How Can we Presume Ourselves to be Christian?

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soberxp

Senior Member
May 3, 2018
2,511
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#41
There is no perfect Christian, so why do you ask yourself and others to be a perfect Christian.

All we can do is repent and pray
 

Dirtman

Well-known member
Jul 19, 2022
1,151
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#42
Christ doesn't ask us to grow in the knowledge of doctrine, Christ says to be like a little child.

Scripture tells us over and over it is love that defines a Christian.

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.


By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35
So what is love? How do you love someone if you dont get to know them better? What is love if you dont bother to understand the things they said and preserved for you in writing?

I wonder why the apostles wrote all those letters to the churches and to those pastors,. If we arent to study them and learn from them.

There is also a passage that says "my people are destroyed because they lack knowledge. Hosea 4:6
 

Dirtman

Well-known member
Jul 19, 2022
1,151
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#43
What is one of the great traits of children, that they learn with great wonder. They learn rapidly
 

Dirtman

Well-known member
Jul 19, 2022
1,151
441
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#44
It doesnt surprise me that someone would come out against reading and studying the bible.
 

Eli1

Well-known member
Apr 5, 2022
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46
#45
Eli1, with all respect, you say that, "We all believe in Christ so that's a commonality that makes us all right."

I ask you what you mean by belief in Christ? Do you mean just believing in Christ as God and Savior, or in believing in all that He taught and commanded us to do? How deep or how superficial does one's belief in Jesus have to be to be a real Christian?

Besides faith and belief in Jesus, don't you have to love Jesus and follow his teachings and commandments to be a real Christian? Jesus asked His disciples, at the Last Supper, how can you say you love Me if you don't obey My commandments?" If you don't love Jesus you are surely a lost soul.

Or is just 'lip service' belief enough??????
Yes, just believing in Christ is enough for us to be called Christians because what’s the other alternative Arthur?
Everybody is wrong and Christianity is wrong.
‘Now personally I believe in the definitions you laid out, but belief is not an technical instruction but a love from the heart.
So if someone tells me “Deny Christ or I’ll shoot” I’ll say “Go ahead and shoot”.
But maybe some of my technicalities don’t agree with yours. So what would be the conclusion? That we’re both wrong because you don’t agree with my version and I don’t agree with yours?
No. we are both right because in the heart we might see things differently but we love Christ and believe in Him.


Approach is also another important thing to note here. How do you approach someone who you think is “wrong”?
By being a bully with holier than you attitude or following the example of Christ with peace, love and compassion?

Id like to think that we are all correct despite all the denominations, arguments, fights and everything else in between because the alternative is not good.
 

Eli1

Well-known member
Apr 5, 2022
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#46
Since today is September 11th , here‘s a message about peace towards our enemies:


Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend. How can we cultivate such divine love among all peoples throughout the world, especially among those who hate us, and with those who feel marginalized and rejected? Only through critical self-evaluation, and a readiness to sacrifice for the other – to follow the Golden Rule of the Bible which says, “Do unto others, as you want them to do unto you” – can we hope for a transformation of our enemy into our friend. As Christ clearly teaches us with His life – we have to be ready to be crucified by the other, NOT to crucify the other. This is what we remember in the Gospel today when we hear one of the most beautiful passages in all of Scripture – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son to the world to condemn it, but in order that the world should be saved through Him.” Only with such a spirit of sacrifice and love can we reach our ultimate goal of peace and harmony with others.
 

GRACE_ambassador

Well-known member
Feb 22, 2021
3,217
1,614
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Midwest
#47
@Blik said: Christ doesn't ask us to grow in the knowledge of doctrine,
I wonder why the apostles wrote all those letters to the churches and to those pastors,. If we arent to study them and learn from them.
Great Point, As God Saith, According To Scripture, About Itself:

"All Scripture Is Given By Inspiration Of God, And Profitable For Doctrine,​
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man​
of God may be perfect, throughly furnished Unto all good works."​
(2Ti 3:16-17)​
+
Bible study Rules

GRACE And Peace...
 

GRACE_ambassador

Well-known member
Feb 22, 2021
3,217
1,614
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Midwest
#48
I'm a pretty simple guy so I look for the simplest answers. All I focus on is that I know Jesus died for me, he took the punishment for my sin, and I am forgiven. Now I just try to live how he would want: loving God and loving others.

I know there's so much more that can be discussed and debated but, in my opinion, that's just secondary to what's really important. I'm forgiven, I love God, and I love others.
Precious friend, A Very Warm Welcome To Chat.
Yes, agree about simply, And Primarily:

Christ Living In us, To Fulfil:

All Of His Law, In "One Word: Love thy neighbor as thyself!"
(
Galatians 5:14; Romans 13:8-10)
-------------------------

Please Be Very RICHLY Encouraged And Edified In
The LORD JESUS CHRIST, And His Word Of Truth, Rightly
Divided
.
↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑
(my simplest suggestion on where to begin the Secondary discussion...)

GRACE And Peace...
 

