What does it mean to be a Christian

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Thewatchman

Active member
Jun 19, 2021
622
116
43
#1
What does it mean to be a Christian​



Definition of Christian Marian Webster Dictionary

1a:one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ

b(1):DISCIPLE sense 2

(2):a member of one of the Churches of Christ separating from the Disciples of Christ in 1906

(3):a member of the Christian denomination having part in the union of the United Church of Christ concluded in 1961

2: the hero in Bunyan's Pilgrim's ProgressChristian adjective


Definition of Christian (Entry 2 of 2)

1a:of or relating to Christianity Christian scriptures

b:based on or conforming with ChristianityChristianethics

2a:of, relating to, or being a Christian Christian responsibilities

b:professing Christianity a Christian affirmationa Christian country

3:treating other people in a kind or generous way has a very Christian concern for others



What does it really mean to be a Christian? It seems to me that this term is used too loosely nowadays. Can you give me a brief, easily understandable definition?

The term “Christian,” as we understand it, refers to anyone, man, woman, or child, who trusts in Jesus Christ as his or her Savior and Lord and who strives to follow Him in every area of life. As evangelicals, we place great stress on the importance of an individual’s personalrelationship with Jesus Christ. We believe that this relationship is lived out by way of prayer, study of God’s Word, fellowship with God’s people, and service to others in Jesus’ name. There’s an important sense in which Christian faith has to be expressed in the context of community with other believers. But in the final analysis, it’s an intensely personal and individual matter, not a question of church membership or doctrinal orientation. The Bible backs us up in this regard: ” Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13; Joel 2:32).

That said, we should point out that Focus on the Family has always been on the side of what C. S. Lewis called Mere Christianity. Lewis used this term to refer to that body of core Christian truths which is common to believers from all kinds of church backgrounds. In other words, we are not committed to a particular denominational understanding of what it means to be a “Christian.” We’re an interdenominational ministry, and we strive to remain faithful to the spirit of St. Augustine’s famous motto: “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”

It’s worth adding that our definition of Christianity also takes serious account of the pronouncements of the historic councils of Nicaea and Chalcedon. These councils formulated important theological definitions and made crucial statements about the Trinitarian nature of God and the “hypostatic union” of the human and the divine natures in Jesus Christ. As we see it, these biblical principles are indispensable in gauging the true “Christianness” of any particular body of religious teachings.

To say this another way, we don’t necessarily believe that a “Christian” is simply anybody who claims to “believe in Jesus” and to “follow His teachings.” If this were true, we would have to concede that the Gnostics, the Manicheans, the Arians, the Marcionites, the Docetists, and the first-century Judaizers were also faithful members of the fold. This is something that the writers of the New Testament and the Fathers of the early church were clearly unwilling to do.

If you’re asking us to identify personal “attributes” or “characteristics” that distinguish a true Christian from a non-Christian, we would have to say that Christ’s own definition is still the best. The “mark of the Christian” (as the late Dr. Francis Schaeffer called it) is love. “By this all will know that you are My disciples,” said Jesus, “if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

It’s also important, of course, to give some measure of credence to a person’s verbal confession of faith. But beyond this, it’s impossible to lay down hard-and-fast rules by which time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to lightto distinguish the real disciples from the mere posers. As Jesus indicated in the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares (Matthew 13), that is a question that God Himself will resolve on the Day of Judgment. “Therefore judge nothing before the the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God” (1 Corinthians 4:5).

Strong's Concordance Christianos: a Christian Original Word: Χριστιανός, οῦ, ὁ Part of Speech: Noun, MasculineTransliteration: Christianos Phonetic Spelling: (khris-tee-an-os')Definition: a Christian
Usage: a Christian.

What does God's word say a Christian is?​



There are people all around the world that clam to be a christian but have no idea what it means to “Be A Christian” so lets start here.



John 3:3 Except a man be born again He can not enter the Kingdom of God. This is step one. Just how do you do that?



