Bible Questions Answered:
“...a person says he is a Christian, and yet others say he is a cultist, what goes on here?”
Alex/ New York, New York U.S.A.
Bible Answer:
In America, we have something very special called “The National Bureau Of Standards.”
The early Colonists, addressed the issue of an honest system of weights and measures in 1781.
“The "Office of Weights and Measures" became the "National Bureau of Standards" on July 1, 1901, that was reorganized into the National Institute of Standards and Technology on 1988. In 1905 a meeting was called that would be the first "National Conference on Weights and Measures".
In-part, Wiki-Pedia
We must have a “standard,” for the measurement of what a “yard,” is, a “foot,” “inches,”a gallon, a bushel, etc.
And for all time, it is here where those “Standards,” are kept and protected. Everything else, must by necessity, conform to them, if that would not be the case, there would be chaos, for one man's measure of wheat, may not be what another mans would be.
In that light, could this thought be any less important for eternal values? There must always be “Standards,” and they must be based upon, the absolute bedrock of truth.
A beginning tenant of faith is that the Lord Jesus Christ is God's “eternal,” son!
God the Father, cannot be an eternal Father, without an eternal Son!
Question: May a person who says he is a Christian, not be a Christian?
Answer: Yes!
An example ….
Matthew 7:21-23 KJV (Be sure to read the whole chapter.)
21 Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.
Doing the Work of the Lord, and called a worker of iniquity! Why the very idea!
Who said that anyway?
Jesus Christ.
Well, what on earth was wrong? Oh, they did the work of the Lord alright, but something very important....”they themselves weren't living it!”
And their false piety, lead innocent people astray, so without hesitation, our Lord called them workers of iniquity.
What was and still is the answer here?
Matthew 7:21 KJV
Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.
Now that is but one example, of men claiming Christ, but He denying them!
Here is another!
There are those today, who so readily testify that they are Christians, but though they do so testify, they indeed are not!
Why not?
They are not, because they do “not,” believe as Christian people do believe!
They are not, because they do "not," believe the Word of God!
To be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, a tenant of faith, must invariably be that of believing the Lord Jesus Christ is eternal co-existent with the Father and Holy Spirit!
God's word, indelibly states that the Lord Jesus Christ, is eternal!
Isaiah 9:6 KJV
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Any school boy could tell you who this “child, born,” is!
It was of course the Lord Jesus Christ.
The was who the Prophet Isaiah was speaking about.
Any school boy could tell you, that the Prince of Peace, refers to the Lord Jesus Christ.
OK, thus said, don't forget Isaiah's prophetic truth of this same person, “The Everlasting Father.”
That's right the Lord Jesus Christ, is, was and always will be “Everlasting.
Everlasting: Never coming to an end; lasting forever; eternal.
(New World Dictionary Of American English.)
Micah 5:2 KJV
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be Ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
The Prophet Micah states a prophetic truth...
Who was born in Bethlehem?
Well, ask any school boy, it was God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, that's who, of course!
Well what does Micah say of the Lord Jesus...
“whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
Micah, stated, that the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son, is, was and always be Eternal, that's what everlasting means.
Hebrews 7:3 KJV
Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a Priest continually.
Hebrews 7:3 NLT
There is no record of His father or mother or any of His ancestors—no beginning or end to His life. He remains a Priest forever, resembling the Son of God.
What did the Apostle say?
Jesus Christ, no earthly father or mother brought the Lord Jesus Christ into existence!
“Well pastor, now I know you have gone too far! What about Mary?”
Mary did “not,” bring the Lord Jesus Christ into existence, she was but a conduit, to give the Lord Jesus Christ mortality, the ability to be on earth, in the flesh. Not that virtuous Mary is not blessed among women for this reason, she is.
Hebrews 7:3 KJV
“...having neither beginning of days, nor end of life;”
The Lord Jesus Christ, had “no,” beginning of days! We know what this is, as any school boy would, why that's eternal!
Why oh why can't people believe the simple, word of God?
So we see that not all who call themselves Christian, are claimed, by the Lord, for He openly says so!
Matthew 7:21 KJV
“...Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven...”
They claim Him, but He denies that He knows them!
Hebrews 13:8 KJV
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
And of course this is but one thing that may separate one from Claiming/ and Actually being a Christian.
Just in passing here is one more, and there are many!
Another indelible tenant of faith is that of the inerrancy of the Word of God!
II Timothy 3:16,17 KJV
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
II Peter 1:19-21 KJV
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; where unto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the Day Star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
And Almighty God, warns those who would “dare,” to add or take away from His Word!
Revelation 22:18,19 KJV
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Proverbs 30:6 KJV
Add thou not unto his words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
One more “false claim,” that denies the name Christian to those who hold to it.
God does not change!
He was never a man, who became a spirit or anything else!
John 4:24 KJV
God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.
Psalm 102:25-27 NLT
25 Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands.
26 They will perish, but you remain forever; they will wear out like old clothing. You will change them like a garment and discard them.
27 But you are always the same; you will live forever.
Malachi 3:6 KJV
"For I am the LORD, I change not..."
Hebrews 1:12 KJV
"... thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail."
James 1:17 KJV
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of Lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
James 1:17 NLT
Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.
He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
Yes, a person may claim to be a Christian, “but,” his theology, and his life, reveals whether he is or not!
Romans 3:4 KJV
"God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar..."
Isaiah 8:20 KJV
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
