How can I call myself christian ?

[RichardT]

I ALWAYS MESS UP IN FOLLOWING GOD'S LAW.... How am I any different from the non believers ?!

 

[Forest]

We all mess up sometimes.

The Apostle Peter even denied Christ.

"Messing up" not mean that you are not a Christian.

 

[ub4me]

Assuming you are saved
you are different
because you BELIEVE
we all mess up.... but the point is...you recognize it, and your need for God
because you believe in God and Jesus death on the cross and that it was for those sins He died....if you believe...you always have Jesus...and direct access to the Father though Him.....and open arms of forgivness, He knew we would fall, that is why we need Jesus in the first place...The best we can do is try not to do those things....and if we mess up go quickly to the throne of grace....start fresh everyday.

 

[RichardT]

Assuming you are saved
you are different
because you BELIEVE
we all mess up.... but the point is...you recognize it, and your need for God
because you believe in God and Jesus death on the cross and that it was for those sins He died....if you believe...you always have Jesus...and direct access to the Father though Him.....and open arms of forgivness, He knew we would fall, that is why we need Jesus in the first place...The best we can do is try not to do those things....and if we mess up go quickly to the throne of grace....start fresh everyday.

Why can't I be perfect like Jesus was ?

 

[RP1000]

exactly
One of the really great things about reading the Gospels for me is how Jesus was always quick to forgive them
The disciples all ran away from him and left him to die, even Peter denailed him after being told that he would!
But what does Jesus do the next time he meets them privately, he makes breakfast for them and he is totally forgiving!
what a great example for us.
We have not seen Jesus in the flesh but we still muck up time and time again. Just like a kid makes mistakes in front of their father but the father does not reject his son!

Take heart

 

[RichardT]

exactly
One of the really great things about reading the Gospels for me is how Jesus was always quick to forgive them
The disciples all ran away from him and left him to die, even Peter denailed him after being told that he would!
But what does Jesus do the next time he meets them privately, he makes breakfast for them and he is totally forgiving!
what a great example for us.
We have not seen Jesus in the flesh but we still muck up time and time again. Just like a kid makes mistakes in front of their father but the father does not reject his son!

Take heart

well , the problem here is that my Dad has never encouraged me in anything that I have ever done , and he is just there to constantly yell at me... How can I forgive this ? I changed the subject completely... My dad has rejected me since I told him that I was getting bullied at school when I was younger... heck , he never helped me with any of my problems and made everything 100x worse.. What a ***...

 

[ub4me]

If we could be perfect...then we wouldn't have needed Jesus...as a sacrifice
if we could be perfect....then we would think ourselves equal to God...
And think we have no need of Him...
and we don't even want to go there...do we? Look at satan.

 

[RP1000]

If we could be perfect...then we wouldn't have needed

Jesus...as a sacrifice
if we could be perfect....then we would think ourselves equal to God...
And think we have no need of Him...
and we don't even want to go there...do we? Look at satan

Yes excellent point!
we need Jesus, he is our example

 

[ub4me]

well , the problem here is that my Dad has never encouraged me in anything that I have ever done , and he is just there to constantly yell at me... How can I forgive this ? I changed the subject completely... My dad has rejected me since I told them that I was getting bullied at school when I was younger... heck , he never helped me with any of my problems and made everything 100x worse.. What a ***...

Look...your earthly father...is only your father for a short while...but you have a Father, who loves you...who will never leave nor forsake you...who knows everything you ever did but still loves you....who dosen't see you as undeserving...and forgives you....our earthly parents...may never be what we want them to be....But look to your heavenly Daddy...who sees you...as a child of the most high God....Change your course yourself...live out your own destiny...which God has had for you all along...You don't need your father's approval for eternal life.....but you have your FATHER'S approval when you seek Him first. Who your dad says you are doesn't define you...it is who God says you are!!!

