(From http://www.christinyou.net)
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CHRISTIAN? There is much confusion among the general public, as well as the religious community, concerning what it means to be a “Christian.”
Does it mean assenting to a particular belief-system?
Does it mean consenting to a prescribed morality pattern?
Does it mean changing and improving one’s behavior?
Does it mean joining a church organization?
Does it mean practicing regular rituals of worship?
Even those who call themselves “Christians” seem to have much difficulty articulating and verbalizing what it means to be a Christian. Their ambiguous explanations often convey an amalgamated “mish-mash” of affirming the above-mentioned activities.
What is needed is a clear Biblical restatement of the basic spiritual reality of being a Christian. That will be our objective in this study.
In order to do so, we will divide the study by differentiating what is involved in becoming a Christian initially, and what is subsequently involved in being the Christian one has become. Thus we can consider both the commencement and the continuance of what it means to be a Christian.
Becoming a Christian We are not referring to “getting religious,” or “joining a church,” or “believing and reciting correct creedal doctrines.” The issue we address is “becoming a Christian.”
What must one do to become a Christian?
In one sense, there is nothing anyone can DO to become a Christian. Everything necessary to become and be a Christian has been done by Jesus Christ, which is why He exclaimed “It is finished!” (John 19:30). It is only by the grace-activity of God in Jesus Christ that the opportunity of becoming and being a Christian is afforded to mankind. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast” (Eph. 2:8,9). There is no human performance or effort that can effect the spiritual reality of becoming a Christian… READ MORE
One-lamb-of-God said,
July 13, 2008 @ 6:47 pm
I hear you. Are you an Emerging Church or P-Driven pattern churched?
Thanks so much.
One-lamb-of-God said,
July 13, 2008 @ 7:04 pm
So does all of us people on earth end up going to Heaven, will we all be saved? Thanks. No rush to answer, I’ll check in later.
silverbuckeye said,
July 13, 2008 @ 7:56 pm
1. Rio Vida is an independent Christian resource website
2. Only the people that believe that Jesus was the Son of God and died on the cross for our sins and ask God to forgive their sins (causing that person to change their ways to become more Christ-like [Following the commandments in the Christian Bible]) go to heaven and live with God and other Christians for eternity. Everyone who doesn’t believe in God goes to Hell, a place of fire and everlasting punishment.
~Daniel
One-lamb-of-God said,
July 13, 2008 @ 8:23 pm
Hi Daniel, ” independent” how are you using that word?
silverbuckeye said,
July 13, 2008 @ 9:00 pm
I created Rio Vida as a way to tell people about Christianity. This website is not associated with any other company, though I do own the website http://www.twioa.com
So basically, Rio Vida is just an “archive” of free Christian resources not associated with any company. Its just kind of a fun project to help spread God’s word.
~Daniel