Recently, I have been thinking about what it means to be a Christian? What does it really mean to be a follower of Jesus Christ? Does my life, my behavior, and speech reflect what I believe in my heart? I know I am not the only one who has ever posed these questions, but for many reasons I could not come to any satisfactory conclusions.
I came across a presentation that I attended 3 years ago that attempted to provide some answers to those questions mentioned above. The presentation included 10 hallmarks or signs of a Christian. The book of focus was I John and the hallmarks/signs submitted were convicting to say the least. Praise God for bringing this presentation back to my attention. My challenge to all of you out there is this;
(1) Review the 10 hallmarks below . . .
(2) Read, Study, and Pray over the scripture verses provided . . .
(3) Go to the Father in prayer and ask Him for wisdom and discernment concerning your own life.
I know I will be on my face in the coming days . . . . .
10 HALLMARKS of a CHRISTIAN
1. They admit they are a sinner (1 John 1:8)
2. They live a life of obedience more than disobedience (1 John 2:3-6, 3:6, 5:2)
3. They do not harbor hatred, but offer compassion (1 John 2:9, 2:11, 3:15, 4:16, 4:20)
4. They do not love the world or the world system (1 John 2:15)
5. They proclaim Christ as the Son of God (1 John 4:15)
6. They long for their return home to the Father (1 John 3:2-3)
7. They desire to serve and help other Christians (1 John 3:17, 3:14)
8. They enjoy being with other believers (1 John 5:1)
9. They reject false teaching (I John 2:22-23)
10. They remain in the truth and persevere in the faith (1 John 2:24)
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Can the Bible be trusted?
Is the Bible the Inspired Word of God?
By Jason Carlson and Ron Carlson
During a question and answer session at a recent speaking engagement, a university student asked me, “Why do you believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God?” Now this is a very interesting question; and probably one of the most important questions any Christian could ask themselves. What is so special, so unique about the Bible that Christians believe it is literally the inspired word of God?
In answering this student’s question, I encouraged him to consider the following facts about the Bible:
First, the Bible is not just one single book. This is a more common misconception than many people realize, especially with people who do not come from a Judeo-Christian background. Rather than being a single book, the Bible is actually a collection of 66 books, which is called the canon of scriptures. These 66 books contain a variety of genres: history, poetry, prophecy, wisdom literature, letters, and apocalyptic just to name a few.
Second, these 66 books were written by 40 different authors. These authors came from a variety of backgrounds: shepherds, fishermen, doctors, kings, prophets, and others. And most of these authors never knew one another personally.
Third, these 66 books were written over a period of 1500 years. Yet again, this is another reminder that many of these authors never knew or collaborated with one another in writing these books.
Fourth, the 66 books of the Bible were written in 3 different languages. In the Bible we have books that were written in the ancient languages of Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic; a reflection of the historical and cultural circumstances in which each of these books were written.
And finally, these 66 books were written on 3 different continents: Africa, Asia, and Europe. Once again, this is a testament to the varied historical and cultural circumstances of God’s people. Read more here . . .
By Jason Carlson and Ron Carlson
During a question and answer session at a recent speaking engagement, a university student asked me, “Why do you believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God?” Now this is a very interesting question; and probably one of the most important questions any Christian could ask themselves. What is so special, so unique about the Bible that Christians believe it is literally the inspired word of God?
In answering this student’s question, I encouraged him to consider the following facts about the Bible:
First, the Bible is not just one single book. This is a more common misconception than many people realize, especially with people who do not come from a Judeo-Christian background. Rather than being a single book, the Bible is actually a collection of 66 books, which is called the canon of scriptures. These 66 books contain a variety of genres: history, poetry, prophecy, wisdom literature, letters, and apocalyptic just to name a few.
Second, these 66 books were written by 40 different authors. These authors came from a variety of backgrounds: shepherds, fishermen, doctors, kings, prophets, and others. And most of these authors never knew one another personally.
Third, these 66 books were written over a period of 1500 years. Yet again, this is another reminder that many of these authors never knew or collaborated with one another in writing these books.
Fourth, the 66 books of the Bible were written in 3 different languages. In the Bible we have books that were written in the ancient languages of Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic; a reflection of the historical and cultural circumstances in which each of these books were written.
And finally, these 66 books were written on 3 different continents: Africa, Asia, and Europe. Once again, this is a testament to the varied historical and cultural circumstances of God’s people. Read more here . . .
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Code Blue Rally
Why Code Blue?
This is a medical term used to indicate a patient is requiring immediate resuscitation. Numerous studies reveal that the American church is in need of spiritual resuscitation because many Christian teens and adults think no differently than the world. Through Worldview Weekend's Code Blue Rally we seek to train adults and teens to understand the times, acquire a Biblical worldview for all areas of life and contend for the faith. Code blue means that there is no time to waste, an emergency exists, and a pro-active response is necessary in order to save lives.
Ft Wayne, Indiana
Worldview Weekend Rally
Date: Saturday Night, October 24, 2009
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Location: Hilton Garden Inn Fort Wayne
8615 US 24 West
FT. Wayne, IN 46804
Cost: The Worldview Weekend Rally is free but you must register online and print out a ticket. Click here to register now.
