quote: Originally Posted by Jennifer:Like Bill claims to be a Christian? Amazing isn't it, how Bill just knows whats in everyone's heart and can say who is and isn't a Christian.
Hi Jennifer,
No, honestly I do not know what is in another person's heart. Neither do you, nor anyone else. I cannot say who is a Christian and who is not. However, the User's Manual God gave us, the Bible, clearly tells us how to recognize a Christian believer. A person who denies God is obviously not a Christian. A person who is involved in New Age, cult, or world religions is not a Christian. These, of course, are the most obvious signs.
The Bible tells us we should be able to see the "fruit" of a person's salvation, the "fruit" of his/her Christian belief. That is typically a good guideline, a good starting point. Is a person is willing to declare himself/herself to the world, to be a believer -- "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. . ." (Romans 1`:16) -- odds are pretty good he/she is a Christian believer.
Yet, we do find pretenders, some who are very good pretenders and wear the Christian hat with authority -- yet, are not really believers. Then, how can we know if the person is only pretending -- or is a true Christian believer, a "forgiven sinner"?
The next criteria is: Does this person believe, share, and follows the Essential Christian Beliefs:
1. The Deity of Jesus Christ -- God incarnate -- fully a man; yet, fully God.
2. The Trinity -- God eternally existing; manifested (revealed) in three persons: Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
3. The Bible -- Is the inspired Written Word of God and is the sole authority for Christian faith, salvation, and our Christian life.
4. Salvation by Grace -- By grace you are saved, through faith in Jesus Christ -- plus nothing else.
5. The Resurrection of Christ -- He rose from the dead, that we may also be resurrected into eternal life.
6. The Gospel -- The birth, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ according to Scripture.
7. Heaven and Hell -- Both are real places and are the only two eternal destinations available to all mankind.
If these Christian beliefs guide a person's life, if this is what he/she believes and shares; we can assume he/she is a Christian believer. Yet, the bottom line is that only that person and God knows for sure.
However, the person or church which denies any of these Essential Christian Beliefs, especially the first three -- that person or that church is not Christian.
So, Jennifer, it is not Bill Gray who declares a person to be a Christian or to not be a Christian. It is the Bible, God's Rule Book for Christian faith, salvation, and living. If you go to an Alabama/Auburn football game -- they play by the rules written in the NCAA Rule Book. Neither team is allowed to rewrite the rules or to insert its own rules. They play by the NCAA Rule Book or they do not play.
By the same token, a Christian believer plays by God's Rule Book, the Bible -- or he/she is not a Christian. His Rule Book is the Bible, all sixty-six books of it.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill