what is a Christian ?

[Hone]

All these things you mentioned are sins.

I asked once again, What makes you any better than these people if you yourself admit you still truffle with sin in your life?

YES they are sins, and if you are renewed with a new heart and new spirit, they could be removed with due diligence, and the grace of GOD.
NOT once have I said I was better than anyone on here, and a Christian who doesn't admit they are a sinner, is either CHRIST, or delusional,
but that's not to say it can't be done, cause the Bible tells us, and gives us examples. JOB is a great one

 

[Hone]

Good works are a result, not a cause, of salvation.

Ephesians
2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

if good works is a result of salvation, how did we get it?
if accepting Christ leads us to salvation, what are we doing to get to salvation, to claim the result of good works, surely just accepting Christ doesn't mean we have salvation. Does it?

 

[Hone]

You can;t be sinless my friend.

You wont be until your body is glorified.

Until then, you are and will continue to be in the process of being sanctified by Christ.

GOD and Jesus say we can, YOU say we can't.....who should I listen to ?

 

[Pilgrimshope]

COULDN'T PUT IT ANY BETTER MYSELF my brother, let's ALL keep working towards GOD's salvation for us, come together in and for HIS UNDERSTANDING. GODblessusall

Love how you out that , Sounds like we both agree with this being our path forward

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:12-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬


I agree sometimes we get caught up in emotion or passion , but we can always be as respectful as possible. I include myself in that. But I feel the first step for me is to always acknowledge my own faults and transgressions and be aware of them so I can repent and do better for the lord and others

we aren’t teachers but brethren who share the teachings of Christ amongst one another wherever we group up

 

[eternally-gratefull]

GOD and Jesus say we can, YOU say we can't.....who should I listen to ?

God never said we could

H gave us his law to prove that point to us.

As jesus said, No one is good but God.

John said if we say we have no sin we decieve ourselves. Be ye not decieved

 

[SophieT]

no I'm becoming perfect in HIM

not that I can see

but then I only have the Bible and your words to go by

works do not save and they do not create perfection

you are using the wrong word. we are righteous the moment we are saved, but we are sanctified during our life

you will never be the perfect you think you are in this life

 

[SophieT]

how can we be saved by GOD's grace of you don't do something to receive it, you don't get it by saying you love the Lord, you can't get it by saying your a Christian, we don't receive it cause we go to church always, read the Bible repeatedly or pray insistently.
Hebrews 10:24> Let us consider one another to provoke unto LOVE and to GOOD WORK's.

what you are saying here indicates your error once again

it's all about working for salvation with you because you do not understand the concept of grace

 

[Aidan1]

nobody is sinless, that's right, but our Lord tells us we can be, there examples in the Bible for us to follow: Jesus did it as a man, Elijah Enoch did it, David did it till he fell, Moses was a sinner but later became sinless, as did Paul....we are to become like CHRIST which is.. sinless

Well, sinless yes, when we are in eternity. But nobody is able out of himself to live sinless. You can try to proof the opposit. But you will fail.
In Christ our sins are paiyed. Thats why we have the living hope of eternity.

 

[SophieT]

the ones I have confessed to the LORD,
but I'm well aware I am a sinner, I admit it, I concede to it, but thanks to the Lord, I am overcoming it (sin),
thanks to the the teachings of Christ and the Love of the Lord, I keep (good) WORK'ing to becoming sinless, as my Father in heaven intended, as my saviour CHRIST demonstrated. as we ALL strive to be... isn't that what we are suppose to DO?
sorry CrossFit time

again, it's works works works for your salvation

you will never be sinless

we do not strive to be sinless. we know that is a hopeless aim.

Ephesians 4:13 says that the spiritual gifts are given to build up the body of Christ “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Some translations say that we will become “perfect” (instead of “mature”), and from this some people have mistakenly thought that we can reach sinless perfection in this life. The Bible teaches that, while we are in the flesh, we will always struggle with a sin nature (see Romans 7:14–24). No one will be “perfect” (sinless) until we reach heaven.

