What is a "Christian"!?

[sojourner]

The issue is the use of the word "First". It does say that Paul went to Antioch. But the question is what does it mean by "First"? Does its placement here after Paul's arrival necessarily mean that this was after Paul arrived?
Which "Disciples" ?" Is it referring to the initial Disciples? The ones Saul converted? I don't think that "Disciples" is referring to Paul's converts. So we can't really say for sure one way or another. There are times when the text refers to things in the past.

You're piquing my interest here. I'm going to research this further when I have time.

 

[Vadergirl123]

Vadergirl123 hello I hope you are well..
I reply.. to your point 1) A christain is someone who realizes they're a sinner*YES and it is the scriptures that point it out, without believing the scriptures would you still be a sinner?!

I believe you're a sinner regardless of what you believe.

Your point 2)destined to spend eternity in hell *QUESTION.. and how do you even know there is a hell without scriptures?!

You couldn't know for sure.

Your point 4)That's what saves you NOT believeing you can lose your salvation or what the right way to get baptized
*Losing salvation and Baptism are IN the scriptures!!
QUESTION is not..Rejecting Baptism or rejecting SALVATION rejecting the words of Jesus!

Yes, salvation and baptism are talked about in the Bible. If you reject salvation you won't be going to heaven.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing..

QUESTION can you be a disciple and not be Baptized!??

You can be a christain and not be baptized. Baptism is a public symbol of your salvation. It's like telling everyone, "hey I'm a christain." So a person who gets saved shuold then want to get baptized.

so yes, people can believe different things about the theology but still be christains.[/I]
* I reply..Mormons LDS believe Satan is Jesus' brother!!! Are they Christian!??
QUESTION..Does the Holy Spirit guide the LDS into having FAITH "Satan is Jesus' brother!" ??

If they accept the fact their sinners and believe Jesus is the only one who can take away that sin, and accept him into their lives, then yeah they're going to heaven. Even if they do believe Satan is Jesus' brother.

 

[Katzpur]

You can be a christain and not be baptized. Baptism is a public symbol of your salvation. It's like telling everyone, "hey I'm a christain." So a person who gets saved shuold then want to get baptized.

Do you have any scriptural support for the idea that "baptism is a public symbol of your salvation"? From what I've read in the Bible, I can't think of anywhere where this is how baptism is described.

 

[bigbadgirl]

You're piquing my interest here. I'm going to research this further when I have time.

Give Shermana credit. He always does his homework. You can't slip anything past him.

 

[Rocky S]

Yes, I think you are wrong.

IMO, "Christian" means "follower of Christ", not "person who's right about everything."

Yes, there are some points of doctrine where the spectrum of Christian belief is so wide that it's impossible for everyone to be right, but that just means that at least some of these people are mistaken. I don't think this necessarily makes them not Christian.

BTW: doesn't the Bible say (in Romans, IIRC) that worrying about the quality of others' faith shows lack of faith itself?

That is a very good reply:clap

 

[Dogknox]

Like Christians anciently, Mormons believe that all human beings are the offspring of God and that He is the Father of our spirits. (See Acts 17:29 and Hebrews 12:9 if you doubt these doctrines to be biblical.) Unlike traditional Christians, we believe that all of us lived in God's presence prior to being born. We were spirit beings at that time, without bodies of flesh and bones. As the spirit sons and daughters of God, we were all brothers and sisters to each other.

Unique among all the sons of God was the one we know as Jesus Christ. Unlike the rest of us, He was with His Father in the beginning. Unlike us, He was perfect in every conceivable way and had all of the divine attributes and qualities His Father had. The shared a unity of will and purpose to such an extent that together, they were known (along with the Holy Ghost) both individually and collectively, as God. Finally, even though we were all the spirit offspring of our Father in Heaven, Jesus Christ was also His Father's "Only Begotten" Son. Under His Father's direction, Jesus Christ created our universe. He was chosen prior to His birth in Bethlehem to be the lamb who would be slain for our sins.

