The True Meaning Of Becoming And Being A Christian
Becoming a Christian....
Becoming a Christian is a spiritual reality that transpires in the spiritual core of our being. Our "spirit and soul and body is to be preserved complete" in Jesus Christ. The most basic need of man is not physical rejuvenation, or psychological adjustment, or social improvement, but spiritual exchange and regeneration. Because all of mankind begin their physical lives spiritually "dead in their trespasses and sins", the primary need of man is to be made alive spiritually.
1 Thess.5:23
And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph. 2:1-5
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints that are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ: even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love: having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.
As anyone knows who has lived very long as a Christian, being a Christian does not exempt us from trouble, loss, heartaches, pain etc.
Just because we go to church doesn't necessarily mean one is a Christian either. Not going to church does NOT mean one is not a Christian either. Many Christians for various reasons, cannot get to church, if they have a personal relationship with Christ, they are Christians! There are a lot of Christians who have been excommunicated from churches, who are nevertheless still Christians, because they have Christ in their hearts and read their bibles,and pray. (John chapter 9) In many countries Christians cannot even conduct church services, but the still have a personal relationship with Christ.
It is good however for any Christian to go to church. There you hear the Word. Faith comes from hearing the Word. It is good to have fellowship with other Christians too. However, if you cannot get to church for some reason, do not let anyone tell you that you cannot be a Christian. It is a lie of the devil. What does it mean to be a Christian?
Being a Christian
Everything necessary for being and behaving as a Christian comes through Christ, who lives within us. The fruit of the Spirit will grow within us as we study the WORD and PRAY, and it is derived from the One with whom we have spiritually identified and united, Jesus Christ. Being and living as a Christian is not a religious exercise of conformity to the example of the historic life of Jesus Christ, striving to be Christ-like. Attempts to pattern one's behavior after that of Jesus amount to nothing more than self-serving attempts to "parrot" or "ape" the behavior-pattern of another. The Christian life is not an imitation of Jesus, but the manifestation of His life and character in our behavior, "that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal body"
Living the Christian life is not comprised of going through the motions of repetitive religious rituals. Nor is it the legalistic keeping of behavioral rules and regulations in conformity to an ethical morality. Ecclesiastical involvement is not the essence of Christian living either; not church attendance, participating in religious programs, or tithing ten-percent of one's income.
Being and behaving as a Christian is enabled and empowered by the grace of God in the dynamic of the life of Jesus Christ in the Christian. In His departing promise Jesus explained, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you". "God's grace is given according to the working of His power", providing "all sufficiency in everything". Therefore, consistent with our becoming a Christian, it is not what we do, to behave and live as a Christian, but the recognition of the sufficiency of the life of Jesus Christ within us. "He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus". However as a full Gospel minister I believe and I would remind you that at anytime we CAN choose to take ourselves out of Gods hands and turn back to living without God. (Proverbs 26:11) As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. (2 Peter 2:22) Of them the proverbs are true: " A dog returns to his vomit and a sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud." (Luke 9:62) "Jesus replied Noone who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God". ... Also see: (Luke 9:23-25)
Jesus said, "I came that you might have life, and have it more abundantly" (John 10:10.). "I am the life"
, Jesus declared. The Christian can affirm with Paul that "Christ is our life"; therefore, "for me to live is Christ" (Phil. 1:21). The Christian life is the "saving life of Christ" (Rom 5:10)
Whereby we are "made safe" from dysfunctional humanity in order to function as God intended by the divine power of Christ within the Christian. HOWEVER WE MUST DRAW UPON THAT POWER WITHIN OURSELVES BY CHOOSING TO.
By His Holy Spirit, the living Lord Jesus wants to fill us (and control our behavior in order to manifest His character. This is not ethical conformity to a Christian value-system, but is the manifestation of the "fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Gal. 5:22-26). We must not become conceited provoking and envying one another.
Thereby we allow for His holy character to be expressed in the process of sanctification ( I Cor. 1:30),( I Thess. 5:23).
Being the Christian we have become is not effected by increased dedication and commitment to God or the church. Nor is Christian growth and behavior enacted by "studying to show oneself approved to God" by the Gnostic acquisition of additional biblical and doctrinal knowledge. Emotional experiences do not make one a better Christian. Participation in activist causes, or serving the Lord in ministry or missions opportunities are not creditable means of enhancing the Christian life. God is "not served with human hands, as though He needed anything" (Acts 17:25). Paul credited Christ for everything in his life and ministry, when he wrote, "I do not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me" (Rom. 15:18)
"As you received Christ Jesus, so walk in Him" (Col. 2:6), wrote Paul. How did we receive Christ Jesus in order to become a Christian? By faith! In like manner, then, the Christian is 'responsible to continue to make the volitional choices moment-by-moment to allow for the receptivity of Christ's activity in our Christian lives. Such receptive faith allows for the vital outworking (James 2:26) of the life and character of Jesus Christ in our behavior. "Christ lives in me," Paul explained, "and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me" (Gal. 2:20).
What does it mean, then, to be a Christian? Christianity is Christ! A Christian is one in whom Jesus Christ lives by His Spirit, and one who allows the life and character of Jesus Christ to be lived out through his behavior, in order to function as intended to the glory of God (Isa. 43:7).