Topics include: How This Happened to America, Where We Are Going and The Biblical Response; How This Can Be The Greatest Hour For the American Church; How to Prepare the Remnant For What is Coming; The Worldviews and People Destroying America From the Grave and How Every Teen and Adult Must Respond To Be Protected; Refuting Evolution; What Happened to the Dinosaurs; The Impact of Evolution on America; Political Correctness is Cultural Marxism; How to Contend For The Faith in the 21st Century; Why Oprah's Pagan Spirituality is Doubling in America Every Eighteen Months and a Christian Response; Why Worldview Training Matters and Students Want it; What The Bible Has to Say About The Coming One-World Religion, One-World Economy and Global Governance.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Respectable Sins - The new "C" word: SIN
Our small group recently finished a discussion regarding the Malignancy of Sin. The phrase, "The Malignancy of Sin" is a chapter heading in a book authored by Jerry Bridges - Respectable Sins. Bridges draws on the terms cancer (the "c" word) and malignancy to really drive home the notion that SIN (the new "c" word) is a spiritual and moral malignancy. Wow, that analogy really hit me hard.
SIN is the spiritual cancer that will ultimately lead to our death. Question - what does the majority of the population do when they get a cold? Maybe go to the local CVS to get some OTC medication, Kleenex, and some 7-UP. If it is something serious, we may go see a doctor and if it is cancer - a doctor is a must! That got me thinking . . . what do a majority of Christians do when we have a spiritual cold? Do we go to the Father or do we wait until we have spiritual cancer? These spiritual cold symptoms are what Bridges refers to as "Respectable Sins".
These respectable sins are anything from anxiety and frustration to pride and worldliness. And, if they go without attention they can metastasize into other areas of life, into our families, and damage our walk with the Father. These respectable sins are just as dangerous and must be brought to feet of our great physician, the Father. Bridges underlines this notion on page 25 when he states,"The acceptable sins are subtle in the sense that they deceive us into thinking they are not so bad, or not thinking of them as sins, or even worse, not even thinking about them at all!" When we get mad or become anxious are we aware that we are grieving the heart of our heavenly Father? Bridges underscores this on page 29, "This means that all of our rebellion, all of our despising of God and His law, all of our grieving His Holy Spirit, all of our presuming on His grace, all of our sin, is done openly in the very presence of God. It's as if we are acting out all of our sin before Him as He sits on His royal throne."
Question - do you believe in the omnipresence of our Lord? If you answered yes, do you live your life like it? Do you think about it when you are anxious or angry? Do we grasp that every sinful thought and action is done in front of God? The following words from David were very convicting; "O Lord, you have searched me and know me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether." (Psalm 139:1-4)
Let us remember, God forgives our sin because of the blood that was shed on the cross by Jesus Christ, but He does not and will not tolerate it. May we put on the armor of God, may we rely on Him for everything, may we go to His Word and not the world for what to do next. Let us be reminded that sin, "respectable" or not, is still sin and will not go un-noticed by the Father. It is my prayer that we can recognize our sin, that we can realize that we are totally depraved. Our depravity can only be erased by Jesus and it is only through Him that we can have access to the Father.
Blessings -
GutCheck Ministries
SIN is the spiritual cancer that will ultimately lead to our death. Question - what does the majority of the population do when they get a cold? Maybe go to the local CVS to get some OTC medication, Kleenex, and some 7-UP. If it is something serious, we may go see a doctor and if it is cancer - a doctor is a must! That got me thinking . . . what do a majority of Christians do when we have a spiritual cold? Do we go to the Father or do we wait until we have spiritual cancer? These spiritual cold symptoms are what Bridges refers to as "Respectable Sins".
These respectable sins are anything from anxiety and frustration to pride and worldliness. And, if they go without attention they can metastasize into other areas of life, into our families, and damage our walk with the Father. These respectable sins are just as dangerous and must be brought to feet of our great physician, the Father. Bridges underlines this notion on page 25 when he states,"The acceptable sins are subtle in the sense that they deceive us into thinking they are not so bad, or not thinking of them as sins, or even worse, not even thinking about them at all!" When we get mad or become anxious are we aware that we are grieving the heart of our heavenly Father? Bridges underscores this on page 29, "This means that all of our rebellion, all of our despising of God and His law, all of our grieving His Holy Spirit, all of our presuming on His grace, all of our sin, is done openly in the very presence of God. It's as if we are acting out all of our sin before Him as He sits on His royal throne."
Question - do you believe in the omnipresence of our Lord? If you answered yes, do you live your life like it? Do you think about it when you are anxious or angry? Do we grasp that every sinful thought and action is done in front of God? The following words from David were very convicting; "O Lord, you have searched me and know me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether." (Psalm 139:1-4)
Let us remember, God forgives our sin because of the blood that was shed on the cross by Jesus Christ, but He does not and will not tolerate it. May we put on the armor of God, may we rely on Him for everything, may we go to His Word and not the world for what to do next. Let us be reminded that sin, "respectable" or not, is still sin and will not go un-noticed by the Father. It is my prayer that we can recognize our sin, that we can realize that we are totally depraved. Our depravity can only be erased by Jesus and it is only through Him that we can have access to the Father.
Blessings -
GutCheck Ministries
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