Can Someone Please Define What a Christian is?

[quietthinker]

i would have said that it begins as an emo exercise, not a cerebral one? Is everyone different there? hmm

I think so. God speaks to the heart in whatever which way according to the circumstance. I'm certain when Paul got knocked of his donkey and had three days to think about his stuff in blindness, the whole person was involved...the cerebral, the emotional and very clearly the physical.

 

[Marymog]

The power in a man is the Holy Ghost in that man unquenched.

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you..." Acts 1:8.

Ummmm.....Acts 1 was written to Theophilus. Sooooo when Luke said "the Holy Ghost is come upon you" he was talking to Theophilus...not you...not me....not every Christian that will ever live.

Who taught you?

 

[amadeus]

Ummmm.....Acts 1 was written to Theophilus. Sooooo when Luke said "the Holy Ghost is come upon you" he was talking to Theophilus...not you...not me....not every Christian that will ever live.]

"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." Acts 2:37-39

Who taught you?

I already told you who taught me, but then you said you did not want to hear that. Why continue to ask the same question? My answer is the same, even if you do not believe it.

 

[Aunty Jane]

Ummmm.....Acts 1 was written to Theophilus. Sooooo when Luke said "the Holy Ghost is come upon you" he was talking to Theophilus...not you...not me....not every Christian that will ever live.

Who taught you?

LOL...who taught you?

Acts 1:1-5...
"The first account, O The·ophʹi·lus, I composed about all the things Jesus started to do and to teach 2 until the day that he was taken up, after he had given instructions through holy spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After he had suffered, he showed himself alive to them by many convincing proofs. He was seen by them throughout 40 days, and he was speaking about the Kingdom of God. 4 While he was meeting with them, he ordered them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but keep waiting for what the Father has promised, about which you heard from me; 5 for John, indeed, baptized with water, but you will be baptized with holy spirit not many days after this.”

Acts 2:5-11...
"At that time devout Jews from every nation under heaven were staying in Jerusalem. 6 So when this sound occurred, a crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Indeed, they were utterly amazed and said: “See here, all these who are speaking are Gal·i·leʹans, are they not? 8 How is it, then, that each one of us is hearing his own native language? 9 Parʹthi·ans, Medes, and Eʹlam·ites, the inhabitants of Mes·o·po·taʹmi·a, Ju·deʹa and Cap·pa·doʹci·a, Ponʹtus and the province of Asia, 10 Phrygʹi·a and Pam·phylʹi·a, Egypt and the regions of Libʹy·a near Cy·reʹne, sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Creʹtans, and Arabians—we hear them speaking in our languages about the magnificent things of God.”

Luke was speaking about Jesus' disciples who gathered in the upper room at Pentecost.....these received holy spirit in order to preach to all the Jews who came to the Festival from different lands.....all heard the Christian message in their own language.

Luke 1:3....
"I resolved also, because I have traced all things from the start with accuracy, to write them to you in logical order, most excellent The·ophʹi·lus". So it was a report to Theophilus, but not about him.

 

[Cooper]

The power in a man is the Holy Ghost in that man unquenched.

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you..." Acts 1:8.

But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. John 16:7

I take that to mean the three persons of the Trinity are literally One. If they were separate "persons" they could exist together side by side, but as we know God is One, not two or three.
.

 

[Lifelong_sinner]

But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. John 16:7

I take that to mean the three persons of the Trinity are literally One. If they were separate "persons" they could exist together side by side, but as we know God is One, not two or three.
.

more unitarian nonsense.

there is only 1 God, but three separate persons make up God. God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, all separate yet all co-equal, co-powerful, co-existant.

 

[Cooper]

more unitarian nonsense.

there is only 1 God, but three separate persons make up God. God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, all separate yet all co-equal, co-powerful, co-existant.

Yes, but still the same One omnipresent God in heaven and on earth, as shown in the diagram. God is Spirit, he is our heavenly Father, and He came among us. That is the nature of God and like God we all have a tripartite nature, being body, soul and spirit, but one person. :)

Just to add, we need to be so careful with our phrasing, because it is very easy to make people think we believe in three Gods, which we don't. Just One omnipresent God in heaven, on earth and in our hearts. God bless.
.

 

[amadeus]

But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. John 16:7

I take that to mean the three persons of the Trinity are literally One. If they were separate "persons" they could exist together side by side, but as we know God is One, not two or three.
.

Our vision of God has something to do with where we are with Him, for without a vision, His people perish. We do not want to do that. In some ways things at times seem so very clear... but then God shows me something new. Sometimes He does it through people on forums. What a mighty God we serve!

