What is it to be a True Believer?

[Neogaia777]

But Christians aren't united in Christ to justly be called Christians. They are united in their attempt to counterfeit or approximate his gospel. They all differ from one another in what they teach. They are tens of thousands of different denominations. So the bible doesn't validate them. Its existence testifies against them. Or they condemn themselves by their contradictions. So their waving of the bible to validate themselves is a bait and switch technique like the flashing of a badge to circumvent authentication, so as to gain illegal entry. It's a con job, a violation of trust, and utterly contemptable. It's members are captives not of Christ but of falsehoods. They are gobbled up and plunked in their respective denominational buckets of the multi headed, hydra like creature, which they call Christianity, as if to wear the name of God could make them holy. Or to say that if God will not have me, then I will have him. And I will take his seat, crown, glory, and honor. They could have abided and left Gods work to God. Instead wicked men take up the holy book and make of it what suits them. The result is mass distortion. There is no variance or shadow of turning in God. But there is no continuity at all in that which parades as Christianity. There is nothing solid in it. It is an image. It is all that they have. And it is a hasty bit of gossipy nothing. So if they can make of Gods holy work what they will. Then I can make of theirs what it is.

Are you judging every single individual that is in the various ones?

 

[Freth]

A true believer (true Christian) is one who reflects the character of Christ.

An excerpt from Christ's Object Lessons:

​

There are very many who claim to serve God, but who have no experimental knowledge of Him. Their desire to do His will is based upon their own inclination, not upon the deep conviction of the Holy Spirit. Their conduct is not brought into harmony with the law of God. They profess to accept Christ as their Saviour, but they do not believe that He will give them power to overcome their sins. They have not a personal relation with a living Saviour, and their characters reveal defects both hereditary and cultivated.​

​

It is one thing to assent in a general way to the agency of the Holy Spirit, and another thing to accept His work as a reprover calling to repentance. Many feel a sense of estrangement from God, a realization of their bondage to self and sin; they make efforts for reform; but they do not crucify self. They do not give themselves entirely into the hands of Christ, seeking for divine power to do His will. They are not willing to be molded after the divine similitude. In a general way they acknowledge their imperfections, but they do not give up their particular sins. With each wrong act the old selfish nature is gaining strength.​

​

The only hope for these souls is to realize in themselves the truth of Christ’s words to Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again.” “Except a man be born from above, he can not see the kingdom of God.” John 3:7.​

​

True holiness is wholeness in the service of God. This is the condition of true Christian living. Christ asks for an unreserved consecration, for undivided service. He demands the heart, the mind, the soul, the strength. Self is not to be cherished. He who lives to himself is not a Christian.​

​

Love must be the principle of action. Love is the underlying principle of God’s government in heaven and earth, and it must be the foundation of the Christian’s character. This alone can make and keep him steadfast. This alone can enable him to withstand trial and temptation.​

​

And love will be revealed in sacrifice. The plan of redemption was laid in sacrifice—a sacrifice so broad and deep and high that it is immeasurable. Christ gave all for us, and those who receive Christ will be ready to sacrifice all for the sake of their Redeemer. The thought of His honor and glory will come before anything else.​

​

If we love Jesus, we shall love to live for Him, to present our thank offerings to Him, to labor for Him. The very labor will be light. For His sake we shall covet pain and toil and sacrifice. We shall sympathize with His longing for the salvation of men. We shall feel the same tender craving for souls that He has felt.​

​

This is the religion of Christ. Anything short of it is a deception. No mere theory of truth or profession of discipleship will save any soul. We do not belong to Christ unless we are His wholly. It is by halfheartedness in the Christian life that men become feeble in purpose and changeable in desire. The effort to serve both self and Christ makes one a stony-ground hearer [see Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8], and he will not endure when the test comes upon him.​

​

-Ellen White, Christ's Object Lessons (1900), paragraphs 48.1 through 50.1​

 

[Injeun]

Are you judging every single individual that is in the various ones?

I leave that to God. My issue is with the religion that men have made from Jewish scripture. and present as Christianity.

 

[Neogaia777]

A true believer (true Christian) is one who reflects the character of Christ.

