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What makes a Christian, Christian?

Evointrinsic

Evointrinsic

Member
It seems there is a massive diversity of answers for this question. Which raises even more questions, if you ask me.

None-the-less, I still am in a state of curiosity.

So, In your own opinion, what makes a Christian a Christian?

and as a bonus, If an individual is not your definition of a christian, is this individual on the road to hell?
 
A Christian is supposed to follow Christ. This is done in two ways. One, is to be led by the Spirit, where one is filled with the divine presence. This is a miraculous walk of faith having Jesus Christ live through us.

The other way is to take the teachings of Jesus to heart and do them. Inasmuch as is humanly possible, we are to put the teachings of Christ into practice. Commands to forgive, to be humble, to watch and pray...etc

So the Christian life involves both a spiritual AND a practical aspect. Not all Christians understand the spiritual aspect. Even fewer live in it. And today, few even try to be obedient to the Master's teaching. Too often, the Christian's walk is the very opposite of the Christian requirement. This is brought about by the erroneous practice of setting grace against proper practice. But I digress.

Jesus died for all...not just His followers. God decides to whom the sacrifice is applied. Is is God who justifies...not Christians. So this keeps us humble. The key is obedience and a life that is pleasing to God. It is possible to please God and not know it. It is also possible to think you are pleasing to God and are not. God decides.

A true Christian is learning to rule with Christ in the next age. A disciple of Christ is learning to live in holiness in order to be "married" to the Lord.

So the end of the disciple training is unto a greater goal than just salvation...it is to be glorified together with his Master. Thus, the holy ones with Christ will rule over the saved righteous ones in the next age...and forever.
 
Those who have the Spirit of His Son in their hearts crying, Abba , Father.

The Spirit of His Son is -- Christ IN you.
 
A Christian? Such a simple answer, I'd suggest that those who cannot answer this question with a straight answer are perhaps not true Christians themselves. Also, I have only heard one correct answer to this question, Evo.

A Christian is a man who has willingly and faithfully accepted that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of all humanity, Jews and Gentiles alike. They know that Jesus died to fulfill the Laws of God set upon the Israeli people and in doing so Jesus became the final sacrifice, the single sacrifice to put all our sins upon. They acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the son of Elohim, and the second of the three that make up the Trinity. To accept Jesus and to become a Christian you have to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, the third part of the Trinity of Elohim.

So, the short answer is, a Christian is a man who has been baptized in the Holy Spirit.

And the road to Hell? Why it's a road paved in unforgiven sin, and unforgiven sin comes in two ways, if you do not repent for your sins as set forth by God's Law (which is now no longer used, since Jesus fulfilled God's Laws to the Israeli people) and if you are baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Here is a good article on avoiding Hell:

http://www.gotquestions.org/not-go-to-hell.html
 
i must disagree with one point on pard,and will ponder more if i see it. the baptism occurs after salvation and is a seperate event. for examples see the book of acts,2:38 and a host of other examples of the baptism. if you take note they are baptised first into christ then the holy ghost.

if it was at the same time then why would they need to state it that way?

anyway let us not hijack this into the debate over when the h.s is recieved. i just wanted to point that out from my pov as i am charismatic.
 
How can we know we know Him????

1st John 2
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
 
So you only need to accept that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior and follow his directions. But to know and understand his acts and ways, you would have to read the bible, correct?
 
Evointrinsic said:
So you only need to accept that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior and follow his directions. But to know and understand his acts and ways, you would have to read the bible, correct?
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yes. you know the lord through the bible. and that doesnt mean that you arent saved as one can repent and be saved and die seconds later, you are just as saved as someone who walked 100yrs with the lord.

however if you show no interest in the bible and learning about him. you may not be saved.
 
Evointrinsic said:
I see. so then, from your perspective, anyone that hasn't read the bible cannot be considered truly Christian?
Click to expand...

He said "you may not be saved" as in, there is a chance you will not be saved. The reason isn't because you didn't read the Bible, it is because you show to the Lord that you do not truly seek Him. If you repent (accept Jesus) and never read the Bible, but you truly do seek the Lord, than you will be saved. There are countries today were Bibles are banned. Christians there may never read the Bible, but they can be saved still because they learn of Jesus orally and accept Him and know how He wishes for them to act.
 
Evointrinsic said:
I see. so then, from your perspective, anyone that hasn't read the bible cannot be considered truly Christian?
Click to expand...
not exactly . i am talking bout those that refuse the command to be proven a worthy serveant and how does one do that? read the word.

weak christians are abound, but the lord does deal with to change them and learn of him. are they saved. yes but easily lead astray, if they have the love of god in them they will hearken sooner or later to the call.

it's like a marriage, you want to spend time with your spouse, put that smile on her face. if you dont i doubt you are in love her.
 
