Christian or Not?

December 31, 2016

Devotions:

      Just because someone says that they are Christian does not make them Christian. There are some who do not think that they are Christian and yet they are. They disqualify themselves because they do not act like they think that Christians should act, they are not perfect. This creates a dilemma in that we have the question what makes a Christian an Christian.  Paul gives us the answer as well as Jesus.  Jesus said that you must be born from above. Peter said that you must be born again   

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭13:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

        So first of all we must be sure of ourselves.  It is not that we go to church or read our Bibles or pray or act nice but are we born again, do we have the witness of the Spirit within us, does the Spirit of Christ dwell in us? Everything else flows out of that reality.  We are still in the process of working out our salvation so we do not live perfectly. 

        Secondly we are not to go around and judge others as to whether or not they are Christians but we are to walk in love and be bold enough to ask about the witness of the Spirit within them or are they born again.  Without the new birth, on one will make heaven.  Too many people have put on a religious front and call themselves Christian.  That same religious garb is what declares that we are the only Christians and you are not because you are with our fellowship or believe exactly like we do.  What did Jesus say was to be the hallmark of our Christianity? Love!

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” ‭John‬ ‭13:34-35‬ ‭KJV‬‬