 

[Brakelite]

more unitarian nonsense.

there is only 1 God, but three separate persons make up God. God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, all separate yet all co-equal, co-powerful, co-existant.

I'm not trying to be antagonistic, so please accept this in love.
Co-equal....yet Jesus the Son was subordinate to His Father, was sent by the Father, and declared to be in that subordinate place in eternity by Paul.
Co-existent...yet the Son died.
Co-powerful...yet the Son did only those things and said only those things that the Father Himself showed Him, living by faith and doing nothing of or for Himself. Interesting huh.

 

[Lifelong_sinner]

I'm not trying to be antagonistic, so please accept this in love.
Co-equal....yet Jesus the Son was subordinate to His Father, was sent by the Father, and declared to be in that subordinate place in eternity by Paul.
Co-existent...yet the Son died.
Co-powerful...yet the Son did only those things and said only those things that the Father Himself showed Him, living by faith and doing nothing of or for Himself. Interesting huh.

not really. Each of the Trinity has a role, this is why there are three persons in the one God. The Father calls us, Jesus died so that calling was made effectual, and the Holy Spirit sanctifies us. You can be co-equal and still have a role.

 

[Cooper]

not really. Each of the Trinity has a role, this is why there are three persons in the one God. The Father calls us, Jesus died so that calling was made effectual, and the Holy Spirit sanctifies us. You can be co-equal and still have a role.

Perhaps we should say the One God has three rolls?

A multi-tasking God.
.

 

[Lifelong_sinner]

Perhaps we should say the One God has three rolls?
.

But we need to point out that there are three distinct persons. Otherwise they’ll believe those goofy oneness pentecostals.

 

[amadeus]

not really. Each of the Trinity has a role, this is why there are three persons in the one God. The Father calls us, Jesus died so that calling was made effectual, and the Holy Spirit sanctifies us. You can be co-equal and still have a role.

Can God, who is over all, give a person, a subordinate, power over everyone else, while retaining His absolute Supremacy?

Can you or anyone see that in these verse as a type of the Reality the relationship between the Father and Jesus?

"Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt." Gen 41:40-41

 

[Cooper]

But we need to point out that there are three distinct persons. Otherwise they’ll believe those goofy oneness pentecostals.

I do not think God is three people. I think the God of the Jews simply made himself visible.
.

 

[Lifelong_sinner]

Can God, who is over all, give a person, a subordinate, power over everyone else, while retaining His absolute Supremacy?

Can you or anyone see that in these verse as a type of the Reality the relationship between the Father and Jesus?

they each have their own relationship, yet all three are still co-equal, co-existant, and co-powerful. And yet, i do understand that our understanding of the Trinity is very limited. We simply are too small to understand fully.

 

[Lifelong_sinner]

I do not think God is three people. I think the God of the Jews simply made himself visible.
.

God IS three distinct persons.
Westminster Confessions, chapter 2:
In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, (1Jo 5:7; Mat 3:16-17; Mat 28:19; 2Co 13:14): the Father is of none, neither begotten, nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father, (Jhn 1:14; Jhn 1:18); the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son, (Jhn 15:26; Gal 4:6).

There is but one only, (Deu 6:4; 1Co 8:4, 6); living, and true God, (1Th 1:9; Jer 10:10); who is infinite in being and perfection, (Job 11:7-9; Job 26:14); a most pure spirit, (Jhn 4:24); invisible, (1Ti 1:17); without body, parts, (Deu 4:15-16; Jhn 4:24; Luk 24:39); or passions, (Act 14:11, 15); immutable, (Jam 1:17; Mal 3:6); immense, (1Ki 8:27; Jer 23:23-24); eternal, (Psa 90:2; 1Ti 1:17); incomprehensible, (Psa 145:3); almighty, (Gen 17:1; Rev 4:8); most wise, (Rom 16:27); most holy, (Isa 6:3; Rev 4:8); most free, (Psa 115:3); most absolute, (Exd 3:14); working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will, (Eph 1:11); for, His own glory, (Prov 16:4; Rom 11:36); most loving, (1Jo 4:8; 1Jo 4:16); gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin, (Exd 34:6-7); the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, (r 11:6); and withal, most just, and terrible in His judgments, (Neh 9:32-33); hating all sin, (Psa 5:5-6); and who will by no means clear the guilty, (Nah 1:2-3; Exd 34:7).

the part i often notice most is the part where it says God is incomprehensible. Thats the humbling part for me. I tell myself everyday, i can only understand what He deems for me to understand. I am simply too small to completely understand Him, but i do try to get right what He wants me to know.

