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What is a Christian? A Christian is someone who professes belief in and follows the teachings of Jesus. Jesus is the Christ (Christ means anointed one) and the term “Christian” was first used in Antioch (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post.
Log in or register now.). Though this definition of what it means to be a Christian might seem adequate, in reality, it is not. When we ask “What is a Christian?” we must also realize that there are false views of who Jesus is. In fact, Jesus warned us about this when he said, “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect,” (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post.
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But in order to recognize what is wrong, we must first know what is true. According to the Bible, God is a Trinity of three divine persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Son became flesh and dwelt among us (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.). Furthermore, if we compare what God said to Moses in You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. (“And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”) with what Jesus said in You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. (Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am,”), then you quickly see that Jesus was claiming to be God. In fact, others testified that he was God in flesh as well:
The true Jesus, the Jesus of the Bible is God in flesh. We see this from numerous passages above. But not only that, the Jesus, the true Jesus of the Bible, is prayed to (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.; You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. with You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.), is called God (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.), and is worshiped ( You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.; You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.; You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.). False Christ’s are not prayed to nor are they called God nor are they worshiped.
But this isn’t all. Jesus was the atoning sacrifice for our sins so that we might escape the righteous judgment of God. He was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead. To deny this is to deny an essential of the Christian faith as well as Christ.
So, what is a Christian? This is accurately answered by saying that a Christian is someone who has trusted in the atoning sacrifice of Christ to remove the guilt of our sins, who also believes in and follows Jesus, who was God in flesh, the second person of the Trinity, who is prayed to, worshiped, and called God.
“Glide Memorial Methodist Church in San Francisco has this Call to Worship in their printed bulletin on Sunday and recited by the leader: “We are all of us Christians, Jews, liberals, Bolsheviks, anarchists, socialists, Communists, Keynesians, Democrats, Civil Righters, Beatniks, ministers, moderate Republicans, pacifists, teachers, doctors, scientists, professors, Latin Americans, New Africans, Common Marketers, even Mao Tse-Tung. Doubtless. From Lyndon Johnson to Mao Tse-Tung, we are all Christians.” This church once preached the Gospel and from which, several decades ago, a most powerful evangelistic note was sounded. Today, many of its services are performed in the mode of the modern dance. Suggestive gyrations are indulged in and the church has become a haven for dope addicts, hippies, homosexuals, and ***-pots.” (Tan, Paul Lee, Encyclopedia of 7,700 Illustrations, (Garland, Texas: Bible Communications, Inc.) 1996.)
There is nothing wrong with ministering to the lost, but it is all for nothing if a false Christ and false hope of what it means to be a Christian is presented. So, I ask you, are you a Christian? Do you follow the true and living God the Son? Do you trust in Him alone for the forgiveness of your sins? Examine yourselves as the scripture says and trust in Christ alone for the salvation that is freely offered (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.).
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But in order to recognize what is wrong, we must first know what is true. According to the Bible, God is a Trinity of three divine persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Son became flesh and dwelt among us (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.). Furthermore, if we compare what God said to Moses in You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. (“And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”) with what Jesus said in You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. (Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am,”), then you quickly see that Jesus was claiming to be God. In fact, others testified that he was God in flesh as well:
- You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., “Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!'”
- You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.”
- You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., “But of the Son He says, “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever…”
The true Jesus, the Jesus of the Bible is God in flesh. We see this from numerous passages above. But not only that, the Jesus, the true Jesus of the Bible, is prayed to (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.; You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. with You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.), is called God (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.), and is worshiped ( You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.; You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.; You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.). False Christ’s are not prayed to nor are they called God nor are they worshiped.
But this isn’t all. Jesus was the atoning sacrifice for our sins so that we might escape the righteous judgment of God. He was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead. To deny this is to deny an essential of the Christian faith as well as Christ.
So, what is a Christian? This is accurately answered by saying that a Christian is someone who has trusted in the atoning sacrifice of Christ to remove the guilt of our sins, who also believes in and follows Jesus, who was God in flesh, the second person of the Trinity, who is prayed to, worshiped, and called God.
Apostasy in Christianity
However, in America, apostasy has reared its ugly head in the church. There are those who do not hold Christ in the highest of regard as God in flesh; and because they fail to do that, they fail to understand the gospel, they fail to become saved, and they fail to understand what it means to be a Christian. Take the following quote as an example (Note I am not suggesting all Methodist churches are like this):“Glide Memorial Methodist Church in San Francisco has this Call to Worship in their printed bulletin on Sunday and recited by the leader: “We are all of us Christians, Jews, liberals, Bolsheviks, anarchists, socialists, Communists, Keynesians, Democrats, Civil Righters, Beatniks, ministers, moderate Republicans, pacifists, teachers, doctors, scientists, professors, Latin Americans, New Africans, Common Marketers, even Mao Tse-Tung. Doubtless. From Lyndon Johnson to Mao Tse-Tung, we are all Christians.” This church once preached the Gospel and from which, several decades ago, a most powerful evangelistic note was sounded. Today, many of its services are performed in the mode of the modern dance. Suggestive gyrations are indulged in and the church has become a haven for dope addicts, hippies, homosexuals, and ***-pots.” (Tan, Paul Lee, Encyclopedia of 7,700 Illustrations, (Garland, Texas: Bible Communications, Inc.) 1996.)
There is nothing wrong with ministering to the lost, but it is all for nothing if a false Christ and false hope of what it means to be a Christian is presented. So, I ask you, are you a Christian? Do you follow the true and living God the Son? Do you trust in Him alone for the forgiveness of your sins? Examine yourselves as the scripture says and trust in Christ alone for the salvation that is freely offered (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.).
ctto
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