| (Copyright 02-19-2025) by Darwin Lee (Bismarck, North Dakota) |
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Just what and who is a Christian? Some would say a Christian is someone who confesses that Jesus is their Lord and Savior. Confessing that their sins have been bought and paid for by Jesus, gave His life in death that they can live eternal at the resurrection. Certainly, that is a prerequisite to acknowledge that as an absolute necessity. Accepting His broken body and Jesus’ shedding of His blood for payment of sins death penalty in our stead. That faith and personal belief is the only hope for payment of our sins incurred, amen. But I ask does that make you a Christian? You believe that most important fact as just stated, does that somehow make you a Christian? You certainly need to deeply believe that Jesus died in your stead. I contend that does not a Christian make. There, are millions of people that identify themselves as Christians. Some are just what one would call “fair-weather Christians”, in name only. They believe in the fact that Jesus did die for them but rarely do much that sets them different than those who don’t profess to be Christian. From “fair- weather” to maybe even considering themselves, “devout”. Again, I contend that does not make a Christian. By now, I’m pretty sure that many reading to this point have concluded that I’m teaching false doctrine here. Let’s see if some few scriptures shed a proper light on just what and who is a Christian. Consider what the Bible, Jesus, God have to say on that matter. Mt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Lu 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Paul says this, 1Co 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. I contend the true gauge of who and what a Christian is, is one that Jesus says to do what he says even as Paul followed Jesus and his word. Paul taught obedience to the law. Ro 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Ro 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Re 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Friends, these are those who are Christs “called Christians”-followers of Jesus. Doing what Jesus commands us to walk in the way. What way? The way of righteousness. Re 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. Believing that Jesus died in our stead, does not a Christian make. ——————————————————————— The “New” Church of God Messenger https://the-new-church-of-god-messenger.com/ ——————————————————————— |
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