Can Someone Please Define What a Christian is?

[stunnedbygrace]

Can you find me somewhere in the Bible where an anointing with holy spirit was gradual?...or something that made the recipient fearful? Every one that I have read about was aware straight away that God had invited them to heaven....and they were overjoyed at the prospect....delighted with the insight that came with that anointing.

The story of the boy, Samuel. Gradual awareness over the course of a night.
3 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the arkof God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel.

Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealedto him.

8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

 

[stunnedbygrace]

When I received the Holy Spirit, I went to the ONLY person I thought might even remotely be able to tell me what was happening with me. I told him, in detail, what had happened and asked if he understood anything about it. He said the same thing happened to him sometimes. I said, okay, but…what is it?? He said, it’s just…God. That’s God. I said, well yes, I know it’s God. I spent a long time grilling the poor man for something more, what does it mean? is it like…a hug from God? Was He hugging me? Was He saying something? But he just couldn’t answer anything but that it was God.

Quite some time later, I read that the word manna means: what is it? Which was the same exact thing I asked that man I went to when I received the true manna, the bread from heaven. I asked him, what is it??:)

 

[Cooper]

From the Master himself:
(John 10:9) Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and find pasture … I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.”

(John 11:25) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.”

(John 5:24) “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but has passed from death to life.”

(John 6:35) And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”

(John 6:51) “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

(John 8:24) “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”


Then comes the public profession of our faith when we tell others we follow Jesus, and are baptised in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Romans 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," (Jews and the cults refuse to do this) and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Luke 12:8 "I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.

Romans 10:10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Matthew 10:32 "Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.
.

 

[Lambano]

When I received the Holy Spirit, I went to the ONLY person I thought might even remotely be able to tell me what was happening with me. I told him, in detail, what had happened and asked if he understood anything about it. He said the same thing happened to him sometimes. I said, okay, but…what is it?? He said, it’s just…God. That’s God. I said, well yes, I know it’s God. I spent a long time grilling the poor man for something more, what does it mean? is it like…a hug from God? Was He hugging me? Was He saying something? But he just couldn’t answer anything but that it was God.

Quite some time later, I read that the word manna means: what is it? Which was the same exact thing I asked that man I went to when I received the true manna, the bread from heaven. I asked him, what is it??:)

I think I know that hug from God. Maybe "What is it?" is what it was. I wouldn't have thought of the Manna/Bread-From-Heaven connection, but I like it.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

I think I know that hug from God. But I like the "What is it?"

And how would you describe it? Could you feel it in any discernible physical way?

 

[Lambano]

And how would you describe it? Could you feel it in any discernible physical way?

You're too quick for me! I was still trying to find the right words to describe something that has no words.

I ... I remember I knew I was being hugged. When I needed it. I still have the journal I started a few months before to try to order the chaotic thoughts going through my head at that time in my life. I wrote of powerful emotions, of joy and relief. And that I was able to tell God, honestly for the first time, that I loved Him.

When I got saved, I also got loved. That affects ...everything.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

Can you also find me a scripture where it says that all Christians go to heaven.....what is the point of that? Why did God put us here on earth with all that we would need to enjoy everlasting life on this specially prepared planet, if it was just a training ground for heaven? I could never understand the logic of that.....angels were created before us and they didn't have to spend time training to live where God created them to live. God created us to live on earth...just not under the present conditions.
Jesus said that "the meek will inherit the earth"...not heaven.

Yes, I agree that if there will be a new heaven and new earth, it makes no sense that everyone will be in heaven and no one on earth. (I would be happy in either place and God decides!)
I think I may have some understanding on some of it. I do have Bible verses for all of this but I think you will recognize them even though they’re in my own words. I think there will be a gathering together prior to the awful time on earth. (We are told to Pray that you will be found worthy to escape that time of testing coming on the whole earth to test its people.) Men who had their trust tested and grown while here will be gathered. Those who have died will be gathered first, then those who are alive on earth will be changed in the twinkling of an eye. I have no idea who will be deemed worthy or how much trust is enough trust. God judges that. I don’t think God leaves less trusting, more carnal men behind as a punishment, but rather for more testing of their trust to grow it so they come out pure. Some of them will be beheaded martyrs.

After those awful days, there will be a period of 1000 years when the saints who were gathered earlier rule with Christ over the righteous on earth, but the new earth is not yet, although things are greatly improved. There will be no war during that time, men will turn weapons into plowshares, but it’s still not perfection because there will still be disputes that Jesus will settle, but no war. Men will live a lot longer, and outlive the things they build/the work of their hands. But death is not completely done away with yet because it says if a man dies young he will be thought cursed (don’t quote me on that verse until I look it up).
Falling asleep, have to finish later. Or not, if you think I’m a lost idiot, lol.

 

[Aunty Jane]

The story of the boy, Samuel. Gradual awareness over the course of a night.
3 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the arkof God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel.

Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealedto him.

8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Samuel's story is touching for many reasons. His barren mother's plea to Jehovah for a son whom she would dedicate to his service (as a Nazirite) at the Temple, not knowing if this precious boy would be her only child, was the ultimate expression of faith for a woman who longed to be a mother.

