Can Someone Please Define What a Christian is?

[MatthewG]

The devils which motivated men to crucify Jesus where at the crucifixion, you can be certain of that and I don't think they went to Barbados for a holiday afterwards. They would have been witness to the resurrection also

Oh most assuredly you are right about that. Devils and Satan were very prevalent in that day in age. Not any longer since the crushing of Satans head, and the doing away of the devils, or demon spirits however you wound like to call them, in the lake of fire.

Now we live in the day in age where it is yourself versus the darkness of your own soul, and receiving the light of Jesus into your life to burn away that darkness though it is still there until the very day you and me die my friend.

 

[MatthewG]

A Christian is a person who places their faith, on the Lord Jesus Christ, and in his death, burial and resurrection. The Bible talks about how you tell if other have fruits or not.

It is all dependent on if a person has the spirit or not. Not everyone has faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

What is the fruit that God gives?

Its love.


“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭13:4-13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬


“You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:7-15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬


“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.”
‭‭I John‬ ‭4:7-16‬ ‭NKJV‬




Love is the fruit of God.

 

[Lifelong_sinner]

Oh most assuredly you are right about that. Devils and Satan were very prevalent in that day in age. Not any longer since the crushing of Satans head, and the doing away of the devils, or demon spirits however you wound like to call them, in the lake of fire.

Now we live in the day in age where it is yourself versus the darkness of your own soul, and receiving the light of Jesus into your life to burn away that darkness though it is still there until the very day you and me die my friend.

see? This is the type of comment that makes me cringe. You know those people who put on their swimming suits and go jump in the ocean in the middle of january, and the look on their face as soon as their big toe touches the frigid water? Thats me when i read comments like above. Yet, many say to just grin and bear it and not say anything. I find it difficult.

 

[amigo de christo]

I have been reading some stuff on this board, and I don't mean some things, I mean some stuff.(!)

I just want to know, please indulge me, what everyone's definition of Christian is?

Cling to the Lord dear sister . The LORD is our hope and our salvation . Let us stay refreshed in sound biblical doctrine .
There are way too many odd teachings out there .

 

[MatthewG]

see? This is the type of comment that makes me cringe. You know those people who put on their swimming suits and go jump in the ocean in the middle of january, and the look on their face as soon as their big toe touches the frigid water? Thats me when i read comments like above. Yet, many say to just grin and bear it and not say anything. I find it difficult.

Lifelong,

What part makes you cringe?

Is it the belief and understanding that Satan and his demons have been defeated?

Is it the understanding that we all have darkness inside of us, and everyone is spiritually dead until they receive the light of Christ in them?

Is it the understanding that the flesh and the darkness within are real and won’t be completely stopped until our death bed?

(The darkness can be burned out by the Holy Spirit and the spirit of Christ within you, but I still suffer from anger, bitterness, irritability, frustration, the attraction of an woman, the only one who holds those things back is God if I decide to abide in the spirit otherwise I can let my flesh have its own way.) Its my own temptations that entice me.

 

[Lifelong_sinner]

Lifelong,

What part makes you cringe?

Is it the belief and understanding that Satan and his demons have been defeated?

Is it the understanding that we all have darkness inside of us, and everyone is spiritually dead until they receive the light of Christ in them?

Is it the understanding that the flesh and the darkness within are real and won’t be completely stopped until our death bed?

(The darkness can be burned out by the Holy Spirit and the spirit of Christ within you, but I still suffer from anger, bitterness, irritability, frustration, the attraction of an woman, the only one who holds those things back is God if I decide to abide in the spirit otherwise I can let my flesh have its own way.) Its my own temptations that entice me.

what gets me is; 1. Satan and his demons have not be destroyed or cast into the lake of fire.
2. Satan is the reason we have sinful desires inside of us. When Jesus comes to rule on earth for 1000 yrs, and satan is bound, everyone will worship God, we will have peace on earth. If satan were in the lake of fire right now, we’d have peace now. But we dont. This shows that satan is responsible for sin. Take him away, and it stops.
God promised Jesus He will make His enemies a footstool, and that Jesus’ followers will worship Him freely (Psalm 110). God promised the nations of the world that they would live in peace with Jesus as their ruler (Daniel 7:11–14). And He promised creation that the curse would be lifted (Romans 8:18–23), animals and the earth would be restored to peace and prosperity (Isaiah 11:6–9; 32:13–15), and people would be freed from disease (Ezekiel 34:16). These, too, will be fulfilled during the 1,000-year reign.

