What makes you a Christian?

 What makes  you a Christian?

“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. Jude 1:24,25.

Are you a Christian? 

The Christian world is full of denominations. According to the Centre for the Study of Global Christianity, there are as many as 45,000 Christian denominations world wide.

That being said what makes a true Christian. While there are many minor differences in what Christians believe. Differences that don’t really matter when it comes to salvation. There are core beliefs that cannot be compromised. For without these core beliefs you cannot call yourself a Christian.

These core beliefs I believe are summed up in the Apostles Creed. That while not written by one of Jesus’ apostles they still are the core that make up Christianity. 

The apostles creed states,

1.I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth

2. I believe in Jesus Christ God's on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.

3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary

4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.

5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.

6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost

9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,

10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.

11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.

12. I believe in life everlasting.

If you claim to be a Christian is this what you believe in?

Please think about it.

Be very careful

Be very careful 

The apostle Paul wrote,

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  

People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—  having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

Within our multi-media world anyone can be made to look good. And sadly way to many Christians don’t check out the pastor, teacher or evangelist they are following. As a result too many Christians are following false teachers. I think this stems from the fact that the majority of Christians don’t study the Bible for themselves. Rather they rely on the preacher, teacher or evangelist they are following to speak the truth which may not always be so.

To avoid being fooled by false teachers it is important I firmly believe to study the scriptures for ones self. Additionally we should be listening to a wide range of Christian teachers. Whether we agree with them or not. 

If we disagree with a particular preacher, teacher of evangelist we should be asking ourselves why? Where is the Biblical evidence that a particular teacher is saying wrong things?

Please think about it.

We Cannot Impose

 We cannot impose

Jesus said,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16,17.

That being said the only way we can reach the world around us is to sit down with non-Christians and present the gospel of Christ. 

We cannot do this if they see us as trying to force our beliefs or even our morals, (as good as they may be), on them. We cannot reach them if they believe we are trying to force our morals on them. 

An example of how we should act with respect to non-believers is shown by Jesus. Marks Gospel records,

"While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.  

When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners'?" 

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:15-17.

It was obvious Jesus was not criticizing those he was sitting with or trying to impose his morals on them, otherwise they wouldn't have listened to him. 

This is the way it should be for us.

Please think about it.

One Important verse

 One Important verse

"So in everything, 

do to others what you would have them do to you, 

for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" 

                                                                        Matthew 7:12

Put this way it means;

If you are

demonstrating against anyone. 

You are telling them 

they can demonstrate against you.

If you are 

speaking out and trying to restrict the rights of others 

given to them by the lawfully elected government.

You are telling others 

they can try to restrict your rights.

If you are 

imposing your morals on others

however good they may be.

You are telling them 

they can impose their morals on you, 

even if they are not as good as yours.

If you are 

trying to impose your faith on others 

rather than presenting your faith.

You are telling others 

they can impose their faith on you.

If you are

judging others.

You are telling others 

they can judge you in the same way.

If you 

are telling the world you are a Christian

You should be telling the world 

I love you as Jesus loves you,...

unconditionally.

Please think carefully about it.

Aliens and Judgement

  Aliens and Judgement.

The apostle Peter writes,

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 

Dear friends,

 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2:9-12.

Here is a clear statement as to what a Christian is. We are a royal priesthood, a holy people belonging to God, that we may declare the praises of God.

Peter also notes a critical fact all Christians must remember. We are aliens and strangers in this world. Peter goes on to tell us to abstain from sinful desires. 

Sinful desires come in a variety of ways. One however I believe we miss is the judgement of others, or trying to impose our will on others. Jesus said,

"Judge not, that you be not Judged   

For with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged, with the measure you use it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:1,2 (ESV).

The late American evangelist Billy Graham wrote,

"It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love."

                                          Billy Graham.

The world around us is a harsh and at times very unforgiving especially when it comes to the way we conduct ourselves. Thus it is incumbent on us to present the gospel message in love. Saying to people “this is what I believe. What about you?”

Please think about it.

Who are you bowing too?

  Who are you bowing too?

The Psalmist writes,

"I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; 

before the "gods" I will sing your praise.”

                                                               Psalm 138:1.

It is important that we as Christians are not ashamed to praise God. The world has many ‘gods’ and sadly all too many people calling themselves Christians are bowing down to these gods be it the god of materialism, a politician, or even a preacher, teacher or evangelist.

As Christians we must always keep our priorities strait. We must focus on God and praise Him with our whole heart.

Are you praising God or are you bowing to the gods of this world?

Please think about it.

It is Good

   It is Good

“It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning  and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.” Psalm 92:1-3.

One of the things I think many Christians fail in is Praising God. We are quick to call on God when things go wrong but not so quick to take time to praise God.

Why not take sometime right now to simply praise God?

Please think about it.

Who do you say He is?

  Who do you say He is?

In Marks Gospel we read,

“Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" 

They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 

"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ.'"Mark 8:27-29.

This interaction between Jesus and his disciples make it clear who Jesus is. Jesus is The Christ. The One and only Son of God.

You cannot be a Christian and not believe this statement.

So, who do you believe Jesus is?

Please think about it.

Peaceful and Holy lives

  Peaceful and Holy lives

The writer of Hebrews states,

"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14.

Do you live a holy life? By that I don’t mean are you quoting scripture all the time, or bringing attention to the fact you read the bible and pray all the time.

In the book of James we read,

“Humble yourself before the Lord 

and He will lift you up.”

                                James 4:10.

Francis of Assisi wrote,

Francis of Assisi wrote,

“Preach the Gospel at all times 

and when necessary use words.”

                                         Francis of Assisi.

If we are living peaceful and holy lives people will notice and gravitate toward us. At the very least living peaceful and holy lives shows those around us we are no threat to them. While at the same time opening doors allowing us to present the Gospel of Christ.

So are you living a peaceful and holy life?

Please think about it.

Expel them

  Expel them

The apostle Paul writes,

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.

These words from the apostle Paul are clear. We are not to judge those outside the church that is Gods job. 

We are however to judge those inside the church. I believe this means we are to judge what they say and do to see that what they are teaching, and saying is correct when it comes to the Bible.

If it is not then we are to expel them from the church.

Please think about it.

The fruit of a Christian life

  The fruit of a Christian life

In the book of Galatians we read,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22,23.

If we are exhibiting these traits to the world around us then no one can honestly speak negative things about us.

When people look at your life do they see such fruits?

Please think about it.

Christian you to will stand before God

 Christian you to will stand before God

In the book of James we read,

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” James 2:12,13.

Jesus said,

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:1,2.

Christians or those calling themselves Christians ignore the fact that we will be judged. First of all the world around us will judge us by our words and deeds. And I believe they will judge us in the same way we judge them.

More importantly however is the fact that we will be judged by God and James tells us, 

“judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

Jesus said,

"Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  

For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' 

"They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' 

"He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' 

"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." Matthew 25:41-46.

I think we can say that the people Jesus is telling to depart believed in God. That seems to be the extent of their belief however. They were obviously not doing what God asks them to do.

Thus my question; What will God say to you when you stand before Him? 

Please think about it