 

[RichardT]

Look...your earthly father...is only your father for a short while...but you have a Father, who loves you...who will never leave nor forsake you...who knows everything you ever did but still loves you....who dosen't see you as undeserving...and forgives you....our earthly parents...may never be what we want them to be....But look to your heavenly Daddy...who sees you...as a child of the most high God....Change your course yourself...live out your own destiny...which God has had for you all along...You don't need your father's approval for eternal life.....but you have your FATHER'S approval when you seek Him first. Who your dad says you are doesn't define you...it is who God says you are!!!

But God would be just in sending me right to hell.... Im not saying that I want to be sent to hell. I want to change for him ! But I can never be good enough for the Holy Father !

 

[ub4me]

But God would be just in sending me right to hell.... Im not saying that I want to be sent to hell. I want to change for him ! But I can never be good enough for the Holy Father !

Thank God he dosen't give us what we deserve...but because he loves us so much...He died to save us....So if God is just and true in all His ways...(and he is)Then we are of much worth to Him...His creation....of so much worth to Him...that he would bring Himself down so low...to lift us up so high...don't question it...accept it...and Thank him and praise Him for it!!!

there is none good but God!!!!

 

[RichardT]

Thank God he dosen't give us what we deserve...but because he loves us so much...He died to save us....So if God is just and true in all His ways...(and he is)Then we are of much worth to Him...His creation....of so much worth to Him...that he would bring Himself down so low...to lift us up so high...don't question it...accept it...and Thank him and praise Him for it!!!

there is none good but God!!!!

Btw I have one question though... In the book of revelation, Jesus calls himself the " morning star " , isin't that the title of the devil ? Why does he call himself this ? It confuses me !!

 

[linssue55]

I ALWAYS MESS UP IN FOLLOWING GOD'S LAW.... How am I any different from the non believers ?!

When we are in sin (carnal)....we are like un-believers............But NEVER doubt we are God's children and are christians......just keep plugging, and use 1 John 1:9. each time we sin, we ALL fail from time to time. Confess it, forget it, and move on.......NEVER get bogged down with past sins.....this stunts our growth, and the Lord doesn't like it,....... guilt is one of THE MOST self-destructive sins.

 

[ub4me]

Btw I have one question though... In the book of revelation, Jesus calls himself the " morning star " , isin't that the title of the devil ? Why does he call himself this ? It confuses me !!

To be honest...I don't know much about this....
Jesus does refer to himself as the bright and morning star...I know of nowhere in the bible...that satan is called the morning star..I would have to research that.


maybe satanist refer to him as that because he (the devil)thinks himself to be equal to or greater than God...you know trying to claim His title...I couldn't say...

it is just one of those things it would be interesting to know...but don't let it be a stumbling block....just step over it....and ask God to reveal to you...what He wants you to know!!!

 

[AshenK]

I ALWAYS MESS UP IN FOLLOWING GOD'S LAW.... How am I any different from the non believers ?!

Let me encourage you to focus on what's right in your life. You may mess up but don't let it constantly overtake you. Start believing you follow God's law, change your thinking, and you definitely will!

 

[bugsy]

Hi Richard,

I have a question for you. Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior? Have you confessed your sins and asked him to come into your heart?
If the answers are yes and you truly believe in your heart that He died on the cross for you so that you willl be saved then you are. You remind me of myself 25 years ago. I was so hard on myself that eventually i quit trying and left God.
You see I had seen God through my distorted eyes. I was critical of myself and others around me. I thought God was the same way.As the years went on I realized these things ,but was affraid of trying again. Afraid of failing. Besides I had become comfortable in my life. It took a cancer diagnosis to bring me to my knees and back to God 5 months ago. What a glorious relationship I have had with Him since. One based on love and forgiveness. One based on Him accepting me just as I am. Yes we all deserve to go to hell. But you have to believe that because of what Christ did for us on calvary we don't have to go to hell. Its not based on ANYTHING we could ever do, but ONLY on Gods loving grace. The fact that you feel bad about your sins tells me your heart is right. If it is sins that you feel you can,t control, then maybe its time to go to your pastor for help. Theres no shame in that. I hope I've helped some. God Bless and I will keep you in my prayers.

