Christian?

 

What is a Christian? – evidence presented by the Apostle John

Please read 1 John through to follow my summary.

1.    Eternal life is found in Jesus Christ alone.

John identifies true believers as those living in the light.

The light of God’s presence exposes sin (see John 3:19), but it also show God’s remedy for sin – “the blood of Jesus Christ , His Son, cleanses us from every sin”.

The evidence – a true Christian will own up to the presence of sin, confess it and trust in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ the Lord for forgiveness.

 

2 ..John identifies the problem of hypocrisy – claiming to belong to God but not living in the truth.

Genuine life from God (new birth) is seen in the way a believer lives. That means, obeying God’s word and living as Christ lived.

      Next he compares light and darkness. Those living in the light will renounce hate for others, and recognise satan as a deceiving enemy. The believer will choose to love, and to have God’s word living in their heart.  This narrow path is the opposite to following the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride of life. It is a path of fellowship with God the Father.

         The road of life encounters enemies – enemies of Christ..ie  antichrist.

     The evidence of belonging to God is the active presence of the Holy Spirit, providing truth and understanding. He gives understanding about who Jesus really is – Jesus the Saviour, the Messiah (Christ), the Son. More than doctrinal correctness, this is real fellowship with the Father and the Son.

 

3 .. Fellowship with God dispels fear and ignites living hope. This includes the return of the living Lord Jesus – to see Him and be like Him.

The evidence of this hope will be pure living. Like as Christ is pure. True believers can’t keep on sinning because they have been born of God.

   God’s commands are not excluded, but the believer is given power to live with the higher, highest motive – love (God’s kind of love). Just as God has loved, giving His only Son for us, so we should love one another in practical ways.(not just words)

Two vital evidences are connected – Believing in the Name of God’s Son and loving one another.

4 … Danger signs arise again and the real and the false are identified by their belief about Jesus. Some deny that Jesus was a real man – this is error. By the Holy Spirit, the genuine believer knows who Jesus really is.

      A short summary  –

       no love- not connected to God

       God’s love is evidenced by Him sending His only Son to be the sacrifice to take away our sins.   

        The believer’s love to others is to be the evidence of God’s love in us.

5 …This world has temptations, a world of enemies, a world of error. The evidence of being a child of God is seen in the victory gained by faith in Jesus Christ, God’s Son.

    This is real life “Whoever has the Son, has life”.

 

Thus the believer can be sure of having eternal life-  not presumption. It is not confidence in self, church, ceremony, ritual.

It is confidence in God’s love, shown by His grace providing a rescue mission sufficient to bring us right into God’s family, and finally to be transformed into the likeness of His Son.

 

   John the witness and Apostle of Christ, concludes his letter with powerful positive statements:

1.    5:18 “We know that those who have become part of God’s family do not make a practice of sinning.”

2.   5:19  “We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the power and control of the evil one.”

3.   5:20 “We know that the Son of God has come, and He has given us understanding so that we can know the true God.”

“Now we are in God, because we are in His Son. He is the only true God , and He is eternal life.” (NLT)

 

John has given us the evidences of a genuine believer, a child of God. Now it is for us to look into this mirror and decide before God are we really a child in God’s family or not?

 

All the praise be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

johnmckee@internode.on.net

What is a Christian ?

 

What is a Christian ? – God’s perspective

Let the Bible answer from the Bible book to the Romans. Please read it through as I give a summary outline.

The intended outcome from Romans 15:13

“God who gives you hope, fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in HOPE.”

 

1       God is offended by all wrong doing – worshiping idols, immoral living, selfish living, hypocritical judgements, disobeying God’s laws.

2      God condemns sin but withholds judgement -  all are guilty

3      God loves all people in spite of their sin – He rescues lost people at great cost to Himself!

4      God sent Jesus Christ – the perfect man, the Son of God.

-      The sacrifice for sins, to bring us back to God

5      God’s terms of reconciliation  - Repentance (turning away from sinful behaviour and rebellious attitudes).

-       Faith in the  Jesus Christ the Saviour, the Lord, God’s Son.

6      God’s recovery plan – believers are changed from the Adam family to be ‘in Christ’ as God’s children.

-      Believers are forgiven of their sins and made right with God.

-      Belonging to God includes the gift of Eternal Life

-      Being part of God’s family is having the Holy Spirit for prayer, understanding, strength and hope.

7      God’s call to responsibility  - He has done so much, believers are called to yield body, soul and spirit to His good ways.

 

8      God’s design for living – hope – depending on His promises.

-      Joy – praise and thankfulness that enables us to overcome in varying circumstances.

-      Peace  - peace with God and others.

-      The Holy Spirit – enabling a believer to live above the normal, for the Lord God.

9       God’s destination for those trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ -  new bodies and a place in the Father’s house in heaven. What wonderful mercy and grace.

 

Conclusion:-

We all need to be saved from sin and hell.

All can be saved , because God spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all!    (Romans 8:32)

Every believer can be sure of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord!

 

“If you will confess with your mouth Jesus is LORD, and believe in your heart that God has raised HIM from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

 

From God’s perspective, your genuine faith in His Son changes everything. From sin to salvation, from lost to found, from hell to heaven. It is not what humans see that matters, but God who knows the hearts is able and willing to make you a true Child of God. Then we can speak to Him in prayer as ‘Abba Father’.

 

A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ, trusting in what God has done, not in what we might do.

A Christian

 

What is a Christian?  - Bible answers

Three perspectives:

1       Sheep in the fold of Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd

2      Sinners forgiven by God as taught to the people at Rome

3      Children in the family of God as presented by the Apostle John

Please read the Bible section – John chapter 10 (Bibles available free on request)

Jesus was identifying the true compared to the false using the metaphor of sheep being cared for by the shepherd.

