WILL THE REAL CHRISTIAN STEP FORWARD – Part One
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Some, in studying
Discipleship series derived from Pastor Paul Marine’s Sunday sermons, wonder
about their personal relationship with God. The following definitive article is
actually 8 pages long, a lot for many people to digest at one time.
Consequently I’ve decided to share it in segments. Below is the first. EBB4
Are
You A Christian?
· Going to church does not make you a
Christian; nor does saying a prayer, going down an aisle, passing a catechism,
telling yourself that you are, or trying to be a decent person. You can only be
a Christian if Christ is in you, which can be tested and proven
according to the scriptures.
Test Yourself
2Cor
13:5 (NIV) Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test
yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course,
you fail the test?
1Cor
11:28,31 (NAS) But a man must examine himself... If we judged ourselves rightly,
we would not be judged.
2Cor
13:5 (Wey) Test yourselves to discover whether you are true believers; put
yourselves under examination...
· God gives us instructions on how we can and
should "test ourselves" in scripture, which can be grouped into five
major categories: 1) Gospel Belief and
Confession; 2) Born Again / Sonship /
Correction; 3) Repentance / Deliverance
from Sin; 4) Good Works by Grace,
and 5) The Fruit of the Spirit. The
first three are starting points, but can also serve as ongoing tests, as we
will see. The last two are living proof of "Christ Jesus in us", or
not. These scriptures should encourage those who are true Christians, and give
cause for sober reflection to those who think they are but are not.
2Pet 1:10a (NAS) ...Be
all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you.
http://www.acts17-11.com/christian.html
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