P.S. I'm no psycoligist but it seems to me that your relationship with your cold and unapproving father has a very large part in how you see yourself and possibly God also. Sometimes we view him the same way we view our parents. I did. It took me to come to the understanding of that to finally have a healty and happy relationship with God.

 

[revrobor]

Btw I have one question though... In the book of revelation, Jesus calls himself the " morning star " , isin't that the title of the devil ? Why does he call himself this ? It confuses me !!

Isaiah refers to Satan as the morning star when he tells about Satan falling from Heaven. Satan had a high position as Lucifer (the bright morning star) before he rebelled and was cast from Heaven by God. It is not Satan's title.

Jesus refers to himself as the source of prophesy and the bright morning star in the Revelation verse. It's a reference to what Balaam prophesied about the "king of Israel" (Jesus) appearing some day like a star (Num. 24:17).

 

[ub4me]

Isaiah refers to Satan as the morning star when he tells about Satan falling from Heaven. Satan had a high position as Lucifer (the bright morning star) before he rebelled and was cast from Heaven by God. It is not Satan's title.

Jesus refers to himself as the source of prophesy and the bright morning star in the Revelation verse. It's a reference to what Balaam prophesied about the "king of Israel" (Jesus) appearing some day like a star (Num. 24:17).

Thanks for the clarity.....

 

[ladake]

But God would be just in sending me right to hell.... Im not saying that I want to be sent to hell. I want to change for him ! But I can never be good enough for the Holy Father !

Sweetie, don't you realize that you are one of God's chosen children. Once you accept Christ as your saviour, you are an heir to God. You have to look at it like this, God has adopted you as His son, just like Jesus, you are now God's child and Jesus's brother. Because of His precious Son and Holy Spirit that lives within you, you can call on Him as your Abba Father. That personal and loving Father who loves you, protects, plans for, cares for, keeps and blesses you. You want to change for God, do that in accordance to His word, ask Him to make you pleasing in His sight. Don't be afriad to talk to Him one on one and share your heart and soul with Him. He wants to hear you, commune with you and most of all help you.

This so coincedes with my bible study tonight and I hope it helps you.

Romans 8

NIV:

15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

KJV:


15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

 

[KenBrauckmann]

Richard -

Let me see if I can explain it quickly to you. (Read Romans 1-8 as supporting text.)

God's Law (Moral Law = 10 Commandments) was given to all men in our hearts (Conscience - see Romans 1 or 2 - I don't have my NT with me here.) as a standard of HIS holiness. It is the standard by which we will all be judged to determine if we are 'good enough' to get into heaven on our own merits. In this, we will ALL fail to meet the standard.

SO - God sent his Son, Jesus Christ to fulfill the requirements of HIS LAw (Jesus led the perfect life mentioned above by others) AND THEN Jesus was to suffer and die in our place so that GOd would have the legal authority to impute (Enter as in an accounting register - like the 'Bank Error In Your Favor' card of Monopoly games) unto those of us who believe (trust) in Jesus HIS righteousness in place of our own.

Paul explains this using legal terms - the word translated 'righteousness' is the word dikaoo - which refers to the decision of a judge, after examining all the evidence, that the accused party is innocent of the charges. In our case, those who accept Jesus' death in place of their own are declared innocent despite the fact that all the evidence of our deeds as well as our own testimony (verbal admissions of guilt) stand in witness against us. The evidence is thrown against Jesus because of our claim of faith in HIm - His suffering and death having already paid the price of Eternal and Infinite Justice.

HOWEVER - If we reject His death and insist in our own righteousness, God will justly condemn us to Hell not just for failure to abide by His Law, but also for rejecting the One Who paid the price for us. Having trampled the blood of Christ underfoot (See Hebrews) we are now guilty of His blood, not made innocent by it.

See also John 3:17-18.

Hope that helps. Best I could do on the fly while at work.

Ken