Hi ****,
These two questions are very important. I will begin with the second and then respond to the first question. "What defines a Christian?". I know that the qualification for the question should be: "What defines a REAL Christian?". Many claim to be Christians who simply "Go to Church" or "Do good things". However, the God has said: "If thou shalt (1) confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt (2) believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved: for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."(Rom 10:9,10) First, confession of Jesus as Lord (or "Boss" of one's life). There is no such thing as a "Secret Christian". Jesus said: "For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in his own glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels."(Luk 9:26). If you believe that the Cubs are the best team, you would never ashamed to say "I'm a Cub's Fan". In the same way, If Jesus is your Lord, your all in all, your everything, you will never be ashamed to openly confess Him as your Lord, your Boss (the One Who calls the shots).
Secondly, Belief, is not just a mental assent to the existence of God (see James 2:19), but a true confidence in the one Divine "Proof" that Jesus was not "Just a man" but the God-Man. That proof is the Resurrection of His Son from the dead. A True Christian does not believe in a "dead Jesus" but as The Resurrected One. No man who dies can offer Eternal Life and that is what Jesus came to bring us. Read 1st Corinthians 15 as to the importance of the Resurrection.
Now, to the question of Baptism. I believe that following Christ in Baptism is the most Biblical way to Confess The Resurrected One. In Baptism, a person confesses Jesus as Lord and identifies himself in with his Resurrected Lord by being lowered into the watery grave of water and raised in "newness of life" (Romans 6:4). That being said, as I recall speaking with you over the phone, Jesus promised the thief on the cross "Today you shall be with me in Paradise" after the thief asked: " Jesus, remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom." (Luke 23:42) . The thief (1) Confessed Jesus as Lord when he recognized that He had a Kingdom and (2) Believed that Jesus was going to be raised from the dead when He escaped death and came into His Kingdom. I believe that I will see that thief in heaven one day, not because he was baptized (because he was not) but because he Confessed Jesus as Lord and Believed that God would raise Him from the dead. So, though Believer's Baptism is the most Biblical method to Confess one's faith, it is not necessary to be saved.
The bottom line is found in Ephesians 2:8,9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is thegift of God, not as a result of works, that no one should boast." So, the one essential for salvation is faith. This essential, namelyfaith, has always (even for the believers in the Old Testament) been the Biblical essential for salvation. (Example: "Abraham believed God and it was reckoned unto him as righteousness"- Romans 4:3)
****, you asked for the "abbreviated" version of a "deep" subject. There is much more to say on these questions. Hopefully this is of some help. If there is something that is still unclear, please feel free to ask any question. The only "dumb" question is the one you do not ask.
Blessings
He put it quite simply. To be a true Christian is to Confess Jesus as Lord - there is no such thing as a secret Christian
DawnDee
So what is your opinion of the following scriptures?
ReplyDeleteActs 2:37-38 (or better yet the whole chapter)
Acts 8:12&16
Acts 10:48
Acts 19:5
Acts 22:16
Romans 6:3-4
Mark 16:15-17
Glatians 3:27
Collossians 2:11-12
There are many more if you need them...
Rachel,
ReplyDeleteLet me re-read those scriptures and I will get back to you. Good to hear from you.
DawnDee
Rachel,
ReplyDeleteI re-read those verses; very good by the way for pointing out the Biblical way to confess one's faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. While it is very important for a Believer to be baptized it is not imperative for a Believer to be baptized to be saved.
I am not sure if that is what you wanted to point out when referencing those scriptures or not; but let me go over a few of them for those who feel you need to be immersed or sprinkled in water to be saved.
In Acts 10:43 Peter was preaching to some Gentiles. In verse 44 it says that while he was speaking to them they believed and were filled with the Holy Spirit. It was after that in verses 47 and 48 that he ordered them to be baptized. He ordered it only because there were Jewish Believers there that were shocked that Gentiles were filled with the Holy Spirit. These Gentiles were Believers and followed the commandment to be baptized.
Romans 6:3-4 is a very good verse! Paul is rebuking some Believers who are in sin. He is reminding them of their position in Christ. These may be Believers who Paul himself had baptized. I do not believe that Paul is saying that the baptism saved them only that they had believed and had been baptized. Baptized is only a symbol of being dead to sin and raised to new life; very much like communion bread and wine is a symbol of Christ's body and blood.
Jesus explained it very well in Mark 16; in His last appearance to His disciples He says "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned." I believe Jesus mentions baptism is because it was a step of obedience. The second half of the verse ".... but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned." Jesus did not say he who has not been baptized shall be condemned. How could He? He told the thief on the cross, after the thief rebuked the other thief by saying "...Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." After that the thief turns to Jesus and asks Him to remember him when He comes into His kingdom (The thief believed). Jesus said to him, "....Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise." Jesus didn't say Oh no I am sorry you haven't been baptized, or I am sorry you have done so many things wrong. He replied that the thief would be in heaven with him.
Baptism as well as communion is important but they are both symbols of our believing and following Christ.