You are not a Christian until you actually do something - for example a dedication to God that's lasting. Not only attending church on a Sunday. The martyrs of the Roman Empire knew well, that it meant not just casual belief, but even up to life and death.
Consider it in this way, if I am going to reside in the US I'm not an a U.S. citizen - I'm still an Aussie but only live in the US. I shall continue to be an Aussie living in the US until I am naturalised; this is when I have made a commitment or a promise of loyalty to that power. Afterwards that, I must respect the laws of the land as an upright citizen, which shows a sign of my continuing dedication.
So it is to be a Christian, I am able to live thinking or announcing I am a Christian, but if I've not made that commitment which is permanent and total, then I am not a Christian. You are not born a Christian; even if you are born into a Christian family; similarly, a man isn't barrister because his pa is a barrister; you can't even become a lawyer by sitting in a court of law for several years, he becomes a barrister with much work and commitment.
As one individual put it 'Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to Maccas makes you a big mack'. It's all about a genuine, meaningful, life long agreement with God. And as you consider God's people through Bible history, this is what you find.
God makes it very obvious that our faith is not an 'add on' merely tacked onto our normal lives, it 'IS' our life (now and forever) and all else is an 'add on'. You could say that my job is not my real job - being a Christian is my real job and my other job just pays the bills, even though I enjoy it. This is what God expects of us. Jesus said "Whoever wishes to be My disciple must deny himself and follow Me" Luke 9:23.
True Christianity is a close relationship between Jesus and me, a close friendship with the all-powerful God. He requires us to be closer to Him than any person in the world. Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus said to him " You must love the Lord with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and with all your consciouness. This is the 1st and greatest commandment. ".
Consider it in this way, if I am going to reside in the US I'm not an a U.S. citizen - I'm still an Aussie but only live in the US. I shall continue to be an Aussie living in the US until I am naturalised; this is when I have made a commitment or a promise of loyalty to that power. Afterwards that, I must respect the laws of the land as an upright citizen, which shows a sign of my continuing dedication.
So it is to be a Christian, I am able to live thinking or announcing I am a Christian, but if I've not made that commitment which is permanent and total, then I am not a Christian. You are not born a Christian; even if you are born into a Christian family; similarly, a man isn't barrister because his pa is a barrister; you can't even become a lawyer by sitting in a court of law for several years, he becomes a barrister with much work and commitment.
As one individual put it 'Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to Maccas makes you a big mack'. It's all about a genuine, meaningful, life long agreement with God. And as you consider God's people through Bible history, this is what you find.
God makes it very obvious that our faith is not an 'add on' merely tacked onto our normal lives, it 'IS' our life (now and forever) and all else is an 'add on'. You could say that my job is not my real job - being a Christian is my real job and my other job just pays the bills, even though I enjoy it. This is what God expects of us. Jesus said "Whoever wishes to be My disciple must deny himself and follow Me" Luke 9:23.
True Christianity is a close relationship between Jesus and me, a close friendship with the all-powerful God. He requires us to be closer to Him than any person in the world. Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus said to him " You must love the Lord with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and with all your consciouness. This is the 1st and greatest commandment. ".
About the Author:
Neil Baulch ellaborates about the proven fact that ancient Bible history and the Holy Bible reveals that as a believer isn't a inactive and inevitable position. For further info, click on this Bible timeline.