The word translated “mature” in Ephesians 4:13 is the Greek word teleios. It is used throughout the New Testament to mean “perfect,” “complete,” “full-grown,” and “mature.” What Ephesians 4:13 teaches is that, the more we grow in Christ, the stronger and more unified we will be as a church. The verse does not teach that we will stop sinning.

Another passage that people sometimes get confused about is Colossians 1:28, which says, in some translations, that Paul wants to “present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” Also, in Colossians 4:12 Paul prays that we would “stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” In both verses, the Greek word for perfect should be understood to mean “mature” or “full-grown,” not “having no sin.”
source

mature......not perfectly sinless

 

[Blik]

There are two separate ways to live, we must choose we can't have both. A Christian lives through Christ and accepts all Christ tells him about living and being, and those who live by the world accepts the standards set by the world that is run by demons.

Many go to Christ and ask for the salvation he offers those who repent, but if they still have their faith in the world and not in Christ, it does not work. Christ said narrow is the gate and few enter in.

 

[SophieT]

run by demons.

the world is not run by demons

the Holy Spirit is still in this world and people are still living for Christ and being saved

 

[Blik]

again, it's works works works for your salvation

you will never be sinless

we do not strive to be sinless. we know that is a hopeless aim.

Ephesians 4:13 says that the spiritual gifts are given to build up the body of Christ “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Some translations say that we will become “perfect” (instead of “mature”), and from this some people have mistakenly thought that we can reach sinless perfection in this life. The Bible teaches that, while we are in the flesh, we will always struggle with a sin nature (see Romans 7:14–24). No one will be “perfect” (sinless) until we reach heaven.

The word translated “mature” in Ephesians 4:13 is the Greek word teleios. It is used throughout the New Testament to mean “perfect,” “complete,” “full-grown,” and “mature.” What Ephesians 4:13 teaches is that, the more we grow in Christ, the stronger and more unified we will be as a church. The verse does not teach that we will stop sinning.

Another passage that people sometimes get confused about is Colossians 1:28, which says, in some translations, that Paul wants to “present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” Also, in Colossians 4:12 Paul prays that we would “stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” In both verses, the Greek word for perfect should be understood to mean “mature” or “full-grown,” not “having no sin.”
source

mature......not perfectly sinless

And it is again your chant of do not accept that Christ tells us about repenting and living for that is works and works do not work for the Lord.

What part of Christ DO you have faith in, certainly it is not "if you love me you will obey me". If you had accepted Christ within and the salvation Christ offers to gift you with, you would accept how Christ lives within a human and you keep preaching that is works and you certainly are not for works. Do if you deny works, how do you explain your salvation? Do you think you can separate Christ from works?

 

[SophieT]

And it is again your chant of do not accept that Christ tells us about repenting and living for that is works and works do not work for the Lord.

What part of Christ DO you have faith in, certainly it is not "if you love me you will obey me". If you had accepted Christ within and the salvation Christ offers to gift you with, you would accept how Christ lives within a human and you keep preaching that is works and you certainly are not for works. Do if you deny works, how do you explain your salvation? Do you think you can separate Christ from works?

how's your mom today. the one you told us about in another thread that tells you how to live

you sound just like her

kindly take your pointing finger and go and look in the mirror

 

[SophieT]

WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?

there is only one way to become a Christian. just one

first of all, Christianity has a definition...not a presumption, not an opinion, not a collective of interpretations, but an actual DEFINED and ACCEPTED definition of the biblical narrative. in other words, not something that can be argued, but something that has been settled for centuries

35 Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 36 But I said unto you, that ye have seen me, and yet believe not. 37 All that which the Father giveth me shall come unto me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
38 For I am come down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the will of him that sent me, that of all that which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that every one that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6

Jesus gives a personal invitation and defines Himself as the way to God.

further, in John 3:16, He states:

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.

the simple definition of salvation is to believe in Jesus. further He states that no one who does come to Him will be turned away...or 'cast out'. He goes on to state that this is the will of God, the Father, that everyone who believes in Jesus will have eternal life and will be bodily raised to eternal life by Jesus Himself on 'the last day'

what does it mean then, to believe in Jesus?