Another of the spirit sons of God was one named Lucifer. He was a proud and rebellious son who sought to exalt himself above his Father and who was cast out of Heaven for attempting to do so. When Lucifer was cast out of Heaven, he was disowned by his Father, and lost his right to ever again be known as a son of God (or a brother to the greatest of God's sons, Jesus Christ). If Jesus and Satan were sons of the same Father, they were spirit brothers, a fact which in no way reflects positively on Satan or negatively on the Savior of the world.

Mormons, incidentally, did not invent this doctrine. Not by a long shot. In the third century, the Christian writer, Lactantius, wrote:

“Before creating the world, God produced a spirit like himself, replete with the virtues of the Father. Later He made another, in whom the mark of divine origin was erased, because this one was besmirched by the poison of jealousy and turned therefore from good to evil. He was jealous of his older brother who, remaining united with the Father, insured his affection unto himself. This being who from good became bad is called devil by the Greeks.

I don't think most Mormons actually care one way or the other whether other Christians accept this doctrine or not. They would just like people to stop trying to make it look like something its not -- like Mormons somehow see Jesus Christ and Lucifer as equals, when nothing could possibly be further from the truth.

Katzpur Good to meet you I hope all is well..
Your post has lots to ponder!!

>>Again.. CHRISTIANS believe the scriptures!!!!!!
Point me to scriptures that say: Lucifer is spirit son of God!!

Point me to scriptures that say.. "Jesus left his church" and it was J Smith's job to reestablish Jesus' church!
Matthew 28:20
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Did you see it>>>I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Katzpur I am trying to make a point.. I am NOT trying to convert you!!

Joseph Smith, taught the doctrine of a "plurality of gods"—polytheism—as the bedrock belief of his church.
SCRIPTURES tell you "There is just one (1) God!"

Deuteronomy 4:35
You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other.

Katzpur You say Acts 17:29 means you are God' child!
I point out; Christians are God' children!!
Christian believe the scriptures!

In a circle we go!!
Christian believe the scriptures!!
>YOUR WORDS>>>

Mormons, incidentally, did not invent this doctrine.

I reply: Mormons, >>DID<< invent this doctrine. NO CHRISTIANS believe "Satan is Jesus' brother!"

Dogknox

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Point me to scriptures that say.. "Jesus left his church" and it was J Smith's job to reestablish Jesus' church!
Matthew 28:20
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Did you see it>>>I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Katzpur I am trying to make a point.. I am NOT trying to convert you!!

So you reject the Reformation, then?

Funny - you didn't strike me as a Catholic.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Joseph Smith, taught the doctrine of a "plurality of gods"—polytheism—as the bedrock belief of his church.
SCRIPTURES tell you "There is just one (1) God!"

Deuteronomy 4:35
You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other.

OTOH, God refers to gods, plural, in Genesis 1:26:

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the [ak]sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

He also gives a command to his people not to have any gods before him, which is nonsensical if there are no other gods.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Sorry about the multiple posts. One more question that I think cuts to the heart of the matter:

>>Again.. CHRISTIANS believe the scriptures!!!!!!
Point me to scriptures that say: Lucifer is spirit son of God!!

Can you point me to scriptures that say what a person must believe in order to be considered a Christian? How does the Bible actually define the term?

 

[mycorrhiza]

A Christian is anyone who believes in God and follows the words of Jesus, be it the canonical gospels or the secret book of John.
The Bible doesn't hold for all versions of Christianity, especially not most of the early forms.

 

[Dogknox]

Vadergirl123 I hope all is well..
You said..

I believe you're a sinner regardless of what you believe.

Question.. Are babies sinners!!! They believe NO THING.. Nothing!
Atheist have faith in NOTHING. Are they sinners!?
Don't you think; To make a sin you MUST know it is a sin!
A retarded thirty year old.. Is NOT a sinners!

You said..

Yes, salvation and baptism are talked about in the Bible. If you reject salvation you won't be going to heaven.

