Are we Christians ?

Are we 'in the faith' ?

By what measure [....can we be certain] ?

Are we bona fide Christians because we belong to a Church, or, because we belong to 'THE' correct Church ?


Are we 'real' Christians, because we belong to, and 'obey' the correct 'Church' [that is in the world] ?

Paul asked; Are those who refer to themselves as Christians, 'in the faith' ?

It is an important question.


2 Corinthians 13:5
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 13:7
Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
8  For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.




2 Corinthians 10:12
For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
13  But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.


So.

What of those who 'join' themselves to surrender themselves to 'authority' ?

Paul in 2 Corinthians 10:12-13, tells 'Christians' that we should NOT 'measure ourselves' [i.e. justify ourselves!], by what other Christians do [are doing]!

Isn't that a little shocking, a little 'challenging', to people of 'faith' ?

Shocking, that Paul counsels us, that a Christian should not measure himself/herself against those around us, who 'commend themselves' [i.e. justify themselves!] as Christians, e.g. the 'Church' ?

Why not ?

Surely, if we try to obey our Church, aren't we doing everything that we can [...to please, who] ?




[For Christians...] The reason that we should not 'measure ourselves' alongside others is, that the 'Church' in the world, is not our spiritual master [...nor should it be!!!].

The risen Jesus is our lord, and our master.

And through him [Jesus], God is our lord, and our master.

QUESTION;
Did Jesus tell his followers, his devotees', to join his 'Church', and to surrender themselves, to the authority of its leaders ???

QUESTION;
How did Jesus describe the character of his 'congregation', the character of his true followers ?



Jesus said....

Matthew 20:25
.....Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:


And again....

2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves....Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you....?





Jesus said....

John 4:24
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

John 10:30
I and my Father are one.

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:8
Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?



QUESTION;
[If God does exist, and if the Bible is a reliable guide to the nature [and to the character] of God.....     ] Why does the concept of - truth - come up, again and again, as being so, so important to our God [our creator] ?


John 18:37
Jesus answered,......To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.


John 14:16
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.


2 Thessalonians 2:11
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

The greatest fault in Christians today, in this modern age [imo], is that so few [of those who regard themselves as] Christians actually open and read our Bibles.



Amos 5:4
For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:

Amos 5:6
Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel.

Amos 5:8
Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:

Amos 5:14
Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.

Matthew 6:33
....seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;....



+++

John 5:45
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
46  For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
47  But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

John 12:47
And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
48  He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.




Men ought to recognise who [what] they are, and what the world is.

This world, is a place where we are constantly tempted [and seduced] by our own desires.

Everyone is seduced [corrupted] by this world.




Matthew 9:13
....I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Mark 2:17
....I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Luke 5:32
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.



Ecclesiastes 12:13
.....Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

John_Smith,

It is a Christian virtue for us to discriminate between good and evil.

And God expects it of us, his children.




Dictionary;
discrimination = =
1 the action of discriminating against people.
2 recognition and understanding of the difference between one thing and another.   good judgement or taste.



Matthew 18:15
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17  And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.


Luke 17:3
Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
4  And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.


2 Corinthians 6:14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.





+++


Exodus 25:8
And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.


Exodus 29:45
And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.


Exodus 29:46
And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God.


Leviticus 11:44
For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy:....


Leviticus 19:2
Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.


Leviticus 20:26
And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.


James 4:8
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you....

John Smith wrote on Nov 1^st, 2014 at 3:11pm:


Yes.







John Smith wrote on Nov 1^st, 2014 at 3:11pm:


I read the Bible.

And that is my 'fault'     ....according to you ?         




2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Yadda wrote on Nov 1^st, 2014 at 3:25pm:


Well I'm pretty sure I never told you to read it .....