I wonder if people have any real idea of what a Christian truly is?
Since many have mischaracterized and stretched the true meaning of what a Christian is to cover a multitude of people who are only religious, and not Biblical Christians.
There are many Christian denominations represented in thnis nation, but many are Christian only in name. Many people refer to themselves as Christians because they generally believe in God, or are a member of a local church, but that is not what makes a person a Christian.
Jesus said at least three times in the New Testament that we must be “Born-again”, The Scripture is very clear that one must have a true spiritual conversion that comes only by God’s grace through our faith, yet there are churches in this area that do not teach this Biblical truth.
A Born-Again believer has a personal relationship with God through the person of Jesus Christ, that comes by faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross. God showed his love to all of mankind by sending Jesus to this earth to be crucified, he took upon himself all of our sins, and all of God’s wrath was poured out upon him on our behalf, and God raised Christ from the dead for our justification. This is what true Christians believe, it’s called the “GOSPEL”.
The statements that I am making here are not my opinion versus someone else’s opinion, it is what God Himself very clearly say’s in His Word.
Many religious people are well meaning and have good intentions, but their good intentions will never make them right with God, only true faith can accomplish that. Many well meaning people honestly believe in God and Jesus, but have never truly come to a saving knowledge of Christ.
We are truly living in the day when men refuse to put up with sound doctrine, and have traded the truth of God for lies and perverted His moral law to fit their own sensual/fleshly desires. The Bible tells us that in the last days many will depart from the faith, that people will love themselves and what pleases them, instead of loving God and His Truth.
The last day’s will be like that of Noah just before the flood, that people will be extremely wicked and evil, and that violence will be everywhere because of all these things.
Pay Attention! There is NO (moderate) middle ground in the Christian faith, Jesus said that if you are not for Him, you are against Him. He said if we love him we will obey his commandments. The Scripture declares that many will come before Christ on the judgment day and will call Him Lord only to be told “I don’t know you”.
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Excellent message Kevin - strong and uncompromisingly well presented. Part of the problem is that not everyone understands what it is to be Born Again. Whenever I hear someone refer to themselves as a "born again Christian", I always cringe just a little. Although I know what they mean (usually that they've been baptised in the Spirit and are on fire for God, which is actually not what being born again means at all) the fact is that there is no other type of Christian. If you aren't born again then you aren't a Christian. On the other hand, one of the saddest comments I ever heard someone say was that they were a Christian, but not one of those born again ones. You know, after reading your article and just writing these few comments, I just was struck by the thought that so much misunderstanding and misleading could be avoided if people would just open their Bibles and read! With love, Deb
