I recall vividly a conversation i had with a pastor of a large mega-church here in Australia - and the conversation went along the lines of this Discussing someone who was a (public figure identity) and who had been convicted and found guilty of fraud and many other mis-demeanors etc
With The court of law subsequently passing a guilty verdict on the man - and then with the appropriate penalty meted out.
Anyway what im leading up to this -- i remarked to this administrator person who is also a "pastor" that this public identity figure had laid claim to also being a .... "Christian"
Now he may very well have been a CHRISTIAN ~~ in that he repented and was restored BACK TO FELLOWSHIP ( let's hope - that to be the case )
But that got me to thinking about a whole lot of things - after the ensuing conversation with this pastor.
Because you see i had made [the comment] that this public celebrity figure had "professed to be a Christian" well those words did not seem to sit well with the pastor ~~ he very quickly retorted back to me -saying- " they ARE christians .... Christians just mistakes that's all. ( end of quote ) :-o
This then leads into a very interesting question and discussion ~~ and that is - have we done what the Jews of old did -- and were guilty of ??
Namely this
If you were born a Jew and were circumcised according to the flesh - or had Jewish bloodlines or Jewish heritage etc - then it was assumed you were of the "seed of Abraham" automatically... and that everything is cosher with you ( IOW: then - it's cool your God's child ) go in peace
YOUR A JEW AREN'T YOU ? YOU'VE BEEN CIRCUMCISED ?
Then what are worried about (or) concerned about !
If you then answered "yes" to all the above -- then relax your an heir to all the promises and your a partaker of heavenly things. ( right )
Wrong: Paul blasts such thinking ~~ declaring these words to the Jews who were lulled into a false sense of security (Rom 2:28 ) For he is NOT a Jew, which is one outwardly: neither is circumcision, which is OUTWARD in the flesh:
But
He is a Jew, which is one [INWARDLY]
And circumcision is that of the [HEART], in the spirit, and not just in the letter !!
Today everybody is a Christion from heavy metal rock artists ~~ to winners of secular reality T.V SHOWS, to sporting celebrities whose job it is -to pulerize their opposition into the ground and that to the literal wounding and physical hurt of their opponents.
To hollywood acclaimed actors ~~ to horse race jockeys -- and on and on the list could go ( ad-infinitum )
As long as a person says - yeah " i believe in Jesus and in the historical event of the cross"
Giving mental assent - then your saved !!
Then their Christians aren't they ( correct )
Does it matter then how they live- or how they conduct their daily affairs ??
All's you get back most times from the Church are these words: don't judge ~~ you don't know them
Or this
Only God see's the heart ~~ and we can never know whose saved and who aint saved ( true or false )
Though ??
That we can never know whose (SAVED) or acting like their saved, or at the very least seemeth to be saved. ?
If we surmise then that these quaint and snap replies by people are correct ( that is we can't know or judge )
How then did Paul arrive at this verdict from that of Corinth 2nd Corint11:26 " amongst MANY false brethren "
Or this from Titus
They profess to know God: but deny him in lifestyle( Titus 1:16) being what ...disobedient.
The epistle of 1st john says IF we walk in the light ~~ we have fellowship with him.
That's a big "IF" my friends
Because with and "in" God is no [DARKNESS] at all.
THEREFORE IF WE SAY WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH "HIM"
AND WALK IN "DARKNESS" ( WE LIE ) AND DO NOT THE TRUTH.
FURTHERMORE: HE THAT SAYS " YEAH I KNOW HIM "
and keeps not his commandments ( is a liar )
Your life is lie, your walk is a lie, your profession is CONTRARY AND contradictory ( basically John is saying - your whole life is currently based on a - LIE )
Strong words S.O.T ~~ you might be thinking !
Yes and yep and yuppers again to what was just spoken by me - who in turn is just is echoing the words of the Apostle John.
Take it up with him ~~ he wrote those things
He that declares -he- (ABIDETH in HIM)
OUGHT HIMSELF
Also to WALK, ... EVEN AS HE WALKED ( IJohn2-6)
A tree that is pruned and purged is also a tree that brings forth even MORE fruit ~~ according to the words of Jesus.
IT is clear that no darkness dwells with God he is pure light which signifies how other than he is to all other forms of life, being intrinsically holy and perfect in purity.
Therefore knowing this - if we then walk in darkness - having an eye that is not fully set and single [ON] him ~~ AND YET STILL PROFESS ~~ saying "yeah im a Christian" when we know in our heart of hearts - that were are indulging in this and indulging in that ... and stuff contrary to holiness and purit y~~ then John's epistle ( not mine ) declares us to be in essence lying and we become by lifestyle and practise ~~ liars.