QUESTION is not..Rejecting Baptism or rejecting SALVATION rejecting the words of Jesus!
The bible is the words of Jesus!
Rejecting the bible is rejecting Jesus!
So if you reject the Bible you are rejecting salvation!!:yes:
Vadergirl123 CHRISTIANS believe the bible.. This is the difference Christians ..Have Faith in the WORDS of "The WORD"!
Christians ..Have Faith in the WORDS of Jesus!
Christians ..Have Faith in the WORDS of Scripture!!

You said..

You can be a christain and not be baptized. Baptism is a public symbol of your salvation. It's like telling everyone, "hey I'm a christain." So a person who gets saved shuold then want to get baptized.

I reply: QUESTION Scriptures please..!!
Christians believe the scriptures ... make disciples of all nations, baptizing..
The bible tells you: "Baptism makes DISCIPLES!"


You said..

If they (LDS) accept the fact their sinners and believe Jesus is the only one who can take away that sin, and accept him into their lives, then yeah they're going to heaven. Even if they do believe Satan is Jesus' brother.

Vadergirl123 QUESTION..Does the Holy Spirit guide the LDS into having FAITH "Satan is Jesus' brother!" ??
Christians believe the scriptures!!

I made the QUESTIONS in lime green so you would see them!

I am trying to make a point!!!!
The point is.. "Hindus are NOT christian because they do NOT believe the bible!"
Muslim are NOT christian because they do NOT believe the bible!
The difference between CHRISTIANS and all others is; "CHRISTIANS believe the bible!"

DEBATE: Who is CHRISTIAN!!!!?

 

[Dogknox]

Sorry about the multiple posts. One more question that I think cuts to the heart of the matter:



Can you point me to scriptures that say what a person must believe in order to be considered a Christian? How does the Bible actually define the term?

9-10ths_Penguin thank you for your reply!!
The thread is "What is a Christian"!?
I say "CHRISTIAN are set apart from all others by Scriptures!"
All others reject the scriptures!

You ask..

Can you point me to scriptures that say what a person must believe in order to be considered a Christian?

John 12:47
“If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.
48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.
49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.
50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

9-10ths_Penguin Do you see it?? The SCRIPTURES are the Judge!
Reject the scriptures and you reject Jesus!

From the above scripture...
The one who rejects Jesus does not accept Jesus' words!
The one who does not accept Jesus' words, REJECTS Jesus!
The one who does not accept the SCRIPTURES (Jesus words) Reject's Jesus!

FACT: CHRISTIANS do NOT >> NOT<< reject Jesus!

9-10ths_Penguin Reject the scriptures and then you CONDEMN yourself!

9-10ths_Penguin As far as your other posts... Christians believe the Trinity!!

1 GOD.. 3 persons!
ONE GOD!!! NOT three (3) Gods!!

Please post back

Dogknox

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Dogknox, you didn't answer my question. I asked how the Bible defines the term "Christian". You gave me something else.

I understand that you think a person has to accept the whole Bible to be saved, but this is irrelevant to my question unless you can point to a place in the Bible where it says "all Christians are saved."

So again: how does the Bible define the term "Christian"? Not "saved", not "obedient", not "righteous", not anything else... just "Christian".

And as a helpful guide: if you find a passage that you think answers this question, but the passage doesn't include the word "Christian", then it isn't an answer to my question.

 

[tumbleweed41]

Christians ..Have Faith in the WORDS of Jesus!
Christians ..Have Faith in the WORDS of Scripture!!

Would you consider one who has faith in God, as described in the Bible, a Christian?

And wouldn't one who's faith is based on the WORDS, as you put it, be guilty of bibliolatry?

 

[Nakosis]

I would say a Christian is a person who chooses to follow the commandments of Jesus.

The only problem with that is most who claim to be a Christian don't seem to.

 

[Dogknox]

Dogknox, you didn't answer my question. I asked how the Bible defines the term "Christian". You gave me something else.