Romans 10:9



New International Version
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

New Living Translation
If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

English Standard Version
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Berean Study Bible
that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Berean Literal Bible
that if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him out from the dead, you will be saved.

King James Bible
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.



Not only do you have to confess with your lips “words” you have to believe in your hart “soul” that God raised Him from the dead.

There is a very important word in there and that is believe You can not just mouth the words because someone says you have to.



Confess Greek dictionary Strong's Concordance

Confess

homologeó: to speak the same, to agree Original Word: ὁμολογέω Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: homologeó Phonetic Spelling: (hom-ol-og-eh'-o) Definition:to speak the same, to agree Usage: (a) I promise, agree, (b) I confess, (c) I publicly declare, (d) a Hebraism, I praise, celebrate.



Believe

Strong's #4100: pisteuo (pronounced pist-yoo'-o) from 4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ):--believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.

What happens when you do this. Ezekiel 36:26

New International Version
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

New Living Translation
And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.

English Standard Version
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Berean Study Bible
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

King James Bible
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.



God does not pull your heart out of you and give you a new one. A "new heart" and a "new spirit" are one and the same; that is, a renewed one; renewed by the Spirit and grace of God; in which a new principle of life is put; new light is infused; a new will, filled with new purposes and resolutions; where new affections are placed, and new desires are formed; and where there are new delights and joys, as well as new sorrows and troubles; the same which in the New Testament is called the "new man",

and the new creature.
 

Thewatchman

Active member
Jun 19, 2021
622
116
43
#2
Part 2

This can be a very hard time for the new christian; This is where we “the body of Christ” need to go to work. This person my be 15, 30, or 70 years it makes no difference they are a baby in Christ.



1st Peter 2:2

New International Version
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

New Living Translation
Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,

English Standard Version
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—

Berean Study Bible
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

Berean Literal Bible
like newborn babies, crave pure reasonable milk, so that by it you may grow up in respect to salvation,

King James Bible
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:



Why can this be a hard time.

# 1. Satan is after them:

Luke 11:24. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. You can find this same said in Matthew 12:43-45.



This will not happen day 1 day 2 but if that new spirit is not fed it will die! Yes I am sure that there are people that have been alone prayed for forgiveness with an open heart gotten saved and God has taken them under His “wing” guidance and they have grown and become mature a christian and done great things. That is not the norm. That is not the way God has set things up. It is the job of the person and the body of Christ to raise up that new baby that new spirit.



# 2 The new creation needs help.

Matthew 13:18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 20But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. You can also find this in Mark 4:13-20



There is a condition here in verse 19 understanding you can not just have an alter call say a quick prayer maybe even baptize them if you have the means to; and send them on there way. You have brought a new life “spirit” into this world and just as a parent has the responsibility to raise and feed a new born; You Me The Church We have that responsibility to do this.



Proverbs 22:6

What is next for the new Christian or the Christian that is setting in church and not being fed.

New International Version
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
New Living Translation
Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.
English Standard Version
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Berean Study Bible
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
King James Bible
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.



How do we do that?

Acts 17:10And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

We all need to learn to do this. When was the last time you lessened to a sermon, a Sunday school lessen Etc. and studied the scriptures daily to if they were so.If we are not trained up how can we train up anyone else.

It does not written in this passage but you read Paul's writings you know that he gave them the tools, the information to go home and as my pastor would say “don't take my word for it check it out” and study and find out what is the real truth. Once you do that you will know that you are in the right place. You can not just take the word of any man; me included! I make these long posts so you know and understand where I am coming from. I am open to discuss any of this in an open and respectful way.








 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
61,138
30,286
113
#3

Deuteronomy 30:6~ The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.
 

Lafftur

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2017
6,896
3,636
113
#4
If a person lives or dwells in the city of Houston, they are called a Houstonian.

If a person lives or dwells in Christ, they are a Christian.

