WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?

1. Foundations: Its about Jesus Christ
2. Born Again: How to be Saved
3. Being Christlike: Walking in the Spirit
4. Tares and Wheat: False Brethren

WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN? Part 1

A 4 Part Bible Study on What it is to be a Christian ~ long, but simple

The question was given on my Current Events Forum (Internet) over a year ago that I had on Bravenet before moving to Warriors of God, What is a Christian? Please do not give your opinions, but what scripture do you have and what do you believe according to that. Speak only as far as the scripture speaks.

I prepared a short list of scriptures which became the foundation for this Bible Study. We will comment on it here, however and explore what it is to truly be a Christian.

 

DEFINITION = A CHRISTIAN IS A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST... read below:

Acts 11:26 " And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. "

Christian = Greek Christianos = literally follower of Christ.

I. THE "ONLY" WAY TO BE A TRUE CHRISTIAN IS TO HAVE CHRIST... WE CAN THROUGH THE SPIRIT AND THE NEW BIRTH.

Being a Christian is different from other religions. It isn't a matter of just being a member of a Christian organization or local church. Being a Christian is a spiritual matter, not so much as a religious one.

Being religious doesn't make it with God... there is much more to it.  The Spirit has to get involved or the nature of the person is not changed. And unless we receive the New Birth and given a New Nature... this isn't a fixing up of the old one, the old one dies and a new one is born.

Otherwise, you wind up like the hypocrites (the Pharisees that Jesus spoke to)...

Matthew 15:7-14 " 7 [Ye] hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.
10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: 11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. 12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? 13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."

John 4:23-24 " 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth. "

The spirit has to get involved with us or we wind up just going through some kind of rituals and motions. God is spirit, and we must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

2 Corinthians 5:15-17 " 15 And [that] he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we [him] no more. 17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. "

Luke 5:36-38 " 36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was [taken] out of the new agreeth not with the old. 37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. 38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. "

We are made literally new! We are made new creatures in Christ. You see... we talk about going to the altar. The altar is a place of death. When we go to the altar, we go to die... die to sin... die to the old man, and the Spirit raises us up new... a new creation in Jesus Christ. It happens through faith.

It is not enough to just become religious, it is an operation of the Holy Spirit that makes us a true Christian. We cannot be Christlike without Jesus Christ. And the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus Christ in our lives. We are born again by the Spirit.

John 3:3-8 " 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. "  

Except a man be born again... being a Christian requires being born again, otherwise you never become part of the Kingdom of God (Heaven).   Nicodemus did what a lot of carnal religious people do today, he totally misunderstood what Jesus meant. He was thinking natural, but Jesus was speaking spiritual. You see... we are more than just physical beings... that is where much misunderstanding comes from

1 Thessalonians 5:23 " And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. "

We are spiritual by nature ourselves, and God saves from the inside out... it is a spiritual thing. We are born of the Spirit... by the Holy Spirit, we are brought into the "body of Christ". We will speak more of this later.

This spiritual new birth is bought and paid for by the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  God sent His Son to save us. Jesus is that light of life that shines in us and gives us life. It is how that you respond to Jesus which determines if you will have life yourself.

You see, spiritual life comes from Jesus Christ through our faith in Him. God gave His Son that through Him, the world might be saved. The problem is that most prefer the darkness of their own sin than the light of Jesus Christ.

That light convicts (convinces) us of our sin. It reveals sin and draws us by the Spirit unto repentance so that the Spirit can give us the New Birth. It depends on if you will come to Jesus or reject Him on which you have... life or death.

John 3:16-21 " 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. "

Romans 8:2-9 " 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. "

JESUS CHRIST IS THE CENTER OF THAT NEW LIFE IN GOD. JESUS IS THE WAY!

John 14:6 " Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. "

Jesus is the way... the Greek word there is hodos... a natural way... a way not built by human hands... a hodos... made by the finger of God.

