Christians ........

[Truthseeking]

What makes a Christian ? Answer : A belief by faith not of works in Jesus Christs sacrifice on the cross. Are the only christians Baptists ? How does one get over the denominational barrier ? I ask these because I see it all over the internet that Baptists are too legalistic, too striaght. Baptists aren't Christians cause they're mean spirited people. They take take everything out of context. They're trying to work their way into heaven by keeping standards. This, that, and whatever ...... I hear all kinds of stuff. At the same time the bible says lean not unto your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge him. Bible also says go not the way of the world and keep your focus on him........ In the world there are alot of sterotypes and you can hear them all the time. Shes this, shes that, like who her change ? She's always been and always will be that way as far as I'm concerned sort of attitude. Like the homeless person that stands on the street corner with a sign that says help a vet homeless. The sort of attitude that says if he can't help himself then I'm not. Yet they're a Christian ! How does one deal with all that ?

[John81]

First of all, we deal with the outside things by setting our hearts right with God. Our Heavenly Father is most concerned with our surrending ourselves to His will, pursuing holiness and Christlikeness for His glory and honour.

Regardless of how other professing Christians conduct themselves, we are to abide in the Word, walking in the Spirit, not in the flesh.

The term "baptist" doesn't have just one meaning. Today there are liberal Baptists, conservative Baptists, legalistic Baptists, harsh and stern Baptists, loving and caring Baptists, etc. Our identity is to be in Christ, not in a denominational name.

As for other denominations, some are just outright not of God. Some others hold to proper views of salvation yet are in error with regards to other doctrines and/or practices.

I take each professing Christian as an individual and determine their standing with Christ as an individual.

There will always be those who mock and attack various professing Christians and denominations. We have no control over that and we have no control over what most folks do in the various denominations.

We must do our part in submitting totally to Christ as Lord of our lives. When we allow Christ to be the Lord of our lives we can then be His effective servants.

Regardless of how some professing Christians may deal with the man holding the homeless vet sign, or how some may be rigid with regards to the law of God, or how some may be very loose with their view of Scripture, we are accountable to God alone to let our light so shine before me that we glorify our Heavenly Father.

If professing Christians walk by a certain man and cast disparaging looks or even words their way yet the Holy Ghost lays it upon our heart to talk to that man or give something to that man or help him in some way then it's up to us to decide if we are going to follow the example of those others or if we are going to obey the Lord.

[JerryNumbers]

Jesus saves, not a church. Of course baptism is the 1st step in obedience after one has been saved.

Seems that we have many now days that if anyone holds tight to God's teachings, principles, within the Bible, they want to call them legalist.

To hold tightly to the principles of God is not being a legalist, its following Jesus closely, not from afar. trouble comes when you start following Jesus from afar, look at what happened to Peter when he did this.

We Baptist know quite well that we were save only by the mercy of God by grace thru faith in Jesus Christ and that we are kept by the power of God, not by works.

[Jeny]

When a person puts his faith in Christ work at the cross, he become a Christian. Being a christian comes also great responsibility. The bible says that we are not to conformed with this world and we should let our lights so shine before men therefore we ought to maintain a life that is different from unbelievers and some people misunderstood that as being a legalist.

[Jeny]

Our identity is to be in Christ.

This is a very encouraging statement brother John... "our identity is to be in Christ", very true. Thank you.

[kevinmiller]

Our identity is to be in Christ, not in a denominational name.

:goodpost:

[JerryNumbers]

But we better be careful where we hang our hat, it needs to be at a church that proclaims truth and is built on the proper foundation. There be many churches out there, many different denominational names & none denominational churches, even some with the name of Baptist, that is not of Jesus, but of man, there be only one, that is 1, foundation that can be build upon and follow Jesus closely, any other and you will be following Jesus from afar.

[Truthseeking]

But we better be careful where we hang our hat' date=' it needs to be at a church that proclaims truth and is built on the proper foundation. There be many churches out there, many different denominational names & none denominational churches, even some with the name of Baptist, that is not of Jesus, but of man, there be only one, that is 1, foundation that can be build upon and follow Jesus closely, any other and you will be following Jesus from afar.[/quote']

This is true Jerry .........

[JerryNumbers]

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
1 Cor 3:11-15 (KJV)

And we better be careful what we build on this foundation.

19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
2 Tim 2:19-21 (KJV)

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
1 Peter 2:6 (KJV)