Who then is a Christian?

Who then is a Christian?

Defining Christianity is not an easy task these days. It has become so polluted with false doctrine and anti-biblical truth that anybody with anything on their mind religious uses the name. What is most critical about this is the world and even people in Christian churches do not know what Christianity is. To make it very simple, my definition is that Christianity is Christ. Nothing else - nothing else added to it and nothing else needed - just Christ. However, Christians without the knowledge that Christ is their life have become promoters and advertisers of their special brand of Christianity, or their denominational rules or their doctrines.

This means there is hardly to be found anywhere a pure or even near pure Scriptural Christianity. The term “Christian” was formed at Antioch by Paul and Barnabas when they were teaching there (Acts 11:26). There are many that teach the early Pentecostal church was a truly Christian church. But this is not so. The early church was a kingdom church (Joel 2:28, Acts 2:16) that had never heard the full gospel of grace and had never come into Paul’s gospel of Christ in you. It is my conclusion that no one can be Biblical Christians without a revelation of Christ as his life (Gal. 2:20).

1) Christianity is not just about the historical Christ. The historical record in the four gospels tell you all about Him and there are thousands of historical books that tell about Him. It is only when you get into Paul’s Epistles that He - Christ - ever becomes the life of the believer. A Christian is one in whom Christ lives. It is not that Christ gives something to the believer, but rather Christ is the life of the believer and His only life to the Father that birthed him.

2) Christianity is 4th dimensional. It is a mystery (Col. 1:26-27). It is the birthing of a new creation - a person that has never lived before - a person that will never die - because he has eternal life - Christ-life - in him.

3) Christianity demands nothing from an adherent other than to believe on Jesus Christ as his Savior. The denomination, the church doctrines and the religious programs can add nothing to salvation. Therefore, to put it bluntly, Baptist are not Christians. Methodist are not Christians. Pentecostals are not Christians. Catholics are not Christians. But because of the personal work of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life, some Christians are Baptist, some Christians are Methodist, some Christians are Pentecostal and some Christians are Catholic. When Christianity becomes a tool of some group to promote their doctrine and ignore Paul’s message of grace then they are not Christians.

4) Christianity demands that a believer be willing to give up his old life (Rom. 6:6) and cease to serve sin. This is the message and essence of the cross and Christianity without the cross is life-less and Christ-less (II Cor. 2:2). Christianity is not our works for the Lord but rather His work in us and through us.

By Warren Litzman: This man of God begins where Leonard Ravenhill leaves off. Ravenhill a great apologist for Christ and the Church, and Litzman For Christ in the Believer.

litzman@christ-life.org

In Christ: Phillip

__________________

Utterly Wonderful.

Brother Phillip wrote:

It is only when you get into Paul’s Epistles that He - Christ - ever becomes the life of the believer.

So only by Paul's words is one saved?

God could not accomplish His work until Paul?

Brother, this idea of dispensationalism does not conform to the whole counsil of God...

In Christ
Jeff

Jeff wrote:

So only by Paul's words is one saved?

God could not accomplish His work until Paul?

Jeff you know that is not what I am saying.

Colossians 1:25-27 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

How many times must we read this Jeff. What is your understanding of these scriptures.

3622. oikonomia
Search for G3622 in KJVSL
oikonomia oikonomia oy-kon-om-ee'-ah

from 3623; administration (of a household or estate); specially, a (religious) "economy":--dispensation, stewardship.

Does this word mean nothing. Or is God saying I have a different way of dealing with people when it comes to salvation. The Old Testament by works of the Law which no one could keep to His satisfaction and it did not come with life which is Christ. There is no life in the blood of animals, only works forgiveness, not Christ's Blood forgiveness and complete forgiveness in Christ and His Cross. This forgiveness never has to have anything done except believe that it is true.