The first thing that makes a Christian is for the person to believe that Jesus is the son of God, and that He died and rose again for our sins. Then you have to love Him and serve Him. A Christian should do good deeds in the name of Jesus. A Christian will love and pray for his friends AND enemys because this is what Jesus taught and demonstrated. Christians should be kind to strangers, and not brag about the good things they do. Being a Christian is not about going to church every Sunday and Wednedsday, or praying before you eat and before you go to sleep, or giving 10 percent of everything you make. Sure, those are good things for a Christian to do, but if you're doing them to make yourself look good, It means nothing to God. Everything you do, you should do in His name, not your own. Being a Christian is doing what you feel Jesus is leading you to do.
 
hmmm, So then it isn't a requirement to have read the bible to truly make you christian (along with the other things you've stated)?

If so, then how would one go by finding what is necessary to be saved and how to act and all that? We can't simply rely on hearsay, right?

As for your marriage example. So your saying that a person who doesn't attend church, but still believes Jesus is lord and savior is still technically saved, just on "the edge" kind of thing?

EDIT: To Nina, i suppose the first sentence applies to your post as well.

So as long as your a good person and follow Christ, your a christian?
 
Evointrinsic said:
hmmm, So then it isn't a requirement to have read the bible to truly make you christian (along with the other things you've stated)?

If so, then how would one go by finding what is necessary to be saved and how to act and all that? We can't simply rely on hearsay, right?

As for your marriage example. So your saying that a person who doesn't attend church, but still believes Jesus is lord and savior is still technically saved, just on "the edge" kind of thing?
Click to expand...

If you TRULY accept Jesus Christ and receive the H.S. you are a Christian and you are saved, that's the end of it. It's like a circumcision, once you get circumcised you are always circumscribed (that is a really good analogy, actually!).

The Bible helps to strengthen your spiritual maturity, but plenty of people today and in the past have been Christians without the Bible (though usually because oppression made getting a Bible nearly impossible... also the Catholics used to only permit the Bible in latin and if you didn't read latin you had NO idea what it said or what was going on... yet people could still be Christians)
 
Evointrinsic said:
hmmm, So then it isn't a requirement to have read the bible to truly make you christian (along with the other things you've stated)?if you have the oppurtunity to read as we do in the west, but in china,the middle east you may not have acess to the full bible. i have heard a man got a bible by cleaning after being used for tp page by page

If so, then how would one go by finding what is necessary to be saved and how to act and all that? We can't simply rely on hearsay, right?of course

As for your marriage example. So your saying that a person who doesn't attend church, but still believes Jesus is lord and savior is still technically saved, just on "the edge" kind of thing?no, most likely not, but with all these only the lord and that person really knows.

EDIT: To Nina, i suppose the first sentence applies to your post as well.

So as long as your a good person and follow Christ, your a christian?
Click to expand...
 
Evo, my first inclination would be to be concerned if an atheist brought up this discussion. It seems like a topic that an atheist might introduce to elicit arguments among the faithful, but this doesn't seem to be your style.

I hope we give answers without degrading to arguments and finger pointing. So far, so good. :)

I don't remember in my life ever saying that someone is going to hell, because I can never say what will happen when they are standing before God on judgment day. His Grace and Mercy are beyond my comprehension.

I will say, and have said, what makes a Christian a Christian, and I've pointed out vital matters that would exclude someone from being a Christian. (right now, someone here is either laughing or shaking his head in frustration) There are many side issues that we bicker about that I wish we could acknowledge and move on. But there are core beliefs that bind Christians together, and I believe Pard stated them well. Jason, it's my opinion that your question to Pard was more of a salvation issue than one to discuss who is a Christian. Adullam also had solid words speaking to our lives which have to reflect the change in us. Our faith has to invoke a response, or it is empty faith. Good works have got to include faith, or they are meaningless.
 
mike having the filling of the h.s isnt a salvanic issue that is the baptism. one cant be baptisted in the h.s till after salvation. i avoided this topic as most outside the charismatic movement always say they have the baptism upon salvation vs what the charismatic belief.

however some charismatic belive that baptisim is necassary for salvation.
 
No mike, that is not my intent, and thank you for realizing that :) Although differences might come up, I dont mean to start fights. I have my own personal opinions on what defines a Christian, and so far some of the posts have been quite similar to mine. If however they aren't, I do want to inquire on why that individual sees it that way.

As for your last paragraph, So to put it simply, as long as your faith is strong and your making an effort to be with god, than that is what you define a Christian to be?




Also Jason: Lol, you only quoted me, I think your post didn't turn out right?
 
jasoncran said:
mike having the filling of the h.s isnt a salvanic issue that is the baptism. one cant be baptisted in the h.s till after salvation. i avoided this topic as most outside the charismatic movement always say they have the baptism upon salvation vs what the charismatic belief.

however some charismatic belive that baptisim is necassary for salvation.
Click to expand...

Not to hijack... but what the heck do charismatics have to do with the time at which you receive the H.S.? I always thought they were just people who believed in large baptisms like in Acts
 
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