Posted on 06/17/2017 11:44:41 AM PDT by ealgeone
Question: "What is a true Christian?"
Answer: According to Acts 11:26, the followers of Jesus were first called Christians at Antioch. Why were they called Christians? Because they were “followers of Christ.” They had committed their lives to “walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6).
Other Scriptures explain how a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ and begins this relationship. For example, Ephesians 2:8-9 reveals that a person becomes a Christian by faith, not by following a list of rules or good works: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” A true Christian has faith in Jesus as the Savior.
Romans 10:9-10 says, “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. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” A true Christian is unashamed to say Jesus is Lord and believes Jesus was resurrected from the dead.
First Corinthians 15:3 says this message of the resurrected Jesus is of “first importance.” Without Jesus’ resurrection our faith is “futile,” and we are “still in [our] sins” (v. 7). A true Christian lives by faith in the resurrected Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:13-14).
Paul writes, "If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. . . . The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children" (Romans 8:9, 16). A true Christian has God’s Holy Spirit living within.
The evidence of a true Christian is displayed in both faith and action. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). James says, “I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18). Jesus put it this way: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). A true Christian will show his faith by how he lives.
Despite the wide variety of beliefs that fall under the general “Christian” label today, the Bible defines a true Christian as one who has personally received Jesus Christ as Savior, who trusts in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness of sins, who has the Holy Spirit residing within, and whose life evinces change consistent with faith in Jesus.
“one who has personally received Jesus Christ as Savior”
That’s it.
Worth reading.
The Church in Antioch
19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
22 News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
Note that this:
“great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.”
Is how the first to be called Chrisyians were described.
They believed and turned to The Lord.
That’s it.
It’s really not that complicated is it?
Nope.
I can tell you who I think isn’t a Christian. One who claims to be Christian and yet is pro-choice.
There are goats who believe they have personally received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. They even call him Lord, but Jesus casts them into hell. Why? Matt 25: 41-46 & Matt 7: 21-23
They have religion not Jesus, they don’t follow Jesus or his commandments, they care only about themselves.
Are you saying you’re one if them?
Scripture is witness to the Holy Spirit and salvation in Christ. Te Living Crist is in the world but is not of the world. He brings His followers into the Kingdom of God. These are immutable truths of creation.
Also, it’s doubtful if a person is a Christian if he attributes his Christianity to a connection with a specific denomination. “ifinnigan” had it right in Post #2.
‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And[a] honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
Matthew 15:8-9
If you are ... what you were ... then you’re not.
How do you show you are Christian? By taking care of widows and orphans.’
James 1:27
The only person I know is not a Christian is someone who says he’s not a Christian. The rest are anybody’s guess, because, grace.
So was St. Paul a Christian?
How about St. Peter?
St. Andrew?
St. James the Great?
St. John?
St. Bartholomew/Nathaniel?
St. Philip?
St. James, the Lesser?
St. Jude/Thaddeus?
St. Matthew/Levi?
St. Thomas?
St. Simon the Zealot?
Judas Iscariot?
Were they all Christians since Christ chose them?
It is accepting the free gift: that Mashiach died, shed the blood of the Passover lamb for us; redeemed us of our transgressions. “Now go and sin nor more.” “Sin is transgression of His instruction (Torah).”
obviously there are a lot of people who think themselves as Christian that will be disappointed on Judgement Day. As Jesus said many will call on the name of the Lord and he will tell them depart from me I know you not
Paul writes, “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.”
So much of the rest is sectarianism within Christian denominations and sects.
Sorry for my facetious comment to you.
Your point is correct, in my opinion.
Christ knows, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”
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