1. you believe that Jesus was delivered by God the Father as punishment for our sins and the punishment was death

2. Jesus was buried after His death on the cross

3. God did not allow the body of His Son to be corrupted or decayed by death, but raised Him back to life on the third day

4. righteousness is given to us from God through believing the above to be true. we hear what is referred to as the gospel, we receive it and we act on it by accepting what the Bible states as true

There are no other conditions for salvation.

each person must decide for themself and then call upon the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior. you cannot become a Christian because your family goes to church. you cannot become a Christian because you do good deeds. you cannot become a Christian because you follow Old Testament law. you cannot become a Christian because you read the Bible

there is only ONE way to become a Christian and that is through Christ Himself

Jesus, is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He alone is sinless and has been offered as the final sacrifice and He lives forever to make intercession, or 'pleade' the case for the believers righteousness, which is IN Him and in no other and not through anything we can do.

18So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless 19(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

20And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath, 21but Jesus became a priest with an oath by the One who said to Him:

“The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind:

‘You are a priest forever.’ ”

22Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

23Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office. 24But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. 25Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.

26Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

27Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself. 28For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, who indwells all believers, is not salvation. this, occurs AFTER salvation

 

[Blik]

how's your mom today. the one you told us about in another thread that tells you how to live

you sound just like her

kindly take your pointing finger and go and look in the mirror

Because you are absorbed with judging other people instead of living for Christ does not mean that others follow your example. You speak against works, the Lord speaks for works. I accept the Lord, not you.

 

[oyster67]

surely just accepting Christ doesn't mean we have salvation. Does it?

Shur does.

 

[Hone]

WHY are we Christians, if we are not striving to be like Christ, (A son/daughter of GOD).
When we say we follow Christ, are we not trying to be sinless, where is the faith and the belief that we all talk about,
that GOD can renew us, that Jesus spoke of when he said, we can move mountains and more
if we follow him fully, doesn't that include trying to be sinless.
I'm not ignorant to the fact that it's highly improbable I will succeed, because of our fallen nature, but I don't recall there being a base number for how many sins can be removed from us.
we are not meant to surrender to our sins, we are to overcome them, the more we overcome, the more sinless we become. is that right ?
I might not be able to, you may not be able to, but someone could, and if that someone could, then logic says many can.
I will not begrudge any person in their attempt to continually, follow Jesus in glorifying GOD.

 

[Blik]

the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, who indwells all believers, is not salvation. this, occurs AFTER salvation

You are my enemy, against anything I say even the scriptures I post, yet here you are speaking of the indwelling spirit of the Lord that has transforming power. It is what I preach, how can you know of it when you live as an enemy? I am so thankful that even my enemies know of Christ's power. Have you received Christ within you? How can you live with the love of Christ within and live as a complete enemy of someone who loves the Lord? You bewilder me.

 

[Gardenias]

how's your mom today. the one you told us about in another thread that tells you how to live

you sound just like her

kindly take your pointing finger and go and look in the mirror

😲😲😲😲

HER MOM???.?.
I've read in her post that she says she is 96!
No way her mom is still alive!

 

[Pilgrimshope]

YES they are sins, and if you are renewed with a new heart and new spirit, they could be removed with due diligence, and the grace of GOD.
NOT once have I said I was better than anyone on here, and a Christian who doesn't admit they are a sinner, is either CHRIST, or delusional,
but that's not to say it can't be done, cause the Bible tells us, and gives us examples. JOB is a great one

your being baited into arguments. Words are twisted here often but remember to bless and rejoice . Anyone who mentions repenting of sin being a necessaty of salvation is going to create some conflict with others but it’s because of this

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3:19-21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Because so many reject the gospel Jesus preached . it doesn’t make sense later when they hear this part in Paul’s epistles when He talks about the light of Christ

mostly people take single quotes from Paul in order to create ideas based only on a verse or two but don’t understand he’s preaching from the gospel Jesus preached so this doesn’t click

“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:8-17‬ ‭

Then John doesn’t make sense either because they haven’t began with the gospel Jesus preached to establish the light we’re meant to walk in

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:6-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬


“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.”
‭‭John‬ ‭8:12-13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

so Many try to remove Jesus word and base everything on verses like this

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:8‬ ‭

if we only allow in tidbits and summaries we’re going to miss the message