It’s all about where and in whom we DWELL….or ABIDE….:love:(y)

I am a Christian, amen! :love:(y)
 

Inquisitor

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2022
3,390
1,006
113
#5
What does it mean to be a Christian​



Definition of Christian Marian Webster Dictionary

1a:one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ

b(1):DISCIPLE sense 2

(2):a member of one of the Churches of Christ separating from the Disciples of Christ in 1906

(3):a member of the Christian denomination having part in the union of the United Church of Christ concluded in 1961

2: the hero in Bunyan's Pilgrim's ProgressChristian adjective


Definition of Christian (Entry 2 of 2)

1a:of or relating to Christianity Christian scriptures

b:based on or conforming with ChristianityChristianethics

2a:of, relating to, or being a Christian Christian responsibilities

b:professing Christianity a Christian affirmationa Christian country

3:treating other people in a kind or generous way has a very Christian concern for others
Neither of those dictionary definitions managed to accurately define the word 'Christian'.

Paul is the only author in the New Testament that clearly defines the word, Christian.

Please read the paragraph below and see how Paul defines what a Christian is.

Romans 10:8-10
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

There has been a lot of confusion between the Christian life and how a Christian is saved.

If you separate the gospel from the Christian life, it is much easier to understand the primary gospel.





 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,778
113
#6
What does it really mean to be a Christian?
There are two ways to answer this. What it means to God, and what it means to people. When God justifies a sinner by His grace for believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and receiving Him as Lord and Savior, that automatically makes that person a Christian in His sight. When people look at a Christian, they expect to see something different in their words and actions. So to be a Christian is to be a child of God, and act like one.
 

Inquisitor

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2022
3,390
1,006
113
#7
There are two ways to answer this. What it means to God, and what it means to people. When God justifies a sinner by His grace for believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and receiving Him as Lord and Savior, that automatically makes that person a Christian in His sight. When people look at a Christian, they expect to see something different in their words and actions. So to be a Christian is to be a child of God, and act like one.
Your spot on here.

A Christian is defined according to God's definition.

We receive the Holy Spirit when we believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Christian life cannot be lived without the fruit of the Holy Spirit. So obviously, one needs to believe in the good news before one can embark on the Christian journey. Saved by grace through faith and that is the gospel. Everything else including works, should flow from a Spirit activated heart.
 

blueskies

Active member
Apr 2, 2022
150
122
43
Pacific Northwest
#8
A Christian is one who has been baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and has received Him as personal Savior, who believes and trusts in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ alone as necessary for the forgiveness of sins and who has the living Holy Spirit within them.
And Lives this to the best of thier ability.
 

Thewatchman

Active member
Jun 19, 2021
622
116
43
#9
Acts 17:10And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

We all need to learn to do this. When was the last time you lessened to a sermon, a Sunday school lessen Etc. and studied the scriptures daily to if they were so. If we are not trained up how can we train up anyone else.

It is not written in this passage but as you read Paul's writings you know that he gave them the tools, the information to go home and as my pastor would say “don't take my word for it check it out” and study and find out what is the real truth. Once you do that you will know that you are in the right place. You can not just take the word of any man; me included! I am open to discuss any of this in an open and respectful way.



Paul had a few things to say about that to the church and Christians then and know.



1st Corinthians 3:1

New International Version
Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.



New Living Translation

Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ.


King James Bible

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.



3:2

New International Version
I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.


New Living Translation
I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready,



King James Bible
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3:3

New International Version
You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?


New Living Translation
for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?



King James Bible
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?



The Corinthians where just going to church and then going home and putting there “Christianity” on the shelf till they get back together again on Saturday or Sunday night, Wednesday night, Saturday or Sunday morning.

Being a christian is a life style, you live it 24 7 are we perfect NO, when we fall short and we will “that new person we are talking about will” we need to learn to pick ourselves up knock the dust off the seat of your pants ask God to forgive us and help us to stay strong and get better.

I am not saying as Paul also said in Romans God forbid this does not mean we can just go out sin and come back and say God forgive me. NO WAY, NO HOW! We are human we still have the flesh body and it will fight against the spirit body. You have seen the cartoon with the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. That is a simple way of putting it. The new person needs to know this.



I have adult children and grandchildren, I wish I would have had the teaching then that I am getting now. They have all gone there own way. They are not following God and yet if you ask them are you a Christian they will say yes, but they are not. It hurts to say that. I do pray for them not as much as I should. There problem is they where not raised up right; Why? Because my wife and I were not raised up right. Was the church teaching us to be evil? NO. What they were teaching us was the church doctrine, the traditions of men. No one ever took me under there wing and mentored me. Is that the churches fault? Yes and No. Yes they should have been training us up to become a master builder rightly dividing the Word of God; BUT we had the bible we could have gotten a concordance (at that time I did not even know what one was) and studied like the Berean's . They were learning from Paul and Silas And they still went home daily and studied the scriptures “The Old Testament” remember they were living the new testament. There is nothing taught in the New Testament that was not spoken of in the Old Testament. God word is the same from Genesis 1:1 – Revelation 22:21 He never changes.



Deuteronomy 4: 9.Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; 10.Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.



Before you start yelling that is the Old Testament, We are know in New Testament times. We do not need to follow the law. We are under grace. You have to know that there is a difference between the law “the 10 commandments” they are as sound today as they were the day God gave them to Moses; the statutes are laws set by the governing government at a given time period, they can and do change so the statutes of Moses, are different from the time of Jesus, and they are different today, and they will change with time. Good example back in the 1930,s you did not have a 65 mph speed law, it was not needed. Today it is and some time in the future it may change again. The ordinances they are church law like the sacrifices, or Communion today; again they have changed over time. Jesus did away with ALL blood sacrifices; tithing or bringing an offering to the Lord has been with us form the time of Cain and Able.



Matthew 5 17.Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.



We need to be teaching this to the new Christian to help them build a strong foundation to build upon; but if you are not being taught this in your church or where ever you get your teaching you will not have a good foundation and if your foundation is weak the people you are leading will have the same weak foundation; and it will just keep going on and on and . . . ect.

I say all this in hopes to help you understand just what it takes to raise up a child, to help parents raise up there children in a good christian home.
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,432
3,682
113
#10
A Christian is one who believes that Christ died for our sins and was raised for out justification (Romans 4:25). A Christian walks in the truth as taught by the Lord in the Gospels and by the writings of His chosen instruments. A Christians strives, with the Spirit's help, to bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
61,138
30,286
113
#11
Please read the paragraph below and see how Paul defines what a Christian is.

Romans 10:8-10
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart
that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
:)
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,428
113
#12
If a person lives or dwells in the city of Houston, they are called a Houstonian.

If a person lives or dwells in Christ, they are a Christian.

It’s all about where and in whom we DWELL….or ABIDE….:love:(y)

I am a Christian, amen! :love:(y)
We are born into the kingdom of the world, with our fleshly desires leading us to ways to be successful in this world. It is a demanding world with many rules, led by acquiring things. To be a Christian is to be born again inst the world of heaven We just live temporarily in this world, but our real world then becomes the spiritual world of God. Instead of money and things to satisfy our flesh, the rewards are fruits of the spirit like joy and peace and eternal life living with the Lord.
 

Inquisitor

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2022
3,390
1,006
113
#13

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart
that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
:)
Yes, I agree.

Why does Jesus look like me?

Probably the most amazing thing about the gospel (The Good News) is how simple it really is.

Why God made the gospel so simple for us, is that the human race is so stupid. If God made the gospel even slightly more difficult, I am afraid that no one would be saved.

God's grace towards us continues to astound me.
 

Inquisitor

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2022
3,390
1,006
113
#14
Acts 17:10And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

We all need to learn to do this. When was the last time you lessened to a sermon, a Sunday school lessen Etc. and studied the scriptures daily to if they were so. If we are not trained up how can we train up anyone else.

It is not written in this passage but as you read Paul's writings you know that he gave them the tools, the information to go home and as my pastor would say “don't take my word for it check it out” and study and find out what is the real truth. Once you do that you will know that you are in the right place. You can not just take the word of any man; me included! I am open to discuss any of this in an open and respectful way.



