Deluded Believers

[KUME06]

Is it possible that a person could think they have genuine belief in Christ but really not have it? My sense is that this is possible, in part based on the reference in matthew 7.

On the one hand I dont want to be the one to decide who has genuine belief or not. Even more so since that is not my place (nor anyone elses). Yet at the same time I cant exactly get myself to accept that everyone who says they are a real Christian really is.

 

[Quasicentennial]

It is arrogance to judge those who are not worthy in God's kingdom. All believers are forgivable for their mistakes because once we make them, we learn to recognise the sins made and avoid them. But sometimes the habit can be hard to break, such as drugs and alcohol, and we must allow the holy spirit to take over and control the body to bring healing to the sin of addiction. People can believe in God but do not take it to the next level, and that is allowing the holy spirit of God and Jesus to actually live and breathe inside you with the power of righteousness from the ten commandments to protect every living cell of your being from the many faces of sin. You must pray with absolute faith with no pretence, with absolute honesty again and again until you feel differently and how people can see you as a true Christian human being.

 

[Emmy]

Dear KUME06. A true believer and follower of Christ will always be recognisable. The 2 Commandments which Jesus gave us, 1) love God with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our minds: 2) love your neighbour, all others, whether friend or foe, love and treat them as we love ourself, or like to be treated. That should be a Christian`s AIM. Jesus will help and guide us, and Jesus will give us His Love, His Joy, and His Peace to share with all we know, or meet. That is not easy, KUME, but it is possible. And when Jesus/God sees our sincere wishes to become as loving and considerate to our fellow-humans as He wants us to,be, then all will know, ourselves included, that we are NOT Deluded Believers. I say this humble and with loving assurance. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[dante'sComedy]

~ unless a person has acknowledged by mouth confession and believed in their heart that Jesus Christ is Lord.

~ then they are not a christian. You cannot make an affirmation unto Christ unless you have faith in His redemption. A person who acknowledges his need for redemption is simply lineing themselves up toward that power thats available in Christ alone. His saving power!

~ With that said, I don't believe this is typical of most said conversions that people trust in today. Many only name the name of Christ w/o real faith in His finished work.

~ These are those that are deceived. If? an individual truely has made that confession unto salvation w/o hypocrisy. They realize the cross. The knowledge of God is given in that moment. Anyone who has come to the cross of Christ asking for forgivness of sins. Remembers their godly sorrow over sin and the penalty that Christ took for us.
~ On the contrary; that confession unto salvation or nameing the name of Christ is not casual.

~ Greater still is the damage that these who pay lip service to God. Yet, denying His power. Where their hypocrisy may poisen those who are weak in the faith and turn away those who are looking for the savior.
~ We never realize the impact our witness for Christ truely has until we put on Christ and begin to work His will in the earth.

~ It could be a word of encouragement or something you did outside the comfort zone of the worldly. Even are calm in the storm. Its all working on the hearts of those watching. Once we draw those lines clearly. Once you acknowledge your a Christian. You best know Christ and align yourself to His will. Because the world is looking for a savior.

 

[Forealzchola]

Every Christian belief differs..there are those that claim Jesus Christ as Lord and personal saviour...but that doesnt accept the bible as the literal word of God.?? Does that mean they are not saved? no...everyone is not on the same level spiritually..so we are not to judge...only God knows the heart of a man

 

[Emmy]

Dear dante`sComedy. You are right when you say, we must also acknowledge by mouth, as well as believe in our hearts that Jesus Christ is Lord. But if any man, or woman follows Christ, and knows that God/Christ can see their hearts, and then follows Jesus`s 2 Commandments about loving God and loving each other, would they do that IF they were deluded? The 2 Commandments Jesus gave us, contain all what God says to us in His 10 Commandments. Jesus made them shorter, and easier to understand, and also EASY to remember. I say this with love, dante`sComedy. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.

 

[dante'sComedy]

~ Jesus is the Word.

~ It's either a literal conversion which involves repentance or it's lip service. You'll know a tree by the fruit it bears.

~ Jesus taught in the simplist of terms. So that even a child can understand. There's no need to make it rocket science. Yet, Jesus did draw clear distinctions on the matter of salvation. "You must be born again."

~ there's no one thats going to tip-toe their way into the new jerusalem around the Word of God. A contrary fact to those who are perishing. If? Jesus is the Word of God. Then i'm understateing by saying that we should conclude that He (Jesus) is not making some random mystical statement regarding salvation.

~ In fact, Nicodemus's inquiry to Jesus was fundemental about his personal search for the messiah. Nicodemus was a teacher of the law of Moses. His expectation was as any other hebrew scholar of his time. He was looking for the messiah. Which makes this a pivotal moment for him to have the truth revealed to him. By Jesus the Word.

~ Its a personal God we find in Christ. Personal to Nicodemus , personal to me. And, anyone who comes as a child , searching for the Word. Its revelation knowledge. Not obscure notions. We know by Jesus's revealing of Himself. By the Spirit and the blood. Its most certainly intimacy at its highest form. The created acknowledgeing its Creator.
~ :this was written in response to "there are those who claim Jesus as saviour Yet, do not accept the bible as the Word of God."

 

[dodolah]

test the fruits, my friend.
We can talk until all cows goes home about how genuine our faith is..
but, at the end of the day, the right spirit will produce the right fruit.

There are a lot of fake christianity out there.. but, you can just test them by looking at their ministry, fruit, and behavior.

 

[heron]

When would it be important to know whether a person was on track... if they were intimidating you into doing what they said needed to be done.

But this can be between you and God, whether they are on track or not. There is no need to debate their validity or not, no need to evangelize... but there might be reason to convince them that their words and behavior are not effective.

God leads us all down different paths, and we even go through phases of understanding and emphasis, that can appear to be theologically skewed. But salvation is in His hands.

There is also a difference between accepting the offer of salvation, and living for the Kingdom. The two should go hand in hand, but obviously people operate in different levels of dedication to God and His kingdom.

And then there are people who completely disrespect God by doing whatever they feel like doing... committing crimes and laughing about them, then pretending to be devoted to God.

But if you are worried about losing salvation -- there are very simple terms to that offer. Look them up!

 

[live4grace]

We are NOT the judge. God is.

Saving faith is both instantaneous - like the thief on the cross who confessed Christ - and progressive - getting "worked out" across time as in Philippians 2:12-13.

So I'd stop worrying about who else is "saved" and make sure your walk with Him is a healthy one, which includes loving those around you no matter what their "saved" state is.