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What is a Christian?

MizDoulos

<font color=6c2dc7><b>Justified by grace through f
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Lambslove ~ God's child defined means a believer who has come to Christ in humbleness and trusting dependence just as children do with their parents. Believers come to Christ in a child-like manner just as He stated in Mark 10:15.

Hence, a believer is known as a "child of God" or God's child.

Peace and grace,

Pat
 
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Droobie

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There's a biiiig difference between a Christian who believes in Christ, and satan who believes in Christ. Actually, satan is a lot further along than many Christians in that he knows for sure who God is.

BUT, while satan believes in God, he does not believe in the power of God.
 
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ZiSunka

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>>Hence, a believer is known as a "child of God" or God's child.

But a lot of people consider themselves God's child. I have a coworker who is openly gay and is "married" to a Catholic priest and they run a "church" together and are very faithful to practicing all the rituals of the church. Both call themselves children of God and believe they are, yet they clearly aren't living like they actually know God.

If you can say that a "Christian" is anyone who is a "child of God" without any other defining terms, then these two men would have to be considered Christians. They believe in God and Christ, but they don't follow godly ways. Yet that's not right, is it? Isn't there more to being a Christian than just calling yourself a child of God?

Plus there is a whole religious group with decidedly ungodly ways that call themselves the Children of God. Extra-marital sexual activity is part of their faith's practice. They believe in God and Christ. Are they Christians?
 
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MizDoulos

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<i><b>If you can say that a "Christian" is anyone who is a "child of God" without any other defining terms, then these two men would have to be considered Christians. They believe in God and Christ, but they don't follow godly ways. Yet that's not right, is it? Isn't there more to being a Christian than just calling yourself a child of God?</i></b>

Hi, lambslove ~ There are so many people that call themselves Christians that may not be Christians (Matt. 20:16b). What people call themselves doesn't necessarily mean that's what they are. What really matters is that God knows who's saved and are His children. We are not to judge other's salvation, but we know them by their fruit.

Your're right. It's not a good thing to call oneself a Christian and not obey God's precepts and commandments. This would obviously be living in unrighteousness.

There is more to just calling oneself a Christian. Jesus said, "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me." (John 14:21; 14:22) The bottom line is whether one who calls himself a Christian accepts the Holy Bible as truth and accepts the Word as his authority. One's practice is living a God-centered, God fearing life. If not, it becomes man-centered and the Bible becomes just another "good book" of rules to pick and choose from.

As one Christian said, we need to Walk the Talk. And, as we know, the Bible gives us all the principles, precepts, and commandments we need in order to live a godly life.

It is understood that believers are to "work out" their faith rather than just to claim they are Christians. Hence, names are being submitted here rather than the definition of a Christian.

Grace and blessings,

Pat
 
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