Paul had a few things to say about that to the church and Christians then and know.



1st Corinthians 3:1

New International Version
Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.



New Living Translation

Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ.


King James Bible

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.



3:2

New International Version
I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.


New Living Translation
I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready,



King James Bible
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3:3

New International Version
You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?


New Living Translation
for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?



King James Bible
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?



The Corinthians where just going to church and then going home and putting there “Christianity” on the shelf till they get back together again on Saturday or Sunday night, Wednesday night, Saturday or Sunday morning.

Being a christian is a life style, you live it 24 7 are we perfect NO, when we fall short and we will “that new person we are talking about will” we need to learn to pick ourselves up knock the dust off the seat of your pants ask God to forgive us and help us to stay strong and get better.

I am not saying as Paul also said in Romans God forbid this does not mean we can just go out sin and come back and say God forgive me. NO WAY, NO HOW! We are human we still have the flesh body and it will fight against the spirit body. You have seen the cartoon with the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. That is a simple way of putting it. The new person needs to know this.



I have adult children and grandchildren, I wish I would have had the teaching then that I am getting now. They have all gone there own way. They are not following God and yet if you ask them are you a Christian they will say yes, but they are not. It hurts to say that. I do pray for them not as much as I should. There problem is they where not raised up right; Why? Because my wife and I were not raised up right. Was the church teaching us to be evil? NO. What they were teaching us was the church doctrine, the traditions of men. No one ever took me under there wing and mentored me. Is that the churches fault? Yes and No. Yes they should have been training us up to become a master builder rightly dividing the Word of God; BUT we had the bible we could have gotten a concordance (at that time I did not even know what one was) and studied like the Berean's . They were learning from Paul and Silas And they still went home daily and studied the scriptures “The Old Testament” remember they were living the new testament. There is nothing taught in the New Testament that was not spoken of in the Old Testament. God word is the same from Genesis 1:1 – Revelation 22:21 He never changes.



Deuteronomy 4: 9.Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; 10.Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.



Before you start yelling that is the Old Testament, We are know in New Testament times. We do not need to follow the law. We are under grace. You have to know that there is a difference between the law “the 10 commandments” they are as sound today as they were the day God gave them to Moses; the statutes are laws set by the governing government at a given time period, they can and do change so the statutes of Moses, are different from the time of Jesus, and they are different today, and they will change with time. Good example back in the 1930,s you did not have a 65 mph speed law, it was not needed. Today it is and some time in the future it may change again. The ordinances they are church law like the sacrifices, or Communion today; again they have changed over time. Jesus did away with ALL blood sacrifices; tithing or bringing an offering to the Lord has been with us form the time of Cain and Able.



Matthew 5 17.Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.



We need to be teaching this to the new Christian to help them build a strong foundation to build upon; but if you are not being taught this in your church or where ever you get your teaching you will not have a good foundation and if your foundation is weak the people you are leading will have the same weak foundation; and it will just keep going on and on and . . . ect.

I say all this in hopes to help you understand just what it takes to raise up a child, to help parents raise up there children in a good christian home.
Gentiles are not under the law, we are under grace now.

We are in a different covenant now, a new covenant and a covenant of grace.

Jesus was talking to folk that were under the old covenant, a covenant of works.

Jesus fulfilled the entire law and even the moral commandments.

The law will only grant you the knowledge of sin, you will not find yourself any righteousness in the law.

The law condemned absolutely, slapped us all in the face.

Thank God, that Jesus fulfilled all things for us.
 

Thewatchman

Active member
Jun 19, 2021
622
116
43
#15
Gentiles are not under the law, we are under grace now.

We are in a different covenant now, a new covenant and a covenant of grace.

Jesus was talking to folk that were under the old covenant, a covenant of works.

Jesus fulfilled the entire law and even the moral commandments.

The law will only grant you the knowledge of sin, you will not find yourself any righteousness in the law.

The law condemned absolutely, slapped us all in the face.