An excerpt from Christ's Object Lessons:

​

There are very many who claim to serve God, but who have no experimental knowledge of Him. Their desire to do His will is based upon their own inclination, not upon the deep conviction of the Holy Spirit. Their conduct is not brought into harmony with the law of God. They profess to accept Christ as their Saviour, but they do not believe that He will give them power to overcome their sins. They have not a personal relation with a living Saviour, and their characters reveal defects both hereditary and cultivated.​

​

It is one thing to assent in a general way to the agency of the Holy Spirit, and another thing to accept His work as a reprover calling to repentance. Many feel a sense of estrangement from God, a realization of their bondage to self and sin; they make efforts for reform; but they do not crucify self. They do not give themselves entirely into the hands of Christ, seeking for divine power to do His will. They are not willing to be molded after the divine similitude. In a general way they acknowledge their imperfections, but they do not give up their particular sins. With each wrong act the old selfish nature is gaining strength.​

​

The only hope for these souls is to realize in themselves the truth of Christ’s words to Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again.” “Except a man be born from above, he can not see the kingdom of God.” John 3:7.​

​

True holiness is wholeness in the service of God. This is the condition of true Christian living. Christ asks for an unreserved consecration, for undivided service. He demands the heart, the mind, the soul, the strength. Self is not to be cherished. He who lives to himself is not a Christian.​

​

Love must be the principle of action. Love is the underlying principle of God’s government in heaven and earth, and it must be the foundation of the Christian’s character. This alone can make and keep him steadfast. This alone can enable him to withstand trial and temptation.​

​

And love will be revealed in sacrifice. The plan of redemption was laid in sacrifice—a sacrifice so broad and deep and high that it is immeasurable. Christ gave all for us, and those who receive Christ will be ready to sacrifice all for the sake of their Redeemer. The thought of His honor and glory will come before anything else.​

​

If we love Jesus, we shall love to live for Him, to present our thank offerings to Him, to labor for Him. The very labor will be light. For His sake we shall covet pain and toil and sacrifice. We shall sympathize with His longing for the salvation of men. We shall feel the same tender craving for souls that He has felt.​

​

This is the religion of Christ. Anything short of it is a deception. No mere theory of truth or profession of discipleship will save any soul. We do not belong to Christ unless we are His wholly. It is by halfheartedness in the Christian life that men become feeble in purpose and changeable in desire. The effort to serve both self and Christ makes one a stony-ground hearer, and he will not endure when the test comes upon him.​

​

-Ellen White, Christ's Object Lessons (1900), paragraphs 48.1 through 50.1​

Those are really very good words, and I thoroughly enjoyed them, but are you sure it's not just sometimes lip service for some of the SDA church, or for some of the professed followers of Jesus Christ?

Do you really think that just only one denominational sect has it all 100% completely right, and none of others don't ever, or do not ever, maybe even have just even one thing right, etc?

If so ever, or if not ever, then just what exactly is it that we are all always supposed to make sure we always get/have/keep 100% right?

 

[Neogaia777]

I leave that to God. My issue is with the religion that men have made from Jewish scripture. and present as Christianity.

My mistake if I was mistaken when you seemed to be making very sweeping judgements about every single individual in them then.

God Bless.

 

[Neogaia777]

But are you sure it's not just sometimes lip service for some of the SDA church, or for some of the professed followers of Jesus Christ?

For example, and this is just one of my observations, those who profess holy living, or strict adherence to God's OT laws or commandments as a means of salvation, etc, it is my observation that they sometimes don't love other people like they should sometimes, etc, and that in this, they have sometimes traded obedience to one set of rules or laws in exchange for disobedience to another, etc, which is supposed to be the highest set of rules or laws according to Jesus Christ, and is upon what the rest of the whole complete law hangs, according to Jesus Christ anyway, etc.

What is or are your takes or opinions on this?

God Bless.

 

[timothyu]

Does mankind confuse service to God with service to their religion?

 

[Eternally Grateful]

For example, and this is just one of my observations, those who profess holy living, or strict adherence to God's OT laws or commandments as a means of salvation, etc, it is my observation that they sometimes don't love other people like they should sometimes, etc, and that in this, they have sometimes traded obedience to one set of rules or laws in exchange for disobedience to another, etc, which is supposed to be the highest set of rules or laws according to Jesus Christ, and is upon what the rest of the whole complete law hangs, according to Jesus Christ anyway, etc.

What is or are your takes or opinions on this?

God Bless.

I think they are so bound to have to maintain they keep these commands in a perfect way. they are almost forced to judge others.. so they can feel better about themselves..

It is why legalism is so dangerous. it focuses on self. not God.

 

[timothyu]

it focuses on self. not God

The original sin

 

[Neogaia777]

I think they are so bound to have to maintain they keep these commands in a perfect way. they are almost forced to judge others.. so they can feel better about themselves..

It is why legalism is so dangerous. it focuses on self. not God.

Probably.

There might still be a few well meaning ones among those groups who might just still be being deceived though, or who are still being deceived though, etc. Hopefully they will wake up and get out of those groups/ideologies in time, etc.

What would be best for all of us, or for us all, would be a way to obey God's laws/commandments without forsaking the most important rules or laws also from God in the process, etc.