 

Verse 9 – “ I am the gate (door). Those who come in through Me , will be saved.” 

Becoming a Christian is a deliberate choice to enter the care of the Good Shepherd (Jesus Christ the Lord). He saves from sin and destruction. He feeds His own with spiritual food. He gives life in fulness now and for eternity.

 

Verse 11 “ I am the Good Shepherd, the Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

All of us are like sheep that have wandered off into our own ways and the wages of our sin is death. But Jesus died for our sins. He died our death for us. Now that He is alive again, genuine Christians belong to Him. (not independent of Him)

 

Verse 27  “My sheep hear my voice and they follow me”

A true Christian will accept and trust the words of Jesus. And like sheep in His flock, will follow Him wherever He may lead (see Psalm 23) . 

It is rather thrilling to see people, young and old, searching the Bible for the words of the Lord Jesus, and then willing to go His way, obey His words and walk in His steps.

 

Verse 28  “ I give them eternal life and they will never perish.”

The genuine Christian can rest upon the promises of the Good Shepherd. By His death and resurrection, the gift of eternal life in heaven is sure, and the Father’s love and power will keep us from every enemy.

 

A true Christian is not about heritage, personal goodness, religion ceremony or emotional experience. It is about trusting (believing, faith) in the Very special person – Jesus Christ our LORD – the Good Shepherd who invites us all to enter in and be one of His sheep.

 

The Apostle Peter summarised the same truth in his letter –

 1 Peter:

2/25  ‘Now you have returned to your Shepherd’

1/18  ‘Redeemed .. by the blood of Christ….Born again ‘

2/3    ‘craving pure, spiritual milk’

2/21   ‘ follow in HIS steps’

1/4    ‘.. priceless inheritance kept in heaven for you’

 

I do hope that all my readers can say meaningfully :

 

        “The LORD is my Shepherd”

Taking our place as dependant sheep, takes away our fears and gives us sure hope for time and eternity. Then we can truly sing and praise the great Shepherd in heaven – for HE is worthy.

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Ps 23

https://vimeo.com/198514381?fe=sh&fl=pl&ref=fb-share&fbclid=IwY2xjawRRPXtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe4qiVPrXvexjgPlTqYuQoS2X3uJUEAJIHeAcHHZL7dy8xvpr9f9j1qaDdlZo_aem_KbGKr96sI5zlFVWGmsWlvg

Church

 

The problem of church:

Quote from Amir T.

‘I believe that many, many people who call themselves Christians are a bit confused about what Christianity is all about. They think that just because they go to church, they are Christians. Well try standing in a car park and see if you turn into a car.’

 

A serious question “What makes one a Christian.” The consequences are eternal!

The end

 

The final invitation of the Bible:

“The Spirit and the Bride say ‘Come’.

Let each one who hears say ‘Come’

Let the thirsty ones ‘Come’ and drink the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22)

 

What a beautiful ending to the Bible.

All has been done by God and the Lamb to open wide the door of mercy and grace (undeserved favour).

 The Holy Spirit testifies as to who Jesus is :- the LAMB of God.

The Bride testifies as to what the LAMB has done :- cleansed us from our sins by His own blood.

And the invitation stands from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself:-

 “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door , I will come in! “ (Revelation 3)

Religion/ culture

 

I have been interacting for some years with many religions and cultures.

My conclusion:

Most religions are characterised by manipulation of the human desire to worship a higher power. The minds and lives of multitudes are oppressed beyond sensible reasoning. Sadly , both the oppressor and the oppressed end up in the ditch.

            Culture is largely the product of religion. The food eaten, the clothes worn, the expressions of happiness or grief, the celebrations, the political governance etc are intertwined with the adopted or imposed belief system.

            Most people of the world have no choice but to conform. Those who have promoted freedom of choice are losing it, as the other religions and cultures use that opportunity to impose their oppression on the free!

Where is the answer to the problem?

It is helpful to review history,

      to evaluate present reality,

         and genuinely seek verifiable truth.

 

Nature points to one very powerful, intelligent creator GOD.

   The Christian Bible insists on the same.

 

History points to this same God revealing Himself to humanity.

    Much of this is recorded in the historical documents of the Bible.

 

Humanity has never been the same since Jesus Christ was born.

       The records of Bible witnesses reveal a very special man who announced freedom from oppression and the way to reconnect with the LORD God.  Many have over the centuries believed in Him. Multitudes have rejected Him or the millions who have never heard the truth about Him.

 

Since then religious oppression has intensified in many forms, usually with an emphasis that diminishes the significance of who Jesus was and is (Son of God), and what He achieved by His death and resurrection.(complete salvation )

    The light breaking through at the reformation brought light, liberty, life and love to many. The changes to society then flowed from an available, open Holy Bible.

 

So where are we today?

We are assailed by those asserting the Bible is corrupted, those who deny it historical accuracy, those who reject its moral values, those who deny others access to the Bible and Christians who regard it as out of date or too hard to understand. It is evident there is a sinister spirit seeking to crush the knowledge of Christ.

It remains the most hated book, yet the most sought after book in the world.!

 

So are all religions equal? -  NO, not at all

Is all culture harmless?   -  NO not all

 

Can we know truth ?  -  YES

Is the Holy Bible trustworthy ?  - YES

 

If you don’t have a Bible – send me a message. I have spares to give away.

If you have never read the Bible, begin today. Connect the history of Genesis with the presentation of the Lord Jesus Christ in the New Testament. You will be blessed. Light will shine, truth will set you free, love will call you to a higher plane and new life will connect you with the LORD God forever!

-         But beware, Jesus promised his followers there would be persecution.