Franklin start off by telling us about a cab ride he had. " I was in a cab when I asked the driver about his faith. He replied that he was a Christian, and I asked him how he became one. I’ll never forget his reply: “Oh, I was born a Christian.” But those who belong to Christ know that it’s impossible to be born a Christian because we start out with a sin-infected nature, lost and separated from God.
People often use the term “Christian” as simply a category for describing someone’s cultural, religious, or family heritage. Other people believe that a person is a Christian because he or she attends church or was raised in a godly home. For still others, the term “Christian” is no more than a box to check off on an application or survey form.
So what is a Christian? Jesus said that His true followers are those who have been “born again” by the Spirit of God. When a Jewish religious leader named Nicodemus came to talk with Jesus one night, he declared that God was with Jesus because of all the miraculous signs Jesus performed. Jesus had this penetrating response: “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. … Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (John 3:3, 6).
The phrase “born again” in Scripture literally means “to be born from above”—a spiritual rebirth. A Christian is a man, woman, or child who has experienced a spiritual new birth through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. That new birth is a gift of God, through Jesus Christ, given by the grace He freely offers to all.
Some believe you can be born into a faith. For example, a child born to Muslim parents is considered a Muslim by many people. A son or daughter born to a Jewish mother is typically considered to be a Jew, and someone born into a Christian family is often assumed to be a Christian. No one, however, is ever automatically a Christian by birth. To be a Christian, you must make a conscious choice to turn from your sins—that’s repentance—and by faith believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who loved us, paid the price of our sins on Calvary’s cross, shed His blood and died, was buried, and was raised to life on the third day.
The Word says, “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9). The Bible also says that “if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). The moment we do so, the Holy Spirit makes us alive in Christ, imparting the gift of eternal life, and making us entirely new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
How do we tell if it’s real in our lives? The Bible says, “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands, … the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:3–4).
A Christian, then, is a person who is born again by the Spirit of God as he or she wholeheartedly trusts in Jesus Christ and seeks to follow Him in obedience. There is no other way to the Father, no other way to be a Christian, than through personal faith in the Son of God. “I am the way and the truth and the life,” Jesus said. “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Hundreds of young people became Christians at each of our Rock the River evangelistic events in three major Canadian cities in August. As they heard the Gospel, the Holy Spirit convicted them of sin, and they repented. They turned in faith to Jesus Christ, were born again, and received new, resurrection life.
Please remember to pray for me as I preach the Gospel in Osaka, Japan, this month and in Eastern Europe later in the fall. Satan wants to take as many people to Hell with him as he can, but God wants all to repent and turn from their sin so they can enjoy eternity in Heaven with Him. The Bible says that God “is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
Your faithful intercessory prayers make you a shareholder in the great work of evangelism and discipleship. This is all we do, because becoming a follower of Christ through the new birth is the most important step a person can make in this life, and for the life hereafter.
I’m sure there is someone you know—maybe a loved one or close friend—who has not experienced the new birth in Jesus Christ. I encourage you to continue in your prayer for that person and to ask the Lord for fresh opportunities to talk about what it means to be Christian. You might even share this letter with someone who needs to know."
After hearing about Bishop Eddie Long being accused of "inappropriate behavior"I felt the question needs to be posed by each of us to each of us as to what is a Christian? If Christ came back what would he find you doing? Would he find you in the jail ministering to the lost? Would he find you at the hospital caring for the sick? Would he find you among the elderly caring and loving on them. Would he find you among the homeless and the fatherless?
Fancy cars, big houses, attractive women, jewelry and mega churches is that what being a Christian is all about? If you truly want to know what a follower of Christ entails, pick up your cross and follow him. For the road is rough but the path is straight and the reward is eternal life. For there will be no more tears no more pain in the place Christ wants to lead us too.
2 comments:
You see Dr. H its men like this black Bishop that makes most of us wonder why do you Christians judge other and say that Gays are bad when half of the men in your church are addicted to porn. Your women are blind and can't even realize that you guys are in need of good woman. Why can't Christians just admit that they are no better than the rest of us. Often times like in the case of this bishop he is worse than the gays he hates.
Is the money and the power that corrupt the bible? I've listen to you talk and read your daily emails to me and your prayers for me and my Father for that I'm greatly appreciative I do not want you to think that I'm not. Even you speaking with my supervisor on my behalf to get him to grant me leave to spend some time with my dad was great. Never knew you served in the military apparently very well since my supervisor said he worked for you and that even approved my access account when I first got stationed here over a year ago. That is really freaky that I meet you and do not remember you.
Back to subject, I'm trying to understand how men of who claim to be Godly men end up here???
The deacon that destroyed my family was such a man and the deacon that destroy your first marriag he was such a man also correct? I do want to know the truth and if God is truly who you say he is why does he allow these men use his name in vain? I realize that your not that kind of Pastor, Dr. H but its men like Bishop Eddie Long that everyone on the base is talking about right now. Not men like yourself, my dad said we have to pray for him. He destroyed lives and lied, I don't understand why can't Christians just admit when they are wrong spend more time being like God and less time trying to be as you said "In the world and of this world". I really do want to understand better what it means to be a Christian, you and the chaplain here seem to be godly men but I see this guy on TV and remember my family destruction by what was supposing to be a godly man and even in your own life? You walked out of the Church and stopped preaching because of this. So how can I trust the church?
You're not supposed to trust the church, you are supposed to trust GOD; in His word. Prov.16:20 says "Whoever gives thought t the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD." Furthermore, in Psalms 146:3 says " DO not put your trust in powerful people; there is no help for you there.(new living translation)
I can only speak for myself, as a christian, I know I have good days where life seems to fall in line with what GOD wants and I have more "bad" days where my flesh wants, needs, desires, feels, and gets the better of me and I wind up saying things I should not have, feeling angry or even hateful towards my circumstances and or loved ones around me. I can never claim to be perfect I can only claim to be saved by grace. Which means GOD gave me salvation without any other reason but the love He has for me. I can never have earned it because of my sin nature. But I am grateful for the gift of eternal life. So daly I strive to be "christ like" and daly I fall short. GOD does not say we need to be perfect because that will never happen.
So I say to you David, stop looking at this person or that person. The bible clearly states that if that bishop did wrong he will be judged according to his works. There will be no running from that truth, just like the deacon that did you and your father wrong and the one who wronged my wonderful husband. You need to develop your relationship with GOD and let that baggage go. We can claim to be anything we want, but because our natural state is to dwell in sin we cant always be judged by our "cover".
One last thing, we don't hate the homosexuals. We don't condone their behaviour because GOD does not condone it. GOD does love everyone and does not want anyone to be eternally separated from Him, but we all have free will. We make choices to do or not to do things that will hurt others or even ourselves. We choose, GOD does not choose for us He gave us laws, He has shown us through His word what is right what is wrong how we should try to live. But like the old saying goes " you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink."
Any christian who thinks he/she is perfect and can do no wrong is prideful and the word says pride cometh before the fall. If that bishop is guilty it was his pride that did him in.
I was not trying to make this a lengthy rebuttal so I will end it here.
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