Open discusion.
What is a Christian?
being shown to be riddled with unbelief yet increasingly sure of my own status as a christian, i know myself to be a christian not for any particular doctrinal belief other than some deep conviction that He actually exists and some inkling of the resurrection of Christ on this same deep almost subconscious level, as i am full or heresy on the count of doctrinal beliefr.
But somewhat like ST Paul i personally encountered the supernatural being who is JEsus Christ one night 30 years ago, and after 5 years of wandering totally in the dark He reestablished this personal relationship and it continues to this day
Being riddled with unbelief is not part of being a Christian.
On the contrary a Christian believes God, believes the Scriptures and the need to study them, believes that Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh; believes that we are all sinners and we must repent of our sins-which means turning around and going with Christ, not the world or the flesh; walking in the Spirit, not living to the flesh; believing that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, rose again after the third day, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; that without Him we have no righteousness in ourselves, but through Him and because of Him, we are a sweet savour to God.
repent G3340
μετανοέω
metanoeō
Thayer Definition:
1) to change one’s mind, i.e. to repent
2) to change one’s mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G3326 and G3539
Citing in TDNT: 4:975, 636
A Christian is a new creature in Christ, and the old ways are passed away, and are crucified with Christ. A Christian is called to pick up their cross daily and follow Him, desiring to serve Him, and do His good will, which He alone can give us the ability to do, by resting in Him and believing it is about Him, not us.
Unbelief is what kept the Israelites from receiving God's promise:
Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Hebrews 3:13-19 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15. While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 16. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18. And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19. So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Hebrews 4:6-12 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: ...
9. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Unbelief and doubting God, keeps God from answering our prayers.
James 1:5-8 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
The life of a Christian is focused on Christ and is someone who is walking by faith, kept by God because of Christ in us. If our doctrine is unsound it is because it is from outside of the Scriptures, which is the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. That is where we learn understanding of the Truth. It is the Holy Spirit that confirms that we belong to Christ, not our subconscious, or logic or our own wisdom.
Romans 8:5-14 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
A true Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ, one who emulates his life, like Jesus' contempory followers did.
What was Christ's life like? He did and spoke the will of His Father. So should we.
What is the will of the Father? To obey the instructions He has given in His written word.
What instructions? His commandments and statutes. Those who obey the Father know Him and His Son. These He gives His spirit of truth and understanding to. Those who practice living according to God's instructions for life and who have the testimony of Jesus Christ will be among those who qualify for the first resurrection, the better one, at the return of Christ.
Many who claim to be "Christian" are not, which would include most of mainstream Christianity, primarily because these same have adopted the dogma of Rome and not the truth of the Bible. False doctrine abounds in the so-called churches of today leaving the vast majority of nominal Christians with a false sense of security and deceived.
Those who follow God's instructions, rather than adhere to the popular constraints of the world, know Him. Those who object, oppose, and reject God's instructions do not know Him. It's that simple:
"And hereby we do know that we know Him, IF we keep His commandments. He that says, 'I know Him', and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him ... He that says he abides in him, ought to walk as he walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you have heard from the beginning." I John 2:3-7
"And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the holy spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him." Acts 5:32
"But the anointing which you have received of Him abides in you, and you do not need any man to teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things and is truth and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall abide in Him." I John 2:27
An vital aspect and evidence of one who has been born from above is that he indeed does keep God's law. Because in order to repent from sin, which is defined by John as "breaking God's law", one must then begin to keep God's law:
"Whoever practices sin breaks also the law: for sin is breaking the law ... whoever abides in Him does not sin (break the law) ... whoever is born of God does not practice sin (breaking the law) ... " I John 3:4-8
What is God's law? His instructions for how to live life as given throughout His written record.
"Yeah, but now we are no longer responsible to obey God's laws because Jesus Christ did away with them, or just some of them anyway..." is a common false teaching among nominal pseudo Christians. This is an antibiblical, popular teaching in most circles of Protestantism and fundamental Christianity today, and will disqualify many people from the first resurrection, whose qualifications are specified all throughout scripture, for those with eyes to see and ears to hear, and specifically and succinctly named by John in Revelation 14:12:
"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, and the FAITH OF JESUS." Revelation 14:12
For example, those who have any doubt that God's food laws are "done away" better take another look at Isaiah's warnings to those who oppose God and are ignoring His instructions for how to live. Isaiah groups those that eat "swine's flesh" in with those who will experience the vials of God's wrath at the return of Christ:
"For behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with His chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire .... They that ... eat swine's flesh and the abominations ... shall be consume together saith the LORD." Isaiah 66:17
God's fourth commandment "done away"? Hardly. It is the most emphasized command in the New Testament via Hebrews 3 and 4. The whole of Hebrews 3 is a sharp rebuke to those who profaned God's Sabbath warning of the disobedience that kept the Israelites from receiving the promises of God. Hebrews 4 goes on to reinterate the fourth commandment's keeping quite vociferously.
Those who do not conform to God's law are opposers of it. Disobedience to God disqualifies one from receiving His promises of eternal life and being given the quality of sinlessness forever.