Thank God, that Jesus fulfilled all things for us.
What is the Law?
The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17 NKJV)
1“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My Commandments.
3“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
4“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
5“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
6“You shall not murder.
7“You shall not commit adultery.
8“You shall not steal.
9“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10“You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.”
Metthew 5:17
English Standard Version
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Berean Study Bible
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.

Berean Literal Bible
Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish, but to fulfill.

King James Bible
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Matthew 5:18
English Standard Version
For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

Berean Study Bible
For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

Berean Literal Bible
For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth shall pass away, not even one iota, nor one stroke of a letter, shall pass away from the law, until everything should happen.

King James Bible
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

So Inquistor If Jesus did away with the Law; Why is it still against the law to murder someone, steal, bear false witness. It is ok for a Gentile to go out and do any of these things and then tell the Judge I am a Gentile God says I am not under the law.
Where ever you are getting this teaching is leading you down a slippery slope. There is no where in the bible that says we are not under the law. The ordances, the rules, the blood sacrifice, ect. have been done away with. Not the Law.
 

Thewatchman

Active member
Jun 19, 2021
622
116
43
#16
Neither of those dictionary definitions managed to accurately define the word 'Christian'.



Romans 10:8-10
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

There has been a lot of confusion between the Christian life and how a Christian is saved.

If you separate the gospel from the Christian life, it is much easier to understand the primary gospel.


So we can through out everything in God's word from Genesis 1.1 through Malachi 4.6 Then throw out Matthew, Mark Luke and John; Keep Acts 1: – Hebrews 13:25, and then again throw out everything from James 1:1 – Revelation 22:21.


Because this is what you said.





“Paul is the only author in the New Testament that clearly defines the word, Christian.


Please read the paragraph below and see how Paul defines what a Christian is.”


I am sorry you are wrong, and where ever you are getting this teaching is wrong. I posted something on this when I answered another of your posts about the gentiles and the law.







 

Inquisitor

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2022
3,390
1,006
113
#17
What is the Law?
The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17 NKJV)
1“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My Commandments.
3“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
4“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
5“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
6“You shall not murder.
7“You shall not commit adultery.
8“You shall not steal.
9“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10“You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.”
Metthew 5:17
English Standard Version
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Berean Study Bible
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.

Berean Literal Bible
Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish, but to fulfill.

King James Bible
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Matthew 5:18
English Standard Version
For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

Berean Study Bible
For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

Berean Literal Bible
For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth shall pass away, not even one iota, nor one stroke of a letter, shall pass away from the law, until everything should happen.

King James Bible
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

So Inquistor If Jesus did away with the Law; Why is it still against the law to murder someone, steal, bear false witness. It is ok for a Gentile to go out and do any of these things and then tell the Judge I am a Gentile God says I am not under the law.
Where ever you are getting this teaching is leading you down a slippery slope. There is no where in the bible that says we are not under the law. The ordances, the rules, the blood sacrifice, ect. have been done away with. Not the Law.
You contradicted yourself in the following statement.
The ordances, the rules, the blood sacrifice, ect. have been done away with. Not the Law.
You abolished 99% of the law and poked your finger at me for doing the same?
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,660
5,908
113
#18

Berean Study Bible
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

King James Bible
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.



God does not pull your heart out of you and give you a new one. A "new heart" and a "new spirit" are one and the same; that is, a renewed one; renewed by the Spirit and grace of God; in which a new principle of life is put; new light is infused; a new will, filled with new purposes and resolutions; where new affections are placed, and new desires are formed; and where there are new delights and joys, as well as new sorrows and troubles; the same which in the New Testament is called the "new man",

and the new creature.
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”

“God does not pull your heart out of you and give you a new one. A "new heart" and a "new spirit" are one and the same;”

Maybe that’s not how you would say it ? Rather than that’s not what God does ?