Snacks

Well-known member
Feb 10, 2022
1,410
771
113
#49
Jesus is the Truth, the Way, and the Life. Yet all of us on this board claim to be followers of the Truth through Scripture, the Bible both Old and New Testament. Yet there are so many different opinions as to Jesus' Truth on this message board. With so many different opinions about God's Truth, many just have to be wrong and have no truth in them.

On this board every major Christian topic has it's differing opinions. And the opinions are stubborn, it's as if many of us have declared ourselves our own 'little popes or Henry VIII, declaring ourselves and our own personal opinions as 'Jesus' Truth'. Many take snippets from Scripture, out of context, to prove their points. When you do this, you change the meaning of Scripture, mislead others, and you don't profess God's Word and Truth, you profess your word and truth.

No agreement at all on any major Christian issue whether it be Once Saved Always Saved, Merits of Water Baptism, the Rapture, Saved by Faith Alone, Obeying the 10 Commandments.....etc/etc/adnauseum..........

Back to my original question, the title of this thread, "How Can we Presume Ourselves to be Christion?" if we all have different truths?
With many presumed differing truths, many of us don't profess Jesus' Truths. And that's a problem.
Having faith in Jesus Christ makes someone Christian. Nothing else matters.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,130
3,689
113
#50
Christ doesn't ask us to grow in the knowledge of doctrine, Christ says to be like a little child.

Scripture tells us over and over it is love that defines a Christian.

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.


By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35
Be like a child? Does the Lord not want us to mature in our faith? We mature through reading and studying scripture, then applying it to our lives.

12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
 

Snacks

Well-known member
Feb 10, 2022
1,410
771
113
#51
You cannot make Jesus your Lord until you make him your Savior.
I like your sentiments, but with respect, Jesus is Lord of all creation regardless of whether or not He is asked to be one’s Savior.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,130
3,689
113
#52
I like your sentiments, but with respect, Jesus is Lord of all creation regardless of whether or not He is asked to be one’s Savior.
Explain what you mean by Lord? Right now, the world is in darkness. Satan is the god of this world. Jesus is seated by the right hand of the Father making intercession for his saints who are living in this dark world. Jesus is not ruling and reigning over this world yet.
 

phil36

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2009
8,345
2,157
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#53
Explain what you mean by Lord? Right now, the world is in darkness. Satan is the god of this world. Jesus is seated by the right hand of the Father making intercession for his saints who are living in this dark world. Jesus is not ruling and reigning over this world yet.

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ROM 10:9

We submit and obey our Lord. The No Lordship doctrine. On the other hand claims that one does not need to submit to Christ as Lord. Its a doctrine that offers no hope.

In fact the 'No Lordship' doctrine is great news to the lost as they have been guaranteed heaven, with out any change in their lives.

The carnal man has no knowledge of the spiritual. Carnal Christianiaty gives false hope. No matter what statement the carnal man may or may not have said, will be going straight to hell and sadly with the blessings of an abhorrent doctrine.

If the Spirt renews a man's heart that man will be change. Sin wil no longer be his master, the shackles of bondage have been broken. He is no free to serve his Lord (hint hint).

Plus Jesus I'd Lord, he is reigning on high. The eternal kingdom has a king.

for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to - 2 Pet 1-11.

The Kingdom has been inaugurated and at the parousia (second coming) it will be consummated.

Plus, is there two tiers within the church? Those who see Jesus as their Lord and saviour must be far. More spiritually superior than those who only see him as saviour especially as they continue living in their bondage to sin?
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,130
3,689
113
#54
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ROM 10:9
This is a really, really, bad translation. This leads to lordship salvation. "If Jesus is not lord of your life, then he's not Lord at all."
 

Snacks

Well-known member
Feb 10, 2022
1,410
771
113
#55
Explain what you mean by Lord? Right now, the world is in darkness. Satan is the god of this world. Jesus is seated by the right hand of the Father making intercession for his saints who are living in this dark world. Jesus is not ruling and reigning over this world yet.
Jesus Christ is Lord of all creation. That’s indisputable. Every knee shall bow…
 
Sep 1, 2022
18
9
3
#56
Christ doesn't ask us to grow in the knowledge of doctrine, Christ says to be like a little child.

Scripture tells us over and over it is love that defines a Christian.

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.


By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35
I agree that we're not required to read the Bible or grow in knowledge to be a Christian but I believe that you will want to read the Bible and grow in knowledge once you're a Christian. And that parallels a lot of what Jesus was about, not doing something because it is required, doing it because of what is inside you...Love. Loving God will make you want to learn more, which will lead you to study the Bible more. And reading and studying for that reason is far better than doing it just because you think it's a requirement.
 
Dec 30, 2020
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#57
Jesus is the Truth, the Way, and the Life. Yet all of us on this board claim to be followers of the Truth through Scripture, the Bible both Old and New Testament. Yet there are so many different opinions as to Jesus' Truth on this message board. With so many different opinions about God's Truth, many just have to be wrong and have no truth in them.

On this board every major Christian topic has it's differing opinions. And the opinions are stubborn, it's as if many of us have declared ourselves our own 'little popes or Henry VIII, declaring ourselves and our own personal opinions as 'Jesus' Truth'. Many take snippets from Scripture, out of context, to prove their points. When you do this, you change the meaning of Scripture, mislead others, and you don't profess God's Word and Truth, you profess your word and truth.