If we don't rightly divide the Word of God, we will never come to the understand of what we have in Christ Jesus. I can't give it to anyone, all I can do is say what it has done for me. Show the words that the Holy Spirit used and He is the one that must reveal it, Not me. What do you believe that dispensationalism is. I believe it is God dealing with man in different ways to show him that he cannot by anything that he does please God or proclaim salvation in anything other than the Christ that is born again in the New Believer, which no one in the Old Testament was ever born again or had the Spirit of Christ in them as the Seed of God and become son's of God, literal birthed children of God by the Son that is Seeded of the Father in them. You cannot mix law and works with Faith and Grace. Grace is the Cross, Faith is Christ in us, not of ourselves but of Him.
Ephesians 2:7-10 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Not in ages past. When was it ordained?
Ephesians 1:2-5 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.

Was this kind of salutation ever offered in the Old Testament? Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: No, No a thousand times No. We are in Christ and we are a new created race of People which this earth or the heavenlies have ever known.
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2Cr 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Gal 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

I will not let the word dispensation foul up the revelation truth of the Word of God. There are ultra dispensationalist, I will not let them take away from the different ways God deals with me either, He deals with me differently now than He did when I was on the milk, He deals with the Church of Christ the Body of His own life in us, than He dealt with Israel by the obedience to the Law and trying to get them to See That He never meant for man to live just as a separate entity apart from the Nature of God being His only life that would please Him and that is Christ in you the Hope of Glory. If we stay in the Old Testament we will live in it, just like if we stay in the Law it will kill us.

In Christ: Phillip

Sometimes I get the feeling that we look too much at one little bit of what someone is trying to say rather than the entire picture. I thought that the post was a wonderful read. Especially this part.

Christianity demands nothing from an adherent other than to believe on Jesus Christ as his Savior. The denomination, the church doctrines and the religious programs can add nothing to salvation. Therefore, to put it bluntly, Baptist are not Christians. Methodist are not Christians. Pentecostals are not Christians. Catholics are not Christians. But because of the personal work of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life, some Christians are Baptist, some Christians are Methodist, some Christians are Pentecostal and some Christians are Catholic. When Christianity becomes a tool of some group to promote their doctrine and ignore Paul’s message of grace then they are not Christians.

But perhaps I am doing exactly the same thing in ignoring the rest and picking out my own things, only things that I liked and agreed with?

Something to think about.
Once you do it becomes quite funny.

I love you all.

In HIS Love,
Scroggins

Brother Phillip wrote:

eff you know that is not what I am saying.

I am sorry, sometimes I respond without developing my thoughts more fully...

Yes, Brother as Sister Dorcas has also said, God is working mightily in you, in us, and all of those who have Christ in us. In patience we, as we pursue understanding, will come to the unity of faith that finds its center "in Christ."

Does this word mean nothing. Or is God saying I have a different way of dealing with people when it comes to salvation.

There are times that Scripture may be used to point to a specific work unique to the individual. I believe Christ revealed to Paul an understanding that gave Paul another way of explaining what Jesus already explained in these words...

John 17:20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

This idea of being one is speaking of spiritual oneness. Just the same as is taught about husband and wife, just the same as Genesis 3:15...

15 \tAnd I will put enmity
\tBetween you and the woman,
\tAnd between your seed and her Seed;

To be her Seed one is born of the Holy Spirit and inherits the attributes of the "Seed," The Holy One.

Matt. 23:7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, “Rabbi, Rabbi.’ 8 But you, do not be called “Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.

In Christ
Jeff

Brother Phillip wrote:

How many times must we read this Jeff. What is your understanding of these scriptures.

3622. oikonomia
Search for G3622 in KJVSL
oikonomia oikonomia oy-kon-om-ee'-ah

from 3623; administration (of a household or estate); specially, a (religious) "economy":--dispensation, stewardship.

I look at this word dispensation as a stewardship that established by God in the individual for the work that He has prepared beforehand to accomplish what He has ordained. In the OT we find a similar situation in Jeremiah..

Jer. 1:4 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
5 \t“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
\tBefore you were born I sanctified you;
\tI ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

Jer. 1:6 Then said I:
\t“Ah, Lord GOD!
\tBehold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”

Jer. 1:7 But the LORD said to me:
\t“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’
\tFor you shall go to all to whom I send you,
\tAnd whatever I command you, you shall speak.
8 \tDo not be afraid of their faces,
\tFor I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD.