But the calling of Samuel was not an anointing for heaven like the disciples of Jesus experienced. Samuel lived at a time when such an anointing was unknown. The old covenant was still in force and the new covenant was a long way off.
Samuel's anointing was as a prophet. Samuel himself anointed Kings Saul and David.

Samuel served at the Temple and is one of the well known Prophets of Jehovah in Israel, so from a young age, Jehovah spoke to Samuel and his first prophetic message was to Eli the High Priest, and it was a message of condemnation. We can only imagine the courage it took to deliver such a message to the man who had virtually raised him.

 

[Aunty Jane]

Yes, I agree that if there will be a new heaven and new earth, it makes no sense that everyone will be in heaven and no one on earth. (I would be happy in either place and God decides!)

Yes...the "new heaven and new earth"....but I believe that these are not literal, but figurative. There will never be a replacement for the heavens and the earth that already exist....they are perfect as God created them. The "new heavens" are the rulership of Christ and his elect from heaven, over the "new earth" or earthly society of mankind, cleansed of all who opposed God's incoming Kingdom, bringing about the fulfillment of Revelation 21:2-4.

You are right, God is the one who determines our destiny. We cannot choose to be one of God's elect...he chooses them.

I think I may have some understanding on some of it. I do have Bible verses for all of this but I think you will recognize them even though they’re in my own words. I think there will be a gathering together prior to the awful time on earth. (We are told to Pray that you will be found worthy to escape that time of testing coming on the whole earth to test its people.) Men who had their trust tested and grown while here will be gathered. Those who have died will be gathered first, then those who are alive on earth will be changed in the twinkling of an eye. I have no idea who will be deemed worthy or how much trust is enough trust. God judges that. I don’t think God leaves less trusting, more carnal men behind as a punishment, but rather for more testing of their trust to grow it so they come out pure. Some of them will be beheaded martyrs.

Using Daniel's prophesy (Daniel ch 2) to identify the "time of the end" we can see a march of world powers starting with Babylon, and in order of conquest, Medo-Persia was next, followed by Greece, then Rome (when Jesus walked the earth) and out of the ashes of Rome emerged Britannia.... who in the "time of the end" allied herself as a world power with the USA. This is the last ruling entity before the coming of God's Kingdom, seen as a huge stone, not cut by human hands, strike the earth to remove all failed human rulership under the devil's control, and implement the rulership of God's appointed king which will sweep away all vestiges of satan's world and bring in the new, "where righteousness is to dwell".(Daniel 2:44)

But things will get worse before they get better. The "time of the end" would see great change on the earth with all the events foretold for this time period ending in a "great tribulation".....the worst ever seen or experienced. (Matthew 24:21)

After those awful days, there will be a period of 1000 years when the saints who were gathered earlier rule with Christ over the righteous on earth, but the new earth is not yet, although things are greatly improved. There will be no war during that time, men will turn weapons into plowshares, but it’s still not perfection because there will still be disputes that Jesus will settle, but no war. Men will live a lot longer, and outlive the things they build/the work of their hands. But death is not completely done away with yet because it says if a man dies young he will be thought cursed (don’t quote me on that verse until I look it up).
Falling asleep, have to finish later. Or not, if you think I’m a lost idiot, lol.

No you are much closer than many here IMO....
I have a different take on this part of the prophesy.....after Jesus makes his judgments, the wicked will be destroyed.....and the devil and his hordes put out of the way.
The thousand year rule of Christ will be one of peace and restoration. Satan and his demons will be in a dark prison, unable to interfere with man's relationship with God until the thousand years have ended. (Revelation 20:1-3, 7)

Reconciliation with their Creator will bring mankind back to the sinless state than Adam first enjoyed, but lost for all his offspring. This will be a restoration of the life that God had planned for his human children....unending life in peace and security forever...enjoying God's creation as we were meant to.....and all because of the unselfish actions of Jesus in offering his life for ours. He will bring us back to the life we should have been enjoying all along.

At the end of the thousand years, during which the general resurrection of the dead will take place, (John 5:28-29) those who had not had their faith tested before their death, will be exposed to the devil one last time. There will be those who fail, and these will be destroyed by fire from heaven.
Revelation 20:7-10....
"Now as soon as the 1,000 years have ended, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and he will go out to mislead those nations in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Maʹgog, to gather them together for the war. The number of these is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they advanced over the whole earth and encircled the camp of the holy ones and the beloved city. But fire came down out of heaven and consumed them. 10 And the Devil who was misleading them was hurled into the lake of fire and sulfur, where both the wild beast and the false prophet already were".

Then with the restoration of all things, God can then get on with whatever plans he has for the rest of the Universe....I am sure he has big plans for it.....who knows...

 

[Lambano]

Yes, I agree that if there will be a new heaven and new earth, it makes no sense that everyone will be in heaven and no one on earth. (I would be happy in either place and God decides!)

Stunned By Grace, did you know there will no longer be any difference?

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4)

In the end, Heaven and Earth will be joined, and God will be with us. Holiness and Righteousness.

