People on this board throw around the term Christian verses non Christian. What exactly are the requirements to be a Christian?
People on this board throw around the term Christian verses non Christian. What exactly are the requirements to be a Christian?
John 5: 24 says, "Truly, I say to you, he who hears My words and believes in Him who sent Me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but has p***ed from death to life."
John 6: 29 says, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."
Romans 10: 9 says, "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
So a Christian is defined by having faith in the true Jesus and nothing else?John 5: 24 says, "Truly, I say to you, he who hears My words and believes in Him who sent Me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but has p***ed from death to life."
John 6: 29 says, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."
Romans 10: 9 says, "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
Certainly Christians will naturally have a life consistent with their beliefs and over time they will become more and more Christlike via sanctification. But does anyone feel that there are any actions or works required in addition to your faith to be considered a Christian?
Actions or works? No. We cannot earn our salvation. Eph. 2:10 says that Christ has prepared us to DO works but we are not saved BY works.
"Nothing in my hand I bring; simply to thy cross I cling."
Just curious here, but how do you get faith in the true Jesus "and nothing else" out of those scriptures.
Snow- John 6: 29 states that the work of God is to believe in Him whom He sent. Our own works of righteousness are like filthy rags before God. We only become righteous when we acknowledge and accept what He did for us. 2 Corinthians 5: 21 tells us that Christ became sin for us, to take our deserved punishment, so we could be reconciled with God. Our works, filthy rags, could never allow us to reconciled to the Father.
I don't believe Jesus' atonement is sufficient to absolve you of all personal responsibility.Snow- John 6: 29 states that the work of God is to believe in Him whom He sent. Our own works of righteousness are like filthy rags before God. We only become righteous when we acknowledge and accept what He did for us. 2 Corinthians 5: 21 tells us that Christ became sin for us, to take our deserved punishment, so we could be reconciled with God. Our works, filthy rags, could never allow us to reconciled to the Father.
Do you think God accepts filthy rags?
Jim from your comment above it appears that there are only a small percentage of Christians who are really Christians. Can you tell me the criteria you use to determine who is and who is not really a Christian?
What could possibly be more important in knowing the exact criteria for being a Christian? How could a person know what is required if he has no idea what is required? I am a little surprised at the lack of responses from some of our long term posters.
Last edited by Billyray; 05-24-2011 at 07:25 PM.
We are Christians because of the resurrection.
No other teaching in the Bible stands as important that this one single idea.
That Christ died, and was raised again in an immortal body of flesh and bone.
Now, after this, there are some other very important ideas that mark us Christians out.
The Trinity, salvation my Grace though faith, baptism, the holy Meal...the use of the Bible as canon...
Good thread here Billyray. I found every answer good, but for me there is but one truth that defines what being a Christian is. And given the culture that we are living in this truth is an absolute, for today the word "christian" has any number of definitions, and some of those definitions are totally repugnant to me.
The one truth for me to be a christian is simply this, "you must be born again." That is, the old is p***ed away, all things have become new. Being born from above. It is such a simple yet profoundly life changing event.
One who has never been born again is not a christian, he or she may claim to be a christian, but inevitably, they cannot be based upon this one truth.
Thanks be to Him who made this rebirth possible. ĦA El sea la gloria!
dfoJC
Interesting that any 'Christian" believes there are "requirements" to be a Christian.
So, the question becomes--would you consider the Good Samaritan a "Christian" or not?
I agree.Good thread here Billyray. I found every answer good, but for me there is but one truth that defines what being a Christian is. And given the culture that we are living in this truth is an absolute, for today the word "christian" has any number of definitions, and some of those definitions are totally repugnant to me.
The one truth for me to be a christian is simply this, "you must be born again." That is, the old is p***ed away, all things have become new. Being born from above. It is such a simple yet profoundly life changing event.
One who has never been born again is not a christian, he or she may claim to be a christian, but inevitably, they cannot be based upon this one truth.
Thanks be to Him who made this rebirth possible. ĦA El sea la gloria!
dfoJC
Do you believe that being "born again" is a work of God and not of man, i.e. that God is the one responsible for regeneration?
BigJ you have a good point and a point that I am trying to get at with this thread. You are a least consistent with your theological position. You believe in works and actions in addition to faith so when you said that I was not a Christian it was based on the belief that I did not display certain works/actions. However when Jim said that I was not a Christian this goes against what he believes theologically thus it is inconsistent on his part. Agree?
Since when has a christian here ever said that there are no "requirements to be a Christian.. If that were the case I would call you a Christian or a Moslem a Christian. You have to Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as He is revealed in His word the Bible to be a Christian.. The Moslem believes that Jesus was a prophet, the member of the LDS church believes Him to be a created being that became a god by obedience to laws and ordinances.. No difference really, both say He is a creation of God.. But do they hold that He is GOD, THE GOD, the creator of all things? NO! As long as mormonism holds that doctrine of the nature of Jesus it is a non christian religion. As long as it hold the earmarks of a religious cult (Extra biblical revelation and strong centralized leadership) it is a cult.. Mormonism is therefore a non-christian cult..
As far as a born again child of God not being a Christian that is a misstatement that shows serious misunderstanding.. As long as there are such people here that cause division within the body of Christ they will be treated as an unbeliever.. Not that they are an unbeliever.. IHS jim
Jim I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ yet you have labeled me a non Christian. Don't you think that this is an inconsistency on your part? Or do you believe that additional works/actions are required?
Both sides have labeled me a non Christian. I think that it is only fair that both sides give me (and others who might benefit) the requirements to be a Christian. This seems like a simple yet fair request. Don't you think?
Yes. When a person begins to study the Word and gains understanding of the whole Biblical concept of Salvation it is quite clear that it is, and only can be, a work of God. No man can "regenerate" himself. Men have tried, and in the end the "regeneration" is nothing more than a temporal behavioral change. No lasting effect. No relationship with God restored. Nothing but a very soulish undertaking. It in no way allows a man to enter into the new and living covenant which salvation is a part of.
Be blessed,
dfoJC