Jesus said, I am the way... there are not many roads that lead to the top, but only one. There are actually two roads that spiritually we are walking. And we are either on one or the other.

Continued in part 2

FireStorm (Jim Coldiron)
 

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WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN? Part 2

Matthew 7:13-14 " 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. "

How do we find that road? How are we born again? How do we find eternal life? How are we saved? I like that word, saved. We are saved from Hell... saved from the second death... we are delivered from the power of sin and the Devil and the second death.

How are we saved... Christianity 101!

Romans 10:8-12 " 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, [even] in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. "

If you can understand this and explain it to others (and it helps to share your own testimony), then you can lead anyone into the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. If they believe and confess it, they shall be saved. This is very, very clear.

BEING A CHRISTIAN IS TO BE PART OF JESUS' KINGDOM AND THE "BODY OF CHRIST"

1 Corinthians 12:11-27 (NAS) " 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.  12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.  13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.  14 For the body is not one member, but many.  15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.  16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.  17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?  18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.  19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now there are many members, but one body.  21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."  22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;  23 and those members of the body, which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our unseemly members come to have more abundant seemliness,  24 whereas our seemly members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked,  25 that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.  26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.  27 Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it."

Matthew 28:18-21 " 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen. "

When we are born again, then we become part of the body of Christ... the called out ones (ekklesia = church). The church is not an organization of a building, but it is the body of Christ. It is the body of Christ that is the church.

Matthew 16:18 " And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. "

You are petros (a little stone), and upon this petra (large stone), I will build my ekklesia (church).

Jesus is that rock (petra) or stone that the builders rejected. He is the foundation of this Kingdom of Heaven (God). And upon Jesus... the foundation stone... Jesus is building His church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.

The church cannot be overcome. Even when they are martyred, they win. Jesus is the head of the body... the head of the church. We are the members, He is the head. WE FOLLOW THE HEAD!

Colossians 1:16-18 " 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence. "

Ephesians 1:20-23 " 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places], 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. "

Ephesians 5:23 " For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. "

We are all members of one body. Our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life, and we are Christians... followers of Christ with the Spirit bringing that new life in us!   You have a place, and I have a place, and you cannot take my place and I cannot take yours. This is like the finger trying to be the lung, it just doesn't work. The Spirit has given us our place in the body... in the Kingdom of God, with Jesus Christ as our King!

When we were in sin, we served Satan through our sins, but now we serve the living God through Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:1-13 " 1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them]. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. "

A follower of God... a follower of Christ... a Christian... walk in love as Christ loved us... this is an excellent instruction.

Ephesians 2:2-6 " 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus: "

At one time, we followed the Devil (Satan... the prince of the power of the air) through sin and were the children of disobedience. Now, if you have been born again, you have a new adopted daddy... God! And you will be like your spiritual dad. He has saved us and quickened (made us alive) us.  You were once darkness and walked as children of disobedience, and now you are light in the Lord, and you are to walk as children of Light!

John 1:9-14 " 9 [That] was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. "

We become the children of God... born of God!

2 Corinthians 6:14-17 " 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, "

In the end, God wants to save us all, but it is up to us... if we want to use the faith that He has given us to believe upon His Son or not.

Mark 16:15-16 " 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. "

continued in part 3
 

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WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN? Part 3 of 4

Being Christian is being Christlike... a follower of Christ. That is not a one time thing, but it is getting full of Christ by the Spirit and walking in the Spirit.

Romans 12:1-2 " 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. "

We lay our lives before God on the altar... remember, an altar is a place to die. We present our bodies a living sacrifice... we become the sacrifice... we empty ourselves out, and God fills us with Him.  Please understand this, when we are born again, our souls are redeemed, but the body is not redeemed as of yet.  It shall be when it is raised at the resurrection, but until then, we must fight the unredeemed nature to sin in our own flesh.  And to win spiritually, we lay our bodies as a living sacrifice so that the Spirit can renew our minds.