 

[MatthewG]

what gets me is; 1. Satan and his demons have not be destroyed or cast into the lake of fire.
2. Satan is the reason we have sinful desires inside of us. When Jesus comes to rule on earth for 1000 yrs, and satan is bound, everyone will worship God, we will have peace on earth. If satan were in the lake of fire right now, we’d have peace now. But we dont. This shows that satan is responsible for sin. Take him away, and it stops.
God promised Jesus He will make His enemies a footstool, and that Jesus’ followers will worship Him freely (Psalm 110). God promised the nations of the world that they would live in peace with Jesus as their ruler (Daniel 7:11–14). And He promised creation that the curse would be lifted (Romans 8:18–23), animals and the earth would be restored to peace and prosperity (Isaiah 11:6–9; 32:13–15), and people would be freed from disease (Ezekiel 34:16). These, too, will be fulfilled during the 1,000-year reign.

You have the right to believe as you will. Many people will not agree with me and my beliefs and that is okay. Everyone is subjectively living their faith, this day in age. Everyone has the right to believe how they do. I will not antagonize you or put you down because you believe how you do.

Thank you for simply explaining your position as it pertains to you and your perception and understanding of the word. You asked me no questions so no reason to respond with any other comment but this.

 

[Brakelite]

If you say so.....there is only one truth and the “wheat” have it......the “weeds” do not.
So which is which? There is criteria......

1) They would all belong to one brotherhood who all speak in agreement, (1 Corinthians 1:10) no matter where in the world they live, because the declaration of the “good news of the kingdom” was to be global, so no local churches out on a limb with their own version of things and with no connection to their brothers in the rest of the world, will have the truth. The true “church” has no nationality. It is one truth for all.

2) They would be preachers of Christ’s message about the Kingdom, that he said was to be “preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations” before “the end” came. (Matthew 24:14; Matthew 28:19-20) So being active in spreading the message was also required. (Acts 20:20; Acts 5:42)

3) They would have love among themselves, (John 13:34-35) meaning that no political issues could divide them because being a citizen of God’s Kingdom means not being involved in the politics of the world ruled by the devil. (1 John 5:19; Luke 4:5-7)

4) They would all be taught by the “faithful and wise slave” whom Jesus appointed to “feed” his fellow slaves their “food at the proper time”. (Matthew 24: 45) We have to find that “slave” and feed at his table, because there are only two tables at which to obtain spiritual “food”.....one provided by God and Jesus Christ through his appointed “slave”....and the other with attractive but poisoned “food” provided by the devil. (1 Corinthians 10:21)

5) They would expect persecution of the sort meted out to Jesus and his followers. (John 15:18-21)
Being hated for no valid reason, Christ’s genuine followers are model citizens in whatever nation they live, but they will not under any circumstances cave in to the demands of any government to abandon their Christian principles, which would include participating in bloodshed, (wars or military service) or participating in any commercial venture that involved providing or producing weapons or things that are known to be harmful to their fellow man.
True Christians are politically neutral.

Jesus and his apostles taught that we must live in the world but be no part of its priorities or agendas. (John 18:36) Our focus is on his Kingdom. We cannot have dual citizenship with one foot in the devil’s world and the other in God’s Kingdom.

6) Our moral standards must reflect God’s standards. That means making no excuses for sexual immorality under any circumstances. No tolerance of unrepentant sexual offenders was demonstrated among the first Christians. The Bible reflects that any who flouted such standards, were to be expelled from the congregation in order to teach them that there is no place for such things among God’s worshippers. (1 Corinthians 5:9-13) When you water down God’s moral standards, you invalidate his word to accommodate those who want God to change his standards for them, rather than they change their standards for him...as we see in the LGBTQ movement gaining ground among some churches.

