Can Someone Please Define What a Christian is?

[Lambano]

Some people seem to think that we're saved by sound doctrine, but that attitude tends to be self serving and self exhalting. Our expressed understanding often becomes just another reason for a brother or sister to judge us, and with the carnal minded its pretty much always a condemnation veiled with self righteousness.

Word. We’re not saved by belief in a doctrine; we are saved by Jesus Christ.

 

[Aunty Jane]

All people recieve the Holy Spirit for the asking through belief in the Lord.
9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:9-13
That might be an oversimplification in that it doesn't include the work of the Holy Spirit in moving us to believe and to ask, but it remains true.
7 Nevertheless 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 depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; John 16:7-9
Even religious people are of "the world" until they aren't.

Yes...it is a matter of choice...we all have the same ones. But no one can come to God’s son without an invitation from his Father. (John 6:65)

It is my belief that “the elect” are chosen by God for a specific role in heaven. (Revelation 20:6) These are the ones who receive the Holy Spirit in a way that their earthly subjects do not. Holy Spirit has various roles in scripture, to empower, to comfort, to educate, to convict, to help erring one’s attain to repentance, to endure persecution, and to face death if needs be....IOW, it is God’s power directed to whomever, and wherever it is needed.

To those anointed by it as a token of their heavenly inheritance, (Hebrews 3:1) it convicts those with “the heavenly calling” that their earthly shell (their human flesh) is temporary and that they will shed it and be ‘reborn’ as spirit beings in order to dwell in the heavenly realm, in the presence of Yahweh himself, something mortal humans cannot do.

They live a life like their Master Christ, are dedicated to the doing of God’s will by their “baptism into his death”, meaning that they will die a death like his and experience a resurrection like his, to spirit life in heaven. But these “firstfruits” are not only ones resurrected. These it says, are “resurrected first” because they will take up their positions, ready for the remaining ones to join them when Christ comes to judge the world. The general resurrection that takes place later, will see all those in their graves...”come out”. (John 5:28-29) These are those who will live as subjects of the kingdom along with those who are spared at the judgment.

This is what I believe being “born again” actually means. It’s not an emotional experience, but a token that is preliminary to attaining their heavenly inheritance. This anointing overrides their natural desire to live forever in paradise on earth as God first intended. There was no mention of heaven for Adam because God had provided the means to live forever here on earth....”the tree of life”. The humans had free access to this tree, as long as they were obedient....so logically, everlasting life (not to be confused with immortality) was God’s first purpose for the human race...they were to “fill the earth” with their kind and “subdue” their surroundings until the whole planet resembled the garden of Eden. God supplied them with everything they needed for an everlasting, healthy and enjoyable existence, right here where he placed us. Who told us we needed something better? We know who.

When “the end” comes, as we see it bearing down upon us now, Jesus and his angelic forces will eliminate from existence all who have served the interests of satan on this earth....many believing that they were serving God. (Matthew 7:21-23) These, Jesus says, are those he “never knew”....meaning that they are practicing a form of Christianity that is fraudulent....a counterfeit planted by the devil. Jesus informed us of this situation with his parable of the “wheat and the weeds”......he knows the difference, and during this “time of the end” he is separating them.....only the “wheat” will be invited into the Kingdom that Jesus taught us to pray for.....so that God’s will could “be done on earth as it is in heaven”.....

I see so many concentrating on going to heaven that they don’t seem to realise that this was never God’s purpose for mankind. At the end, God will restore his first purpose for the human race, having the ransom of his precious son guarantee everlasting life for all whom the devil was unable to deceive. We are all being tried and tested.

Revelation 21:2-4 will then have its glorious fulfilment....
“I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”

This is what we can look forward to if we have kept ourselves free of the entanglements of the “weeds” and their false teachings. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) Those who love what God hates will have no place with him....and time is running out for those who have yet to make a decision about whose interests they are serving. The devil is not called the “deceiver” for nothing.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

Word. We’re not saved by belief in a doctrine; we are saved by Jesus Christ.

And sometimes, a doctrine causes men to harm themselves greatly.

 

[amadeus]

you said you arent a trinitarian nor a unitarian. Thats kinda impossible, you’re one or the other. Yet you dont want to tell us which you are. That raises questions as to why.

Impossible? No, it is not because it is where I am in what I believe. I have not been a Trinitarian since I left Catholicism actively in 1961 and nominally in 1976. In 1976 God got hold of me through a brother in a UPC [United Pentecostal Church] related group, which is Oneness Jesus only and definitely not Unitarian. I left the UPC and couple of similar groups finally in 1987.

I live for God primarily by faith rather than by knowledge. God has all of the knowledge needed. If we follow Him faithfully, will He lead us astray? Do you suppose He will make us pass a theological examination in order to decide whether or not we will always be with Him?

 

[Lambano]

And sometimes, a doctrine causes men to harm themselves greatly.

