So, you’re a Christian…. What does that mean?

Faith Filled Thoughts
January 18th 2010
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So, you’re a Christian…. What does that mean?
Part 1of 2

Acts 11:26 And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Today we live in a world where almost anything seems
to be defined as Christian or in the name of Christ.
Most in our society still identify themselves as Christian
… most also don’t worship God with any regularity.
Most politicians claim to be Christians…
That being said, why are we are not the least bit surprised
when one of them lies or has an extra marital fling.
How can this be?

It’s simplest level it means a follower of Christ.
What does it mean when you call yourself a Christian, a follower of Christ?

1. You must believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Believing, or even receiving Jesus is not the same as “being” a Christian…
but it is a necessary part of the equation.
In other words you can believe Jesus is the Son of God
and even receive his Word as true and still not be a Christian.

John 1
“10. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him,
and the world did not know Him.
11. He came to His own,
and those who were His own did not receive Him.
12. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become
children of God, {even} to those who believe in His name,

13. “ who were born, not of blood nor of the will
of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”


Mark 16
15. “ And He said to them,
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
16. "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved;
but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Ok… you must believe and receive Him as your savior but what more?

Today many wish to be “secret” Christians.
They wish to be quiet about it.
Jesus just won’t accept that.
There is militancy about true Christianity and Jesus will accept no less.

Matthew 10
32. "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men,
I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.”
33. "But whoever denies Me before men,
I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.”
34. "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth;
I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

A Christian has an inner peace,
but in truly taking on the name of Jesus and declaring that to the world…
The Christian joins a war that has been raging
with the kingdom of darkness since the dawn of the human race.
The darkness does not let go gracefully!
Satan will throw everything he has at you to drag you back down to his level.

I John 1
4. “These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.
God Is Light”
5. “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you,
that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.”

6. “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and {yet} walk in the darkness,
we lie and do not practice the truth;”
7. but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light,
we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

So, I must believe in Jesus as the Son of God.
I must declare that to the world
and take my place beside Him in the struggle of righteousness.
What more?

2. Christianity means making a change of life.
Jesus refers to this in a number of ways but one of them is described as repentance.
If you are the same person after becoming a Christian as you were before…
you missed out on something!
Are you living your life the same way now
as you would have if you had never taken on the name of Jesus?

Jesus said….
“I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3

It is important for Christians to remind themselves of where they have been,
or would have been without Jesus.
It helps us all appreciate what we have and what we are now striving for.

Ephesians 2
11. Therefore remember that formerly you,
the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision"
by the so- called "Circumcision,"
{which is} performed in the flesh by human hands—

12. {remember} that you were at that time separate from Christ,
excluded from the commonwealth of Israel,
and strangers to the covenants of promise,
having no hope and without God in the world.

3.There is no hope without Jesus,
and Jesus says there is no hope without repentance.
This is a total change in direction.
This change begins before we are saved and continues after we are saved.
Like the new birth, it is a long running part of the Christian way of life.

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
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