Is it possible to identify a true Christian from a false one
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theanointedsinner said:
and here's an example of what not to do
say for example, "should I sin"?
you open the bible randomly like it's "page lottery" or something, and point finger randomly on a page, it can say "What you are about to do, do quickly."
and pursue sin
because, the bible should never be taken out of context
and here's an example of what not to do
say for example, "should I sin"?
you open the bible randomly like it's "page lottery" or something, and point finger randomly on a page, it can say "What you are about to do, do quickly."
and pursue sin
because, the bible should never be taken out of context
S
what it's talking about is a person professing and proclaiming the person and work of Christ.
Saved people ALWAYS bear witness to Christ because they have the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit bears witness to Christ.
Unsaved people do not bear witness to Christ, because they do not have the Holy Spirit.
It really is that simple.
Saved people ALWAYS bear witness to Christ because they have the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit bears witness to Christ.
Unsaved people do not bear witness to Christ, because they do not have the Holy Spirit.
It really is that simple.
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1Jn 2:3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.
1Jn 2:4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,
1Jn 2:5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:
1Jn 2:6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
1Jn 2:7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.
1Jn 2:4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,
1Jn 2:5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:
1Jn 2:6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
1Jn 2:7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.
I'm not sure that it's that simple, I know of a pastor who exhibited all the attributes of genuine Christian. He preached faithfully in a Church for years, then it was discovered that he was having an affair with a younger woman.
He ended up leaving his wife and four children and leaving the Church. He moved to another town with his girlfriend and he now preaches in a another Church and lives in sin with his girlfriend.
everyone thought he was a genuine Christian, but he showed that he was a fraud all along. No true Christian would leave his wife and children to go and live in sin, it also shows how gullible other Christians are to accept him to preach in their Church.
I don't think any of us can know who Gods people are, only He knows who they are. Some may live like Devils and convert at the end of their lives, others may present as true believers only to be exposed as false at the end of their lives. So we need to be careful when dealing with "Christians", we can't fully trust anyone.
He ended up leaving his wife and four children and leaving the Church. He moved to another town with his girlfriend and he now preaches in a another Church and lives in sin with his girlfriend.
everyone thought he was a genuine Christian, but he showed that he was a fraud all along. No true Christian would leave his wife and children to go and live in sin, it also shows how gullible other Christians are to accept him to preach in their Church.
I don't think any of us can know who Gods people are, only He knows who they are. Some may live like Devils and convert at the end of their lives, others may present as true believers only to be exposed as false at the end of their lives. So we need to be careful when dealing with "Christians", we can't fully trust anyone.
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That's what I was answering.
2Cor:11:13 - 15 , 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve
2Cor:11:13 - 15 , 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve
That's a sobering scripture, which reminds us to be wise when dealing with our brethren because we can be sure some of them are masquerading as true believers but inwardly are wicked.
I heard a sermon about false prophets, and it's just as the scripture says. They appear as Angels of light, and deceive so many. That's why the false Churches are full and the true ones are almost empty.
We have many people visit our Church and walk out half way through the service and never come back. Most people don't like to hear the whole counsel of God being preached, they only like to hear about Gods love, mercy and how He wants to prosper you and make you rich and healthy.
The majority of Churches have latched onto this demand and they sell salvation and prosperity like a consumer product.
I heard a sermon about false prophets, and it's just as the scripture says. They appear as Angels of light, and deceive so many. That's why the false Churches are full and the true ones are almost empty.
We have many people visit our Church and walk out half way through the service and never come back. Most people don't like to hear the whole counsel of God being preached, they only like to hear about Gods love, mercy and how He wants to prosper you and make you rich and healthy.
The majority of Churches have latched onto this demand and they sell salvation and prosperity like a consumer product.
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S
yes exactly, we are called to test the spirits not judge the sins.
1 John 4:1-3
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
The presence of sin in a persons life does not mean they are not a "true Christian". Every human being on this planet sins.
In fact, when we judge other people for their sins, we judge ourselves because we have the same sinful human nature. The things they are guilty of, we are guilty of because we have all done similar things.
Jesus told us to try the Spirits to see whether a person is born of God, not judge the sins.
Saved people profess and proclaim Jesus Christ is Lord and Messiah who existed for eternity with God and as God, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed many miracles, predicted his own death and resurrection, died an atoning death by crucifixion, resurrected from the dead and ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
Saved people confess Christ.
1 John 4:1-3
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
The presence of sin in a persons life does not mean they are not a "true Christian". Every human being on this planet sins.
In fact, when we judge other people for their sins, we judge ourselves because we have the same sinful human nature. The things they are guilty of, we are guilty of because we have all done similar things.
Jesus told us to try the Spirits to see whether a person is born of God, not judge the sins.
Saved people profess and proclaim Jesus Christ is Lord and Messiah who existed for eternity with God and as God, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed many miracles, predicted his own death and resurrection, died an atoning death by crucifixion, resurrected from the dead and ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
Saved people confess Christ.
It's true that saved people confess Christ, but so do many false professors. Many claim to believe, so they confess their faith in Christ but they commit some sin that no saved person would commit.
A person who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit is led be the Holy Spirit so they won't commit, sins like murder or adultery or homosexuality. Yet many have committed adultery and other serious sins and they remain in the Church, so we can't even know who's doing what unless they are caught and exposed.
i don't want to invite those kinds of people into my home, because they might try something on my wife. I can't tell who's genuine and who's not, I treat everyone the same but I wish there was some way to know who the black sheep are so I can stay away from them.
A person who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit is led be the Holy Spirit so they won't commit, sins like murder or adultery or homosexuality. Yet many have committed adultery and other serious sins and they remain in the Church, so we can't even know who's doing what unless they are caught and exposed.
i don't want to invite those kinds of people into my home, because they might try something on my wife. I can't tell who's genuine and who's not, I treat everyone the same but I wish there was some way to know who the black sheep are so I can stay away from them.
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Blessings.
How to Distinguish a True Christian from a Hypocrite
Blessings. How to Distinguish a True Christian from a Hypocrite
S
I've never read any Scripture about people who "commit some sin that no saved person would commit" as being a test of whether someone is in Christ.
I've read lots of Scriptures about how to tell if someone is saved or not.
You say that many false professors confess Christ, but the Scripture states otherwise.
According to the Scripture, false professors do not consistently profess the person and work of Christ. If they do, they are a Christian and not a false professor no matter what you judge their sins to be.
God is the righteous judge, not us.
I've read lots of Scriptures about how to tell if someone is saved or not.
You say that many false professors confess Christ, but the Scripture states otherwise.
According to the Scripture, false professors do not consistently profess the person and work of Christ. If they do, they are a Christian and not a false professor no matter what you judge their sins to be.
God is the righteous judge, not us.
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