Or others. Fair enough. Are certain doctrines harmful enough to break fellowship?

 

[farouk]

Or others. Fair enough. Are certain doctrines harmful enough to break fellowship?

@Lambano John 8.24:

"I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."

 

[Aunty Jane]

Or others. Fair enough. Are certain doctrines harmful enough to break fellowship?

Isn’t it more important to ask if following these doctrines breaks fellowship with God?

 

[Lifelong_sinner]

Impossible? No, it is not because it is where I am in what I believe. I have not been a Trinitarian since I left Catholicism actively in 1961 and nominally in 1976. In 1976 God got hold of me through a brother in a UPC [United Pentecostal Church] related group, which is Oneness Jesus only and definitely not Unitarian. I left the UPC and couple of similar groups finally in 1987.

I live for God primarily by faith rather than by knowledge. God has all of the knowledge needed. If we follow Him faithfully, will He lead us astray? Do you suppose He will make us pass a theological examination in order to decide whether or not we will always be with Him?

ahh oneness pentecostal. Another cult of people who believe God the Father has to literally change into a human to become Jesus. So only 1 of the three can exist at anytime. Yet another crazed cult.

 

[Lambano]

@Lambano John 8.24:

"I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."

John 20:30-31:
So then, many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that by believing you may have life in His name.

Okay, is this saying we are saved by belief in a doctrine about Jesus? Or is there an implied trust in the Christ, the Son of God, to give us life?

 

[quietthinker]

ahh oneness pentecostal. Another cult of people who believe God the Father has to literally change into a human to become Jesus. So only 1 of the three can exist at anytime. Yet another crazed cult.

I suppose they're all crazy except yourself?

 

[Lifelong_sinner]

I suppose they're all crazy except yourself?

nope, just the unBiblical ones.

 

[Cooper]

ahh oneness pentecostal. Another cult of people who believe God the Father has to literally change into a human to become Jesus. So only 1 of the three can exist at anytime. Yet another crazed cult.

You are correct when you say Oneness teaches that Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit do not co-exist but Jesus speaks of the Father and the Holy Spirit as co-existing with him. See here:-

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (1 John 5:7 KJV)

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (Matthew 28:19 KJV)

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26 KJV)

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15:26 KJV)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. (2 Corinthians 13:14 KJV)
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[Brakelite]

Isn’t it more important to ask if following these doctrines break fellowship with God?

That's a good point. Does the doctrine lead you, or others, to sin? Does the doctrine lead you, or others, to worshiping a god of your own devising being idolatry? Does the doctrine lead you to cleaving to a wrongful apprehension of the real character of God and therefore directly affecting your trust and faith in Him?

 

[amadeus]

ahh oneness pentecostal. Another cult of people who believe God the Father has to literally change into a human to become Jesus. So only 1 of the three can exist at anytime. Yet another crazed cult.

Are they a cult... whatever that is?

With little other than Catholic backgrounds we witnessed the testimony of a family living for God in a manner we had never seen previously... nor since. They led us to an assembly where people read the Bible. How very different from my own Catholic experience! So, I received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and began to read the Bible for myself.

In 1987 we were gone from them, but the good things of God they manifested were more than words of condemnation.

Who is right? Everyone says that they are, but what does God say?

 

[Cooper]

Are they a cult... whatever that is?

With little other than Catholic backgrounds we witnessed the testimony of a family living for God in a manner we had never seen previously... nor since. They led us to an assembly where people read the Bible. How very different from my own Catholic experience! So, I received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and began to read the Bible for myself.

In 1987 we were gone from them, but the good things of God they manifested were more than words of condemnation.

Who is right? Everyone says that they are, but what does God say?

What does God say? I suppose we are known to God by our works, and what we say, which would include our teaching.
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[amadeus]

What does God say? I suppose we are known to God by our works, and what we say, which would include our teaching.
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Everything that we have that is any good at all has come from God including our knowledge! The thing that I believe matters to Him is what we choose to do with what we have! How well are we all doing? God knows!

"But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." Luke 12:48

Much is given, much is required!

 

[Cooper]

Everything that we have that is any good at all has come from God including our knowledge! The thing that I believe matters to Him is what we choose to do with what we have! How well are we all doing? God knows!

"But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." Luke 12:48

Much is given, much is required!

"Much is given and much is required" is quite a responsibility.
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[quietthinker]

What does God say? I suppose we are known to God by our works, and what we say, which would include our teaching.
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and how do you feel your works stack up Cooper?

 

[amadeus]

"Much is given and much is required" is quite a responsibility.
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Amen! The more we have received the more God expects from us. If people really have better doctrines, then will God not be expecting better results?

 

[Cooper]

Amen! The more we have received the more God expects from us. If people really have better doctrines, then will God not be expecting better results?

All we can do I feel is to stay true to the word, plant the seed and leave it to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. If we take on too much responsibility, it becomes a burden, and Jesus said, "my burden is light."
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