So these are just some of the things that separate the “sheep from the goats”....the “wheat from the weeds”....we all have the same freedom to choose our ‘chef’, and our ‘waiter’.....

And not forgetting Revelation 12:17;14:6, they would keep all of God's Commandments. Now I'm sure you would profess to keeping 9...

 

[Brakelite]

Oh most assuredly you are right about that. Devils and Satan were very prevalent in that day in age. Not any longer since the crushing of Satans head, and the doing away of the devils, or demon spirits however you wound like to call them, in the lake of fire.

Now we live in the day in age where it is yourself versus the darkness of your own soul, and receiving the light of Jesus into your life to burn away that darkness though it is still there until the very day you and me die my friend.

Though Satan is spiritually defeated, he is not yet destroyed. And I know there are demons everywhere... I've met some of them.

 

[MatthewG]

Yes, many people still believe this way. I choose to believe differently. It’s alright. It’s all depending on what you believe when it comes to the Bible, in my perspective. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the matter, @Backlit.

Hope you enjoy your holiday season with friends and family if you have that going for you, sir.

God bless,
MatthewG

 

[MatthewG]

A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ, but it is so much more then that. A saved believer is one who believes in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and that He was the payment for our sins on the cross. A Christian is one who is totally sold out for Jesus Christ because of this, because they are so grateful for the grace and mercy of the Father. Christians want to live God's Word and understand His Word, because they know that God's way is the right way to live. A Christian is saved by faith, not by works.

There is so much theology on here that it can make your head spin. I question how much is legalism, how much is important to talk about, and how much is just plain evil and not of God in the name of free speech. A Christian shows love in speaking Truth and by their words and actions.

Good word, thank you.

 

[theefaith]

Thankfully I do not see the word "baptism" in that passage. Which means that it refutes your ideas.

(Born of God) faith and baptism

Jn 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

1 Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

Born of God by baptism


God breathed life into Adam, gen 2:7 and we received this life from our fathers!

Christ breathed on the apostles our spiritual fathers, we receive the new covenant life of God’s grace from them thru faith & baptism! Jn 20:21-23 Mk 16:16 acts 8:36-38


Christian ritual of baptism:
Immersion, sprinkling, pour pure water over the forehead three time with the words, I baptize thee in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit! Ez 36:25-27 Mk 16:16 Matt 28:19 Acts 2:38-39 Acts 8:36-38 Acts 22:16
1 Pet 3:21

Proper intention: to make a new creature in Christ, to put on Christ, initiation into the new covenant of grace
Matter: pure water
Form: the words

Born again! Born from above!


'The Father has set his seal' on Christ (John 6:27) and also seals us in him (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:23, 4:30). Because this seal indicates the indelible effect of the anointing with the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of Baptism,

Baptism indeed is the seal of eternal life." 87 The faithful Christian who has "kept the seal" until the end, remaining faithful to the demands of his Baptism, will be able to depart this life "marked with the sign of faith," 88 with his baptismal faith, in expectation of the blessed vision of God - the consummation of faith - and in the hope of resurrection.

St. Paul tells the faithful at Ephesus that they have been “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” This is in terms of an indelible character imprinted on the soul in the sacraments of baptism and confirmation. It is not as if this invisible mark is simply decorative. Rather, through it, we are enabled to participate in Christ’s mission and in his offices of priest, prophet, and king. Eph 1:13

Sealed by God eph 1:13 sealed by God (ez 36:25-27) in the ark of salvation by baptism just as Noah was sealed by God in the ark of the flood gen 7:16

1 Pet 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us!
(Ark of Noah a type of the church, member of Christ and his church and salvation by baptism!)
(Outside the ark of Noah none were saved, outside the church (the ark of salvation) none are saved!)

Sealed in the ark, sealed in the church the ark of salvation by baptism!

 

[theefaith]

Christian unity is based on faith!

so all Christians must have the same faith eph 4:5 Jude 1:3

 

[Brakelite]

Yes, many people still believe this way. I choose to believe differently. It’s alright. It’s all depending on what you believe when it comes to the Bible, in my perspective. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the matter, @Backlit.

Hope you enjoy your holiday season with friends and family if you have that going for you, sir.

