Questioner: Deborah
Subject: Saved?Question:
- Thanks for your response...it is very helpful.
What does the Lord require with regard to daily living and actions, if you are a Born Again Christian. So many say that they are Born Again, but their actions do not support the word of the Lord, and many times outright defy it.
- Deborah
John of AllFaith's reply
Hi Deborah,Many people claim to be many things. We can not judge who is and who is not saved. God is able to make anyone "stand" and anyone to "fall" and without God's grace, none can stand.
The word Christian means to be Christ-like. One could argue that those who are Christ-like are saved and others are not... but who really is Christ-like?
Col 3:17
- And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
This is the ideal.
Matt 7:
- Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
The closer a person comes to reaching the Christ-like ideal the more fruit that person will manifest.
But again that's the rub, what are Christian fruits? Standing up to "evil" and "condemning the infidels" or showing unconditional love and mercy? I'd certainly say the latter, but not everyone agrees.
So then, what does the Lord require of us?
Micah 6:6
- Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
God isn't interested in externals and religious pomposity. What God requires of us is love, justice, mercy, forgiveness, generosity, humility...
What does this look like on a daily basis?
Here's where the meaning of the word "Christian" is so important:
Christ-like.
Christ means "anointed" and so people who are Christ-like should look anointed. But what does that mean? Such people live their lives as the Holy Spirit anoints them and they produce good fruit.
I John 2:27
- But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
So then, Christians, those who are saved, are called to follow the inner Spirit of God with love, joy, compassion, mercy, generosity, grace.... to do as they are lead. Such a person is a Christian.
Write back any time,
-
~John of AllFaith
You are visitor number...
Who cares, I'm glad YOU'RE here!
Who cares, I'm glad YOU'RE here!