 

[Cooper]

Can God, who is over all, give a person, a subordinate, power over everyone else, while retaining His absolute Supremacy?

Can you or anyone see that in these verse as a type of the Reality the relationship between the Father and Jesus?

"Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt." Gen 41:40-41

Yes, I can see that. (Was it Pharaoh or Potiphar? I forget.)

I could totally see it if Pharoh became subordinate to Joseph for a season, and then went on to say Joseph was Pharoh.
.

 

[Cooper]

God IS three distinct persons.
Westminster Confessions, chapter 2:
In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, (1Jo 5:7; Mat 3:16-17; Mat 28:19; 2Co 13:14): the Father is of none, neither begotten, nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father, (Jhn 1:14; Jhn 1:18); the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son, (Jhn 15:26; Gal 4:6).

There is but one only, (Deu 6:4; 1Co 8:4, 6); living, and true God, (1Th 1:9; Jer 10:10); who is infinite in being and perfection, (Job 11:7-9; Job 26:14); a most pure spirit, (Jhn 4:24); invisible, (1Ti 1:17); without body, parts, (Deu 4:15-16; Jhn 4:24; Luk 24:39); or passions, (Act 14:11, 15); immutable, (Jam 1:17; Mal 3:6); immense, (1Ki 8:27; Jer 23:23-24); eternal, (Psa 90:2; 1Ti 1:17); incomprehensible, (Psa 145:3); almighty, (Gen 17:1; Rev 4:8); most wise, (Rom 16:27); most holy, (Isa 6:3; Rev 4:8); most free, (Psa 115:3); most absolute, (Exd 3:14); working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will, (Eph 1:11); for, His own glory, (Prov 16:4; Rom 11:36); most loving, (1Jo 4:8; 1Jo 4:16); gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin, (Exd 34:6-7); the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, (r 11:6); and withal, most just, and terrible in His judgments, (Neh 9:32-33); hating all sin, (Psa 5:5-6); and who will by no means clear the guilty, (Nah 1:2-3; Exd 34:7).

the part i often notice most is the part where it says God is incomprehensible. Thats the humbling part for me. I tell myself everyday, i can only understand what He deems for me to understand. I am simply too small to completely understand Him, but i do try to get right what He wants me to know.

You see, it says one substance, and lower down it says there is only one God.

I could understand it better if it said there is one God having three functions.
.

 

[Marymog]

LOL...who taught you?

Acts 1:1-5...
"The first account, O The·ophʹi·lus, I composed about all the things Jesus started to do and to teach 2 until the day that he was taken up, after he had given instructions through holy spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After he had suffered, he showed himself alive to them by many convincing proofs. He was seen by them throughout 40 days, and he was speaking about the Kingdom of God. 4 While he was meeting with them, he ordered them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but keep waiting for what the Father has promised, about which you heard from me; 5 for John, indeed, baptized with water, but you will be baptized with holy spirit not many days after this.”

Acts 2:5-11...
"At that time devout Jews from every nation under heaven were staying in Jerusalem. 6 So when this sound occurred, a crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Indeed, they were utterly amazed and said: “See here, all these who are speaking are Gal·i·leʹans, are they not? 8 How is it, then, that each one of us is hearing his own native language? 9 Parʹthi·ans, Medes, and Eʹlam·ites, the inhabitants of Mes·o·po·taʹmi·a, Ju·deʹa and Cap·pa·doʹci·a, Ponʹtus and the province of Asia, 10 Phrygʹi·a and Pam·phylʹi·a, Egypt and the regions of Libʹy·a near Cy·reʹne, sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Creʹtans, and Arabians—we hear them speaking in our languages about the magnificent things of God.”

Luke was speaking about Jesus' disciples who gathered in the upper room at Pentecost.....these received holy spirit in order to preach to all the Jews who came to the Festival from different lands.....all heard the Christian message in their own language.

Luke 1:3....
"I resolved also, because I have traced all things from the start with accuracy, to write them to you in logical order, most excellent The·ophʹi·lus". So it was a report to Theophilus, but not about him.

I apologize. It was a report to Theophilus. You are right.

In acts 1:8, of which the discussion is about, and you "accidently" left out, Jesus was talking to the Apostles when he said the Holy Spirit will come upon them.

 

[bbyrd009]

I think so. God speaks to the heart in whatever which way according to the circumstance. I'm certain when Paul got knocked of his donkey and had three days to think about his stuff in blindness, the whole person was involved...the cerebral, the emotional and very clearly the physical.

seems to me that surrender kind of involves respecting others’ feelings, while not allowing our own to have to large a portion in our thinking, maybe?