New Christian Planning

[1watchman]

A new Christian might find this helpful counsel for their future:

SEEKING TO MARRY A CHRISTIAN​

Sometimes we hear of a real Christian who knows the Lord Jesus and is devoted to Him, is planning to marry one, and says that the object of their affection is a Christian; but when we inquire further it is learned that the "object" person only said he or she is a Christian, and may attend a church place at times. That ought to at least raise a "red flag" that it really needs to be qualified; but then: is the one seeking to marry the best judge of that?

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If the Christian seeks to find a Christian spouse, the believer needs to be sure the object of one's affection is truly a "born again" saint of God ---as shown in John 3; John 14; 1 Jn. 5; etc.; otherwise this union will become a heart-breaking experience with much regret. A marriage between a real Christian and just a professing one, is the beginning of a troublesome journey. The professor may be sincere and not deceitful, but may not be "born again" by the Spirit of God, and therefore will likely fall away from the profession in time.

There are many followers after the Christian path who do not know the Lord Jesus as their Savior, and yet think they are a Christian (note John 3:35-36) . They are just kind of religious and trying to conform to the Bible teachings and church doctrines, and have not the Holy Spirit. They may not know what it means to be born of the Spirit, so just try to follow the Christian way.

We have all known many sad cases where one married a professor of Christianity, who was not a real possessor of Christ; and the result was disagreements, a very hurtful life and heartbreak, especially when children are born; or at least a great disappointment later.

This shows us then the need to understand salvation and the true Gospel message. One should talk to several faithful believers known as mature and sound Bible teachers; and one should seek their counsel about marriage and the gospel truth. Certainly Christian friends who know the person that one is interested in marrying, can speak about their knowledge and acquaintance.

This matter all speaks of a personal relationship with God’s beloved Son ---the Lord Jesus Christ. If anyone does not show devotion to Christ in their conversation and manner, and is not a worshipper with reality in their walk, all their talk of a belief in God and church attendance, may fall short of truth. Profession of belief is not the test, but only by reality. A simple question of when and HOW one became a Christian might provide a clue if they are truly IN Christ; but if a non-believer wants to marry a certain person, they might try to imitate a Christian and be deceitful, so one needs to be much in prayer and seeking all available resources.

Let us always pray for God’s leading and ask the Lord Jesus to keep us from error, and make it clear to us if one is "born again" by the indwelling Holy Spirit through receiving of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. – R. DeWitt

 

[Harry3142]

If you want to marry a Christian, be a Christian. Christianity is a 'roll up your sleeves and go to work' religion, so if you're really a Christian you will be doing whatever you can to alleviate the burdens of those around you, rather than sitting still while accusing others of not really being Christians.

Jesus gave us strict instructions as to how we are to interrelate with others in Matthew 25:31-46 (the 'feed the hungry' passage). He expects those instructions to be followed by all who claim to be his followers. So if you take to heart what he told us to do, you will find yourself in territory where 'phony Christians' do not go, since they still have a basically narcissistic nature which precludes their genuinely caring about the needs of others. Only those who have truly accepted Christ, and thus have the compassion for others that is needed in order to perform such work, will be by your side.

 

[1watchman]

Without being legal and strict about such things, we need to consider the counsel shown as important to very many who are young in the faith, and sometimes make decisions that hurt them and make a very sad life. I think the paper shown can be helpful for all to consider, unless they already know all things and never err.

 

[Harry3142]

It is neither our right nor our privilege to possess Christ. Instead, it is both his right and his privilege to possess us. It is not the branch which nourishes the vine; it is the vine that nourishes the branch:

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (The Gospel of St. John 15:1-6,NIV)

Some mistakenly believe that unless they obtain special powers, such as speaking in languages previously unknown to them, or understanding those languages, they aren't really saved. However, the Spirit does not give us gifts in order for us to 'show off' how righteous we are. He gives us gifts which enable us to live our lives in conformity with God's plan for each of us. So the 'gift' which we should recognize as the evidence of genuine belief in Christ is not a 'show-offish' gift, but rather the Spirit's 'reining in' our sinful nature, and replacing that nature with a new one, through which we become capable of behaving in a manner that brings honor to God the Father:

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

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. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (Galatians 5:16-26,NIV)

It is 'the fruit of the Spirit', rather than some otherworldly 'gift', which is the 'yardstick' for determining the genuineness of our faith. Those who demonstrate that these 'fruit' dictate their actions can be confidently identified as Christians. That is why the words which immediately follow the listing of the 'fruit' are, "Against such things there is no law."

 

[1watchman]

Your comments seem to be missing the point, but I will not pursue it further. Look up always!

 

[Harry3142]

Your comments seem to be missing the point, but I will not pursue it further. Look up always!

The 'bottom line' is that if a person is a Christian, he will be in areas, and doing work, which someone who is not a Christian will find unacceptable. The environment that appeals to a Christian is totally unlike the environment that appeals to a nonbeliever. So if the faith is genuine, their locations will not intersect. The exception to this would be if the nonbeliever becomes afflicted so as to need the aid of the Christian in order to alleviate that affliction.

This is why Matthew 25:31-46 is important to us as Christians. This passage 'grounds' us. How are we to show our faith in Christ? Where are we to concentrate our energy? What work in a practical sense are we to do out of gratitude for what God has already done for us? Christ himself showed us what we are to do, both through his teachings and through his own work. We are to show the sincerity of our faith through our seeing those in need as our task at hand. Where there is anyone in need, and we have the power to alleviate that need, we are required to do whatever is in our power in order to accomplish what needs to be done.