No agreement at all on any major Christian issue whether it be Once Saved Always Saved, Merits of Water Baptism, the Rapture, Saved by Faith Alone, Obeying the 10 Commandments.....etc/etc/adnauseum..........

Back to my original question, the title of this thread, "How Can we Presume Ourselves to be Christion?" if we all have different truths?
With many presumed differing truths, many of us don't profess Jesus' Truths. And that's a problem.
Changing a non-Christian into a Christian is something that God does. With so many differing opinions of what scripture is saying, all that one can do when one fills inspired by the Holy Spirit is to post the truth and present the scripture to support it. It is amazing how quickly one is attacked when posting differing views. I'm sure that if I'm posting what I consider truths, God will touch the heart and mind of those chosen who read the truth with its supporting scripture and accept it and believe.
Matt 16: 16-17 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father, who is in heaven. Truth is revealed by our heavenly Father through His Spirit which is given to us through Jesus Christ.
John 1: 12-13 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the children of God, even (that is) to them that believe on His name ( Baptism in the name of the Father). Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. God chooses who will be born again.

Here is simple truth discovered in my research: 1) The heart of man mentioned in scripture is not the beating muscle organ located in our chest. The heart of a man is the unique spirit or consciousness that each unique body of a person possesses. It refers to the motivation of this consciousness which is what is wrong with humans. The natural man is born with a heart that is motivated by self-interest at the expense of others and is prone to sinning. You are baptized (not water) in the name of the Father when you are chosen by Him before the foundation of the world to receive the repentance necessary to turn to Him for forgiveness. You are baptized ( not water ) in the name of the Son when you accept Jesus as the Christ and as your Lord for the forgiveness of sin. We are still unacceptable to enter heaven because of our motivation. We are baptized ( not water ) in the name of the Holy Spirit when we receive the Spirit of the Father that is given to His Son when He was glorified to distribute to people who the Father chooses to be born again. When we receive the Spirit of the Father and of the Son in our hearts, their Spirits and ours become One and they are able to communicate with us and change our motivation by filling us with divine love so that we can fulfill the Spirit of the Law as described by Jesus which is to love God totally and everyone else as yourself second. The Spirit of the Law does not replace the Letter of the Law. The letter of the law was designed to explain how people should behave towards God and man. If you concentrate on obeying the letter of the law without love in your heart, you will fail. If you have God's love in your heart, your motivation will change to an acceptable level to enter heaven because we have been perfected.
If you want more truths, read some of my other posts.
 
P

persistent

Guest
#58
“Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”
‭‭John‬ ‭18:37‬ ‭KJV‬‬

the truth is Christs word. To be a Christian literally Means you have become a disciple of Jesus Christ

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
‭‭John‬ ‭8:31-32‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Again a “ Christian “ is what people started calling disciples of Jesus


“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.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭11:26‬ ‭

it’s just what people call Jesus disciples. It all comes back to what Jesus said when he lived among us he’s the king and judge

“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.”
‭‭John‬ ‭12:48-50‬ ‭

The truth is Jesus and everything he said and did christians re those who trust in him and do this this is what makes us a disciple

All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:27-30‬ ‭KJV‬‬

it’s about the discipleship of a believer importantly we are students of the lord he’s our teacher again another repeat of the same

“It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”
‭‭John‬ ‭6:45‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If we want to know the truth l we have to do is learn it from Jesus it’s all written down and explained . If you look at the Bible as a whole everything in it points to believing the gospel which is recorded it times by four sources of eyewitnesses

note that no other subject matter in the Bible has four detailed accounts of Christs life while he lived on earth

the truth is found in the gospel according to Matthew , gospel according to mark , the gospel cording to Luke and gospel according to John

biblically l the words in the Bible are “ true “ of course but “ the truth “ is the gospel and everything Jesus preached and did it’s the New Testament word d then you have epistles afterwards testifying to its truth and the prophets beforehand testifying to its truth

in all scriptire everything is meant to lead us to become a disciple of Jesus Christ as he presented himself in the gospel

it’s what the Old Testament promised would come and what the New Testament swears is true

as disciples we aren’t perfect it’s a frame of mind to dedicate ourselves to learning from and knowing him and following after the things he teaches us knowing he’s merciful and that he is calling us to repentance and righteousness so we press on each day learning and growing in him by the word of truth we are born again as children who need to learn

“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1:18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

if we follow scripture it’s going to lead us each one to the four accounts of the gospel and becoming a disciple of Jesus because we do actually believe in him who is truth
Hey there Pilgrims Hope I sent you the message about misspelling and hope your fingers can hold up for some time yet and maybe you might have an opinion on my
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,164
5,727
113
#59
Hey there Pilgrims Hope I sent you the message about misspelling and hope your fingers can hold up for some time yet and maybe you might have an opinion on my
I hope so too brother , it seems like not that much of a deal , but It does cause a lot of pain at times and after just a little bit they get really stiff and begin to ache I appreciate that compassion

Opinion on what brother ? That’s one thing I tend to have is opinion lol for better or worse God knows which