A Christian has this hope. (Poor Cassandra is probably wondering how her thread went off the rails, so maybe that'll nudge it back in the right direction.)

 

[Brakelite]

That's an interesting question @Cassandra
First, I apologize for them length of this post, before I even start writing. Most of you know I can be rather long winded at times...I have a feeling this won't be an exception. Second, I want to make something clear. What I am going to offer doesn't exclude anyone here, many here maybe experiencing and in this mode of mind without knowing it. So what is a Christian? One with the mind of Christ. That means having a completely radically different mindset than anyone in the world. When Jesus was born He was raised as a child under occupation to the 4th power of Daniel 2,7,8,11.... Pagan Rome. The world has witnessed a succession of world empires that took and retained power by force and violence. Jesus came as a king of a different kind of kingdom. One not of this world, nor one that uses the tactics of the world to advance it's ideology. A Christian is one who has adopted the mindset of the kingdom of God. A mindset of love, service, and self sacrifice. No coercion to prove it's truth. No bondage to inhibit opposition. No lies to retain it's honor.
A Christian. One with the mindset of the kingdom of heaven, one with the King.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

Samuel's story is touching for many reasons. His barren mother's plea to Jehovah for a son whom she would dedicate to his service (as a Nazirite) at the Temple, not knowing if this precious boy would be her only child, was the ultimate expression of faith for a woman who longed to be a mother.

But the calling of Samuel was not an anointing for heaven like the disciples of Jesus experienced. Samuel lived at a time when such an anointing was unknown. The old covenant was still in force and the new covenant was a long way off.
Samuel's anointing was as a prophet. Samuel himself anointed Kings Saul and David.

Samuel served at the Temple and is one of the well known Prophets of Jehovah in Israel, so from a young age, Jehovah spoke to Samuel and his first prophetic message was to Eli the High Priest, and it was a message of condemnation. We can only imagine the courage it took to deliver such a message to the man who had virtually raised him.

Hmm…I don’t think anyone knows what a prophets reward is or where he will sit but if anyone finds a verse, please let us know! But I’ll tell you this - some people who aren’t prophets will get the same reward as a prophet gets and some will be among the righteous who religious men shriek and scream won’t be and can’t be!

 

[stunnedbygrace]

Stunned By Grace, did you know there will no longer be any difference?

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4)

In the end, Heaven and Earth will be joined, and God will be with us. Holiness and Righteousness.

A Christian has this hope. (Poor Cassandra is probably wondering how her thread went off the rails, so maybe that'll nudge it back in the right direction.)

I do know this - I don’t give a fig where He places me as long as He is there!
But I really do look forward to being able to go love on a polar bear and shower kisses on his lovely snout without him trying to eat me. Gonna rub his belly and scratch his ears.

 

[Lambano]

I do know this - I don’t give a fig where He places me as long as He is there!
But I really do look forward to being able to go love on a polar bear and shower kisses on his lovely snout without him trying to eat me. Gonna rub his belly and scratch his ears.

Ooo, and bengal tigers too! Until then, a certain orange marmalade cat will just have to do.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

Auntyjane shocked me a little bit when she said she doesn’t think everyone “goes to heaven.” Because I think…from best I can see, “going to heaven” just means:being with God, being where He is. But it also shocked me because I guess…during the millennium the saints will rule over the righteous on earth and she seems to have sort of seen that will be or…glimpsed it somehow…but oh my gosh, when you read about that period, it sounds so wonderful, a great improvement, but not total perfection. Except for the part where satan is loosed again…

 

[stunnedbygrace]

If that is true and I believe it to that means the parable of the wheat and tares or the mustard seed is evidence that the lost are with in the assemblies.

Yes. But you have to be careful, because being given a deposit of the Holy Spirit doesn’t instantly give men control over their passions rather than being ruled by their passions. It doesn’t take them from carnal to spiritual in an instant and no seed deposited bears fruit immediately. And it doesn’t help that a man can barely find a spiritual counselor of experience rather than education and has to sort of flounder around until he finds the books of a few dead saints to help explain or put words to his agonies and questions. In the church of wheat and tares, it is often ambitious men put in charge rather than men who can truly counsel. And often, men who are quite out of order in their own flesh, so it gets very bad in that gathering.

 

[Waiting on him]

Does every person who takes or is given the label of Christian truly manifest Christ? Perhaps they should, considering the literal meaning of the word Christian ["a follower of Christ" according to Strong's], but do they all really even strive to see Christ so as to know what and who to follow?

So then as is indicated or implied or questioned by @Cassandra in the OP, the use of the word can be and often is quite confusing... How involved is God in that?

"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints" I Cor 14:33

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?

 

[stunnedbygrace]

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?

oh I really like this question! I can’t wait for the answers!

 

[Waiting on him]

Pertaining to the receiving of the Holy Spirit several scripture references define it as a great affliction accompanied with great joy.

I personally don’t believe that you can have one without the other.

 

[Wrangler]

Yes. But you have to be careful, because being given a deposit of the Holy Spirit doesn’t instantly give men control over their passions rather than being ruled by their passions.

Salvation v sanctification?