Jer. 1:9 Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me:
\t“Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
10 \tSee, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms,
\tTo root out and to pull down,
\tTo destroy and to throw down,
\tTo build and to plant.”

God chose Jeremiah to root out and pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant. Now consider what Paul was sent to do...

Each man was given a stewardship with a specific purpose. In Paul's case, God sent him to preach the gospel to the gentiles. This stewardship is footnoted in Ephesians 3:2

Eph. 3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,

The word 'dispensation" can also be translated, "stewardship."

The mystery that was hidden, is spoken of here in Isaiah 42...

Is. 42:5 \tThus says God the LORD,
\tWho created the heavens and stretched them out,
\tWho spread forth the earth and that which comes from it,
\tWho gives breath to the people on it,
\tAnd spirit to those who walk on it:
6 \t“I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness,
\tAnd will hold Your hand;
\tI will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,
\tAs a light to the Gentiles,
7 \tTo open blind eyes,
\tTo bring out prisoners from the prison,
\tThose who sit in darkness from the prison house.

This Scripture in Isaiah speaks of this mystery, "As a light to the Gentiles."

In Christ
Jeff

Sister Dorcas wrote:

I reckon that if Phillip is slightly 'off' on anything, the Lord will bring it to Phillip's attention at the optimum moment, as He does with all of us....

We are all slightly or greatly off. That is why we have denominations. It is the lack of understanding which keeps us disunified.

Pastor Yun, of the chinese home church speaks of his experience with western Christianity. He testified that initially all the chinese church had was bibles. The unity was present. Then as the western church started including denominational books in with the boxes of bibles division found its root in the chinese home church.

God Bless

In Christ
Jeff

Somehow Yun's characterization of Eastern unity spoiled by the West strikes me as simplistic. Even the bible record of the first century church shows division among the various churches. (Some of Apollos, some of Paul...)

I guess my point is that I don't think there is something inherently wrong with the West that isn't also inherently wrong with all humanity.

Besides I am having trouble accepting that the Gospel's premise for unity is along the lines of doctrinal uniformity or consensus. Many claim special understanding or truer truth then others have...but do they have the more perfect love that authenticates their more perfect revelation of Christ?

Rather then sharing the same doctrinal statement, could we instead say that unity is sharing in Christ’s death to this world and ourselves, and sharing in His new life…which cuts across denominational borders. The various conflicting denominational creeds at one time at least affirmed this central defintion of the Gospel. Yet there has always been much division in Christendom... even terrible wars!

That there is so much division and hostility shows that denominations are populated with people who don't believe the highest truths of their own creeds. When Anglicans, Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, Pentecostals, Charismatics, Emergent Villagers and others begin to measure up to their various imperfect professions of love for God, I believe unity increases.

Christian unity is not built upon a uniform revelation of Jesus culminating in uncontested consensus, but on a personal revelation of Jesus culminating in unconditional love!

MC

The mystery that was hidden, is spoken of here in Isaiah 42...

Is. 42:5 Thus says God the LORD,
Who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it,
Who gives breath to the people on it,
And spirit to those who walk on it:
6 “I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness,
And will hold Your hand;
I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,
As a light to the Gentiles,
7 To open blind eyes,
To bring out prisoners from the prison,
Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.

This Scripture in Isaiah speaks of this mystery, "As a light to the Gentiles."

All outward, earthly. Not inward and heavenly.
The Isaiah scripture were just a precursor to the revealed mystery to Paul. Israel was suppose to bring Gods truth to the world and speak of a Savior a Messiah, Jesus Christ Himself but they would not, they separated them from God to religion. Just a little sidebar, Abraham did not die for Christ or suffer for Him, Paul did. Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

This was not the mystery. A mystery revealed is not a mystery. God putting His Son in the believer is so great a mystery How could anyone have known except by direct revelation and that Son being in you and He testifying to our Spirit that it is so. This revelation Changed Paul so radically, he was killed for the same reason Christ died. Taking away the law and offering the pure Grace of Christ in you.

This is the mystery which no one knew or was revealed to forever before except in the Plan and Mind of God:

Colossians 1:25-29 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. Christ in The Human Being, This is the Mystery, Again: Christ in you the hope of Glory

In Christ: Phillip