What makes a Christian, Christian?

[jasoncran]

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.

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

no, some charimastic believe and preach that the baptism of the holy spirit after the initial repentance of sins is necassary,

ie baptism into christ and the baptism into the h.s are two seperate events needed for salvation.

i see them as seperate but the later isnt needed for salvation. just for the operation of the gifts spoken about in 1 corinthians 12,13,14 and romans 12.

 

[Mike]

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?

One of the stark differentiators of being a Christian is knowing there is nothing you can do. He's done it. The only thing we can "do" is accept what He has done, and our true Faith responds. When we talk about Christians needing to respond and live new lives, this is evidence of faith manifesting itself in our hearts, not us doing more work to make up for anything undone. If that makes any sense Our "good works" are the product of the Holy Spirit working in our hearts, not us trying to do that extra thing to make up for still more separation. The cross was sufficient.

So, I wouldn't say we're "making an effort to be with God" as you put it. If our faith is genuine, our lives will reflect our faith by the power of the Holy Spirit. If our lives aren't reflecting the change, it's probably because the change hasn't truly happened. And to be a little more specific, a Christian's faith must be in the True Living God. We have got to accept that God Himself, in the Person of Jesus Christ, took our sins upon Himself and paid in full what we could not.

 

[Evointrinsic]

That makes a lot of sense to me But you haven't addressed one concern of mine, and that has to do with reading the bible. what are your takes on how much one should read, if any, or how many times or anything like that. I do not understand how one could have faith in a god/religion that the same person hasn't read?

 

[Mike]

That makes a lot of sense to me But you haven't addressed one concern of mine, and that has to do with reading the bible. what are your takes on how much one should read, if any, or how many times or anything like that. I do not understand how one could have faith in a god/religion that the same person hasn't read?

Evo, Romans 10 says:

"14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" 16But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?" 17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."

One can't be in the Word too much, but how much is enough? That would be a little too rules-based, if you ask me. The Word should be living in us. But this would not be absolutely necessary to be a faithful Christian. Missionaries reach remote parts of the world bringing the message of salvation to people who have no way of reading Scripture, but sometimes they've given themselves unto the Lord by "hearing" the message. I don't think anyone would say that those who have come to live a new life, accepting the Gospel and are Christians.

I realize this is an extreme example, but it does negate the absolute statement. If we have access to the Word in our language, and the Holy Spirit abides in us, we will be drawn to the Word to sustain us. But I don't think of such things as how often or how much, because then it becomes a task. We should be in the Word as much as possible. In Anytown, U.S.A., it would be negligent to not be in the Word. I believe a person can know the "salvation issues", accept them, and respond accordingly, but these are "lazy" Christians. This is a Living Book, provided to us by our Creator. Whoever comes to have faith in the remission of their sins by the Blood of Jesus, should be naturally drawn to it.

Not sure if I answered your question. I think the way you phrased it which is understandable, from your perspective, threw me. Most questions about our faith that start out with How much do you have to..., or, How often do you have to..., or, how many times do you have to... Those are foreign questions to a Christian. Because we don't have to read the Bible any certain amount of times. But, someone who is grounded in their faith will recognize the life sustaining need to read as much as they can.

 

[Evointrinsic]

no, you answered my questions perfectly thanks for commenting, it has helped me understand quite a lot.