but rather to not contribute words to scripture and say they are holy), "do not hold oneself as authority over God". There are others, but these are probably the chief indicators of "false prophets".
There are guidelines, specifically, "do not deny Christ" as "do not hold any other as Christ", and "do not add to scripture" (which is definitely different than do not interpret scripture, but rather to not contribute words to scripture and say they are holy), "do not hold oneself as authority over God". There are others, but these are probably the chief indicators of "false prophets".
I always respect what you share and agree with most of the above post, but unfortunately, though I love the Lord deeply, I also know hatred. It doesn't consume me nor do I act upon it, but just the same, I understand it. I pray God cleanses and purifies my heart, and He has heard my plea. Many Christians know hatred and it doesn't make them fake; in fact, I think it makes them very real.
Any person who is concerned first in the affairs of a another person's heart and mind before he lends compassion is not following the words of Jesus. You have what you have, as I have, a relationship with Christ as personal savior. There are many interpretations following, many ways to express this, and many ways to go about the practice and idea. Don't, for one minute, however, believe you are as authority between another man and God. There is one kind of christian, the one who cleaves to Jesus in his being.
1. Always telling the truth from your heart.
Never telling a lie.
2. Always in the will of God.
Never getting out of God's will for any reason.
3. Always obeying the Word.
Never breaking a commandment of the Holy Spirit.
4. Everything you do blesses the name of the Lord.
Never taking His name in vain.
I could go on and on but I think you should get the point.
Never telling a lie.
2. Always in the will of God.
Never getting out of God's will for any reason.
3. Always obeying the Word.
Never breaking a commandment of the Holy Spirit.
4. Everything you do blesses the name of the Lord.
Never taking His name in vain.
I could go on and on but I think you should get the point.