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What Kind Of Christian Are You?
We hear all the time from various sources that there are different kinds of Christians.
There are Coptic Christians; Orthodox Christians; Catholic Christians; Jewish
Christians (like that makes sense); and there are those who place an adjective
before the title of Christian. Things like born-again Christian; believing Christian;
fundamental Christian, and so on.
Now, if we go to the Bible, I think we can narrow the kinds of Christians to only
three categories. The three are 1) potential Christians, 2) faithful Christians,
and 3) unfaithful Christians. And yes, they are still adjectives we are discussing.
There really is no need to make any other distinction at all. Those who choose
to make such distinction are part of the denominational problem that the Bible
does not even discuss.
1. Potential (or future) Christians. Actually every living human being that has
the ability to determine right from wrong is a potential Christian. The reason
being that the opportunity to become a Christian has been offered to all mankind.
Jesus died on the cross for all mankind. Yet, we know that most of mankind will
not seek to become a Christian at all. We could also look at potential Christians
as those who have decided to think of spiritual matters. We know from John 4:21
that there are those who are seeking to worship God in spirit and in truth. God
helps these people find the truth through His providence (which we cannot see)
and His guidance (which we can read in the Bible). God also charges His children
with the responsibility to go out and evangelize mankind. Through one of these
three methods, potential Christians can become Christians.
2. Faithful Christians are those who have been taught the commands of God and
obeyed them. Their choice to believe in God and Jesus as the Son of God, and their
willingness to follow His commands makes them a Christian. Notice that just believing
does not make one a Christian. It is by obedience to God's commands. Especially
the command that removes our sins through baptism. Until one is baptized properly,
they do not have a right to call themselves a Christian. How long will they be
a Christian? Until they die. Another similar question is necessary here. How long
will they be a faithful Christian? The answer depends upon the choices they make,
and the effort they put into it. If they stop being a faithful Christian, they
still remain a Christian, but now they become an unfaithful Christian.
3. Unfaithful Christians are those who have obeyed the gospel of Christ and been
buried with Him in baptism, yet have not followed His instructions or commands.
Some of these do so by continuing in sin that they were supposed to repent of
and stop doing. Some just stopped attending the services of the local church.
Some just drifted away from the truth. Some of these started attending and became
a member of a denomination. Once they stopped being faithful, they entered the
world of Satan. We know that Satan wants people to think they are headed toward
heaven, but will not be allowed entrance into the magnificent palace of God. Satan
is the great deceiver and has been successful in deceiving millions, even billions
into believing the lie. Take time to read 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12. I hope you
realize that many people who call themselves Christians are not really Christians
at all. Just because they will not enter heaven does not make them evil, wicked
people. In fact, these are some of the nicest people you will ever meet, and they
can be more spiritually minded than the faithful at times. Where they fail God
is in respect to His word, the Bible. These are the ones who follow those who
have added to God's word, which is prohibited. They follow those who have removed
things from God's instructions. And they have made many changes. In fact, many
denominations have outright rejected the Bible as the inerrant and infallible
word of God (even though their creeds might state otherwise).
This begs the question if there are Christians in all various denominations. The
answer is yes. But don't stop there. The kinds of Christians in the denominations
are the unfaithful kind. A faithful Christian will follow God instead of man.
The denominations all teach doctrines contrary to the Bible, yet promote themselves
as being acceptable to God. And also note that the thousands of denominations
each teach a similar, but different doctrine. Such confusion does not come from
God. Only man can mess things up so badly, and the being that influences man is
Satan.
Jesus has given us the best answer as to who is accepted of God. In Matthew 7:21,
Jesus speaks these words: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord' will
enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven".
The infallible Bible tells us in 1 Peter 1:3 that everything we need concerning
our salvation and how we are supposed to live is recorded in the Bible. If everything
is there, nothing else is needed. So start today by comparing your Bible with
the teachings coming from your church, and choose to follow God and not man.
By Carey Scott
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