What is a True Christian?

[Madeline]

How do you define a true christian? I know that I am truly trying to repent from all the sins that are effecting my walk with God. However I do have one sin in particular that I struggle with and I engage in it all too often. Some of my friends tell me that those who practice sin aren't christians. I engage in this particular sin to frequently that to me it almost seems as if I am practicing it. But I want to turn away from it. Yet christians I know tell me that I am not a christian for doing this particular sin too often, and it hurts me. Comments?

Love,
Madeline

[Madeline]

Abrahams works is equated to him believing in God? If belief is a work than that posits a contradiction in the scriptures. The bible says that we are saved by believing, not by works.

Love,
Madeline

[Goat]

Abrahams works is equated to him believing in God? If belief is a work than that posits a contradiction in the scriptures. The bible says that we are saved by believing, not by works.

Love,
Madeline

Well, in one part of the bible.. John says that.

However, that is not the Jewish belief. Also the Gospel of James says otherwords.


Even the New testament will say that 'The sheep are seperated from the Goats according to their works'

[Madeline]

Well, in one part of the bible.. John says that.

However, that is not the Jewish belief. Also the Gospel of James says otherwords.


Even the New testament will say that 'The sheep are seperated from the Goats according to their works'

Well yeah! A persons works proves whether they are a sheep or not! Only a person with genuine faith will produce works.

James 2:25 - Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

Here is a commentary which explains it in detail. It is her faith which justified her, not her works.


Jam 2:25 -
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works? - In the same sense in which Abraham was, as explained above - showing by her act that her faith was genuine, and that it was not a mere cold and speculative assent to the truths of religion. Her act showed that she truly believed God. If that act had not been performed, the fact would have shown that her faith was not genuine, and she could not have been justified. God saw her faith as it was; he saw that it would produce acts of obedience, and he accepted her as righteous. The act which she performed was the public manifestation of her faith, the evidence that she was justified. See the case of Rahab fully explained in the notes at Heb_11:31. It may be observed here, that we are not to suppose that everything in the life and character of this woman is commended. She is commended for her faith, and for the fair expression of it; a faith which, as it induced her to receive the messengers of the true God, and to send them forth in peace, and as it led her to identify herself with the people of God, was also influential, we have every reason to suppose, in inducing her to abandon her former course of life. When we commend the faith of a man who has been a profane swearer, or an adulterer, or a robber, or a drunkard, we do not commend his former life, or give a sanction to it. We commend that which has induced him to abandon his evil course, and to turn to the ways of righteousness. The more evil his former course has been, the more wonderful, and the more worthy of commendation, is that faith by which he is reformed and saved.

Love,
Madeline

[Goat]

Well, in one part of the bible.. John says that.

However, that is not the Jewish belief. Also the Gospel of James says otherwords.


Even the New testament will say that 'The sheep are seperated from the Goats according to their works'

Well yeah! A persons works proves whether they are a sheep or not! Only a person with genuine faith will produce works.

James 2:25 - Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

Here is a commentary which explains it in detail. It is her faith which justified her, not her works.


Jam 2:25 -
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works? - In the same sense in which Abraham was, as explained above - showing by her act that her faith was genuine, and that it was not a mere cold and speculative assent to the truths of religion. Her act showed that she truly believed God. If that act had not been performed, the fact would have shown that her faith was not genuine, and she could not have been justified. God saw her faith as it was; he saw that it would produce acts of obedience, and he accepted her as righteous. The act which she performed was the public manifestation of her faith, the evidence that she was justified. See the case of Rahab fully explained in the notes at Heb_11:31. It may be observed here, that we are not to suppose that everything in the life and character of this woman is commended. She is commended for her faith, and for the fair expression of it; a faith which, as it induced her to receive the messengers of the true God, and to send them forth in peace, and as it led her to identify herself with the people of God, was also influential, we have every reason to suppose, in inducing her to abandon her former course of life. When we commend the faith of a man who has been a profane swearer, or an adulterer, or a robber, or a drunkard, we do not commend his former life, or give a sanction to it. We commend that which has induced him to abandon his evil course, and to turn to the ways of righteousness. The more evil his former course has been, the more wonderful, and the more worthy of commendation, is that faith by which he is reformed and saved.

Love,
Madeline

That does prove that someone can make a commentary that says that exact opposite of what is actually written, based on their preconceptions from another writing.

Can YOU , with your own words, use the passages in James (and James alone) to make the same conclusion? And, not reading into james, but only the words FROM James? James seems to be written in response to John's concepts about faith and works,and is trying to set people straight on where John got it wrong.

[Madeline]

Please think about what your saying, if we are justified by our works than that nullifies the Grace of God and contradicts what Paul said:

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. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Notice how it says that we are 'created in Christ' to do Good works? This shows that it is 'Christ within us' that enables us to do works!

Love,
Madeline

[Goat]

Please think about what your saying, if we are justified by our works than that nullifies the Grace of God and contradicts what Paul said:

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. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Notice how it says that we are 'created in Christ' to do Good works? This shows that it is 'Christ within us' that enables us to do works!

Love,
Madeline

Yes, paul thought that. James did not. James was more in tune with the Jewish religion, and Jesus, being Jewish , would have agreed with him.

Paul never knew Jesus in the flesh, but only had a claim of seeing him in a vision. I would trust James over Paul. That is just yet another contradiction in the teachings of the New testament.

[Madeline]

Yes, paul thought that. James did not. James was more in tune with the Jewish religion, and Jesus, being Jewish , would have agreed with him.

Paul never knew Jesus in the flesh, but only had a claim of seeing him in a vision. I would trust James over Paul. That is just yet another contradiction in the teachings of the New testament.

Well you see, I am interpreting the bible from a Christian perspective. I don't believe that James could be any more trustworthy than Paul. I sincerely believe that both Paul and James were under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, thus both are correct!

2 Timothy 3:16 - All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:


Love,
Madeline

[Goat]

Yes, paul thought that. James did not. James was more in tune with the Jewish religion, and Jesus, being Jewish , would have agreed with him.

Paul never knew Jesus in the flesh, but only had a claim of seeing him in a vision. I would trust James over Paul. That is just yet another contradiction in the teachings of the New testament.

Well you see, I am interpreting the bible from a Christian perspective. I don't believe that James could be any more trustworthy than Paul. I sincerely believe that both Paul and James were under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, thus both are correct!

2 Timothy 3:16 - All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:


Love,
Madeline

I was compariing and contrasting Judaism, and noticing how James had a much more Jewish outlook that Paul. this is very consistant.

[Madeline]

Yah! so how does that disprove what I said?

Love,
Madeline

[Goat]

Yah! so how does that disprove what I said?

Love,
Madeline

Oh, it doesn't. It just shows choose a different meal at the buffet.