So far I have not found a way to do all of this as of yet 100% completely perfectly, etc. And I'm guessing I'm not alone in that, lol.

But not forsaking the others though is very, very important, and I can't emphasize that enough, etc, because love covers a multitude of sins, etc. So if you feel yourself going that route when trying to obey the former, then just don't do it, because it's just not worth it, etc. But if you can do it/that without forsaking the others, then do it, or keep those former others, etc.

God Bless.

 

[Eternally Grateful]

The original sin

In Adam all Die. even so in christ shall all be made alive

the wage of sin (personal) is death, the gift of god is life.

Grace takes care of both these issues does it not?

 

[Eternally Grateful]

Probably.

There might still be a few well meaning ones among those groups who might just still be being deceived though, or who are still being deceived though, etc. Hopefully they will wake up and get out of those groups/ideologies in time, etc.

What would be best for all of us, or for us all, would be a way to obey God's laws/commandments without forsaking the most important rules or laws also from God in the process, etc.

So far I have not found a way to do all of this as of yet 100% completely perfectly, etc. And I'm guessing I'm not alone in that, lol.

But not forsaking the others though is very, very important, and I can't emphasize that enough, etc, because love covers a multitude of sins, etc. So if you feel yourself going that route when trying to obey the former, then just don't do it, because it's just not worth it, etc. But if you can do it/that without forsaking the others, then do it, or keep those former others, etc.

God Bless.

I think Jesus told us how to do all these things.

The law of love

seek after the things of the spirit.

I found it hard when I was bound by law, always trying so hard and always failing. when I was released. i found so much victory and freedom. and have found his rest.

 

[timothyu]

Grace takes care of both these issues does it not?

Yes, and choice by way of repentance accepts the offer.

 

[timothyu]

I hear this term- what does it mean?

Does one believe our will of self service and determination is best, or is it God's will of servitude to each other?

 

[Neogaia777]

I think Jesus told us how to do all these things.

The law of love

seek after the things of the spirit.

I found it hard when I was bound by law, always trying so hard and always failing. when I was released. i found so much victory and freedom. and have found his rest.

I'm still working on it, obviously, etc, lol.

But yeah, the Bible does say walk in/with the Spirit continually, and you won't desire/fulfill the things/lusts of the flesh, etc.

But, yeah, I'm not so much "strenuously exerting myself" anymore, etc, and sometimes I feel gulity about that, because I still do have a few sins of the flesh, and I am at rest, etc, but both me and God both knows I can't go any further from here on out in my own strength anymore, and if there is anything more for me from here in overcoming the sinful desires of the flesh, etc, then something pretty much miraculous is going to have to happen from here, or I will have to be forsaking or leaving off some of my love for others in the process, etc.

God Bless

 

[Eternally Grateful]

Yes, and choice by way of repentance accepts the offer.

yes.. Whoever believes is not condemned..

 

[Eternally Grateful]

I'm still working on it, obviously, etc, lol.

But yeah, the Bible does say walk in/with the Spirit continually, and you won't desire/fulfill the things/lusts of the flesh, etc.

But, yeah, I'm not so much "strenuously exerting myself" anymore, etc, and sometimes I feel gulity about that, because I still do have a few sins of the flesh, and I am at rest, etc, but both me and God both knows I can't go any further from here on out in my own strength anymore, and if there is anything more for me from here in overcoming the sinful desires of the flesh, etc, then something pretty much miraculous is going to have to happen from here, or I will have to be forsaking or leaving off some of my love for others in the process, etc.

God Bless

I think we all have our besetting sins. I also know the older I get and the closer to God I get. I find more sins I did not even know about.. lol

 

[Neogaia777]

I think we all have our besetting sins. I also know the older I get and the closer to God I get. I find more sins I did not even know about.. lol

Agreed, lol.

God Bless.

 

[partinobodycular]

I leave that to God. My issue is with the religion that men have made from Jewish scripture. and present as Christianity.

I understand the sentiment, but perhaps a kinder tone might be more effective. After all, it's not the church that needs your outreach, it's the people in them, and for the most part their intentions are good.

Focus on those you can reach, and don't be distracted by those you can't. Like the poor the Sanhedrin will always be there.

 

[Neogaia777]

I understand the sentiment, but perhaps a kinder tone might be more effective. After all, it's not the church that needs your outreach, it's the people in them, and for the most part their intentions are good.

Focus on those you can reach, and don't be distracted by those you can't. Like the poor the Sanhedrin will always be there.

Good song!

I hear it a lot on Klove that I listen to quite a bit of the time.

Take Care/God Bless.