The Spirit renews our mind. The Spirit gives us the power to be a Christian. The Spirit brings the fruit of the Spirit (which is the personality of Jesus Christ).  We are not conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of our mind. The Spirit renews our mind when present our bodies a living sacrifice. God wants all of us, so that He can fill us with Him.

And through Him renewing our mind... giving us the mind of Christ, we prove the good and perfect will of God. We can do the will of God through the Spirit.  Jesus does it through us by the working of the Spirit.

Being a Christian is a spiritual walk... it isn't done by our own efforts, but it is done through the workings of the Spirit.  It comes through our faith and submission to the Lord.  It is a spiritual walk once again. We walk in the Spirit.
 

CHRISTIANS (TRUE CHRISTIANS) HAVE PARTAKEN OF THE DIVINE NATURE THROUGH GRACE, AND HAVE BEEN DELIVERED FROM THE POWER OF THE CORRUPTION THAT IS IN THE WORLD THROUGH LUST.

2 Peter 1:2-11 " 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. "

As Christians, we become joint heirs to Jesus Christ into this everlasting Kingdom.

CHRISTIAN WALK => FRUIT COMES FROM SPIRIT=> SPIRIT LED=> REVEALS JESUS

Galatians 5:16-23 " 16 [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. "

Here's the key, you do not get cleaned up from sin and then get saved. You believe upon Jesus and become a Christian. And then the Spirit gives us a new nature and starts us on a new walk... a walk of holiness... a walk of power... a spiritual walk that overcomes sin.

We walk in the Spirit and so we do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

Fruit that comes from the Spirit, or sin that comes from the flesh... it's a choice.

And the thing is, that though you might be born again... and that new nature wants to follow the Spirit, we are still in this thing called flesh. And the idea that this is a spiritual warfare is accurate. When we walk in the Spirit, we do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. But I guarantee that if you do not walk in the Spirit, the flesh will rule your life.

There are a lot of defeated Christians in the world because they refuse to walk in the Spirit. And they keep defeated. Its kind of like having these two great dogs battling inside of you for dominion... the spirit and the flesh... the one that you feed will be the one that wins.  The flesh is not redeemed yet, so you have two natures within you.  Which are you submitting to?

It is a walk... it is about being a disciple. There are people who prayed at some point of their lives, but do not walk as Christians... as disciples of Christ. They do not live submitted to God, and frankly if we are truly born again and truly Christians and truly heir to the Kingdom, then we will submit to God, and not sin.

The Holy Spirit transforms us from glory to glory... making us more and more like Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 " 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord. "

1 John 4:19-5:5 " 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? "

This is being a Christian... we love Him because He first loved us. We love our brothers and sisters because God has given us His love... if we don't love them then we are a liar and do not even know God.

We are born of God through our belief. WE love the children of God and we KEEP His commandments. We keep them because we love Jesus.  The love of God is what sets a true Christian apart from the rest of the world. IF you do not have love, then you need God... for God in your life brings agape love.

His commandments are not grievous because we love Him. THE LOVE OF GOD IS THE HALLMARK OF THE TRULY BORN AGAIN.

That love not only produces love in us toward God, but others and a willingness to keep the will and Word of God. When we feel like being a Christian is grievous, then we have become empty of the love of God. Its time to go back to the altar.

continued in part 4

FireStorm (Jim Coldiron)

 

WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN? Part 4 of 4
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THERE ARE FALSE BRETHREN... HOW DO WE KNOW A TRUE CHRISTIAN FROM WHAT JOHN CALLED FALSE BRETHREN?
 

One of the things that Jesus promised us is that there would be those among us who were not of us.  There would be "tares" among the wheat and that they would grow up together and that God would be the one to separate them.

Matthew 13:24-30 " 24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:  25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.   26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.  27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?   28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?  29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.  30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. "

You and I are not capable of judging people's hearts, but God is.  God is able to know why we do the things that we do.  He knows who is truly born again and who is not.  He knows who is just religious and who is truly born again.  God knows who is of the Lord and who are the secret agents of Satan who have come in to cause destruction.  One thing about it though, at the time of the harvest, the Lord will separate them.  In the end, who and what we are will come out.

