19 thoughts on “How to Tell You’re Not a Christian (Even If You Think You Are) #1

  1. What I found useful in submission to Christ was daily yielding of my rights, and the biblical concept of God’s love that relentlessly pursues me to this holiness.

    In maturing and submission to Christ as Lord and in dying to self. (Matt 10:29) I relinquish the rights to my body, time, future, reputation, family and friends, talents, possessions and health.

    Body: Romans 12: 1,2
    Time: Matt: 6:33
    Future: Matt 6:34
    Reputation: Phil 2: 3-11. John 3:30
    Family & Friends: Matthew 10: 37-40
    Talents: 1 Cor. 4:7
    Possessions: Job 1:21
    Health: 11 Cor. 12:9

  2. what! comfortable complacency is not what I should be seeking?

    Malcolm X has a word for me, “Oh, I say and say it again—you’ve been had, you’ve been took, you’ve been hoodwinked, bamboozled, led astray, run amuck.”

    • David Riggins

      So, because you are lukewarm–neither hot nor cold–I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

      I would say that God does not spit out those who are saved…So the question we should ask ourselves is this: Were they ever saved? In regards to my own life, can I call myself a Christian, be baptised, say “the prayer” and not be saved?

  3. I see what you’re getting at but need to say that I’m going to continue to rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ for my salvation… not my ability to let the Gospel inconvenience me. I’m intentionally missing your point. From Saint Patrick:

    Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me.

    And yes, as a result of his finished work I’m wonderfully inconvenienced. But I’m dead, so it’s really not supposed to be an inconvenience. Shutting up… 😉

  4. Cheryl

    Jeff,
    I’m just curious are you reformed?
    Since attending a PCA that is the type of thinking and teaching I hear alot. It concurs with alot of ‘positional truth’ I heard ad nauseum in a word of faith church.
    Alot like mind science or mental accent…don’t scientologists do that? My point being actually DOING ,OBEYING God’s word is what is more important. Sure dead to sin. Hah in my abusive church that was ALL we heard. The Mosiac Law and death death death… laying down your life. People taking out second mortgages on their house to help the ministry,laying down all your plans,education etc. No fun.

    Why is it so difficult to find balance.?

  5. Cheryl,

    No! No! No! I’m not reformed. 🙂 Be careful of reformed witch-hunts.

    I think we probably have more in common than meets the eye. I believe that doing faith is proof of what Jesus has already done for me. I grew up with the unhealthy view that salvation was my gig. It was more Arminian in that it was up to me to work out my salvation with fear and trembling (and more trembling) without understanding that it was God who was working in me to will and act according to his good pleasure.

    After arguing endlessly with my Calvinist friends about the part we have to play in salvation I’m finding a ton of peace in knowing that Jesus Christ’s finished work on the cross is enough. Jesus + nothing gets me to heaven. I don’t think that’s too cerebral. It’s making a tremendous difference in my life these days. I have peace. Assurance of salvation. Hope for the future. I know that I don’t have to work for my salvation. I can rest in the knowledge of Christ’s finished work without working myself into a frenzy trying to merit God’s favor. I don’t believe I’m Reformed (because of some abuses on that side of the fence) but if believing that nothing but Jesus saved me makes me Reformed then fine.

    I think you hit a nerve when you said balance. On one side of the isle you’ve got folks trying to earn salvation. On the other side there are those who only think salvational thoughts.

    I’m hoping to rest in Christ’s finished work while I get to work because of what he’s done. I do believe it’s important for me to say that Jesus alone does the saving. Blessings!

  6. Cheryl

    Ok got it. Hmm “salvational thoughts” interesting comment. I’m surrounded by people who do that. They don’t really seem to be laboring to enter into the rest… anyway thanks for your response. It’s proably good that I’m where I am for now.

  7. David Riggins

    This is interesting. 11 comments on an issue that strikes to the heart of the Christian walk: Are you saved or not? Versus 68 comments on an issue that doesn’t have much to do with our Salvation at all. Titus 3:9 and 1 Timothy 6:4 have something to say about these matters, I would think.

    Dan, Part 2?

  8. Andy

    I would have to disagree with you here, Dan, although i believe you are usually right on.

    I am not much of a scholar, but this is the way I interpret it:

    Salvation is the beginning of Christianity not the end. You become a Christian the moment you let Jesus into your heart, and no good deeds or lack there of will affect this.
    But.. the journey only begins with salvation. Until someone fully commits them self to Christ they will not have the close relationship with Him that He wants for us.

      • Andy

        If someone says they are a Christian and does not change their lifestyle at all, then they are not a Christian because He is not truly in them.
        When I said “fully commit” I was referring to the single-mindedness that we strive for to be closer to Him.

  9. This post has taken on a life of its own. My initial post flowed from my feeling that I had to work toward salvation earlier in my Christian walk. I have more assurance of salvation now than I ever have because I know that salvation is rooted in the goodness and love of God and his choice, not my performance. He gets the credit from first to last.

    However, I do agree that the gospel inconveniences our lifestyle and, well, everything. God bless you bro.

  10. Pingback: Beyond the 4 walls » Inconveniened?

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