he does infact deal with the sinful heart it’s what we know as the circumcision of Christ. He deals with the sinful parts of the heart and mind and removes that d heals and makes the heart and mind new

it’s not as if he did a surgery pulling out thier physical heart he’s talking about Renewing the knowledge within man the knowledge we corrupted in the beginning

the gospel hearing and believing he does this notice the sinful parts are dealt with first and then the new man begins existing by his renewed knowledge now believing the gospel

“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:9-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:22-24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Ultimately to repent d believe thy gospel deals with our sinful hearts d mknd corrupted by the knowledge of good and evil and renews our knowledge and understanding about God , ourself , the world we live in and the eternity afterwards d the renewing of this understanding is what transforms us

repent and believe the gospel is the answer for the fall of man who rebelled and believed the serpents lie
 

Thewatchman

Active member
Jun 19, 2021
622
116
43
#19
You contradicted yourself in the following statement.You abolished 99% of the law
and poked your finger at me for doing the same?
No you said that there is no law and that the Gentiles are not under the law.

You also said “Paul is the only author in the New Testament that clearly defines the word, Christian.” You also said this that sent up red flags

“There has been a lot of confusion between the Christian life and how a Christian is saved.”
There should be no confusion between Christian life and how a person is saved. How do you do this?
“If you separate the gospel from the Christian life, it is much easier to understand the primary gospel.”

If you do this you will have no Christian Life. What is a Christian? Definition is “A Christ man” that includes men, woman and children any one who is of the age of accountability.
This was cut and pasted from your post.



This is what Paul was quoting Isaiah 61:1

English Standard Version
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

Berean Study Bible
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,

King James Bible
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;



Psalm 65:4

English Standard Version
Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!

Berean Study Bible
Blessed is the one You choose and bring near to dwell in Your courts! We are filled with the goodness of Your house, the holiness of Your temple.

King James Bible
Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house,even of thy holy temple.



Paul is teaching from the old testament He did not have the new testament he was writing it.

Every time Jesus read from the scriptures, every time the phrase “Have you not read it” is used in the New Testament they are referring to the old testament.



Romans 8

5Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.6The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace,7because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.8Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God.



This is Paul speaking here; If you are not submitted to God's law you are controlled by the flesh and you cannot I will say it again you cannot please God. God does not care if you are a Jew, a Gentile, a Hindu, He doe not care what color your skin is, all He cares about is who is your Father. Is your Father God, or is your Father Satan.



Matthew 13

36Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.37He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
 

Thewatchman

Active member
Jun 19, 2021
622
116
43
#20
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”

“God does not pull your heart out of you and give you a new one. A "new heart" and a "new spirit" are one and the same;”

Maybe that’s not how you would say it ? Rather than that’s not what God does ?

he does infact deal with the sinful heart it’s what we know as the circumcision of Christ. He deals with the sinful parts of the heart and mind and removes that d heals and makes the heart and mind new

it’s not as if he did a surgery pulling out thier physical heart he’s talking about Renewing the knowledge within man the knowledge we corrupted in the beginning

the gospel hearing and believing he does this notice the sinful parts are dealt with first and then the new man begins existing by his renewed knowledge now believing the gospel

“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:9-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:22-24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Ultimately to repent d believe thy gospel deals with our sinful hearts d mknd corrupted by the knowledge of good and evil and renews our knowledge and understanding about God , ourself , the world we live in and the eternity afterwards d the renewing of this understanding is what transforms us

repent and believe the gospel is the answer for the fall of man who rebelled and believed the serpents lie
This is cut from the end of my poast
God does not pull your heart out of you and give you a new one. A "new heart" and a "new spirit" are one and the same; that is, a renewed one; renewed by the Spirit and grace of God; in which a new principle of life is put; new light is infused; a new will, filled with new purposes and resolutions; where new affections are placed, and new desires are formed; and where there are new delights and joys, as well as new sorrows and troubles; the same which in the New Testament is called the "new man". That new man, that new spirit, that new heart, they are all one in the same.

I started this thread with the hoe of stearing up peoples hearts and minds. I was hopping to get them looking at their own lives, their own church, their own teaching. I pray that this will happen as more people join in.