God bless,
MatthewG

I'm not talking about people.

 

[atpollard]

I have been reading some stuff on this board, and I don't mean some things, I mean some stuff.(!)

I just want to know, please indulge me, what everyone's definition of Christian is?

[Act 11:26 NASB95] 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
[Act 26:28 NASB95] 28 Agrippa [replied] to Paul, "In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian."
[1Pe 4:16 NASB95] 16 but if [anyone suffers] as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.

Christian = G5546 = Χριστιανός (cf. Lightfoot on Philip., p. 16 note), Χριστιανου, ὁ (Χριστός), a Christian, a follower of Christ: Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16. The name was first given to the worshippers of Jesus by the Gentiles, but from the second century (Justin Martyr (e. g. Apology 1, 4, p. 55 a.; dialog contra Trypho, § 35; cf. 'Teachingetc. 12, 4 [ET])) onward accepted by them as a title of honor. CL Lipsius, Ueber Ursprung u. ältesten Gebrauch des Christennamens. 4to, pp. 20, Jen. 1873. Yet see Bp. Lghtft. Apost. Fathers, Pt. II. vol. i. p. 400 sqq. (CL Sophocles' Lexicon, under the word, 2; Farrar in Alex.'s Kitto, under the word; on the 'Titles of Believers in the N. T.' see Westcott, Epistles of St. John, p. 125f; cf. Dict. of Chris. Antiqq., under the word 'Faithful'.)

 

[Cooper]

see? This is the type of comment that makes me cringe. You know those people who put on their swimming suits and go jump in the ocean in the middle of january, and the look on their face as soon as their big toe touches the frigid water? Thats me when i read comments like above. Yet, many say to just grin and bear it and not say anything. I find it difficult.

A Christian is someone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, accepts Him as their Lord and Saviour, and follows him all the days of their life. May the Lord richly bless you and keep you. Amen.
.

 

[theefaith]

I'm not talking about people.

All Christians must have the same faith!
Unity of the spirit!
Unity of the faith!

The new covenant unity:
Union with Christ the mediator and communion with God and the saints is based on “unity of faith”

“Thee faith” of the new covenant that all must believe without any error, false or strange doctrines foreign to “thee faith” of the new covenant!

“Thee faith” is found 31 times in the New Testament!

Obedience of faith: rom 16:26

Ephesians 4:1
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ...

Romans 12:16
Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Romans 15:6
That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Philippians 1:27
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Philippians 2:2
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

1 Peter 3:8
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

Eph 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism

2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Athanasius Creed!
(From the early church)

Whoever desires to be saved must above all hold to the catholic faith.

Anyone who does not keep it whole and entire will doubtless perish eternally.

One church founded by Jesus Christ!

there is only one!
One God!
One Lord!
One savior!
One faith!
One new covenant!
One kingdom!
One household of faith!
One vineyard!
One church! (Not thousands of sects All teaching different doctrines all on the Bible alone, by the tradition of men)
Only Christ has authority to found the new covenant church! Matt 16:18-19
One shepherd one fold Jn 10:16
1 Tim 3:15 pillar and ground of truth
All men must be taught by the church!

Truth is revealed by God, fully by Christ, and must be proposed for our belief by holy mother church! Matt 28:19 Lk 1:4 Acts 8:31 eph 4:5 Jude 1:3 one faith

Unity of faith!

Four Marks of the True Church founded by Jesus Christ on Peter, the apostles, and their successors!

One, holy, catholic (universal) and apostolic (succeeding from Christ, Peter and the apostles)

 

[bbyrd009]

believing the gospel does not just stay as a cerebral exercise bbyrd

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

 

[amadeus]

I think of Paul compelling the Christians at Corinth to follow him as he was of Christ. He assured them that The kingdom didn’t come in word but in power. What would you say that power is?

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.

 

[Aunty Jane]

And not forgetting Revelation 12:17;14:6, they would keep all of God's Commandments. Now I'm sure you would profess to keeping 9...

Sorry, you’ll have to translate that comment....I have no idea what those scriptures have to do with anything I said....?
Profess to keeping 9 what?