Are you a Christian?

[Joidevivre]

MATT 7: 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

I've always thought that the fruits that are seen in a person's life only comes from the Holy Spirit indwelling them and released through their intimacy with Christ. This is a little different than "doing" works in keeping with the law.

When I see someone with peace, joy, long sufferance, patience, love, etc., I recognize their relationship with Christ. And someone who does not have these fruits has probably not given themselves to him. The fruits come from a place of total surrender. That is when the Holy Spirit's fruits can be seen.

 

[ladylynn]

Absolutely! But if someone isn't showing this fruit one doesn't assume they are bastards. Maybe they are in a process of sanctification, yes?

Yes, and that brings to mind a message I heard about the reaction some older Christians had towards a younger Christian who was saved only a few weeks and they were railing on the guy for having a baby out of wedlock and living with his girlfriend of 4yrs.

It's like saying to a toddler "WHERE IS YOUR BEARD!!?? WHERE'S YOUR BEARD YOU SHOULD HAVE SOME MORE MATURITY!!! WHERE IS YOUR BEARD!!!???

 

[wwjd_kilden]

Even the demons say thet Jesus Christ is Lord ... and shudder ... what separates you from them?

FALSE!
They believe, but they do not confess

1 John 4.3

2By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is already in the world at this time.a

 

[thepsalmist]

Love. That's what the difference is. Do we love one another. No demon loves the brethren.

Beautiful how four letters sums it all up so perfectly.

 

[BenFTW]

Nods ... I hear you ...

We all slip up ... but one who is stagnant and not progressively bearing better fruits has likely never known God at all.

Yeah, it can be a trap. If someone only catches that post on fruit and sees that they aren't showing that fruit it brings with it condemnation. Their identity gets caught up in do instead of Christ's done. Self-examination is great, but do it in light of God's grace and mercy.

 

[Blain]

John if I may ask what is the intent of your question? I am not assuming it has an ill intent however I am curious. My answer as to what evidence I have that the holy spirit resides in me is that the holy spirit will speak for himself through me and will testify whose heart resides inside me apart from that I have no evidence to give nor do I have any need to prove.

 

[Johnlove]

I AM a Christian!

I know this for a certainty by the close relationship I have with God. He responds. He answers my prayers. And He has shown me the place He has prepared for me, so I also know He will come again for me, so that I may be where He is.

How do you know it was God/Jesus Christ that is answering your prayers?

 

[Demi777]

I believe I am christian because I have a great desire to know the Lord closer and closer. I have the holy spirit, I know that because he speaks to me and through me. No matter id through speaking in tounges or giving me interpretations and guidance. I often feel the Lord walk with me, Ive seen the Lord and I love him and our father with all my heart. I try to walk in the spirit as much as possible and do the Lords work. I pray for others a lot. Spread the love and let him often even guide my typing on biblical discussions. I believe that Christ released us by becoming a curse so the curses are lifted of us that we may enter into his blessing for it is written:
Galatians 3:13
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Deuteronomy 21:23
His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
I can go on and on and on why I am a follower of Christ and how lol God bless you and have a nice day

Yes I am a Christian, and the way I know that is true, is that the Holy Spirit has given me the grace to keep God’s Word/Commandments. I have answered your question, not tell me how you know that you are a Christian.

 

[thepsalmist]

John if I may ask what is the intent of your question? I am not assuming it has an ill intent however I am curious. My answer as to what evidence I have that the holy spirit resides in me is that the holy spirit will speak for himself through me and will testify whose heart resides inside me apart from that I have no evidence to give nor do I have any need to prove.

1 PETER 3:

[FONT=&quot]13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot]14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you areblessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”[c] [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot]15 But sanctify the Lord God[d] in your hearts, [/FONT][FONT=&quot]and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot]16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot]17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.[/FONT]

 

[thepsalmist]

How do you know it was God/Jesus Christ that is answering your prayers?

A house divided cannot stand ... if the devil works against himself his house will fall ... He would not prompt good fruits from me or cause me to trust God ...

 

[Johnlove]

John if I may ask what is the intent of your question? I am not assuming it has an ill intent however I am curious. My answer as to what evidence I have that the holy spirit resides in me is that the holy spirit will speak for himself through me and will testify whose heart resides inside me apart from that I have no evidence to give nor do I have any need to prove.

Some people believe they have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and they continue to commit sin. God will not reside in the same home as the devil. So it can’t be the Holy Spirit who is leading a person who still sins.

(1 John 3:9-10) “No one who is a child of God sins because God's seed remains in him. Nor can he sin, because he is a child of God. This is what distinguishes the children of God from the children of the devil: whoever does not live uprightly and does not love his brother is not from God” New Jerusalem bible

(Romans 8:1-4) “The reason, therefore, why those who are in Christ Jesus are not condemned, is that the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. God has done what the Law, because of our unspiritual nature, was unable to do. God dealt with sin by sending his own Son in a body as physical as any sinful body, and in that body God condemned sin he did this in order the Law’s just demands might be satisfied in us, who behave not as our unspiritual nature but as the spirit dictates.”

 

[Johnlove]

A house divided cannot stand ... if the devil works against himself his house will fall ... He would not prompt good fruits from me or cause me to trust God ...

Do your good fruits include keeping God’s Word, and that includes not sinning?

(John 12:47-48) “If anyone hears my words and does not keep them faithfully, it is not I who shall condemn him, since I have come not to condemn the world, but to save the world: he who rejects me and refuses my words has his judge already: the word itself that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day.” Jerusalem Bible

 

[Blain]

Some people believe they have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and they continue to commit sin. God will not reside in the same home as the devil. So it can’t be the Holy Spirit who is leading a person who still sins.