There are also people who are religious, and do their devotions who have never themselves been truly born again.  They are those who are in and out and in and out who have no root and when the storms rise up, their houses are built upon the sand and there is no foundation to them.  These are the ones who will argue with the Lord at the judgment.

Matthew 7:13-23 " 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.  15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
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. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. "
 

Are you doing the will of the Father?  Are you keeping yourself in the love of the Lord and because of that love walking in Jesus' commandments?  It is a walk of love and faith you see.  The foundation must be correct though or nothing else works... you must be born again first, or you just "can't" walk as a Christian. 

Matthew 7:24-27 " 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. "

Are you built on the ROCK?  Is your foundation Jesus Christ, or is it some religious tradition?  There is a big difference!

Once again we see that there are two ways... the way (Jesus Christ) that leads to eternal life - being a Christian... a follower of Christ : Matthew 16:24 " Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. "

I tell new converts when asking me what to read in the Bible first... to read John first (it has more spiritual themes in it), and then the rest of the Gospels followed by 1 John. I really think that you could nickname 1 John, Christianity 101. The following is in the New American Standard translation :

1 John 3:1-14 (NAS) " 1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.
7 Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 12 not as Cain, who was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's were righteous.
13 Do not marvel, brethren, if the world hates you.  14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death."

This same apostle wrote earlier in this book that if we do sin we have an advocate with the Father :

1 John 1:7-2:3 " 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.  8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. "

Sometimes we sin, but we do not live in sin. We are not practicing sinners. Frankly, it states that if you practice sin, then you are of the Devil. The Children of God (followers of Christ... Christians) have quit their sinning business. They might sin sometimes, but they do not live there.

If we do sin, then we confess it and God not only forgives us, but He cleanses us from all unrighteousness... this helps us not fall into it over and over again... that cleansing.

You see... many claim to be Christian, but not everything that says that it is Christian really is. We must actively use our faith... be doers of the Word.

James 1:22-25 " 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. "

Being a doer of the Word brings blessing in our lives. Being a Christian is a blessed way to live. Our very deeds are blessed.

THE UNDERSTANDING GIVEN OF BEING A CHRISTIAN - A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST

1 Peter 4:14-16 " 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy [are ye]; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or [as] a thief, or [as] an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 16 Yet if [any man suffer] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. "

Being a follower of Christ will bring reproaches... persecutions... we are exhorted not to suffer reproaches as an evil doer, but we should be happy when we are reproached for our Christian witness.

Actually it is a guaranteed thing that when we are true Christians, we will be persecuted. Jesus made it clear that we were not greater than our master, and if they hated Him then they would hate us.

I put it to you here the witness of the Apostle Paul until King Agrippa... and how Agrippa made the declaration that "you almost persuade me to be a Christian". I pray that you are not just "almost persuaded".

We must make a decision and commit to Jesus Christ if we want this abundant life. John 10:10 " The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly. "

Here is Paul's testimony and preaching :

Acts 26:1-29 " 1 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself: 2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews: 3 Especially [because I know] thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. 4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; 5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: 7 Unto which [promise] our twelve tribes, instantly serving [God] day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. 8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? 9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against [them]. 11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled [them] to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted [them] even unto strange cities.
12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. 14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? [it is] hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. 16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17 Delivering thee from the people, and [from] the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. 19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and [then] to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. 21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill [me]. 22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: 23 That Christ should suffer, [and] that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. 25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. 26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.

27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. 28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. "

This being the testimony of Paul to Agrippa. Being a Christian is all about Jesus Christ in our lives... and His presence bringing us into His Kingdom.

Being a Christian is to become an heir to the Kingdom of God... Jesus Christ being the King.

Revelation 1:4-7 " 4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; 5 And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. "

Revelation 5:9-10 " 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. "

FireStorm (Jim Coldiron)