So, a true Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ, who in turn did and spoke the will of the Father. Is this way popular? No. It is very little practiced. Therefore, there are far fewer true Christians walking around today than one imagines:
Jesus said, "Narrow is the gate, and compressed is the way which leads to eternal life, and few find it." Matthew 7:14
"But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" Luke 18:8
Jesus Christ strongly rebukes nominal Christianity in John's Revelation 2 and 3. He addresses those who proclaim to be "Christians" and warns to repent or else. Only "overcomers" who endure to the end shall be saved. Many will fall away in these last days:
"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first ... " II Thes. 2:3
"But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Matthew 24:13
Jesus said, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent you, and believe the gospel." Mark 1:15
Repent of what? Breaking God's law. We need to remember the lesson Hebrews 3 reminds us of: not to be like the Israelites who disobeyed God and forfeited receiving His promises.
Are we on the narrow path that leads to eternal life, or on the broad path with the rest of the world?
True Christians are on the narrow path that few find.
Disclaimer: I am not a "Messianic", "Seventh-Day Adventist", "Jehovah's Witness" or part of any other "cult group" or denomination of Protestantism. I simply believe the Bible, all of it, and practice living according to God's instructions.
[Vic-deleted duplicate message.]
A true Christian is one who repents of his sins and regards Jesus as their Lord. Everything else follows on from that.
n_sight
Before I address your post, I would ask what version this verse --and all the other verses--- came from? 
Jesus said, "Narrow is the gate, and compressed is the way which leads to eternal life, and few find it." Matthew 7:14
Unless you are posting KJV, you need to identify the version used in your post, to respect copyright rules. 
Also, we would appreciate if new members would take a few minutes and introduce themselves in the Intro thread. 
n_sight,
While your disclaimer suggests you are not "Messianic", "Seventh-Day Adventist", "Jehovah's Witness" or part of any other "cult group" or denomination of Protestantism..." some of what you have stated is in fact identical to Hebrew Roots in particular. 
If you joined simply to spam your doctrine, thanks, but sure glad it's done. 
Not accusing, simply stating an observation of your post by someone brand new to the forum.
If not, then, Since we have many threads discussing the issues you mention, I recomment you read the following:
the keeping of the Law,
http://www.seekgod.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=77
http://www.seekgod.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=61
the New Covenant and what it means--you need to read that in particular
http://www.seekgod.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=12
http://www.seekgod.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=29
keeping kosher
http://www.seekgod.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=37
the sabbath versus the Lord's day
http://www.seekgod.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=65
tithing
http://www.seekgod.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=116
There's likely more of similar content. I would suggest you read the threads and any discussion you may wish to have will be addressed in those threads, not here... 
In fact, I highly recommend you read the forum before trying to post further, to eliminate duplication of discussions already made. 
By definition Christian means "Christ Like" How many can truly claim that they are Christ like in all their actions?
I have claimed to be a christian since I was a child, and for many years simply gave lip service to the Savior..but it wasn't until I humbled myself, acknowledged my failure, and asked Jesus in that I became a christian. It was from that point on that even the idea of some things that were abominations in the sight of God, that I had participated in with defiant pleasure, also became distasteful to me personally; and over the years the assurance that the road I travel I no longer travel alone...that He is always with me...has become the source of great comfort for me; as well as the fact that I am not in control...Jesus Is.
And that is what makes me a christian
(03-02-2009 09:37 AM)milordsheep Wrote: [ -> ]By definition Christian means "Christ Like" How many can truly claim that they are Christ like in all their actions?
I have claimed to be a christian since I was a child, and for many years simply gave lip service to the Savior..but it wasn't until I humbled myself, acknowledged my failure, and asked Jesus in that I became a christian. It was from that point on that even the idea of some things that were abominations in the sight of God, that I had participated in with defiant pleasure, also became distasteful to me personally; and over the years the assurance that the road I travel I no longer travel alone...that He is always with me...has become the source of great comfort for me; as well as the fact that I am not in control...Jesus Is.
And that is what makes me a christian
Thanx for sharing your thoughts 
It's interesting how one's journey in Christ strengthens our desire to be more like Him. I love how Paul puts it:
2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD.
Question: I wonder how many people find that the deeper their relationship is with Christ, how much less important "religious practice" is? Or is a good relationship with God dependent on the things that you do to "enhance" it, like Bible study, a specific prayer time, getting together with other Christians, going to Church, participating in liturgies and sacraments [baptism, Lord's Supper], etc?
Slippery slope there sheep. I"ve had a lifelong lesson on humility. I need fellowship simply because I am a legend in my own mind. Wasn't it Paul that used the analogy of an athelete running a race? As well as "pummeling his body"? It would seem that no matter how "fit" we are...we still need to discipline ourselves.
the deep relationship with Jesus comes from the desire to be with Jesus, the desire to be with Jesus comes from knowing Jesus. Knowing Jesus comes from reading His Word. I do not know how old you are, sheep, but me...let's say I qualify for AARP...and I have yet to learn all that God has to teach through His Word.