(1 John 3:9-10) “No one who is a child of God sins because God's seed remains in him. Nor can he sin, because he is a child of God. This is what distinguishes the children of God from the children of the devil: whoever does not live uprightly and does not love his brother is not from God” New Jerusalem bible

(Romans 8:1-4) “The reason, therefore, why those who are in Christ Jesus are not condemned, is that the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. God has done what the Law, because of our unspiritual nature, was unable to do. God dealt with sin by sending his own Son in a body as physical as any sinful body, and in that body God condemned sin he did this in order the Law’s just demands might be satisfied in us, who behave not as our unspiritual nature but as the spirit dictates.”

I see I was afraid this was what this was about. i was hoping your question was meant to be a provocative question to make us ponder more on what it means to be a Christian however sadly it seems this is about not sinning and ties in with those who admit they sin not being saved. As I am sure you expected yes I do sin I fail I slip up i am imperfect and am not sinless however if one is to judge another's salvation according to performance then they need to first search their own heart

 

[thepsalmist]

Do your good fruits include keeping God’s Word, and that includes not sinning?

(John 12:47-48) “If anyone hears my words and does not keep them faithfully, it is not I who shall condemn him, since I have come not to condemn the world, but to save the world: he who rejects me and refuses my words has his judge already: the word itself that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day.” Jerusalem Bible

Yes, indeed, my lifestyle has changed tremendously because of this. And when I do bear sins, such as an impatient word to another or start down the path of judging others etc, the Lord corrects me with His word and the power of His Holy Spirit so I will stay on the narrow path to life.

 

[Johnlove]

I believe I am christian because I have a great desire to know the Lord closer and closer. I have the holy spirit, I know that because he speaks to me and through me. No matter id through speaking in tounges or giving me interpretations and guidance. I often feel the Lord walk with me, Ive seen the Lord and I love him and our father with all my heart. I try to walk in the spirit as much as possible and do the Lords work. I pray for others a lot. Spread the love and let him often even guide my typing on biblical discussions. I believe that Christ released us by becoming a curse so the curses are lifted of us that we may enter into his blessing for it is written:
Galatians 3:13
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Deuteronomy 21:23
His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
I can go on and on and on why I am a follower of Christ and how lol God bless you and have a nice day

All of what you posted sounds great, but in order to know if one is following Jesus Christ our Lord and God, he or she needs to live as Jesus lived. Jesus always obeyed his Father in Heaven.

If Jesus is leading a person he or she will live God’s Word, and that means he or she will never sin. If one sins he or she is of the devil. So I ask you do you live God’s Word/sin?

 

[Grace777x70]

In keeping with "are you a Christian" and fruit bearing.

Another aspect that goes with "fruit inspectors" is just what is fruit? And what does this fruit look like. What if as an analogy a Christian is like an orange tree?

An orange tree is still an orange tree even though it doesn't produce the fruit we want to see in the timeframe we think it should. What happens if this orange tree dies before it has had a chance to be fed properly to grow up to be able to produce the fruit of a ripe orange?

To some works-based people - you would have to display 50 oranges in order to prove you are a real orange tree ( saved ) - to others you need 100 oranges in order to be a proved orange tree. ( saved ) So, this fruit inspection thing is not viable ..that's for God to look at people to determine if they are in Christ or not.

A person could have love and kindness as a fruit in their life but be addicted to some pills or alcohol which they are continuing to struggle with in their life.

The people that don't have a struggle with alcohol ( or basically anything that they themselves don't struggle with in their flesh that others do ) will condemn the ones that do have these struggles in the flesh and declare they don't have the fruit and thus are not saved. This is Pharisee-ism at it's finest.

Does the orange tree stop being an orange tree even though it dies without having fruit that we think "proves" it was an orange tree to begin with?

What if Christians were like that? What if we fed them messages about the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness in Christ so that they could grow? Then they would produce an abundance of fruit.

I say let's preach and teach the grace of Christ in their lives so that they have the proper nutrients to grow up in Him!

 

[Johnlove]

Yes, indeed, my lifestyle has changed tremendously because of this. And when I do bear sins, such as an impatient word to another or start down the path of judging others etc, the Lord corrects me with His word and the power of His Holy Spirit so I will stay on the narrow path to life.

Praise God, and I do understand.
Jesus/Holy Spirit has kept me clean, and sin no longer has any part of my life.

 

[Demi777]

I confess that I do sometimes catch myself committing a sin. I yet always repent and change and got much better at not sinning unlike before. I havent been perfected all the way yet but I refuse to call myself of the Devil because I am not. I once was but I am not anymore. Repentance is sometimes a progress as it is the change of the mind and the mind is one of the greatest battlegrounds of us humans.

All of what you posted sounds great, but in order to know if one is following Jesus Christ our Lord and God, he or she needs to live as Jesus lived. Jesus always obeyed his Father in Heaven.

If Jesus is leading a person he or she will live God’s Word, and that means he or she will never sin. If one sins he or she is of the devil. So I ask you do you live God’s Word/sin?

 

[BenFTW]

The only way Johnlove's gospel works is through delusion and denial. All Christians still sin, that is a fact. It may not be imputed to them because of the blood of Christ that makes our sins of scarlet as white as snow, but they still do sin. Yet, our salvation is not found in our performance, but in God's free gift of salvation. It is by grace and not works. A righteousness that is of faith.

 

[rdbseekingafterhim]

In order to be a Christian you must accept Jesus into your heart with genuine confession of saying you're a sinner in need of a savior. I have done this. Now your point of bringing up the holy spirit is not valid. What of the thief who Jesus promised would be in paradise with Him. It never spoke of the theif ever having received the Holy Spirit yet he was promised heaven by Jesus. So by that logic you don't have to have the holy spirit to be a Christian. You just have to accept what Jesus did on the cross for all mankind.