Just naming ourself as a 'believer' or a 'Christian' is not full proof that we are TRUE followers of Christ. Even the demons of Satan 'believe' as the scriptures say. [James 2:19].
At this time prophetically, it's time that true believers in Christ begin proving their Christianity in their SPEECH, BEHAVIOR, ATTITUDE & gestures in life towards all others. Then, the TRAITS OF CHRIST & HIS LOVE within us, as true Christians, will be recognized as truly Christlike.
But, it is up to us as believers & can be accomplished IF we: 1] line ourselves up with Him and His written Word & then 2] conduct ourselves in His likeness.
Jesus said, "Why do you call me 'Lord' but you do not do the things which I say?" [Luke 6:46]. Today, many people [including many TV personalities like Dog Chapman, Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reiley, Glenn Beck, etc etc.....] claim to be 'Christians' yet their SPEECH, BEHAVIOR, ATTITUDE TOWARDS OTHERS and their gestures towards others bring a terrible reproach upon the Lord & also totally distorts & misrepresents true Christlikeness. Many Americans are like this today, being only '1st base' believers.
In reality, they may be 'true believers' since they decided one day to 'believe' in Christ, which is the greatest FIRST STEP towards eternal life, 'believing' in Christ. [John 3:16]. However, having Jesus as 'Savior' but not 'Lord' by not 'doing what He says' & not lining ourselves up with His 'words' as Jesus requires, can result in that true believer making a mockery out of Christlikeness and even distance many people from Jesus, which has hap- pened alot from TV personalities in America.
Unfortunately, today's TV pulpit ministers overall are the greatest misrepresenters of true Christlikeness in America today. Their arrogance, condemning & condescending attitudes, worldliness of SPEECH & BEHAVIOR, cockiness, FLIPPANT attitudes and their disrespect towards others IN NO WAY REPRESENTS THE TRUE LIKENESS OF THE LORD JESUS.
BUT, TRUE Christians who know their Lord & walk with Him will demonstrate His humility, kindness, love & respect to ALL OTHERS AT ALL TIMES, never projecting condem- nation OR a condescending attitude to others who might oppose us. This is how Jesus was, AND STILL IS. HE is the most humble, gentlemanly to all, kind to all people, respectful towards all others even those who oppose Him, His speech & attitude towards people are KIND, GENTLE, PATIENT and CARING......He is self-controlled IN SPEECH, KIND GESTURES and behavior and THERE IS NOTHING OF WORLDLINESS in the SON OF GOD as we see so much of in today's arrogant & worldly TV preachers.
For believers who desire to quickly begin lining themselves up with the Word in order to be more LIKE HIM, then Galatians Chapter 5 AND 1 Corinthians Chapter 13 are 2 powerful checklists by which a believer can begin recog- nizing the TRUE TRAITS OF CHRISTLIKENESS, and then BEGIN LINING ONESELF UP WITH IT TO BEGIN SHOWING OTHERS CHRIST WITHIN US.
How many times can someone be heard saying, 'Oh,,,,,I love God......'. Yet, Jesus' own Words about who 'Loves' Him require much more than just a simple shrug of the shoulders comment about 'loving Him'. He said, 'he who loves ME, will keep MY words...'. [Gospel John 14:23]. For example, many preachers today 'know' God's word well, yet they are not 'keeping' it by their failure to exhibit Christ's love, which is His ultimate com- mandment which proves [or disproves] our true nature as Christians & demonstrates His LOVE to all others. [John 13:34,35].
It's time now for we believers to PROVE our true Christianity by KNOWING HIS WORDS, then BY KEEPING HIS WORDS, AND MOSTLY BY DEMONSTRATING HIS LOVE TO ALL OTHERS.
It is by this "love" that the Lord said "....all men shall know that you are MY disciples.....". [John 13:34,35].
Jan 14, 2008
Proving our true Christlikeness according to the Word
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