I understand that you think a person has to accept the whole Bible to be saved, but this is irrelevant to my question unless you can point to a place in the Bible where it says "all Christians are saved."

So again: how does the Bible define the term "Christian"? Not "saved", not "obedient", not "righteous", not anything else... just "Christian".

And as a helpful guide: if you find a passage that you think answers this question, but the passage doesn't include the word "Christian", then it isn't an answer to my question.

9-10ths_Penguin The word "Christian" means a "Christ Follower"!

I point again to my last post.. "You are NOT Following Christ by rejecting Jesus!!"
It is just this simple!!

CHRISTIANS: "Christ followers" are those who believe in Jesus!
I point out.. You can't be a BELIEVER and at the same time reject the words of Jesus!

ALL....
All who believe the words of Jesus have FAITH IN Jesus!
All who believe the words of Scriptures have FAITH IN Jesus!
All who believe the words of Jesus have ETERNAL LIFE!!!
All who believe the scriptures have ETERNAL LIFE!

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Whoever believes in him.. Is Christian!
Whoever believes in him .. Believes his words!
Whoever does NOT believes in him, rejects his words!
Whoever does NOT believes in him, is NOT Christ FOLLOWER!!
Whoever does NOT believes in him, rejects him (Jesus)!

 

[Dogknox]

Would you consider one who has faith in God, as described in the Bible, a Christian?

And wouldn't one who's faith is based on the WORDS, as you put it, be guilty of bibliolatry?

Would you consider one who has faith in God, as described in the Bible, a Christian?

Jews are NOT CHristian!! They reject Jesus!
They have faith in GOD!

And wouldn't one who's faith is based on the WORDS, as you put it, be guilty of bibliolatry?

I reply: NO!
All who have FAITH IN the words, KNOW Worship is for God ALONE!
If they have bibliolatry; They do NOT have faith in Jesus!!
If they have bibliolatry; They would not be Christian!

 

[Dogknox]

I would say a Christian is a person who chooses to follow the commandments of Jesus.

The only problem with that is most who claim to be a Christian don't seem to.

GOOD to meet you..
I agree with you..100% a Christian is a person who chooses to follow the commandments of Jesus.
John 13:34
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Rejecting "love Saves" is rejecting Jesus!
QUESTION: Do you think it would be prudent to obey the COMMAND of the King!?
“A new command I give you"

Christians believe the scriptures!


Dogknox

 

[tumbleweed41]

Would you consider one who has faith in God, as described in the Bible, a Christian?

Jews are NOT CHristian!! They reject Jesus!
They have faith in GOD!

I said the Bible, not the Tanakh.
So again, would you consider one who has faith in God, as described in the Bible, a Christian?

And wouldn't one who's faith is based on the WORDS, as you put it, be guilty of bibliolatry?

I reply: NO!
All who have FAITH IN the words, KNOW Worship is for God ALONE!
If they have bibliolatry; They do NOT have faith in Jesus!!
If they have bibliolatry; They would not be Christian!

So, one who has bibliolotry, as in, faith in the words of the Bible over God himself, would not be a Christian?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

9-10ths_Penguin The word "Christian" means a "Christ Follower"!

I point again to my last post.. "You are NOT Following Christ by rejecting Jesus!!"
It is just this simple!!

CHRISTIANS: "Christ followers" are those who believe in Jesus!
I point out.. You can't be a BELIEVER and at the same time reject the words of Jesus!

ALL....
All who believe the words of Jesus have FAITH IN Jesus!
All who believe the words of Scriptures have FAITH IN Jesus!
All who believe the words of Jesus have ETERNAL LIFE!!!
All who believe the scriptures have ETERNAL LIFE!

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Whoever believes in him.. Is Christian!
Whoever believes in him .. Believes his words!
Whoever does NOT believes in him, rejects his words!
Whoever does NOT believes in him, is NOT Christ FOLLOWER!!
Whoever does NOT believes in him, rejects him (Jesus)!

But what does Jesus say a person has to do to "follow him"?

BTW: do you consider yourself a Christian?